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In AD 1088, Abu Ruh, a surgeon from Persia, wrote a book called "The Light of The Eyes." The book encompassed many diseases, treatment methods, surgical procedures, and the anatomy of the eye. The book outlined many eye operations that became very relevant during his time period in parts of the Middle East around the 11th century. His ideas led to major advancements in surgical procedures of the eye and would influence future surgical procedures in the middle east.  The image below presents an excerpt from the book, which was written in Arabic.

Source:
(1)
https://islam.wikia.org/wiki/Islamic_ophthalmology
(2)
https://muslimheritage.com/eye-specialists-in-islamic-cultures/

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Before the 17th century, there wasn't a clear idea of where images were formed in the eye. Near the beginning of the 17th century, Johannes Kepler, an astronomer from Germany, discovered the true path of light in the eye which is through the retina. The discovery led to major advancements in the field of vision by explaining many concepts such as central visual acuity, dark adaptation, and errors of refraction. The image below represents Kepler's discovery, portraying a field of light through the eye forming an image on the retina.

Source:
(1)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3520121/

(2)
https://sites.google.com/a/stoningtonschools.org/ms-perachio/science-units/eye

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A cataract is a condition causing a clouding of the lens of the eye leading to visual impairment. A variety of methods were used throughout time to remove cataracts including Couching, and Extracapsular Cataract Extractions.

The image below shows a drawing of a Couching procedure taking place, one of the earliest methods of removing a cataract. This required a sharp needle to pierce the eye and dislodge the cataract outside of the visual axis. This was the primary procedure to remove cataracts throughout Europe up until the 18th century.

In 1751, The French Surgeon Jacques Daviel discovered a new way to remove cataracts through a method called Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE), which was performed by making corneal incisions and using needles to puncture and remove the lens.

The ECCE method was a major advancement in the field of eye surgery and became the prominent method of visual correction in 18th century Europe, replacing Couching and paving the way for future techniques.

Source:
(1)
https://eyewiki.aao.org/History_of_Cataract_Surgery

(2)
https://www.aao.org/exhibition-detail/cataract-surgery-couching-to-phaco

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In 1786, Georg Joseph Beer opened the first eye hospital in Vienna, Austria, proving free care to patients. This lead to his establishment of the Vienna School of Ophthalmology. Beer's services and care as a surgeon lead to the establishment of many more ophthalmology schools around Europe, helping establish ophthalmology as a legitimate and important field of care throughout Europe. The image below shows a recent image of the Vienna School of Ophthalmology located in Vienna, Austria. This department is still open to this day.

Source:
(1)
Medina, Christopher M., "The life and contributions of Georg Joseph Beer" (1992). College of Optometry. 1000. https://commons.pacificu.edu/opt/1000

(2)
https://www.ern-eye.eu/ern-eye-network/ern-affiliated-partners/center-for-inherited-retinal-disorders-and-neuroophthalmology-dpt-of-ophthalmology-medical-university-of-vienna

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In 1851, German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz, was credited with the invention of the Ophthalmoscope in Germany.  This instrument was to be used for inspecting the back of the eye including areas such as the retina, optic disk, and blood vessels. The tool can detect eye diseases such as glaucoma.

This use of the ophthalmoscope spread across the world. It was a major advancement in the field of ophthalmology and in the field of vision due to its ability to its ability to detect numerous diseases in a short amount of time.

The image below shows an example of an older opthalmoscope. The instrument has been modified many times over the years however it still serves the same function.

Source:
(1)
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003881.htm#:~:text=It%20is%20used%20to%20detect,that%20affect%20the%20blood%20vessels.

(2)
https://www.britannica.com/technology/ophthalmoscope

(3)
http://www.mrcophth.com/Historyofophthalmology/ophthalmoscope.html

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Claudius Galenus would be the best option to guide you through the exhibit. Claudius Galenus was a physicist and biologist born in 129 AD in Pergamon, Turkey. Galenus had an extensive knowledge of the eye, defining many anatomical and physiological features. He is credited with describing various important sections of the eye including the retina, iris, uvea, and cornea in the 2nd century.

When studying the eye, one of his primary focuses was on the function of the crystalline lens. Galenus correctly discovered that the crystalline lens play a primary role in vision. Galenus's discoveries and contributions helped lay the foundation for future innovations and procedures regarding the eye.

Source:
(1)
https://web.stanford.edu/class/history13/earlysciencelab/body/eyespages/eye.html#:~:text=In%20the%20second%20century%20A.%20D.,eyes%20through%20hollow%20optic%20nerves.

(2)
http://famousbiologists.org/galen/

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The image below shows a close-up overview of how LASIK eye surgery is conducted. A flap is created in the cornea which is then reshaped using a laser. This surgery is conducted to correct visual problems such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. This procedure is conducted around the world but most common in first world countries such as the United States and many countries in Europe.

The works of Abu Ruh and Johannes Kepler helped lay out the foundation for the invention of LASIK eye surgery by providing information on the anatomical structure of the eye and how light travels through the eye. Without their contributions the surgery could not be performed due to the surgery requiring high precision cuts in specific areas.

Georg Joseph Beer's contributions including the first eye hospital created more emphasis on the importance of ophthalmology and taking care of the eye. Without his influence, ophthalmology would not be taken as seriously and future innovations such as LASIK may have never been invented.

Source:
(1)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774