Who We Are

Sight is regarded by many people as the most precious of all senses. The eyes are the sensory organ we depend on most. It is therefore all the more important to entrust your eyes only to the most reliable, experienced and professional physicians. With thousands of successful cataract operations, complex retinal surgeries and tumour operations, ophthalmologist Doz. Dr. Werner Wackernagel is your trusted partner for your most precious sense, especially in challenging medical and surgical situations. More than 20 years of surgical experience, with training at the Medical University of Graz, the Cleveland Clinic (Ohio), the Royal Liverpool University Hospital Trust (UK), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Keck School of Medicine (USC) and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, as well as self-developed techniques for subretinal surgery and biopsy, guarantee composure and surgical safety even in challenging cases. His specialty in clinical-conservative ophthalmology focuses on diseases of the retina and vitreous, in particular retinal holes and tears, as well as ophthalmo-oncology.

The surgical focus in our practice is now further strengthened, particularly in lid surgery, by ophthalmologist Dr. Mona Schneider. Her specialties in conservative ophthalmology include neuro-ophthalmology, retinology – diabetes and macular degeneration – and ophthalmo-oncology. As long-standing head of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Clinic at the University Eye Hospital Graz, she developed it into Austria’s reference centre and achieved its admission to the European Union’s Reference Centre Network. She is your contact for complex clinical cases.

Born in Graz in 1974, I completed my medical studies at the Karl-Franzens University of Graz (1992–1999). After receiving my doctorate sub auspiciis praesidentis—the highest academic honor awarded by the President of Austria—I immediately began my specialist residency in ophthalmology and optometry, specializing early on in retinal diseases and ocular oncology.

From 2005 to 2007, I completed a fellowship in ocular oncology at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic (Ohio, USA) under Professor Arun Singh. Further international clinical stays included:
St. Paul’s Eye Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital Trust under Prof. Bertil Damato, MD.
S:t Eriks Ögonsjukhus at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm under Prof. Stefan Seregard.
The Eye Department of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California under Prof. Linn Murphree.

Upon returning to Graz in 2007, I pursued advanced training in retinal and cataract surgery. During this period, I developed specialized techniques for subretinal biopsies of intraocular tumors for histological and genetic typing. This work led to the establishment of an internationally recognized ocular oncology specialty unit in Graz, with research published in premier journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Genetics.
Collaborations with the Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and the medical technology industry (M&R) resulted in innovative therapeutic methods, earning the Fast-Forward Award of the State of Styria for the development of MedEyeTrac.

Since 2008, I have been a member of the Commission for Oncology and Pathology of the Austrian Ophthalmological Society (ÖOG), which I chaired from 2018 to 2022. As of December 2025, my scientific work is reflected in an h-index of 20 with 4,053 citations.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&q=werner+wackernagel&btnG=

Zur Ergänzung meiner medizinischen Ausbildung um wirtschaftliche Kenntnisse und zur Entwicklung einer wissenschaftlich fundierten Führungskompetenz absolvierte ich 2013/14 den Lehrgang für medizinische Führungskräfte an der Medizinischen Universität Graz sowie anschließend (2015–2017) ein MBA-Studium an der Executive Academy Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Triple Crown mit Akkreditierung durch EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA).

Following my senior academic qualification (Habilitation) in 2014, I led the surgical ocular oncology clinic and the Retinoblastoma Center at the University Eye Hospital Graz. Beginning in 2017, I also worked at the Sehzentrum group practice, before deciding in 2020 to establish my own independent surgical ophthalmological practice, eyeside.

Today at eyeside, I provide high-quality, evidence-based, university-caliber ophthalmological care. My focus remains on eye surgery—particularly cataract and retinal surgery—as well as ocular oncology and retinology. A core priority of mine is ensuring low-threshold access to eye care. My goal is to make top-tier medicine available within the public health insurance system. To achieve this, our practice’s organizational and treatment processes are continuously optimized and evaluated through the ongoing ORIG.at project.

Ein besonderes Anliegen ist mir ein niederschwelliger Zugang zur augenärztlichen Betreuung. Mein Ziel ist es, Spitzenmedizin auch im kassenärztlichen Bereich verfügbar zu machen. Dazu werden die Organisation und die Behandlungsabläufe der Ordination laufend optimiert und über das Begleitprojekt ORIG.at konstant evaluiert und weiterentwickelt.

I was born in Graz and completed my medical studies at the University of Graz in the minimum required time, supported by multiple merit-based scholarships. My academic path included an international year at the Università degli Studi Firenze in Italy. Since the earliest stages of my training, I have dedicated my career to the most complex intersections of vision and neurology.

The Authority in Neuro-Ophthalmology
Widely recognized by peers as a leading authority in the field, I specialize in neuro-ophthalmology, where I address the most intricate diagnostic challenges. My clinical focus includes:
Optic Nerve Pathologies: Unrivaled expertise in managing papilledema (optic disc swelling) and genetic optic nerve diseases, including rare conditions such as LHON (Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy) and OPA1-related disorders.
Diagnostic Excellence: I am frequently consulted for “medical detective” cases involving rare macular diseases. Much like a diagnostic specialist for the eye, I take a deep-dive, evidence-based approach to uncover the underlying causes of vision loss that others may find inexplicable.
Comprehensive Retinology: Extensive experience in treating diabetes-related conditions and macular degeneration.

Surgical Precision
In addition to my diagnostic work, I am a highly specialized surgeon focusing on the delicate field of eyelid surgery. This includes:
Plastic-Reconstructive Surgery of the eyelids.
Tumor Surgery and advanced ocular oncology.

Fortbildungen und Hospitationen – unter anderem an der neuroophthalmologischen Ambulanz des AKH Wien (2013) und an der Universitäts-Augenklinik Tübingen (2018) – dienten der Vertiefung meiner Expertise und der internationalen Vernetzung. Unter meiner Leitung wurde die Ambulanz für Neuroophthalmologie als Affiliated Partner in das Europäische Referenznetzwerk (ERN) der EU aufgenommen.

As the long-standing Head of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Specialty Unit at the University Eye Hospital Graz, I transformed the department into Austria’s primary reference center. Under my leadership, the clinic achieved prestigious recognition as an Affiliated Partner of the European Reference Network (ERN), a distinction reserved for centers of the highest medical caliber. My international expertise has been further honed through clinical residencies at AKH Vienna and the University Eye Hospital Tübingen.

Since 2023, I have served as a lead partner at eyeside alongside Dr. Werner Wackernagel. Here, I combine my passion for scientific research with high-stakes clinical practice, continuing my work at the European level through the ERN to ensure our patients receive the most advanced care available worldwide.