Our ophthalmologists
Prof. Dr. Dr. Theo Seiler,
YOUSEE founder &
laser eye surgery pioneer
Prof. Dr. Dr. Theo Seiler,
Innovation for better vision:
From the first PRK to cross-linking
Prof. Dr. Dr. Theo Seiler is considered a pioneer in modern laser eye and corneal surgery.
In 1983, he developed the first clinical dye laser and, in 1984, innovative surface coils for magnetic resonance imaging of the eye socket. In 1985, he performed the world's first phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) on the human eye, followed in 1987 by the first photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), in 1988 by the first holmium YAG laser thermokeratoplasty, and in 1989 by the first clinical studies on PRK.
In 1995, Prof. Dr. Dr. Seiler invented corneal cross-linking (CXL), which was first used clinically in 1998 and is now considered the standard procedure for stabilizing the cornea.
In 1999, he performed the world's first wavefront-guided laser eye treatment, followed in 2002 by the first topography-guided laser treatment with the WaveLight laser.
In 2010, he combined LASIK with rapid crosslinking for the first time to further improve treatment options.
Click here for the Wikipedia entry for Prof. Dr. Dr. Seiler
From physicist to pioneer
of refractive eye surgery
Prof. Dr. Dr. Theo Seiler first studied mathematics and physics before graduating in medicine from the Free University of Berlin. There he obtained doctorates in both physics (1975) and medicine (1984, summa cum laude) and qualified as a professor in 1987 with work on refractive corneal surgery. After working as a senior physician and professor at the Free University of Berlin, he became head of the Eye Clinic at Dresden University Hospital in 1993 and moved to the Eye Clinic at the University of Zurich as director in 2000.
In 2002, he founded the Institut für Refraktive und Ophthalmo-Chirurgie (IROC) in Zurich, where he continues to develop and research innovative procedures in refractive and corneal surgery as well as physiological optics.
Career
2018
Founding of YOUSEEZÜRI AG and the YOUSEECLINICS Group
2002
Foundation of the Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery (IROC)
2000-2002
Professor and Director at the Eye Clinic at the University Hospital of Zurich
1993
Professor and Director at the Eye Clinic of the Technical University of Dresden
1990
Professor of Ophthalmology at the Free University of Berlin
1985-1990
Senior physician and private lecturer at the Eye Clinic of the Free University of Berlin
1980-1985
Resident physician and doctoral candidate at the Eye Clinic of the Free University of Berlin
1975-1980
Oberstudienrat at Peter A. Silbermann College Berlin and academic advisor at Free University Berlin
1974
Doctorate in experimental physics at the Free University of Berlin
Awards & Prizes
2023
Hall of Fame (The Ophthalmologist)
2023
Castroviejo lecture (AAO)
2020
Heritage lecture (ESCRS)
2018
Innovators lecture (DOC)
2017
Presidential Recognition Award (ISRS)
2014
Most influential ophthalmologist (The Ophthalmologist)
2014
Hall of Fame (ASCRS)
2012
International Leadership in Ophthalmology (HOF)
2012
Key note lecture for Claes Dohlman (AAO)
2010
Science Award (DGII)
2009
Senior Achievement Award (AAO)
2008
Innovators lecture (ASCRS)
2004
Lifetime Achievement Award (AAO)
2002
President’s Award (ISRS/ AAO)
1997
Honour Award (AAO)
1996
Graefe Award (DOG)
1995
Barraquer Award (AAO)
1994
Binkhorst Award (AAO)
1994
Khing Khaled-Award (SAOS)
1987
Axenfeld-Award (DOG)
Premieres
2016
First individual CXL
2014
First OCT-guided femtosecond laser DALK
2010
First flash linking in LASIK
2008
First treatments with the femtosecond WaveLight laser
2002
First topography-guided treatment with a WaveLight laser
1999
World's first wavefront-guided treatment
1998
First clinical application of CXL
1995
Invention of corneal and scleral crosslinking
1989
First prospective clinical study on excimer laser PRK
1988
World's first holmium:YAG laser keratoplasty
1986
World's first laser eye surgery on humans using excimer laser PRK
1985
World's first laser eye surgery on humans using excimer laser PTK
1984
Development of the first surface coils for MRI of the eye socket
1983
Development of the first dye laser for clinical ophthalmology
Professor Dr. Dr. Theo Seiler receives the Castroviejo Medal from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
This award is presented for outstanding contributions to corneal and anterior segment research.
His extensive list of awards includes many prestigious AAO prizes, such as the Honour Award (1997), President's Award (2002), Lifetime Achievement Award (2004), and Senior Achievement Award (2009).
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is the world's largest professional association for ophthalmologists, with over 32,000 members.
The AAO sets international standards in ophthalmic
training, medical research and care,
promotes public education on eye health and offers
numerous resources for professionals and patients worldwide.
Publications
1982
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol: "The distinction of corneal water in free and bound fractions"
1983
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol: "Phase transitions in ocular tissue - NMR and temperature measurements"
1983
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol: "Nuclear spin tomography of the human eye"
1984
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Outflow resistance in the trabecular meshwork"
1984
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Late results in eye contusions"
1984
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Early operative recuperation phase of the retina following vitreous surgical interventions--an animal experiment model"
1985
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol: "The resistance of the trabecular meshwork to aqueous humor outflow"
1985
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "The Berlin dye laser"
1985
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "NMR tomography of the eye"
1985
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Endothelial cell defects caused by ultrasound phacoemulsification in a model"
1985
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Behavior of astigmatism following IOL implantation"
1986
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Use of far UV light in photoablation of the cornea"
1986
Ophthalmologica: "NMR-tomography of the human eye"
1986
Ophthalmologica: "In vivo experiments with the excimer laser--technical parameters and healing processes"
1987
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Transparency of the cornea"
1987
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "New findings in keratoconus"
1987
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Laser surgery of the cornea"
1988
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol: "Side effects in excimer corneal surgery. DNA damage as a result of 193 nm excimer laser radiation"
1988
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol: "Side effects in excimer corneal surgery. Corneal thermal gradients"
1988
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Magnetic resonance tomography of choroid melanoma"
1988
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Goniotrepanation with an inverse-folded flap"
1989
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Visual evoked cortical potentials modified by a NMR magnetic field of 0.24 Tesla"
1989
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Superficial ablation of the cornea using the excimer laser (193 nm)"
1989
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Magnetic resonance tomography in ophthalmologic diagnosis"
1989
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Amelanotic melanoma and nuclear magnetic resonance tomography--case report"
1990
Biomed Tech (Berl): "Laser coagulation with the Ho:YAG laser"
1990
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "The ablation behavior of various corneal layers"
1990
Biomed Tech (Berl): "Principles of refractive corneal surgery with the 193 nm Excimer laser"
1990
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Laser surgery of the cornea"
1990
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Laser keratomileusis for correction of myopia"
1990
Biomed Tech (Berl): "Calibration of the 193 nm Excimer laser beam"
1990
Biomed Tech (Berl): "Auto-tuning unit for low-field NMR tomography equipment"
1991
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Wound healing of the cornea of New World monkeys after surface keratectomy: Er:YAG-excimer laser"
1991
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Photoablation with the Er:YAG laser in ocular tissues"
1991
Fortschr Ophthalmol: "Laser coagulation of the cornea with a holmium:YAG laser for correction of hyperopia"
1992
Ger J Ophthalmol: "Pterygium excision using 193-nm excimer laser smoothing and topical mitomycin C"
1992
Ger J Ophthalmol: "Pseudoexfoliation syndrome and glaucoma. Does glaucoma capsulare exist?"
1992
Ger J Ophthalmol: "Diurnal variation in refraction after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy"
1993
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Effective spherical aberration of the cornea as a quantitative descriptor in corneal topography"
1996
Ophthalmic Res: "Laser Scheimpflug videography"
1997
Int Ophthalmol: "Unilateral Meesmann's dystrophy"
1998
Duncker GIW et al. (Hrsg), 12. Kongress der Deutschsprachigen Gesellschaft für Intraokularlinsen-Implantation und Refraktive Chirurgie. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 303-311: "Frühkindliche Hornhauthauttrübungen als Ursache einer Formdeprivationsmyopie (FDM)"
1998
Biomed Tech (Berl): "Practical technical measurement problems in determining optical image errors of the human eye with a video-aberroscope"
1998
Biomed Tech (Berl): "Determining the position of distorted point lattice patterns on the human retina by evaluating monochromatic image errors"
1999
Ophthalmic Res Scheimpflug records without distortion--a mythos?
1999
Front Radiat Ther Oncol: "Effects of high-dose radiotherapy to tumors of the pituitary on the optic chiasm"
2000
Technol Health Care: "Transpupillary laser phototherapy of tumors and vascular anomalies of retina and choroid: theoretical approach and clinical implications"
2000
Arch Ophthalmol: "Ocular optical aberrations after photorefractive keratectomy for myopia and myopic astigmatism"
2000
J Refract Surg: "Limitations of erbium:YAG laser photorefractive keratectomy"
2000
J Refract Surg: "Wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis: early results in three eyes"
2000
Ophthalmologe: "Studies on the stabilization of the cornea in rabbits"
2000
Ophthalmologe: "Erbium:YAG laser vitrectomy: temperature measurements in different replacement materials"
2000
Ophthalmology: "Comparison of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet-laser vitrectomy and mechanical vitrectomy: a clinical study"
2000
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Refractive surgical problem"
2000
J Refract Surg: "Principles of Tscherning aberrometry"
2000
J Refract Surg: "Operative correction of ocular aberrations to improve visual acuity"
2000
Ophthalmologe: "Motion artifacts in the vitreous body during vitrectomy"
2000
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd: "Irradiation of cornea with ultraviolet light and riboflavin administration as a new treatment for erosive corneal processes, preliminary results in four patients"
2000
J Refract Surg: "Clinical experience with the Tscherning aberrometer"
2000
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol: "Manifest diabetes and keratoconus: a retrospective case-control study"
2001
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Clinical results of wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis 3 months after surgery"
2001
Ophthalmologe: "Cavitation bubble formation during Erbium:YAG laser vitrectomy"
2001
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Increased higher-order optical aberrations after laser refractive surgery: a problem of subclinical decentration"
2001
Ophthalmology: "Understanding refraction and accommodation through "retinal imaging" aberrometry: a case report"
2001
Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde: "Supportive amblyopia treatment by means of computer games with background stimulation"
2001
J Biomed Opt: "Ocular optical aberrometer for clinical use"
2001
Ophthalmology: "Stress wave amplitudes during laser surgery of the cornea"
2001
Praxis (Bern 1994): Does refractive surgery really make eyeglasses superfluous?
2001
Ophthalmologe: "Ultrasound biomicroscopy diagnosis of traumatic choroid effusion without cyclodialysis"
2001
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Improvement in photorefractive corneal laser surgery results using an active eye-tracking system"
2001
J Biomed Opt: "Erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser induced vapor bubbles as a function of the quartz fiber tip geometry"
2001
Ophthalmologe: "Fundamentals of wavefront-guided refractive corneal surgery"
2001
Ophthalmologe: "Change of paradigms in refractive surgery"
2001
J Refract Surg: "Influence of corneal curvature on calculation of ablation patterns used in photorefractive laser surgery"
2002
Jpn J Ophthalmol: "Corneal myxoma"
2002
Ophthalmology: "Optical low coherence reflectometry for noncontact measurements of flap thickness during laser in situ keratomileusis"
2002
J Refract Surg: "Aberration-sensing and wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis: management of decentered ablation"
2002
Curr Opin Ophthalmol: "Customized corneal ablation"
2002
J Refract Surg: "Experimental results of preparing laser-shaped stromal implants for laser-assisted intrastromal keratophakia in extremely complicated laser in situ keratomileusis cases"
2003
Ophthalmologe: "Treatment of keratoconus by collagen cross linking"
2003
Eur J Ophthalmol: "Multicenter evaluation of tendency-oriented perimetry (TOP) using the G1 grid"
2003
J Refract Surg "Anterior lamellar keratoplasty with a microkeratome: a method for managing complications after refractive surgery"
2003
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Maximum permissible lateral decentration in aberration-sensing and wavefront-guided corneal ablation"
2003
J Refract Surg: "Correlation between corneal and total wavefront aberrations in myopic eyes"
2003
Am J Ophthalmol: "Riboflavin/ ultraviolet-a-induced collagen crosslinking for the treatment of keratoconus"
2003
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Stress-strain measurements of human and porcine corneas after riboflavin-ultraviolet-A-induced cross-linking"
2003
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Endothelial cell damage after riboflavin-ultraviolet-A treatment in the rabbit"
2004
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Maximum permissible torsional misalignment in aberration-sensing and wavefront-guided corneal ablation"
2004
J Refract Surg: "Laser intrastromal keratoplasty--case report"
2004
Cornea: "Keratocyte apoptosis after corneal collagen cross-linking using riboflavin/UVA treatment"
2004
Ophthalmologica: "Thermomechanical behavior of collagen-cross-linked porcine cornea"
2004
Eye (Lond): "Keratocyte cytotoxicity of riboflavin/UVA-treatment in vitro"
2004
Curr Eye Res: "Increased resistance of crosslinked cornea against enzymatic digestion"
2004
Cornea: "Collagen fiber diameter in the rabbit cornea after collagen crosslinking by riboflavin/UVA"
2004
J Refract Surg: "Transferring wavefront measurements into corneal ablations: an overview of related topics"
2005
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd: "latrogenic corneal ectasia after LASIK--is the end in sight?"
2005
Eur J Ophthalmol: "Dependence of wave front refraction on pupil size due to the presence of higher order aberrations"
2005
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Two-step procedure to enlarge small optical zones after photorefractive keratectomy for high myopia"
2005
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd: "Asphericity of the cornea and astigmatism"
2006
Ophthalmologe: "Ablation profiles in corneal laser surgery. Current and future concepts"
2006
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Q-factor customized ablation profile for the correction of myopic astigmatism"
2006
Ophthalmologe: "Nomograms for the improvement of refractive outcomes"
2006
J Refract Surg: "The effect of phenylephrine and cyclopentolate on objective wavefront measurements"
2006
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Customized ablation algorithm for the treatment of steep central islands after refractive laser surgery"
2006
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Corneal and total wavefront aberrations in phakic and pseudophakic eyes after implantation of monofocal foldable intraocular lenses"
2006
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd: "Reoperations after LASIK"
2006
Cornea: "Corneal cross-linking-induced stromal demarcation line"
2006
Ophthalmology: "Topography-guided surface ablation for forme fruste keratoconus"
2006
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Four corneal presbyopia corrections: simulations of optical consequences on retinal image quality"
2007
Cornea: "Safety of UVA-riboflavin cross-linking of the cornea"
2007
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd: "Therapeutic cross-linking of the cornea using riboflavin/UVA"
2007
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Corneal collagen crosslinking with riboflavin and ultraviolet A to treat induced keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis"
2008
J Refract Surg: "Optical ray tracing for the calculation of optimized corneal ablation profiles in refractive treatment planning"
2008
Cornea: "Ultraviolet A/riboflavin corneal cross-linking for infectious keratitis associated with corneal melts"
2008
J Refract Surg: "Efficacy and safety of blue-light scleral cross-linking"
2009
Ophthalmology: "Refractive, topographic, tomographic, and aberrometric analysis of keratoconic eyes undergoing corneal cross-linking"
2009
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Collagen crosslinking with ultraviolet-A and hypoosmolar riboflavin solution in thin corneas"
2009
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Collagen crosslinking with ultraviolet-A and hypoosmolar riboflavin solution in thin corneas"
2009
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Complication and failure rates after corneal crosslinking"
2009
Arch Ophthalmol: "Intraoperative and postoperative effects of corneal collagen cross-linking on progressive keratoconus"
2010
J Refract Surg: "Persistent subepithelial haze in thin-flap LASIK"
2010
Ophthalmology: "Light-adjustable lens complication"
2010
J Refract Surg: "Corneal infiltrates after corneal collagen cross-linking"
2010
J Refract Surg: "Technical aspects of the WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser"
2011
J Refract Surg: "Laboratory measurement of the absorption coefficient of riboflavin for ultraviolet light (365 nm)"
2011
Br J Ophthalmol: "Marked remodelling of the anterior corneal surface following collagen cross-linking with riboflavin and UVA"
2011
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Flattening of the cornea after collagen crosslinking for keratoconus"
2011
J Refract Surg: "Bilateral ring-shaped intrastromal opacities after corneal cross-linking for keratoconus"
2012
PLoS One: "Evaluation of the efficacy of excimer laser ablation of cross-linked porcine cornea"
2012
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Optical ray tracing-guided laser in situ keratomileusis for moderate to high myopic astigmatism"
2012
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci: "Optimization model for UV-riboflavin corneal cross-linking"
2012
J Refract Surg: "Pregnancy may trigger late onset of keratectasia after LASIK"
2013
Cornea: "Riboflavin/ultraviolet a crosslinking of the paracentral cornea"
2013
Indian J Ophthalmol: "The paradigm change in keratoconus therapy"
2013
PLoS One: "Progranulin is a novel independent predictor of disease progression and overall survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia"
2014
Ophthalmologe: "Innovations in refractive laser surgery 2014"
2015
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Corneal tissue interactions of a new 345 nm ultraviolet femtosecond laser"
2017
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd: "Limitations of SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)"
2017
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Wound healing in rabbit corneas after flapless refractive lenticule extraction with a 345 nm ultraviolet femtosecond laser"
2018
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Interface morphology and gas production by a refractive 347 nm ultraviolet femtosecond laser: Comparison with established laser systems"
2019
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd: "Bacterial and Fungal Keratitis: A Retrospective Analysis at a University Hospital in Switzerland"
2019
Cornea: "Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty"
2019
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Corneal crosslinking without epithelial removal"
2021
J Cataract Refract Surg: "Keratoconus and corneal crosslinking"
2022
J Clin Med: "Early Experience with the Biotronik Protego ICD Lead"
2022
J Refract Surg: "Lenticule Extraction"