University Hospital Düsseldorf
Dusseldorf, Germany 
Head of the Department
Prof. Dr. Gerd Geerling
Department of Ophthalmology
The University Hospital Düsseldorf's Department of Ophthalmology deals with disorders affecting all or part of the eyes, especially in cases of corneal diseases. In addition to the conventional techniques, all forms of lamellar corneal transplantation are performed. This is essentially made possible by the clinic's affiliation to the Lions Eye Bank. In addition, the ophthalmic clinic offers a wide range of cataracts and glaucoma surgery as well as all plastic surgery for the eyelids, lacrimal system, and eye socket.
The surgical and conservative treatment of retinal and vitreous body diseases of the eye is a separate unit under the direction of Professor Dr. med. med. Rainer Guthoff.
The department of ophthalmology not only looks after patients suffering from strabismus and neuro-ophthalmology but also trains orthoptists with new innovative treatment techniques.
The basic scientific research of the clinic is carried out in the Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, whose working groups, in addition to the clinical tasks, deal with translational approaches in the field of regenerative medicine of the eye, such as the creation of connective and corneal replacement tissues.
The Department of Ophthalmology at University Hospital Düsseldorf is specialized in:
- Anterior segment diseases
- Posterior segment diseases
- Orthoptics and Neuro-ophthalmology
- Lacrimal surgery
- Refractive surgery
- Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Geerling studied medicine at the Medical School of the RWTH Aachen University and in England.
- In 1994 he successfully completed his doctoral thesis (tutored by M. Reim) on examinations of cornea and conjunctiva after alkali burns by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive of x-ray analysis.
- He obtained board certification as an Ophthalmologist in 1996 and worked until 2005 at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck. During this period he also was associated as an Honorary Scientist to the Institute of Biomedical Optics (former Medical Laser Center) of the University of Lübeck.
- From 1997 until 2000 (funded by the DFG and Special Trustees) and in 2003 he worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the associated Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London receiving subspecialist training from John K.G. Dart, J. Richard O. Collin and Geoffrey E. Rose in corneal and oculoplastic surgery. He also worked in the Basic Science Laboratory of Sir Peng T. Khaw on corneal wound healing.
- From 2000, Prof. Geerling worked as Corneal Consultant in Lübeck introducing corneal lamellar surgery.
- In 2003 he completed his habilitation and was promoted to a lecturer at the University of Lübeck with a thesis on Natural Tear Substitutes.
- In 2005 he was called to serve an Assistant Professor for Ophthalmology at the University of Würzburg and became Deputy Director of the Department of Ophthalmology. In Würzburg he received subspecialist training in glaucoma surgery.
- In 2011 he moved as Professor for Ophthalmology and Director of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Duesseldorf.
- Prof. Geerling is a Member of the German Society of Ophthalmology. He has received several national and international awards.
- Since 2005, he is an Editor of Current Eye Research.
Research Activities
- Prof. Geerling's clinical and scientific interests and activities are focused on natural tear substitutes, tissue constructs for ocular surface reconstruction and regeneration as well as new transplantation techniques for the treatment of corneal and ocular surface disorders, in particular dry eye, corneal diseases and keratectasia.
- He was one of the first to introduce modern lamellar corneal graft techniques in Germany and intraoperative optical coherence tomography in ophthalmology.
- His surgical specialty lies in the anterior segment of the eye, with a particular focus on corneal transplantation.
- In addition, he is specialized in glaucoma and oculoplastic surgery, including lacrimal and orbital tumor surgery.
- He has published more than 150 manuscripts in scientific journals and books and has edited two books.
Department of Ophthalmology
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