About us

PD Dr. med. Karen B. Schaal, F.E.B.O, FMH,

Retinal specialist, focus: age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

2021
Venia Docendi for Ophthalmology (Privatdozentin), awarded by the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern

2016
Certificate of Advanced Ophthalmic Imaging Research

Program at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, FL, USA (No. 1 eye clinic in the USA)

2011

Specialist in ophthalmology (German specialist examination in Freiburg i.Br, Germany, and FEBO examination (European specialist examination) in Paris

2005
State examination (license to practice medicine)

2003
Dissertation and colloquium for the award of the doctoral degree (Molecular biology dissertation with the topic: Investigations on the hemin uptake of the outer membrane protein OMP89 from Bartonella henselae); Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Freiburg

December 2019
Research funding from the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation for the scientific project: Changes in the posterior segment of the eye in dystrophia myotonica 1 / Curschmann-Steinert disease: A genotype-phenotype correlation. (in the amount of CHF 75,000.00).

Sept 2013 – April 2016
32-month DFG scholarship for a research stay with Philip Rosenfeld at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, USA (No. 1 eye clinic in the USA)

02/2021
Award of the Venia Docendi for Ophthalmology (Diploma); Medical Faculty of the University of Bern

12/2005
Doctorate (Dr. med. – Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg)

11/2005
License to practice medicine (third section of the medical examination)

11/2003

Dissertation and colloquium for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (Molecular biology dissertation with the topic: Investigations on the hemin uptake of the outer membrane protein OMP89 from Bartonella henselae); Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany

10/1998 – 11/2005

Study of human medicine at the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany

2021

Habilitation; award of the Venia Docendi for Ophthalmology (Diploma); Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern

May 2011

German specialist examination for ophthalmology (Freiburg i.B.)

May 2011

European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma (E.B.O.D.; Paris)

since January 2024

Foundation of the Bellevue Retinal Center

from July 2023
Self-employed (ad interim) as a retina specialist at the Glaucoma Eye Clinic Zurich

from December 2021

Medical director of Vista Eye Clinic Zurich, as well as medical director of all Vista eye practices in Zurich

from January 2020

Medical Site Manager Medical Retina, Vista Diagnostics Zurich

from Nov 2018
Head Physician, Vista Diagnostics Zurich

as of July 1, 2016

Senior Physician, Inselspital Bern, CH, Department of Ophthalmology (focus on retina and retinal research)

September 2013 – April 2016

International clinical research fellow with Philip Rosenfeld as part of a 32-month DFG fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA

March 2013 – Aug 2013
6-month international clinical research fellowship in Larry Yannuzzi’s private practice group at Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York (VRMNY), NYC, NY, USA

Jan 2012 – Feb 2013
Maternity and parental leave

June 2011 – Dec 2011

Worked as a specialist, Heidelberg University Eye Clinic