The standard at the time prior to Ammar’s new technique was known as a “couching” cataract operation, in which a needle or probe was inserted at the edge of the cornea to push the lens aside. Ammar disapproved of this procedure because of the detrimental side effects associated with it, and instead decided to make an incision in the conjunctiva behind the limbus where the cornea and conjunctiva join (2). A copper or gold hollow needle was then used to suck the cataract (3). The previous standard was to have patients lie on their backs for multiple days to avoid cataract migration, yet with Ammar’s procedure, patients did not need to do so as they could see immediately (2). The image above is a painting of him performing his innovative suction method in Mosul, Iraq in ca. 1000 (1).

This artifact shines a light on the impact Arabic cultures and Middle Eastern scholars like Ammar had on the progressing knowledge and understanding of vision that has increased success rates for this now common procedure. Ammar Al-Mawsili was the first to describe cataracts as the blurring of the lens, and the procedures he performed are considered some of the first successful extraction operations (4).

Sources: 

(1) https://islaminindonesia.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/ammar/

(2) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1553350615618289?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

(3) Origins of Neuroscience: A History of Explorations Into Brain Function. By Stanley Finger

(4) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367006523_The_first_cataract_extraction_operations

While we know that Vesalius was not the first to complete illustrate anatomy, his work was some of the most influential pieces in our understanding of the anatomy of the eye, brain, and many other structures. Despite some errors that were later corrected, he accompanied his text with pictures that have played a significant step in strengthening the field of vision in neuroscience.

Sources:
(1) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andreas-Vesalius#ref97183

(2) Origins of Neuroscience: A History of Explorations Into Brain Function. By Stanley Finger

(3) Then there were 12: The illustrated cranial nerves from Vesalius to Soemmerring. By Catherine E. Storey

The gif above is from page in Georg Bartisch's Ophthalmodouleia that displays the flaps lifted up to show the different layers (2). Not only is this method of demonstrating knowledge and educating the public extremely beneficial to the anatomy of the brain, but it also focuses on the steps required to diagnose or understand symptoms of eye disorders that can greatly benefit the public. 

Sources:

Sources:

(1) https://novel.utah.edu/Walsh/career.php

(2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0090301985903258?via%3Dihub

The image displayed above shows optic neuritis, or the inflammation of the optic nerve, which can lead to pain around the eye and drastic worsening of vision (2). Optic neuritis is one of the many diseases one would see neuro-ophthalmologists for. It could occur on its own or in conjunction with another underlying neurological disease like multiple sclerosis (1). Having doctors who are specialized in this field can help patients navigate nerve dysfunction or other neurological issues related to issues of the eye.

Throughout history, we have seen such tremendous innovation and the spreading of scientific knowledge that has brought scientists and healthcare professionals and scientists to research these specific ailments and provide more precise and personalized care within neuro-ophthalmology.

Sources:

(1) https://neurology.msu.edu/patient-care/neuro-ophthamology

(2) https://aapos.org/glossary/optic-neuritis

Mariotte was also the first to explain why the blind spot does not hinder our sight He explained that because eyes have quick movements and do not look at a single point in the visual field for a long time, and because we mainly see with both eyes rather than just one, the retinal vessels and blind spot do not block our vision (1). 

The image above is a copy of the illustration that appears in Mariotte’s work Ouevres de Mariotte published in 1717 in France (2). This discovery is significant because it provided further insight into neurophysiology. Marriotte also contributed to optics and color perception that have advanced our understanding of how the eye works, but is often overlooked.

Sources:
(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17574069/#:~:text=Abstract,perception%20is%20less%20well%20remembered

(2) http://www.princeton.edu/~hos/mike/texts/mariotte/mariotte.html

The image above is Soemmerring’s diagram of the retina displaying the macula lutea he observed in 1791 in Germany (2). Many of his observations remained unknown for years until a paper with his unexpected discoveries was submitted in 1795 (2). Soemmerring’s investigations on the brain and nervous system made him an impactful anatomist who helped advance scientific knowledge of the eye and nerves.

Sources:
(1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/macula-of-retina

(2) Origins of Neuroscience: A History of Explorations Into Brain Function. By Stanley Finger