Graefe

GRAEFE, Albrecht (Albrecht von Graefe; 1828-70), son of the famous surgeon and ophthalmologist K. F. von Graefe, a renowned ophthalmologist (together with Helmholtz, Donders, and Arlt), reformer and founder of modern ophthalmology. Having received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1847, Graefe (under the influence of the famous ophthalmologist Arlt in Prague) devoted himself to the study of eye diseases. He continued his studies in Paris with Ziegler and Demar, then in Vienna with Jaegers (father and son), in London, and in Glasgow. G. was the first to introduce into ophthalmic practice the ophthalmoscope invented at that time by Helmholtz. In 1854, he founded the largest and best ophthalmological journal to date, 'Archiv für Ophthalmologie,' the first issue of which consisted almost exclusively of the most important works by G. himself. From the following issue, Donders and Arlt joined this journal. Among the numerous works of Graefe, his works on glaucoma ('Fiber die Wirkung der Iridektomie bei Glaukom,' Archiv für Ophthalmologie, Vol. III, 1857) are of particular value for ophthalmology. Ten years later, G. published his method for performing cataract extraction, thanks to which thousands of patients regained their sight, as the number of failures dropped from 10 to 2-3%. In 1857, G. was elected extraordinary, and in 1867 ordinary, professor of ophthalmology. His fame as an outstanding and brilliant teacher and practitioner, as an attractive and humane physician and man, attracted medical students and patients from all over the world to him. Graefe's students, the Graefe school, were found in all parts of the world (including Russia), everywhere propagating his new teachings. At the initiative of the Berlin Medical Society and with the help of donations from all civilized peoples, a monument to G. was erected in front of the Charite Hospital garden in Berlin. In 1928, ophthalmological journals around the world marked the centenary of G.'s birth, the true creator of modern clinical ophthalmology. The well-known guide to eye diseases ('Handbuch der gesamten Augenheilkunde') was founded by G.'s cousin - Alfred Graefe (Alfred Karl Graefe) together with T. Saemisch.