Gerd U. Auffarth MD, FEBO graduated from Medical School at the RWTH Aachen, Germany and completed his Ophthalmology residency in Aachen and at the University Eye Clinic Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg.

He has been a Max-Kade Post-doctoral Stipendary and Research fellow at the Centre for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices at the Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA, also known as “David Apple Laboratory”

He is chairman of the Dept. of Ophthalmology at the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg since 2011, Director of the David J. Apple International Laboratory for Ocular Pathology, and Director of the International Vision Correction Research Centre (IVCRC).

In 2014, 2016, 2018 #2, 2020, 2022 and 2023, Prof. Auffarth was ranked as one of the most influential people in Ophthalmology in the world. Until today, he received more than 200 awards for his scientific works.

He serves on the board of the German Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (DGII) since 20 years in the capacity of board member, secretary, president and as secretary general. He was president of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and is former board member of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS).

He is publishing more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, over 1500 lectures and over 1000 invited speeches and produced numerous award-winning scientific videos.

His main research interests focus on the biomaterial and implant research in cataract and laser surgery of the eye. His surgical expertise includes cataract and refractive, as well as cornea and glaucoma surgery. He was the first surgeon worldwide to implant a toric, aspheric, multifocal IOL and pioneered in several new intraocular lens prototypes.

He was involved in charity programs in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe South Asia and was the first western surgeon, who did eye surgery in North Korea.