Rudy Nuijts

About Rudy Nuijts

Rudy Nuijts

Professor of Ophthalmology, Vice-Chairman, and Director of the Cornea Clinic and the Center for Refractive Surgery at the University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), the Netherlands.

Rudy was a research fellow at Emory Eye Center, Atlanta (under Henry F. Edelhauser) in 1989 and 1993 where he pioneered the etiology of toxic endothelial cell destruction after cataract surgery (now called TASS, Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome) and initiated research into sustained transscleral drug delivery. His research interests are in the field of corneal surgery and innovations in cataract and refractive surgery. He is (co-)author of more than 200 publications, (co-)promotor of 10 PhD students and gave more than 300 invited lectures. He was a leading figure in the ESCRS PREvention of Macular EDema after cataract surgery (PREMED) study, which was the first international multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial specifically designed to answer questions relating to the prevention of CME after cataract surgery in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, which has recently completed.

He is Chairman of the Netherlands IntraOcular Implant Society (NIOIC), treasurer of the Dutch Corneal Society, board member of EuCornea, and director of the ESCRS, where he also serves as a chairman of the Corneal and Research Committees.

What have been your career highlights?

“Working with Hank Edelhauser in Milwaukee and Atlanta.”

What has been your most successful collaboration?

“Working with all my PhD students.”

What are your plans for the next 10 years?

“Establish our regenerative medicine research and development program.”

What drives you day-to-day?

“Patient and PhD satisfaction!”

Who have been your mentors?

“Hank Edelhauser, Ad Breebaart, Erik Greve, Houdijn Beekhuis.”