From left to right: District Governor of LIONS District 113 Luxembourg Stefan Chorus, Board of Directors of the Klaus Faber Foundation Dr. Andreas Schmitt, Vice District Governor of LIONS District 111 Central South Jean-Michel Postorino, Immediate Past District Governor of LIONS District 113 Luxembourg Daniel Becker, Head of the Saarland University Eye Hospital Prof. Dr. Berthold Seitz, Chairman of LIONS Clubs International Foundation LCIF Dr. Naresh Aggarwal (New Delhi, India) and Membership Chairperson of LIONS District 113 Luxembourg Petra Bernd.
Generous donations made the establishment of this unique centre for corneal diseases possible in the first place
This was made possible by a generous donation of €1.2 million from the Klaus Faber Foundation and a support of $100,000 from the LIONS Clubs International Foundation.
We transformed the former operating rooms of the clinic into a state-of-the-art complex. Covering more than 150 m², the cornea bank accommodates for a large, well-structured office area, a reception area for patients, relatives and visitors as well as for the necessary storage rooms with state-of-the-art incubation, cooling and freezing equipment. A sophisticated airlock system directs both staff and materials from the outside area into the heart of the cornea bank, a laboratory area with the highest cleanroom quality.
In addition to this state-of-the-art clean room cornea bank, the "Klaus Faber Center for Corneal Diseases incl. LIONS Cornea Bank Saar-Lor-Lux, Trier/West Palatinate" includes another unique selling point which is the Department of Ophthalmology at the UKS, which underlines the value and importance of teaching and practical training:
Three permanent wetlabs with six operating microscopes for the training of surgeons.
Training in these training operating rooms provides both young and experienced surgeons the opportunities to learn practical skills in new techniques. In addition to training young surgeons in-house, the University Eye Hospital also offers multiple training sessions each year on wound care, suturing techniques, especially penetrating and lamellar keratoplasty techniques (various techniques for performing corneal transplantation) for external participants. These trainings are so well received by physicians in Germany and abroad that there is already a waiting list for the coming year.
The significance of this lighthouse project is evidenced by numerous guests, officials and dignitaries accepting Professor Dr. Seitz's invitation and attending the inauguration ceremony of the "Klaus Faber Center for Corneal Diseases incl. LIONS Cornea Bank Saar-Lor-Lux, Trier/West Palatinate" in the auditorium of the University Eye Hospital.
Until late in the evening, the guests enjoyed the unique opportunity to visit this otherwise strictly closed facility and to experience its importance first-hand.
From left to right: Professor Dr. Schmitt (President of Saarland University), Dr. Schmitt (Chairman of the Klaus Faber Foundation), Ms. Bachmann (Minister for Social Affairs, Health, Women and Family), Professor Dr. Seitz (Director of Saarland University Eye Hospital) and Mr. Schneidewind (Mayor of Homburg).
Professor Dr. Seitz (Director of the Saarland University Eye Hospital) and Dr. Schmitt (Chairman of the Klaus Faber Foundation)
Lecture hall of the Saarland University Eye Hospital
Lecture hall of the Saarland University Eye Hospital
Press reports
SR3 Saarlandwelle, Region in the afternoon
