Ulrich Spandau studied medicine at the University of Würzburg in Germany before completing residencies in the Departments of Ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Mannheim-Heidelberg. He undertook further surgical training at the Eye Clinic, Koblenz and became an accredited specialist in ophthalmology in 2003. In 2004 Dr. Spandau was appointed Oberarzt (consultant) in the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mannheim-Heidelberg and he subsequently became Vice Director of the department. He completed his PhD and received his venia legendi in 2005. In 2008 Dr. Spandau became Consultant and Head of Surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Uppsala, Sweden. He has been an associate professor since 2013. He has published 52 in indexed, peer-reviewed journals and is co-author of the previous Springer book, Practical Handbook for Small-Gauge Vitrectomy.