Since 2014, at least two individuals have been honored during the International Congress of German Ophthalmic Surgeons (DOC) for their "outstanding lifetime achievements and contributions to ophthalmology" by being inducted into an imaginary "Hall of Fame of Ophthalmology." As of May 16, 2025, Prof. Dr. med. Eberhart Zrenner (Tübingen) has joined this distinguished group.

Pioneer of the Retina Implant and Leading Vision Researcher

Prof. Zrenner served as Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Tübingen and Director of the Institute for Ophthalmic Research at the University Eye Hospital Tübingen. Since 2013, he has held a senior professorship in Ophthalmology at the Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience. As a globally recognized expert on degenerative retinal diseases, he played a key role in developing electronic subretinal implants to restore vision in blind patients. He was also instrumental in pioneering the world’s first ocular gene replacement therapy for color blindness and in initiating gene therapy approaches in Germany for hereditary retinal degeneration. His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including the Ludwig von Sallmann and Karl Heinz Beckurts Prizes. He is a member of both the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences, and has served in numerous high-level scientific advisory roles.

Praise from Esteemed Colleagues

In their laudations, Dr. José-Alain Sahel, Prof. Dr. med. Martin Spitzer, and Prof. Dr. Marius Ueffing (actual Director of the Institute for Ophthalmic Research) emphasized Zrenner’s passionate and persistent work—particularly in developing the first retina implant and gene therapies for patients with retinal degeneration. Marius Ueffing compared the retina implant to the invention of the airplane: “Even if the first product only enabled vision for a limited time, it was a breakthrough. Like the Wright brothers’ first flight—it may not have crossed the Atlantic, but it took off.”

Prof. Zrenner expressed his gratitude, noting that his achievements were only possible due to advancements in materials science and biology. His interdisciplinary background—in biology, physics, physiology, electrical engineering, and ophthalmology—allowed him to collaborate effectively across disciplines. He views the award as a collective recognition of the team. He closed by embracing the flight metaphor: “We’ve taken off. We’re not there yet—but we haven’t crashed. We’ll keep going!” 

Congratulations to Prof. Zrenner on this well-deserved honor!

Link to the original Article (only in German) www.kaden-verlag.de/ueber-uns/nachrichten/neues-detail/eberhart-zrenner-in-die-hall-of-fame-der-ophthalmologie-aufgenommen