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Medical Specialty

Ophthalmology

Surgical Specialties
Ophthalmology
Origin Couching, the earliest form of cataract surgery, is documented from antiquity; the American Ophthalmological Society was founded 7 June 1864, and the joint ophthalmology and otolaryngology academy split into independent academies in 1979.

The specialty concerned with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye, including surgical treatment. It is among the oldest documented surgical specialties, with cataract removal practiced in the ancient world for millennia before evolving into modern cataract extraction in the eighteenth century. In the United States it organized nationally in 1864 and shared a joint professional academy with otolaryngology from 1896 until the two specialties formally separated in 1979.

Facts
Origin Period
Couching, the earliest form of cataract surgery, is documented from antiquity; the American Ophthalmological Society was founded 7 June 1864, and the joint ophthalmology and otolaryngology academy split into independent academies in 1979. 2
Classification
Type/Classification
Surgical Specialty 1
Ophthalmology
Filter Results1 entry
FAQs

What was couching in early cataract surgery?

Couching was the ancient cataract operation of pushing the clouded lens out of the way with a needle.

Couching is the earliest documented form of cataract surgery. A long sharp needle or spine was used to dislodge the clouded lens and push it toward the bottom or back of the eye. It belongs to the ancient surgical practice that the American Academy of Ophthalmology museum traces back to the Sushruta Samhita, and it was practiced for millennia before modern cataract extraction developed in the eighteenth century. This describes a historical technique, not current medical advice.
Connections

Associated With

Cataract Surgery, Treatments

Cataract surgery, from ancient couching to Jacques Daviel's 1750 extracapsular extraction, is ophthalmology's oldest and most emblematic procedure.

Source Surgery's Ancient Roots
Cataracts, Conditions
Conjunctivitis, Conditions

Inflammation of the conjunctiva ("pink eye"); ophthalmology specialty.

Glaucoma, Conditions
LASIK, Treatments
Otolaryngology, Medical Specialties

Otolaryngology and ophthalmology shared a single joint professional academy in the United States from 1896 until they formally separated into independent academies in 1979.

Source History of AAO-HNS/F
Source Stargardt disease (Wikipedia)

Notable Specialists

Source Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf (Wikipedia)
Source Antonio Scarpa (Wikipedia)
Source Bruno Fleischer (source article)
Source Carl Ferdinand von Arlt (Wikipedia)
Source Dietrich Georg von Kieser (source article)
Eduard Zeis, Healers
Source Eduard Zeis (Wikipedia)
Eduard Zirm, Healers
Source Eduard Zirm (Wikipedia)
Source Edward Percival Wright (Wikipedia)
Source Edwin Theodor Saemisch (Wikipedia)
Source Franz Ignaz Pruner (source article)
Fred Hollows, Healers
Source Fred Hollows (Wikipedia)
Source Friedrich August von Ammon (Wikipedia)
Source Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg (source article)
Source Georg Bartisch (source article)
Source George James Guthrie (source article)
Source Govindappa Venkataswamy (Wikipedia)
Source Herman Snellen (Wikipedia)
Source Jacques Daviel (Wikipedia)
Source Jacques Guillemeau (Wikipedia)
Source Jakob Stilling (source article)
Source Johann Friedrich Horner (Wikipedia)
Source Johann Nepomuk Rust (source article)
John Hulke, Healers
Source John Hulke (Wikipedia)
Julius Scriba, Healers
Source Julius Scriba (Wikipedia)
Source Karl August Burow (Wikipedia)
Source Graefe, Karl Ferdinand von (Neue Deutsche Biographie)
Source Karl Gustav Himly (source article)
Source Karl Stargardt (Wikipedia)
Source Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria (Wikipedia)
Source Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck (source article)
Max Linde, Healers
Source Max Linde (Wikipedia)
Source Maximilian Joseph von Chelius (source article)
Nan Hayworth, Healers
Source Nan Hayworth (Wikipedia)
Otto Schirmer, Healers
Source Otto Schirmer (source article)
Source Philipp Franz von Walther (Wikipedia)
Source Pierre Demours (Wikipedia)
Source Renée Richards (Wikipedia)
Source S. S. Badrinath (Wikipedia)
Sanduk Ruit, Healers
Source Sanduk Ruit (source article)
Source Shinobu Ishihara (Wikipedia)
Uğur Erdener, Healers
Source Uğur Erdener (Wikipedia)

Treats

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Medical specialty
WikipediaClassification table
Quote, Classification table
Surgical specialties focus on manually operative and instrumental techniques to treat disease.
View the Source
2. About (American Ophthalmological Society)
American Ophthalmological Societyaosonline.org About page, main content area
Quote, aosonline.org About page, main content area
The American Ophthalmological Society (AOS) is a medical society of ophthalmologists and the second oldest specialty medical society in the United States, after the New York Ophthalmological Society (founded on March 7, 1864). It was founded on June 7, 1864 by 18 physicians, including Henry Noyes, D. B. St. John Roosa, and Edward Delafield.
View the Source
Surgery's Ancient Roots
American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • aao.org museum blog, Surgerys Ancient Roots, Sushruta Samhita discussion
    Couching, the earliest form of cataract surgery, is described as using a long sharp needle or spine to dislodge the cloudy lens and push it towards the bottom or back of the eye.
  • Associated With: Cataract Surgery
View the Source
History of AAO-HNS/F
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck SurgeryAssociated With: OtolaryngologyView the Source
Renée Richards (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Renée Richards, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Renée Richards, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
is an American ophthalmologist and former tennis player
View the Source
Shinobu Ishihara (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Shinobu Ishihara, Lead sentence, specialty
Quote, Notable Specialists: Shinobu Ishihara, Lead sentence, specialty
was a Japanese ophthalmologist who created the Ishihara color test to detect colour blindness
View the Source
Herman Snellen (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Herman Snellen, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Herman Snellen, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
was a Dutch ophthalmologist who in 1862 introduced the Snellen chart
View the Source
Fred Hollows (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Fred Hollows, Lead
Quote, Notable Specialists: Fred Hollows, Lead
became known for his work in restoring eyesight
View the Source
Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, Lead and biography [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, Lead and biography [specialist-in]
Then he studied ophthalmology under Professor Deutschland
View the Source
Stargardt disease (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Stargardt disease, Treatment
Quote, Associated With: Stargardt disease, Treatment
ophthalmologists recommend measures that could slow the rate of progression
View the Source
Karl Stargardt (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Karl Stargardt, Lead sentence
Quote, Notable Specialists: Karl Stargardt, Lead sentence
was a German ophthalmologist
View the Source
Antonio Scarpa (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Antonio Scarpa, Article text
Quote, Notable Specialists: Antonio Scarpa, Article text
father of Italian ophthalmology
View the Source
Nan Hayworth (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Nan Hayworth, Lead and biography [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Nan Hayworth, Lead and biography [specialist-in]
is an American ophthalmologist
View the Source
John Hulke (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: John Hulke, Lead paragraph or Medical career section
Quote, Notable Specialists: John Hulke, Lead paragraph or Medical career section
made his special mark as an ophthalmologist
View the Source
Julius Scriba (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Julius Scriba, Biography, subjects taught
Quote, Notable Specialists: Julius Scriba, Biography, subjects taught
taught surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology and gynecology
View the Source
Graefe, Karl Ferdinand von (Neue Deutsche Biographie)
Notable Specialists: Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe, NDB Biographie
Quote, Notable Specialists: Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe, NDB Biographie
G. war ein glänzender Operateur und Augenarzt.
View the Source
Georg Bartisch (source article)
Notable Specialists: Georg Bartisch, Article text, career [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Georg Bartisch, Article text, career [specialist-in]
He is credited for producing the first Renaissance manuscript on ophthalmic disorders and eye surgery
View the Source
Max Linde (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Max Linde, Lead, first sentence
Quote, Notable Specialists: Max Linde, Lead, first sentence
was an ophthalmologist who is best known as a patron and art collector
View the Source
Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf, Article body [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf, Article body [specialist-in]
In 1853 he became an associate professor of surgery and ophthalmology at Breslau
View the Source
Friedrich August von Ammon (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Friedrich August von Ammon, Article body [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Friedrich August von Ammon, Article body [specialist-in]
Friedrich August von Ammon (10 September 1799-18 May 1861) was a German surgeon and ophthalmologist born in Göttingen.
View the Source
Uğur Erdener (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Uğur Erdener, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Uğur Erdener, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
is a Turkish physician specialized in ophthalmology
View the Source
Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg (source article)
Notable Specialists: Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg, Third paragraph
Quote, Notable Specialists: Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg, Third paragraph
his interest turned to ophthalmology
View the Source
Karl August Burow (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Karl August Burow, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Karl August Burow, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
in which he specialized in ophthalmology and surgery
View the Source
Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck (source article)
Notable Specialists: Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck, Lead and biography text
Quote, Notable Specialists: Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck, Lead and biography text
was a German surgeon, ophthalmologist and anatomist
View the Source
Dietrich Georg von Kieser (source article)
Notable Specialists: Dietrich Georg von Kieser, Biography [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Dietrich Georg von Kieser, Biography [specialist-in]
Kieser operated a private ophthalmology clinic from 1831 to 1847
View the Source
Jacques Guillemeau (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Jacques Guillemeau, Lead paragraph
Quote, Notable Specialists: Jacques Guillemeau, Lead paragraph
He is credited for making pioneer contributions in the fields of obstetrics, ophthalmology and pediatrics.
View the Source
Johann Nepomuk Rust (source article)
Notable Specialists: Johann Nepomuk Rust, Biography, Charité clinic
Quote, Notable Specialists: Johann Nepomuk Rust, Biography, Charité clinic
director of the new surgical/ophthalmological clinic at the Charité
View the Source
Pierre Demours (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Pierre Demours, Biography
Quote, Notable Specialists: Pierre Demours, Biography
he specialized in the anatomy and diseases of the eye and became a successful oculist
View the Source
Eduard Zeis (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Eduard Zeis, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Eduard Zeis, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
was a German surgeon and ophthalmologist born in Dresden
View the Source
Philipp Franz von Walther (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Philipp Franz von Walther, Article text
Quote, Notable Specialists: Philipp Franz von Walther, Article text
Walther is best known for his pioneer work in ophthalmology and ophthalmic surgery
View the Source
Edwin Theodor Saemisch (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Edwin Theodor Saemisch, Lead paragraph, specialty
Quote, Notable Specialists: Edwin Theodor Saemisch, Lead paragraph, specialty
Saemisch specialized in eye disorders
View the Source
Jakob Stilling (source article)
Notable Specialists: Jakob Stilling, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Jakob Stilling, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
was a German ophthalmologist from Kassel
View the Source
Franz Ignaz Pruner (source article)
Notable Specialists: Franz Ignaz Pruner, Lead section and biography
Quote, Notable Specialists: Franz Ignaz Pruner, Lead section and biography
He was later named professor of ophthalmology at Cairo.
View the Source
Otto Schirmer (source article)
Notable Specialists: Otto Schirmer, Lead paragraph
Quote, Notable Specialists: Otto Schirmer, Lead paragraph
Otto Schirmer (13 December 1864, in Greifswald, 6 May 1918) was a German ophthalmologist from Greifswald.
View the Source
Karl Gustav Himly (source article)
Notable Specialists: Karl Gustav Himly, Lead sentence
Quote, Notable Specialists: Karl Gustav Himly, Lead sentence
was a German surgeon and ophthalmologist from Braunschweig.
View the Source
Maximilian Joseph von Chelius (source article)
Notable Specialists: Maximilian Joseph von Chelius, Lead sentence
Quote, Notable Specialists: Maximilian Joseph von Chelius, Lead sentence
was a German surgeon and ophthalmologist born in Mannheim.
View the Source
Bruno Fleischer (source article)
Notable Specialists: Bruno Fleischer, Lead sentence [in-group]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Bruno Fleischer, Lead sentence [in-group]
was a German ophthalmologist.
View the Source
Carl Ferdinand von Arlt (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Carl Ferdinand von Arlt, Lead and biography
Quote, Notable Specialists: Carl Ferdinand von Arlt, Lead and biography
was an Austrian ophthalmologist
View the Source
Eduard Zirm (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Eduard Zirm, Lead sentence
Quote, Notable Specialists: Eduard Zirm, Lead sentence
Eduard Konrad Zirm (18 March 1863-15 March 1944) was an Austrian ophthalmologist who performed the first successful human full-thickness corneal transplant on 7 December 1905.
View the Source
Jacques Daviel (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Jacques Daviel, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Jacques Daviel, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
was a French ophthalmologist
View the Source
Johann Friedrich Horner (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Johann Friedrich Horner, Lead [in-group]
Quote, Notable Specialists: Johann Friedrich Horner, Lead [in-group]
was an ophthalmologist based at the University of Zurich
View the Source
S. S. Badrinath (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: S. S. Badrinath, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
Quote, Notable Specialists: S. S. Badrinath, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
was an Indian ophthalmologist
View the Source
Govindappa Venkataswamy (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Govindappa Venkataswamy, Lead sentence
Quote, Notable Specialists: Govindappa Venkataswamy, Lead sentence
Govindappa Venkataswamy (1 October 1918-7 July 2006), popularly known as Dr V., was an Indian ophthalmologist
View the Source
Edward Percival Wright (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Edward Percival Wright, Family, education and career
Quote, Notable Specialists: Edward Percival Wright, Family, education and career
Wright next studied ophthalmic surgery in Vienna, Paris and Berlin.
View the Source
George James Guthrie (source article)
Notable Specialists: George James Guthrie, Lead [specialist-in 2]
Quote, Notable Specialists: George James Guthrie, Lead [specialist-in 2]
Lectures on the Operative Surgery of the Eye (1823
View the Source
Sanduk Ruit (source article)
Notable Specialists: Sanduk Ruit, Lead
Quote, Notable Specialists: Sanduk Ruit, Lead
is an ophthalmologist from Nepal
View the Source
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