H. Burkhard Dick

Professor and Chairman, University at Bochum, Germany

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

Ophthalmology is a medical discipline with almost unlimited potential. To help a patient as efficiently and as instantly as we are – fortunately – able to do it; for instance, cataract surgery is something that patients in many other specialties might not experience. Most importantly, sight is one of the greatest blessings of nature and to preserve it is a most rewarding task and wonderful profession.

Who are your role models?

Professor Norbert Pfeiffer, Director of the University Eye Clinic in Mainz, an outstanding academic teacher, a gifted physician, and an inspiring researcher had a great influence on me and I try to treat my patients as thoroughly and as kindly as he does his. Additionally, Richard Lindstrom – so many community and philanthropy contributions, a great leader with a strong commitment to advance new technologies and treatments

What is your proudest contribution to ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

This is a question that others might be more able to answer honestly. I have tried to make a great medical success story – cataract surgery – a bit more effective, safer, more predictable and give patients an even higher chance of the utmost postoperative satisfaction by playing my part in the creation of new IOLs, in improving surgical techniques and, most of all, demonstrating the potential of the femtosecond laser in cataract surgery. Being a pioneer in some glaucoma surgery techniques has also been very rewarding and sometimes frustrating – not every new tool turns out to justify all the expectations. 

What do you credit most for your success over the course of your career?

A dedicated team, an understanding and supporting group of family and friends and - probably most importantly - the joy in a patient's eyes when his or her vision has been restored or, after refractive surgery or cataract surgery that dealt with a pre-existing condition, is now better than ever in a lifetime. This keeps you going and looking for newer, for even better methods, tools, approaches.

What would you like to see change in ophthalmology/your subspecialty over the next 10 years – and why?

Provide more education for patients about eye health and preventive measures.

Collaborate and share data for better diagnosis and treatment.

Make ophthalmic care more affordable and accessible to everyone.

If you weren't an ophthalmologist, what would you be doing?

In medicine, I would probably be a neurosurgeon. Outside of medicine, I most likely would have pursued the career of an artist.

If you could restart your career, would you do anything differently?

Well, appearing on the Power List of The Ophthalmologist, one gets the impression that my career has not been that bad at all – thus wishing for a different path would be quite ungrateful, wouldn't it? :-)

When you are no longer practicing, what do you want your legacy to be?

I would be happy if at that time there is a new generation of ophthalmologists who will pursue a path on which I have influenced them a bit, that they are as eager to do clinical research as I always have been – and that, when they think of me treating my patients and of my surgeries, they might alter a quote by Oscar Wilde: His taste was simple – he was always satisfied with the best outcomes.

Do you have any advice for young, aspiring ophthalmologists?

There is always sufficient room for good ophthalmologists and there will always be interesting topics for basic and clinical research. We are currently seeing that we can achieve better results even in old procedures, like cataract surgery. Because of this, I would tell ophthalmologists to continue to research new technologies and procedures from all angles and to strive to advance patients' and physicians' satisfaction.