University Hospital Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany 
Head of the Department
Prof. Dr. Gerd U. Auffarth
Department of Ophthalmology
Department of Ophthalmology at University Hospital Heidelberg provides care for patients with eye and orbit diseases. The department is composed of an Emergency Unit, an Outpatient Surgery Unit, a Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, and general wards where the staff treats over 2,800 inpatients every year. Staying updated with the latest, most advanced diagnostics and therapeutics is one of the reasons the department has been well-recognized ever since its foundation, 150 years ago.
Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Med. Gerd U. Auffarth, the department has been recognized by FOCUS Magazine as one of the best facilities in Germany, in the areas of surgical treatment of refractive errors and cataracts.
The research unit of the department has on-going projects in fields such as age-related macular degeneration, uveitis, strabismus, and diabetic retinopathy.
The Department of Ophthalmology at University Hospital Heidelberg is specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of:
- Cataract
- Glaucoma
- Keratitis
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular hole
- Retinal vascular occlusion
- Strabismus
- Amblyopia
- Myopia
- Hypermetropia
- Astigmatism
- Retinoblastoma
- Ptosis
- Uveitis
- Iridocyclitis
- Nystagmus
- Optic neuritis
- Retinopathy of prematurity
- Conjunctivitis
Current Appointments
- Head of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Heidelberg.
- Director of the International Vision Correction Research Centre (IVCRC).
- Director of the David J. Apple International Laboratory for Ocular Pathology.
Professional Experience
- 02.2016 Appointment as a Vice President of the German-speaking Society of Intraocular Lens Implantation, Interventional, and Refractive Surgery (DGII).
- Since 2012, Director of the David J. Apple International Laboratory for Ocular Pathology.
- 03.2012 - 02.2016 President of the German-speaking Society of Intraocular Lens Implantation, Interventional and Refractive Surgery (DGII).
- Since 04.2011, Appointment as a Chairman of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany.
- 03.2009 Appointment as an Acting Head of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany.
- 08.2006 Certification of the Research Centre according to DIN EN ISO 9001-2000 and renaming into the International Vision Correction Research Centre (IVCRC).
- Since 05.2005, Extraordinary Professorship, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
- 02.2004 Appointment as a Deputy Head of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany.
- Since 02.2002, Board Member of the German-speaking Society of Intraocular Lens Implantation, Interventional and Refractive Surgery (DGII) and appointment as a Secretary of the Society.
- 01.1999 Foundation/Head of the Heidelberg IOL and Refractive Surgery Research Group.
- 01.1999 Ph.D. thesis, Venia Legendi (Ocular Pathology), Department of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
- 12.1996 Residency and Board Certification in Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
- 10.1994 - 09.1995 Research "Genetic degenerative retinal diseases" of the German Research Foundation (DFG), Department of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
- 08.1992 - 09.1994 Max Cade Postdoctoral Research Grant, New York, Center for Intraocular Lens Research, Storm Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
- 09.1983 - 06.1990 Medical School, Aachen RWTH, Aachen, Germany.
Department of Ophthalmology
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