IROC Ophthalmic Zurich: Prof. Dr Dr rer. nat. Theo Seiler and Prof. Dr Maya Müller

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Theo Seiler and Prof. Dr. med. Maya Müller are specialists in ophthalmology. They direct the Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmo Surgery IROC in Zurich. The IROC ophthalmic clinic has already existed since 2002. It is known nationally and internationally as a highly qualified modern ophthalmic center with many years of practical experience in eye surgery as well as intensive research activities.

IROC Ophthalmic Clinic Zurich: Help With Eye Diseases

The team of physicians at the Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery Zurich can draw on extensive experience. The eye specialists in Zurich carry out several thousand eye surgeries every year. The well-respected eye clinic IROC in the heart of Zurich is equipped with the latest technology and lasers of the latest generation to meet every challenge.

The team of specialists offers the entire spectrum of eye medicine at its eye clinic. Prof. Seiler and his colleagues place the highest value on friendliness, working to the highest scientific standards, and precise diagnosis and therapy.

Eye Cataract: Clear Vision Even at Old Age

Particularly when getting older, opacity in the ocular lens, the so-called cataract, occurs more frequently. Patients complain about a film in the visual field and, at the same time, the intense glare from the exposure of light or at night due to increased refraction of light in the diseased lens. In general, all people develop an opacity in the ocular lens; this is primarily related to UV exposure during increasing life. Besides, there are also forms of cataract, which are congenital or occur in early childhood, which can cause complete blindness. Cataract surgery is the most common surgery carried out by ophthalmologists, and Prof. Dr Dr Seiler and his team have many years of experience.

Keratoconus in the Hands of Specialists

Prof. Dr Dr Seiler is primarily a specialist for surgeries in the anterior segment of the eye. He is one of the pioneers of refractive surgery, especially in the corneal area. Prof. Seiler was involved in the invention of corneal crosslinking for keratoconus in 1995.

Prof. Seiler is regularly confronted with the clinical picture of the so-called keratoconus. This disease leads relatively quickly to a severe deterioration of the visual acuity, usually in the dominant eye due to progressive corneal changes. The disease often affects both eyes and was only treatable by corneal transplantation in the past. A highly modern form of therapy is customized crosslinking, in which the changes in the cornea can usually be slowed down or even stopped and patients can be given sufficient vision.

Eyesight and good visual acuity are decisive for a high quality of life and for participating in everyday life. If your vision is deteriorating, please contact Prof. Dr Dr Seiler with confidence.

Glaucoma 

Prof. Maya Müller has been performing glaucoma surgery for more than 25 years. Her broad area of expertise is minimally invasive eye surgery. She worked at the University of Lübeck for 14 years. Today she works at the Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmo-Surgery in Zurich.

The term glaucoma refers to several eye diseases that irreversibly damage the optic nerve and retinal cells, which leads to a progressive reduction of the visual field. In the late stage, only a very central residual function remains, and complete blindness may even result. Even optimal therapy cannot reverse existing damage. Only the progression can be delayed or stopped. The most frequent cause is increased intraocular pressure, mainly due to a drainage obstruction of the aqueous humor.

The most important goal of the treatment is the permanent reduction of intraocular pressure. In the beginning, this is done by applying eye drops, which must be used meticulously. If the disease is advanced or if the therapy with eye drops is not sufficient, there are now gentle surgical procedures to normalize the eye pressure. The great advantage is that the anatomical structures of the eye are completely preserved. Earlier surgical methods, on the other hand, were subject to risks and complications, which is why they were postponed for a long time. Today, with the new procedures, the goal is to avoid any damage to the optic nerve  as much as possible and to stop glaucoma.

Canaloplasty from the inside - as the gentle minimally invasive glaucoma surgery is called - does not require an implant as conventional procedures do. An implant can slip or become blocked. Such risks are eliminated from the very beginning with canaloplasty because the natural drainage pathway of the eye is restored during canaloplasty.

A tiny catheter, which is a quarter of a millimeter thin, is inserted into the drainage channel of the eye from the inside, and hyaluronic acid is used to gently dilate the blocked drainage pathways. This restores the eye's natural drainage and lowers intraocular pressure. After the complete drainage pathway around the eye is reopened, the ultra-thin catheter is removed, and the procedure is completed with no implant left behind.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) 

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common reason for the deterioration of vision in old age. At an older age, it comes to changes in the middle of the retina (macula), which causes a progressive decrease of visual acuity in the middle of the eye. The moist form of age-related macular degeneration can be treated with injections into the posterior segment of the eye at intervals of several weeks.

The most important goal of the treatment is the permanent reduction of intraocular pressure. In the beginning, this is done by applying eye drops, which must be used meticulously. If the disease is advanced or if the therapy with eye drops is not sufficient, there are now gentle surgical procedures to normalize the eye pressure. The great advantage is that the anatomical structures of the eye are completely preserved. Earlier surgical methods, on the other hand, were subject to risks and complications, which is why they were postponed for a long time. Today, with the new procedures, the goal is to avoid any damage to the optic nerve as much as possible and to stop glaucoma.

Diabetics Retinopathy And Hypertensive Retinopathy

Patients who have diabetes have an increased risk of damage to the retina. High blood sugar levels can cause severe damage to the tiny veins that supply nutrients to the retina and visual cells. But, high blood pressure can also be responsible for retinopathy. As a result, the retina is insufficiently supplied with blood, and small bleedings occur selectively. At the same time, new blood vessels are increasingly forming. If diabetic retinopathy is not treated in time, it can lead to blindness. Retinal damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed. Early treatment aims to stop the disease and prevent the formation of new blood vessels. Laser therapy, but also injections that inhibit the growth of blood vessels, are effective.

Retinal Detachment

This relatively rare eye disease occurs predominantly in the elderly - but can also affect younger patients. Due to age-related changes, the vitreous body, which adheres to the retina at specific points, becomes smaller. This can cause the retina to tear partially. If fluid penetrates the opening, the retina can detach from its base. Incipient retinal detachment requires immediate treatment, as it can lead to blindness. Existing tears or holes in the retina can usually be treated with a laser - if the retina is already detached, the eye specialist in Zurich carried out a surgery to fix the retina again.

Eyelid Surgery

As a designated specialist in ophthalmology, surgical interventions on the eyelids are also part of Prof. Seiler's treatment focus. Eyelids form a functional unit with the compound eye - that is why eyelid correction also requires the highest level of expertise in ophthalmology. Surgery in the eyelids can be of cosmetic and/or medical nature.

Cosmetics Eyelid Surgery 

A congenital or acquired eyelid malposition (ptosis), in which an eyelid hangs down over parts of the eyeball, is a possible reason for a cosmetic intervention. But also, malpositions of the lid edge, where the lid edge is tilted inwards or outwards (entropion or ectropion), are reasons for having surgery. Likewise, a rather rare congenital cleft formation of the eyelid (lid coloboma). Technically speaking, these are not pure cosmetic eyelid corrections - because the malpositions usually also have a health aspect (restriction of the visual field, mechanical irritation of the cornea, drying of the conjunctiva). But the cosmetic correction of drooping eyelids is also part of Prof. Seiler's range of treatments.

Medical Eyelid Surgery 

Malignant tumors can also develop in the eyelids. The basal cell carcinoma - colloquially, also called white skin cancer, is probably the most common tumor in the eyelid. It mostly affects older people and appears in the form of small lumps on the edge of the eyelid. If removed early, a basalioma does not develop any metastases.

Another type of tumor that can affect the eye is melanoma, a tumor in the choroid that is noticed by tissue growths in the eye. In contrast to the basal cell carcinoma, a uveal melanoma forms distant metastases. Therefore, early surgical removal of the uveal melanoma is particularly important.

Squamous cell carcinoma or epidermoid carcinoma is a rare proliferation of the eyelid, which, like most other eyelid tumors, is associated with excessive exposure to sunlight. Aesthetics also play a role in removing eyelid tumors, where the proficiency of the surgeon is required to achieve an aesthetically pleasing result for the patient.

Eye Laser Center Zurich: Individual Care And Therapy

No two human eyes are the same - consequently, an individual therapeutic approach is required. Prof. Seiler relies entirely on customized treatment concepts that exactly meet the needs of every patient and every eye disease. During a detailed preliminary examination, you can address Prof. Seiler with any questions you may have. If you finally want to enjoy sports and the daily routine without burdening, annoying glasses, contact our specialist!

An expert team trained at IROC offers standard eye laser technology at the highest medical level at reasonable prices in the in 2018 founded, YOUSEEZÜRI Eye Laser Center, the subsidiary clinic of IROC.

Finally, Life Without Glasses

Prof. Dr Dr Seiler’s specialty is refractive surgery, the surgical correction of visual defects. In this way, he can help his patients permanently and enable them to lead a future life without glasses. Currently, the most common form of therapy to correct defective vision is LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis). Besides, the cornea responsible for the defective vision can also be surgically modified by photo-ablative refractive keratectomy (PRK) or SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction).

PRK (Photo-Ablative Refractive Keratectomy) 

Photo-ablative refractive keratectomy is one of the oldest and most established laser procedures. Even today, PRK is still one of the most frequently used surgeries when it comes to correcting myopia and astigmatism. During the treatment, the epithelial layer of the cornea is carefully ablated with the laser to eliminate the ametropia. This procedure is also used for surface treatment of corneal scarring. 

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) 

The SMILE method is one of the latest procedures for laser correction of defective vision. In contrast to other techniques, the lenticular tissue previously ablated by the laser is removed through a tiny lateral incision in the cornea - the anterior part of the cornea remains intact. With this practical and gentle method, even the correction of severe ametropia (up to - 10 diopters) is possible.

Please, visit the website of the IROC Ophthalmic Clinic and the YOUSEEZÜRI Eye Laser Center for further information.