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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Ophthalmoscope, steel, brass and glass, by Collin and Co. of Paris, late 19th century
Herman von Helmholtz (1821-1894) invented the ophthalmoscope in 1851. It is a simple, highly effective instrument used to view the interior of the eye. Helmholtz reasoned an observer placing his eye in the path of light reflected from the back of a subject’s eye (through the pupil) could see the subject’s retina. Helmholtz used glass plates angled at 45 degrees to reflect sunlight into the eye. In this example, a ratchet mechanism rotates two wheels of lenses in front of a perforated mirror.
Details
- Category:
- Ophthalmology
- Object Number:
- A625215 Pt1
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass, steel (metal)
- type:
- ophthalmoscope
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- ophthalmic equipment
- ophthalmic instrument
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Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
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