Pioneering German ophthalmologist Richard Liebreich (1830-1917) devised this ophthalmoscope. It was for use by medical students. The instrument was deliberately simple in design. It was also highly portable and relatively cheap. It proved an enduring design. Liebrich was a leading ophthalmologist of the 1800s. He is best known for the anatomical atlas, devoted to the subject – ‘Atlas des Ophthalmoscopie’. This was published in 1863.

The ophthalmoscope is perhaps the key instrument developed by eye specialists. It lets the physician examine the interior of the eye, particularly the retina, lens and optic nerve.