Leonhard Klein Prize 2021: Prof. Heindl won Germany´s top research award in Ophthalmology

Prof. Dr. Dr. Ludwig Heindl, head of the section of Ophthalmooncology and Ophthalmoplastic Surgery at the University Eye Hospital Cologne and FOR 2240 member, won the Leonard Klein Prize 2021 for his innovative work on improving laser-assisted, minimally invasive lacrimal duct surgery. The prize has been awarded at the annual meeting of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and is the highest prize in ophthalmological research in Germany.

Advances in the fields of endoscopy and laser surgery have enabled Prof. Heindl to develop two new bypass procedures for the treatment of lacrimal duct stenosis, a narrowing of the draining tear ducts, with excellent success rates in recent years.
In transcanalicular laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy, the surgeon inserts a laser fiber through the lacrimal duct and creates a bony ostium toward the nose using laser energy under nasal endoscopic control. In transcaruncular laser-assisted StopLoss-Lester Jones tube surgery, experts insert the laser fiber through a caruncular incision and laser a bony ostium toward the nose, then individually measure and implant a Pyrex glass tube. Both procedures avoid skin incisions in the patient’s face.

“We are very happy that with Prof. Heindl we have a nationally and internationally renowned pioneer in the field of lacrimal duct and eye tumor surgery at the University Hospital in Cologne. The fact that he won the award for the second time after 2017 is a great success,” congratulates Prof. Dr. Claus Cursiefen, Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Cologne and speaker of FOR 2240.