Theo Seiler (born February 12, 1949 in Ravensburg, Germany) is a German

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgery, surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Followin ...

and

physicist A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate ca ...

. He is considered one of the pioneers of

refractive surgery Refractive eye surgery is optional eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This can include various methods of surgical remodeling of the cornea ( keratomil ...

Biography

Seiler graduated from gymnasium in 1968 and enrolled the same year at the

University of Heidelberg } Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, B ...

where he studied mathematics and physics. He received his prediploma in physics in 1970 and eventually continued his studies at the Freie Universität of Berlin where he graduated in 1972 with a degree in physics. He also began with his medical studies in the same year. In 1975 Seiler he commenced his doctorate studies in physics, resulting in the dissertation "Modulated dynamic nuclear polarization of the nuclei of smaller gyromagnetic ratios" at the

Free University of Berlin The Free University of Berlin (, often abbreviated as FU Berlin or simply FU) is a public university, public research university in Berlin, Germany. It is consistently ranked among Germany's best universities, with particular strengths in poli ...

and started his teaching profession for higher education (mathematics and physics) in the following year. At the same time he continued his medical studies and passed the medical state examination in 1981 and was granted a license to practice medicine in 1982. He worked as medical assistant in 1981 at the Eye Clinic of the Free University of Berlin and was promoted to be lecturer in 1982. His doctorate followed in 1984 with a thesis on "Linearity of

tonometry Tonometry is the procedure eye care professionals perform to determine the intraocular pressure (IOP), the fluid pressure inside the eye. It is an important test in the evaluation of patients at risk from glaucoma. Most tonometers are calibrated ...

" for which he received his title as Dr. med. summa cum laude. In 1986 he became a specialist registrar in ophthalmology and also became senior physician at the University Eye Clinic of the Free University of Berlin, eventually also being appointed in 1989 as Deputy Head. He habilitated at the Free University of Berlin in 1987 with his scientific paper "Refractive corneal surgery" and was appointed as professor in ophthalmology in 1989. On October 1, 1993 Seiler was appointed professor at the Department of Ophthalmology and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital of the University of Technology of Dresden. He kept this position until January 1, 2000 when he was appointed as Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology of the

University of Zürich The University of Zürich (UZH, german: Universität Zürich) is a public research university located in the city of Zürich, Switzerland. It is the largest university in Switzerland, with its 28,000 enrolled students. It was founded in 1833 ...

. In October 2002, he founded the Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery (IROC) in Zurich. His work and research interests include

corneal The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Along with the anterior chamber and lens, the cornea refracts light, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical po ...

surgery, especially

refractive In physics, refraction is the redirection of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. The redirection can be caused by the wave's change in speed or by a change in the medium. Refraction of light is the most commonly observed phenomen ...

corneal surgery, surgery of the anterior segment and physiological

Optics Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, ultra ...

. Seiler is a member of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG), the

American Academy of Ophthalmology The American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) is a professional medical association of ophthalmologists. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Its membership of 32,000 medical doctors includes more than 90 percent of practicing ...

(AAO), the Swiss Ophthalmological Society (SOG), the American Society of Refractive and Cataract Surgery (ASCRS), the European Cornea Society (EuCornea), the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) and served as boardmember for the DOG, ISRS and EuCornea.

Achievements and new developments

* 1983 Development of the first clinical dye laser * 1984 Development of the first surface coil for MRI of the orbit * 1985 World's first PTK on human eyes * 1987 World's first PRK on human Eyes * 1988 World's first Holimum YAG laser PRK thermokeratoplasty * 1989 First clinical studies on PRK * 1995 Invention of Corneal Crosslinking (CXL) * 1998 First clinical applications of corneal Crosslinking * 1999 World's first wavefront-guided laser treatment on the human eye * 2002 First topography-guided treatment with the WaveLight laser * 2010 First combination of LASIK and rapid crosslinking

Awards

* 1987 Axelfeld Award (DOG) * 1994 Khing Khaled-Award (SAOS) * 1994 Binkhorst Award (AAO) * 1995 Barraquer Award (AAO) * 1996 Graefe Award (DOG) * 1997 Honour Award (AAO) * 2002 President´s Award (ISRS/AAO) * 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award (AAO) * 2008 Innovators lecture (ASCRS) * 2009 Ophthalmologe des Jahres 2009 * 2009 Senior Achievement Award (AAO) * 2010 Science Award (DGII) * 2012 International Leadership in Ophthalmology (HEF) * 2012 Fjodorov Award (HSIOIRS) * 2012 Hawaiian Eye Foundation's International Award for Excellence * 2013 Franceschetti Award * 2013 Jørn Boberg-Ans Memorial Award (DOS) * 2013 Franceschetti Award * 2013 Danish Ophthalmological Society * 2014 DOC-Medaille in Gold * 2014 ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame * 2014 Honorary membership of the BRASCRS

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seiler, Theo People from Ravensburg German ophthalmologists 1949 births Living people