Skip to main content
Monika Fleckenstein
( out of 320 reviews )

Monika Fleckenstein, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

  • Monika Fleckenstein, MD, specializes in degenerative retinal diseases, with special focus on AMD and clinical expertise in the management and treatment of all forms of the disease.

    Working with Moran’s Sharon Eccles Steele Center for Trans­lational Medicine (SCTM), Dr. Fleckenstein is an international authority on the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials in retinal diseases.

    Her particular research focus includes the characterization of AMD subtypes by high-resolution retinal imaging and medical sensitivity testing.

    Board Certification

    Medical Association of North Rhine-Ophthalmology

    Patient Rating

    4.8 /5
    ( out of 320 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety.
    Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    August 23, 2023

    Very personable and answered all my questions

    August 23, 2023

    She is a wonderful doctor.

    August 23, 2023

    Excellent in every way!!!

  • Monika Fleckenstein, MD, specializes in degenerative retinal diseases, with special focus on AMD and clinical expertise in the management and treatment of all forms of the disease.

    Working with Moran’s Sharon Eccles Steele Center for Trans­lational Medicine (SCTM), Dr. Fleckenstein is an international authority on the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials in retinal diseases.

    Her particular research focus includes the characterization of AMD subtypes by high-resolution retinal imaging and medical sensitivity testing.

    Education history

    Professional Medical Ophthalmology - University of Bonn Dr. med. habil
    Inherited Retinal Diseases - Johns Hopkins University Research Fellow
    Doctoral Training Experimental Anesthesiology - University of Freiburg Dr. med.
    Medicine - University of Heidelberg School of Medicine M.D.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Mller PL, Pfau M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG (2020). Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography in Geographic Atrophy. Ophthalmologica, 244(1), 42-50.
    2. Pfau M, Jolly JK, Wu Z, Denniss J, Lad EM, Guymer RH, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2020). Fundus-controlled perimetry (microperimetry): Application as outcome measure in clinical trials. Prog Retin Eye Res, 82, 100907.
    3. Pfau M, von der Emde L, de Sisternes L, Hallak JA, Leng T, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M, Rubin DL (2021). Progression of Photoreceptor Degeneration in Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-related Macular Degeneration. JAMA Ophthalmol, 138(10), 1026-1034.
    4. Pfau M, Walther G, von der Emde L, Berens P, Faes L, Fleckenstein M, Heeren TFC, Kortm K, Knzel SH, Mller PL, Maloca PM, Waldstein SM, Wintergerst MWM, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Finger RP, Holz FG (2020). [Artificial intelligence in ophthalmology : Guidelines for physicians for the critical evaluation of studies]. Ophthalmologe, 117(10), 973-988.
    5. Pfau M, von der Emde L, Dysli C, Mller PT, Thiele S, Lindner M, Schmid M, Rubin DL, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2020). Determinants of Cone and Rod Functions in Geographic Atrophy: AI-Based Structure-Function Correlation. Am J Ophthalmol, 217, 162-173.
    6. Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Pfau M, Fleckenstein M, Staurenghi G, Sparrow JR, Bindewald-Wittich A, Spaide RF, Wolf S, Sadda SR, Holz FG (2020). Fundus autofluorescence imaging. Prog Retin Eye Res, 81, 100893.
    7. Sassmannshausen M, Pfau M, Thiele S, Fimmers R, Steinberg JS, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2020). Longitudinal Analysis of Structural and Functional Changes in Presence of Reticular Pseudodrusen Associated With Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 61(10), 19.
    8. Samannshausen M, Zhou J, Pfau M, Thiele S, Steinberg J, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2020). Longitudinal Analysis of Retinal Thickness and Retinal Function in Eyes with Large Drusen Secondary to Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmol Retina, 5(3), 241-250.
    9. Dieck S, Ibarra M, Moghul I, Yeung MW, Pantel JT, Thiele S, Pfau M, Fleckenstein M, Pontikos N, Krawitz PM (2020). Factors in Color Fundus Photographs That Can Be Used by Humans to Determine Sex of Individuals. Transl Vis Sci Technol, 9(7), 8.
    10. Knzel SH, Mller PT, Lindner M, Goerdt L, Nadal J, Schmid M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M, Pfau M (2020). Determinants of Quality of Life in Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 61(5), 63.
    11. Thiele S, Nadal J, Pfau M, Samannshausen M, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmid M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2020). Prognostic value of intermediate age-related macular degeneration phenotypes for geographic atrophy progression. Br J Ophthalmol.
    12. Eter N, Pauleikhoff D, Agostini H, Fleckenstein M, Ziemssen F (2020). [Value and formats of quality assurance : Ophthalmology and intravitreal therapy between reality and wishful thinking]. Ophthalmologe, 117(4), 298-306.
    13. Guymer RH, Rosenfeld PJ, Curcio CA, Holz FG, Staurenghi G, Freund KB, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Sparrow J, Spaide RF, Tufail A, Chakravarthy U, Jaffe GJ, Csaky K, Sarraf D, Mons JM, Tadayoni R, Grunwald J, Bottoni F, Liakopoulos S, Pauleikhoff D, Pagliarini S, Chew EY, Viola F, Fleckenstein M, Blodi BA, Lim TH, Chong V, Lutty J, Bird AC, Sadda SR (2019). Incomplete Retinal Pigment Epithelial and Outer Retinal Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Classification of Atrophy Meeting Report 4. Ophthalmology, 127(3), 394-409.
    14. Pfau M, Mller PT, Knzel SH, von der Emde L, Lindner M, Thiele S, Dysli C, Nadal J, Schmid M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M (2019). Type 1 Choroidal Neovascularization Is Associated with Reduced Localized Progression of Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmol Retina, 4(3), 238-248.
    15. Thiele S, Nadal J, Pfau M, Samannshausen M, von der Emde L, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmid M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Molecular Diagnostic of Age-related Macular Degeneration Study Group (2019). Prognostic Value of Retinal Layers in Comparison with Other Risk Factors for Conversion of Intermediate Age-related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmol Retina, 4(1), 31-40.
    16. von der Emde L, Thiele S, Pfau M, Nadal J, Meyer J, Mller PT, Schmid M, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2019). Assessment of Exudative Activity of Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration by OCT Angiography. Ophthalmologica, 243(2), 120-128.
    17. Pfau M, von der Emde L, Dysli C, Thiele S, Mller PT, Lindner M, Nadal J, Schmid M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M (2019). Light Sensitivity Within Areas of Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 60(12), 3992-4001.
    18. Bhringer D, Goos D, Ach T, Feltgen N, Fleckenstein M, Kohnen T, Lorenz K, Pielen A, Spital G, Wilhelm B, Bhringer S, Reinhard T, Arbeitsgemeinschaft DOG Klinische Studienzentren (2019). [Work sampling in ophthalmological clinical studies. A multicenter field study]. Ophthalmologe, 116(9), 872-878.
    19. Fleckenstein M, Thiele S, Pfau M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG (2019). [Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Epidemiology and Classification]. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd, 236(9), 1068-1075.
    20. Bax NM, Valkenburg D, Lambertus S, Klevering BJ, Boon CJF, Holz FG, Cremers FPM, Fleckenstein M, Hoyng CB, Lindner M, Foveal Sparing Atrophy Study Team FAST (2019). Foveal Sparing in Central Retinal Dystrophies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 60(10), 3456-3467.
    21. Pfau M, Lindner M, Goerdt L, Thiele S, Nadal J, Schmid M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Sadda SR, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M, Fundus Autofluorescence in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Study Group (2018). PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF SHAPE-DESCRIPTIVE FACTORS FOR THE PROGRESSION OF GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY SECONDARY TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. Retina, 39(8), 1527-1540.
    22. von der Emde L, Pfau M, Dysli C, Thiele S, Mller PT, Lindner M, Schmid M, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2019). Artificial intelligence for morphology-based function prediction in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Sci Rep, 9(1), 11132.
    23. Grassmann F, Harsch S, Brandl C, Kiel C, Nrnberg P, Toliat MR, Fleckenstein M, Pfau M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Chew EY, Swaroop A, Ratnapriya R, Klein ML, Mulyukov Z, Zamiri P, Weber BHF (2019). Assessment of Novel Genome-Wide Significant Gene Loci and Lesion Growth in Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. JAMA Ophthalmol.
    24. Lindner M, Pfau M, Czauderna J, Goerdt L, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M (2018). Determinants of Reading Performance in Eyes with Foveal-Sparing Geographic Atrophy. Ophthalmol Retina, 3(3), 201-210.
    25. Birtel J, Lindner M, Mishra DK, Mller PL, Hendig D, Herrmann P, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M, Gliem M, Charbel Issa P (2018). Retinal imaging including optical coherence tomography angiography for detecting active choroidal neovascularization in pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 47(2), 240-249.
    26. Pfau M, Lindner M, Gliem M, Steinberg JS, Thiele S, Finger RP, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2018). Mesopic and dark-adapted two-color fundus-controlled perimetry in patients with cuticular, reticular, and soft drusen. Eye (Lond), 32(12), 1819-1830.
    27. Pfau M, Lindner M, Steinberg JS, Thiele S, Brinkmann CK, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2018). Visual field indices and patterns of visual field deficits in mesopic and dark-adapted two-colour fundus-controlled perimetry in macular diseases. Br J Ophthalmol, 102(8), 1054-1059.
    28. Mller PL, Pfau M, Mller PT, Nadal J, Schmid M, Lindner M, de Sisternes L, Sthr H, Weber BHF, Neuhaus C, Herrmann P, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M (2018). Choroidal Flow Signal in Late-Onset Stargardt Disease and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An OCT-Angiography Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 59(4), AMD122-AMD131.
    29. Lindner M, Kosanetzky S, Pfau M, Nadal J, Gordt LA, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Schmid M, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M (2018). Local Progression Kinetics of Geographic Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Are Associated With Atrophy Border Morphology. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 59(4), AMD12-AMD18.
    30. Thiele S, Pfau M, Larsen PP, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2018). Multimodal Imaging Patterns for Development of Central Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 59(4), AMD1-AMD11.
    31. Sassmannshausen M, Steinberg JS, Fimmers R, Pfau M, Thiele S, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2018). Structure-Function Analysis in Patients With Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 59(3), 1599-1608.
    32. von der Emde L, Pfau M, Thiele S, Mller PT, Hassenrik R, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2018). Mesopic and Dark-Adapted Two-Color Fundus-Controlled Perimetry in Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Transl Vis Sci Technol, 8(1), 7.
    33. Thiele S, Nadal J, Fleckenstein M, Fang PP, Pfau M, Schmid M, Hua R, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2018). Longitudinal Analysis of Drusen Volume in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Two Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Scan Patterns. Ophthalmologica, 239(2-3), 110-120.
    34. Steinberg JS, Samannshausen M, Pfau M, Fleckenstein M, Finger RP, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2017). Evaluation of Two Systems for Fundus-Controlled Scotopic and Mesopic Perimetry in Eye with Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Transl Vis Sci Technol, 6(4), 7.
    35. Oishi M, Oishi A, Lindner M, Pfau M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Fleckenstein M (2017). Structural Changes in Optical Coherence Tomography Underlying Spots of Increased Autofluorescence in the Perilesional Zone of Geographic Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 58(7), 3303-3310.
    36. Pfau M, Lindner M, Muller PL, Birtel J, Finger RP, Harmening WM, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2017). Effective Dynamic Range and Retest Reliability of Dark-Adapted Two-Color Fundus-Controlled Perimetry in Patients With Macular Diseases. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 58(6), BIO158-BIO167.
    37. Pfau M, Goerdt L, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Mauschitz MM, Mishra DK, Holz FG, Lindner M, Fleckenstein M (2017). Green-Light Autofluorescence Versus Combined Blue-Light Autofluorescence and Near-Infrared Reflectance Imaging in Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 58(6), BIO121-BIO130.
    38. Lindner M, Nadal J, Mauschitz MM, Luning A, Czauderna J, Pfau M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Holz FG, Schmid M, Fleckenstein M (2017). Combined Fundus Autofluorescence and Near Infrared Reflectance as Prognostic Biomarkers for Visual Acuity in Foveal-Sparing Geographic Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 58(6), BIO61-BIO67.

    Review

    1. Fleckenstein M, Mitchell P, Freund KB, Sadda S, Holz FG, Brittain C, Henry EC, Ferrara D (2018). The Progression of Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. [Review]. Ophthalmology, 125(3), 369-390.

    Conference Proceedings

    1. Sadda SR, Guymer R, Holz FG, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Curcio CA, Bird AC, Blodi BA, Bottoni F, Chakravarthy U, Chew EY, Csaky K, Danis RP, Fleckenstein M, Freund KB, Grunwald J, Hoyng CB, Jaffe GJ, Liakopoulos S, Mons JM, Pauleikhoff D, Rosenfeld PJ, Sarraf D, Spaide RF, Tadayoni R, Tufail A, Wolf S, Staurenghi G (2018). Consensus Definition for Atrophy Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration on OCT: Classification of Atrophy Report 3. Ophthalmology, United States, 125(4), 537-548.
    2. Holz FG, Sadda SR, Staurenghi G, Lindner M, Bird AC, Blodi BA, Bottoni F, Chakravarthy U, Chew EY, Csaky K, Curcio CA, Danis R, Fleckenstein M, Freund KB, Grunwald J, Guymer R, Hoyng CB, Jaffe GJ, Liakopoulos S, Mones JM, Oishi A, Pauleikhoff D, Rosenfeld PJ, Sarraf D, Spaide RF, Tadayoni R, Tufail A, Wolf S, Schmitz-Valckenberg S (2017). Imaging Protocols in Clinical Studies in Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Recommendations from Classification of Atrophy Consensus Meetings. Ophthalmology, United States, 124(4), 464-478.