Mag. Mariella Zilahi-Lugbauer MBA
Great surgical training courses don't happen by themselves. Behind every hands-on programme of the Lid Summit's calibre — the equipment, the industry partnerships, the logistical infrastructure, the network of specialists willing to give their time — stands someone who makes it possible. For the Lid Summit, that person is Mag. Mariella Zilahi-Lugbauer, MBA.
Mariella is not a surgeon. She is something equally essential: a connector, a builder, and one of the most deeply networked figures in the Austrian and Central European ophthalmology community. Her contribution to the Lid Summit is the kind that rarely appears on a programme — but without which no programme would exist.
A Family Legacy in Ophthalmology
Mariella Zilahi-Lugbauer is Managing Partner of ASKIN & CO GmbH — Austria's leading full-service provider of ophthalmic equipment and medical products, and a company with a remarkable history at the heart of Austrian eye medicine.
Founded in 1979 by her father, KommR Ing. Herbert Lugbauer, ASKIN & CO has been present at the Austrian Ophthalmologic Society (ÖOG) annual congress every single year since 1981** — an unbroken run of over four decades of commitment to the field. The company has grown from its origins in cataract surgery and intraocular lens distribution into a comprehensive partner for ophthalmic practices and hospital departments across Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, and beyond.
When Mariella took over as Managing Director alongside her brother Ralph, she brought not only a deep professional understanding of the ophthalmic industry, but something rarer: a genuine personal passion for ophthalmology and a vision for how industry and medicine should work together.
“Ophthalmology has always been more than a market for me — it is a community. The best things happen when that community comes together, learns from each other, and builds something it couldn’t build alone. The Lid Summit is exactly that.”
Industry Expertise Across the Full Ophthalmic Spectrum
Through her work at ASKIN & CO — which holds the exclusive Austrian distribution for Heidelberg Engineering, one of the world's most respected names in ophthalmic imaging technology — Mariella has developed a uniquely comprehensive view of the ophthalmic field.
Her portfolio spans the entire clinical chain: from diagnostic devices (OCT, autorefractometry, slit lamps, visual field testing, biometry) to surgical instruments, laser systems, and full practice planning for private clinics and hospital departments. This breadth means she understands what surgeons need — not just in theory, but from thousands of real-world conversations with clinicians at every stage of their careers.
For the Lid Summit, this expertise translates directly into the quality of the training environment: the right instruments, the right setup, the right industry connections to make a hands-on surgical course at this level possible.
A Networked Voice in the Ophthalmic Community
Mariella's influence extends well beyond her company roles. Through decades of presence at congresses, trade events, and scientific meetings — from the ÖOG annual meeting in Austria to international platforms like DMEA Berlin — she has built a network that spans ophthalmologists, surgeons, practice managers, equipment manufacturers, and healthcare system stakeholders across Europe and beyond.
This network is not just professionally valuable — it is one of the key reasons the Lid Summit was able to launch with the faculty quality, the industry backing, and the international reach it achieved from the very first edition. When Mariella believes in a project, the community listens.
Championing Women in Ophthalmology
Beyond her company and industry work, Mariella is a visible and committed advocate for women in ophthalmology — a field where, despite the increasing number of female graduates, leadership positions and speaking slots at major congresses have historically skewed male.
Her advocacy is not performative. It shows up in her networking choices, in the conversations she has at industry events, and in the quiet but consistent way she connects younger female professionals with the mentors, platforms, and opportunities they need. At a time when the ophthalmic surgical community is actively rethinking what diversity at the top looks like, her voice matters.
The Lid Summit's faculty reflects this commitment: a programme that brings together outstanding surgeons regardless of gender, and creates a training space where excellence — not convention — sets the standard.
Why Mariella Zilahi-Lugbauer Makes the Lid Summit Possible
The Lid Summit's promise — hands-on training with cadaveric donors, 15 surgical stations, leading faculty from multiple disciplines, a setting at the Medical University of Innsbruck — requires a level of logistical, relational, and industry coordination that goes far beyond academic organisation alone.
Mariella brought the bridge between the medical and the commercial world that made this possible: the supplier relationships, the trust of the ophthalmic community, the understanding of what surgeons actually need at a hands-on training station, and the conviction that this kind of course was worth building.
In a field where quality training is scarce and demand is growing, that contribution is not a footnote. It is foundational.
Conclusion
Mag. Mariella Zilahi-Lugbauer, MBA represents the essential other half of what makes a great surgical training course: the expertise, relationships, and drive to make it real. With 27 years of leadership experience at ASKIN & CO, deep roots in the Austrian and international ophthalmic community, and a personal commitment to advancing women in the field, she is one of the key reasons the Lid Summit exists — and why it will continue to grow.
👉 Learn more about the Lid Summit | ASKIN & CO | Mariella on LinkedIn
