Chair of Ophthalmology, Ruhr University Bochum (RUB); Director, University Eye Clinic Bochum; Secretary of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS); General Secretary of the German Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Germany
Make a bold prediction for the future of ophthalmology.
In general, the future of ophthalmology appears to be extremely bright and rewarding. We will continue to see (as we did over the last two or three decades) breathtaking developments and true gamechangers in diagnostics, monitoring and therapy – from new surgical techniques (the rise of MIGS is far from over and the current variety of options just a taste of things to come) to gene therapy for rare and thus far “untreatable” diseases. But the challenges are also enormous and mounting. With a growing world population and a host of global problems from climate change to wars, the resources available for eye care will be far from inexhaustible – quite the contrary. The impact of private equity and thus the growing commercialization not just of ophthalmology but of medicine in general will be ever more felt with less emphasis on human resources and – I’m afraid – human compassion.
