User:Erik Mertens/Erik Mertens

Erik L.J.G. Mertens (born 10/02/1965) is founder, CEO and medical director of Medipolis Eye Center in Antwerp (Wilrijk).

Biography
Dr. Mertens graduated from the University of Antwerp in 1991. He then followed his residency in ophthalmology from 1991-1995 studying refractive surgery, cataract surgery, corneal transplantation and treatments that eliminate the need for reading glasses. In 2009 he founded a new multidisciplinary clinic in Antwerp, Belgium (Wilrijk), called 'Medipolis, Antwerp Private Antwerp Clinic'. Medipolis is the only ophthalmological centre in Belgium to have obtained the KIWA quality certificate.

Medipolis Eye Center Antwerpen
In October 2015, Dr. Mertens graduated from the Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, USA, as Physician CEO. He is currently director and eye surgeon of the Medipolis Eye Center in Belgium. This eye centre specialises in the prevention and treatment of eye diseases, abnormalities and in surgery of the anterior segment of the eye.

Wetenschappelijke bijdrage
Dr. Mertens used his expertise to become a specialist in the field of refractive surgery and small incision cataract surgery. His extensive expertise in refractive surgery has led him to write more than 400 scientific articles for national and international conferences and gave more than 600 presentations, both nationally and internationally. He also performs live surgery sessions at national and international congresses.

Dr. Mertens is chief medical editor of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. He is also a member of the international editorial board of Journal of Refractive Surgery and World Journal of Ophthalmology. He is also a scientific reviewer for 'Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Journal of Ophthalmology and Journal of Refractive Surgery.

Erik Mertens is chief instructor and moderator of various courses on treatments to eliminate the need to wear glasses and contact lenses. He performed the first femtosecond laser cataract surgery in Belgium in September 2012 and, to date, more than 4,200 of these treatments. He received the ‘ASCRS film festival award’ for the best video in the field of refractive surgery at the Symposium of the ‘American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2004’. He was ‘Arthur Culler Memorial Lecturer 2005’ at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

At the OB 2019 congress (Academia Ophthalmologica Belgica) he received the award for ‘best rapid fire presentation’ (early clinical experience with a new Selective Laser Capsulotomy device (SLC)).

He was principal investigator in 5 GCP Clinical Trials (Acufocus (IC-8 lens in 2015), Ophtec (2016), Medicem (2016-2017), STAAR Surgical (2018-2019), Allotex (2018-2020)) and sub-investigator in five other clinical trials.

Dr. Mertens is a member of various organisations:

 * Fellow van European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO)
 * Member of European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS)
 * Member of International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)
 * International Member of American Academy of Ophthalmology
 * Co-founder of AECOS (American-European college of Ophthalmic Surgeons)
 * President AECOS Europe (2019-2021)
 * Member of ‘Refractive Surgery Alliance’
 * Consultant for STAAR Surgical, PhysIOL, Ellex, Allotex, Ophtec, Hoya, Zeiss, Tearlab, Medicontur, MST, Excel-Lens en Optovue.

External links
Medipolis Eye Center (Antwerp, Wilrijk)

http://www.zien.be

Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today

World Journal of Ophthalmology

ASCRS film festival award

Publicaties

 * Mertens E, Ingels W, Claeys J, Esteve-Taboada JJ. Toric V4c Implantable Collamer Lens with Central Hole Implantation in Eyes with Myopic and Mixed Astigmatism: One-Year Follow-Up (submitted for publication Br J Ophthalmol.)
 * Ang M, Reinstein D, Gatinel D, Trattler W, Mertens E. A Comprehensive review and update on ‘refractive surgery’ (submitted for publication Eye, 2020)
 * Chiambaretta F, Pleyer U, Behndig A, Pisella PJ, Mertens E, Limao A, Fasce F, Fernandez J, Benmoussa SE, Labetoulle M, Cochener B. Pupil dilation dynamics with an intracameral fixed combination of mydriatics and anesthetic during cataract surgery . J Cataract Refract Surg. 2018 Mar;44(3):341-347
 * Dick HB, Piovella M, Vukich J, Vilupuru S, Lin L, Grabner G, Findl O, Mertens E, Schmickler S, Tetz M, Szurman P, Morselli S, Gundersen K, Fernandez J, Medicute J. Prospective multicenter trial of a small-aperture intraocular lens in cataract surgery . J Cataract Refract Surg. 2017 Jul;43(7):956-968
 * Lundstom M, Dickman M, Henry Y, Manning S, Rosen P, Tassignon MJ, Young D, Stenevi U, Hodge C, Lawless M, Roberts TV, Sutton G, Ingels W, Mertens EL, Netukova M, Stodulka P, Herbst T, Holland D, Filkon T, Nagy ZZ, Mastropasqua L, Vecchiarino L, Liguabe E, Gualdi L, Gualdi M, Perone G, Belluci R, Cargoni M, Nuijts RMMA, van de Biggelaar FJHM, Guell JL, Ayoglu B, Goker S, Asena BS, Barlett J, Daya S, Espinosa-Lagana M, Stevens JD, Sunga C. Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgeries reported to the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery: Baseline characteristics, surgical procedure, and outcomes . J Cataract Refract Surg. 2017 Dec;43(12):1549-1556
 * Labetoulle M, Findl O, Malecaze F, Alio J, Cochener B, Lobo C, Lazreg S, Hartani D, Colin J, Tassignon MJ, Behndig A, Bonicel P, Bosc JM, Malacaze F, Mertens E, Fernandez J, Grabner G. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a standardised intracameral combination of mydriatics and anaesthetics for cataract surgery . Br J Ophthalmol. 2016 jul;100(7):976-985
 * Mertens EL. Toric phakic implantable collamer lens for correction of astigmatism: 1-year outcomes . Clin Ophthalmol. 2011;5:369-75
 * Mertens EL, Sanders DR, Vitale PN. Custom-designed toric phakic intraocular lenses to correcti high corneal astigmatism . J Refract Surg. 2008 May;24(5):501-6
 * Mertens E, Tassignon MJ. Detachment of iris claw haptic after implantation of phakic worst anterior chamber lens: case report . Bull Soc Belge Ophtalmol. 1998;268:19-22
 * Sys J, Michielsen J, Mertens E, Verstreken J, Tassignon MJ. Central retinal artery occlusion after spinal surgery. Eur Spine J. 1996;5(1):74-5
 * Mertens E, Trau R, Zen J, Haustrate F. Optical zone centration: a retrospective analysis of the excimer laser after three years . Lasers in Ophthalmology IV, 1996
 * Mertens E, Smets RM, Sys J, Michielsen J, Verstreken J, Tassignon MJ. Central retinal artery occlusion after back surgery: a case report . Bull Soc Belge Ophtalmol. 1995;255:127-31
 * Mertens E. Chapter 12:Posterior Chamber Toric Implantable Collamer Lenses – Literature Review. Astigmatism: Optics, Physiology and Management, Published: February 29th 2014 ISBN: 978-953-51-0230-4