JKU Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry Becomes One of the Nation's Leading Departments

The department has the highest number of publications per capita of all university eye departments in Austria.

In absolute numbers, the JKU department ranks second only to the University Hospital of Vienna in the number of publications.

FWF Grant for Univ. Prof. Priv. Doz. Dr. Nino Hirnschall

The research efforts on artificial lens calculation using artificial intelligence carried out in Linz in recent years are now being intensified as part of the FWF clinical research grant (KLIF) "Kunstlinsenberechnung mittels künstlicher Intelligenz" and there are plans to develop a new model for artificial lens calculation. This new model should in future allow even more patients to live without glasses after cataract surgery - a problem that affects over 100,000 Austrians every year. The project combines various artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches and uses neural network concepts. It is being developed in Linz in collaboration with the Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The approach will then be evaluated and expanded in cooperation with Moorfields Eye Hospital in London (UK).

FWF Grant for Priv. Doz. Dr. Clemens Strohmaier
The individual FWF project titled "Regulationsmechanismen in der episkleralen Zirkulation" is investigating the reasons for the inadequate effectiveness of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. It applies novel measurement methods to better understand the physiology of eye pressure regulation and to make it usable for future therapies. The project is being carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology in collaboration with partners in the USA and is also an essential part of training young scientists for international careers.

In addition, Priv. Doz. Hirnschall and Dr. Leon Pomberger will be receiving the City of Linz Health Award in September for the digital keratoconus outpatient clinic they set up at the department. Dr. Josef Huemer has also been recognized. In September, he received the Euretina Retinal Medicine Clinical Research Award 2025 for a project aimed at identifying previously unknown biomarkers for internal diseases in laser scans of the retina. The European Society of Retinal Specialists honors individual projects and their initiators every year.