1. You completed a fellowship under David Apple, MD, in the field of surgical and IOL-related ocular pathology. Currently, what are the major areas of emphasis in ophthalmic pathology in Germany?
Ophthalmic pathology is not yet a widespread educational training in Germany. It is offered mainly within the university setting. The Deutsche Ophthalmopathologen has an annual meeting, usually accompanying the Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft meeting in September. Approximately 30 to 35 interesting case reports from several departments (ie, Erlangen, Heidelberg, Munich, Tuebingen and Berlin) are presented at this forum. My colleagues and I recently founded the Berlin Eye Research Institute (BERI), where our research goals are focused on the development of surgical techniques and devices, as well as on the pathology of ocular implants and surgery-related complications. Basic understanding of implant-related complications is significantly enhanced by pathologic analysis and, in my opinion, it is mandatory to avoid the possible sight-threatening complications of millions of IOLs implanted worldwide.

2. You have recently researched a viscophaco procedure, what are some of the advantages of this technique?
Viscophaco uses the ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) as a surgical instrument throughout the entire process of phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. The phaco procedure is performed under a cushion of OVD entirely at the capsular bag. Fluid dynamics are dampened, surgical control is enhanced and the phaco process is limited to a smaller space, minimizing the risk of tissue damage.

3. Why is the Tecnis Multifocal a promising technology?
The Tecnis multifocal IOL (Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana, Calif) is unique in that it combines two recent optical IOL improvements of a modern well-functioning diffractive multifocal IOL with an intelligent aspheric optic. Recently, the Tecnis IOL has reportedly been proven as the IOL that allows for the fastest reading speed under both bright and dim light conditions. The asphericity counteracts the normal corneal asphericity, reducing spherical aberration at larger pupil sizes, and thus, helping to minimize some of the unwanted multifocal effects with larger pupils (ie, halos, glare and decreased mesopic vision).

4. What would you like to accomplish professionally within the next 5 years?
Our eye center, the Eye-Center-Spreebogen, was built as an outpatient surgical facility and refractive clinic in September 2003. Shortly thereafter, a diagnostic center with the most modern diagnostic instruments and devices was added. In 2005, the BERI was founded. The goal for the next few years is to continue the successful development of our clinical enterprises as well as support young and talented individuals who want to work in the exciting field of surgical ophthalmology and implant-related research. We are expecting fellows from the European Union as well as some outside of it to join our group. In this context, we are happy that Liliana Werner, MD, of the University of Utah's John A. Moran Eye Center, in Salt Lake City, will be joining our research center as of June. At this time we will begin establishing a reference center for IOL and implant-related complications of medical devices used in Europe and Asia.

5. Who were your mentors early on in your career as an ophthalmologist?
Many people have influenced my professional career. I owe many thanks to my personal mentors, Wilfried Hunold, MD, in Aachen; and David Apple, MD, in Salt Lake City, who got me started in ophthalmology and ocular pathology. In addition to my clinical teachers, Hans E. Voelcker, MD; and Evangelos Alexandridis, MD, in Heidelberg, I was influenced by two outstanding individuals, Thomas Neuhann, MD, from Munich; and Robert Stegmann, MD, in Pretoria/South Africa. I learned many things about independent thinking and the highest quality of surgery from these physicians.