Medical Antiques: Ophthalmic Surgical Instruments

Ophthalmic Surgery Sets

Eye surgery is typically thought of as a modern day surgical skill. In fact, the ancient East Indians were using long thorns to dislocate cataracts to improve vision in the fifth century A.D. As can be seen in these examples of eye surgery sets from the 1800's, the techniques and delicate surgical instruments were well developed and practiced by the medical community of the time.

Unique small cased Ophthalmologic surgery kit, c. 1863, by G. Tiemann, Manufacturer of surgical and dental instruments, 63 Chatham St., N.Y. More than likely this set is one of two that belonged in a much larger Tiemann surgical set. It stands alone and may have been sold as a separate set, but has been seen as a component of a larger set.

c. 1863 case top. This is the type of wood case that was part of a larger surgical set. This set is complete and in excellent condition.

Top: a later ophthalmic surgery set by Weiss and Son, 287 Oxford St. London, c. 1890; Bottom: an early set by John Weiss, 62 Strand London, c. 1840. (Note: The addresses pin down the time frame) Both sets have ivory handles and contain delicate knives for ocular surgery.
c. 1890 case top
c. 1840 case top

Surgeon's magnifying eye glasses, c.1870's.

Topical Index for General Medical Antiques

Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques Index

Alphabetical Index for American Civil War Surgical Antiques

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