Ophthalmology
The Innovation Focus Ophthalmology focuses on the human eye and eye health. We establish efficient methods for the treatment of eye diseases and develop new therapies for currently untreatable ophthalmologic diseases.
This is done hand in hand with the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), which was founded in 2018. The aim of this collaboration is to transfer knowledge between research and clinical practice in order to address the currently unmet medical need. The focus is on the development of new therapies for retinal diseases, which are responsible for three quarters of blindness in Europe. The establishment of a modern, outpatient day clinic allows innovative research results to be translated into clinical routine, thereby improving the overall quality of care for patients with retinal diseases.
Management
Prof. Hendrik P.N. Scholl
Chefarzt
Augenklinik
Facharzt Ophthalmologie und Ophthalmochirurgie
Prof. Christian Prünte
Chefarzt
Augenklinik
Facharzt Ophthalmologie und Ophthalmochirurgie
Better surgical results thanks to integrated digital microscopes for vitreoretinal surgery and intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT)
Digital visualization through digital heads-up microscopes during surgery offers an increase in the safety of intraocular interventions. The system can be used for cataract, glaucoma and vitreoretinal surgery.
The digital microscope allows patient information and surgical settings to be superimposed on the active surgical image without blocking the surgeon's view of the eye. The system is therefore also an ideal teaching tool.
Intraoperative OCT is particularly important for the subretinal administration of gene therapy products such as LuxturnaTM. Since 2020, the Eye Clinic Basel has been accredited as a competence center for the highly specialized LuxturnaTM therapy, the first approved gene therapy on the eye.
Our aim is therefore to routinely use this new system for vitreoretinal surgery. The aim is to develop new automated and controlled surgical techniques to be used for selected surgical procedures, such as subretinal delivery of gene therapy products. This includes OCT-guided automated handling of surgical instruments in real time, which supports the surgeon in avoiding unnecessary tissue damage while increasing the efficiency of complex interventions such as multiple injections at different sites.
Establishment of a national gene therapy center for ophthalmology
In February 2020, the Basel Eye Clinic was selected by Swiss Medic as the only and exclusive gene therapy center for LuxturnaÔ in Switzerland and is now fully certified.
The aim is now to expand the treatment options with LuxturnaTM and prepare the first clinical trials for further gene therapies in order to gradually establish a national gene therapy center for ophthalmology in Basel.
The Eye Clinic is currently participating in the LUMEOS study, a phase 3 study in which participants aged 3 years and older are now being enrolled to investigate an innovative gene therapy product for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.
In the meantime, we have established the largest clinic for hereditary eye diseases in Switzerland in Basel and are developing genetic tests for patients with hereditary retinal diseases, using the latest exome screening technology and new analysis tools to identify disease genes.
Electronic patient file for ophthalmology: mediSIGHT
Until now, medical data has often been available in paper form. This is cumbersome, costly and can lead to treatment errors. For this reason, the eye clinic has already made the leap to digitalization in order to improve work processes and shorten waiting times for patients.
The Eye Clinic is currently expanding mediSIGHT as an electronic patient data system. mediSIGHT is designed exclusively and specifically for ophthalmology and contains functions and benefits that facilitate the practice of ophthalmology. It offers clinical modules that have been developed and tested by practicing ophthalmologists. Clinical summaries show the relevant medical history at a glance, reducing errors to ensure optimal and high-quality treatment of patients.