Beaming faces and a great atmosphere at the graduation ceremony of Aalen University of Applied Sciences: 20 Bachelor's and Master's graduates were happy about the successful completion of their optometry/optometry studies on Saturday. The 18th Karl Amon Optometry Award was also awarded, as part of the graduation ceremony. This year, the prize, worth a total of 2,000 euros, went to Xenia Bieche and Natascha Lanz.
High practical relevance
Once again this year, the highly-respected Karl Amon Optometry Award was awarded at the graduation ceremony of Aalen University of Applied Sciences. One of the two award-winning Master's theses, which, according to the top-class jury, has a high practical relevance for ophthalmic optics and optometry, deals with the training of disorders in binocular vision. The second final thesis is dedicated to the best possible treatment of eyes with pathological changes, such as keratoconus, i.e. the cone-shaped protrusion of the cornea. In his laudatory speech, Karl Amon, the founder of the award, emphasized the importance of both theses for the industry and the future of ophthalmic optics and optometry.
Comprehensive reference work
Natascha Lanz from Switzerland has produced a manual for optometric visual function training under the professional supervision, counselling support, mentoring of Katja Schiborr, Master's graduate and highly committed lecturer from Würzburg. It includes diagnostics, classifications, eye exercises and training plans for funding accommodation, binocular function and oculomotor function. As part of this master's thesis, a comprehensive reference work has been created based on the integrative analysis of the two US scientists Scheiman and Wick. The QR codes for the accompanying videos are very helpful for practical experience. These videos clearly demonstrate the practice classes, making it easier to put them into practice.
Better contact lens care
In close collaboration, cooperation with her employer, the Swiss manufacturer of rigid contact lenses, Appenzeller, Xenia Bieche retrospectively investigated the frequency of scleral asymmetries in over 1100 eyes with pathological changes in her thesis, which also won the Karl Amon Optometry Award. By way of explanation: the sclera is the white, shaping outer layer of the eye up to the edge of the cornea. Xenia Bieche's statistics-based analysis shows that clinically relevant asymmetry is present in around two thirds of eyes. Individually shaped, asymmetrical or segmented large dimensionally stable contact lenses, which not only cover the entire cornea of the eye, but also parts of the conjunctiva or sclera, i.e. so-called scleral lenses, lead to successful treatment significantly more often than rotationally symmetrical contact lenses with standard geometries. The results of this master's thesis will therefore help to reduce "trial and error" in contact lens fitting. This will enable a more targeted fitting of contact lenses that stabilizes visual acuity and noticeably improves the quality of life of those affected.
Info: Anyone interested in scientifically sound optometry skills taught at Aalen University of Applied Sciences by professors with experience in the practice; should apply for the approximately ten vacancies available each year in the part-time masters/master's programme M.Sc. Vision Science and Business (Optometry). The applicant portal of Aalen University of Applied Sciences for the start in summer 2026 has already been activated for this masters/master's programme. The program director, Prof. Dr. Anna Nagl, will be happy to answer your questions at any time.
