Ophthalmoscope, Paris, France, 1845-1865
Herman von Helmholtz (1821-1894) invented the ophthalmoscope in 1851. It became the key instrument for viewing the retina and other internal structures of the eye. This simple steel ophthalmoscope is a very early example. It was made by German instrument maker Hermann Wülfing Lüer, in Paris. Early ophthalmoscopes used reflected sunlight from mirrors to view the inner eye. Modern examples use a built-in light source such as a halogen bulb. They assess the inner eye and help diagnose complaints such as glaucoma. Glaucoma is increased pressure within the eyeball, leading to loss of sight.
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The branch of medicine dealing with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways (usually the eyes or the brain).
An instrument for viewing the interior of the eye, particularly the retina. Light is shone into the eye via a mirror (usually concave) and then examined with or without the aid of a lens. Invented by by Hermann Von Helmholtz in 1850