Matthias Fuest

Matthias Fuest studied human medicine at the University of Freiburg, where he also received his doctorate in 2011. From 2012 to 2015 he headed the corneal bank at the University Hospital Aachen and received a research rotation scholarship from the RWTH at the Singapore Eye Research Institute in 2016. In 2017 he habilitated in ophthalmology with the topic "Systematic disruptive factors in glaucoma diagnostics" at the Medical Faculty of RWTH Aachen University. dr Matthias Fuest convinced the three-person jury with his work on the clinical evaluation of corneal transplantation techniques. In a large prospective case study, he and his group studied the development of vision and acuity in 828 eyes over a five-year period. The study participants suffered from diseases of the cornea - bullous keratopathy, which causes a blister-like swelling of the cornea, or Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, a probably genetic disease in which the cornea becomes cloudy, partially swollen, and inflamed. Study participants were treated with either posterior lamellar keratoplasty (Descemet's Stripping (Automated) Endothelial Keratoplasty, or DSAEK for short) - here, the entire cornea is not removed,

As a result, Dr. Matthias Fuest points out the general superiority of DSAEK over PK with regard to postoperative vision and astigmatism. In addition, the group impressively demonstrated that poor preoperative visual acuity, especially with DSAEK, leads to poorer postoperative visual outcomes, which is most likely due to scarring of the corneal stroma due to chronic corneal edema. Against this background, Dr. Matthias Fuest and his group in a disease of the cornea caused by bullous keratopathy or Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy an early indication for DSAEK in order to achieve the best results.

The Leonhard Klein Foundation for the promotion of science and research in the field of eye surgery was set up in 1989 by entrepreneur Leonhard Klein and his wife Lieselotte. In 1948, the founder founded the special workshop for surgical eye instruments in Heidelberg to develop innovative instruments for ophthalmologists. In 1983 he affiliated his business with an American company and continued to work there as managing director until 1989. In order to preserve their life's work, the Kleins gave their foundation the purpose of promoting eye surgery.

Every year, the Leonhard Klein Foundation awards the internationally advertised Leonhard Klein Prize for innovative, scientific work in the field of microsurgical instrument development and application as well as microsurgical operating technology that goes beyond modifying known procedures. The prize is endowed with 15,000 euros.