A projection device for projecting at least one image onto a projection surface is provided. According to the present disclosure, a control device of the projection device is designed, on the basis of an evaluation of at least one measured value of a measuring device of the projection device determined during a drive of a discharge lamp of the projection device with a current waveform to be checked, to check the current waveform in respect of its suitability for minimizing an electrode burn-back of a first electrode and a second electrode, and in the case of a positive check result, to retain the checked current waveform, and in the case of a negative check result, depending on a checked commutation vector characterizing the checked current waveform, to create, by means of a specifiable algorithm, a modified commutation vector that characterizes a modified current waveform.