Albrecht von Graefe in the present, the past, and the future

Abstract

Albrecht von Graefe (1828-1870) is the founder of this archive (1854) and the founder of modern ophthalmology. In 2020, the anniversary of his death will be observed for the 150th time. The "German Ophthalmological Society" (DOG), also a Graefe foundation (1857), has therefore proclaimed a "Graefe year." In Berlin, his hometown, several Graefe-monuments exist. Ophthalmology owes Albrecht von Graefe numerous first discoveries such as excavation of the optic disc in glaucoma (1855), iridectomy in glaucoma (1857), or central artery occlusion (1859). But his after-effects are not only based on his clinical and scientific merits but also on his extraordinary, fascinating personality, which can be characterized by his spirit of internationality, friendship, self-criticism, love of truth, and modesty. Graefe became a myth not only because of his early death but also because he had apart from great successes, to accept human misfortunes at the same time. Albrecht von Graefe can be regarded as the conscience of ophthalmology in Germany.

Keywords: Albrecht von Graefe; Archive; Influence; Monuments; Scientific work.

Fig. 1)

Albrecht von Graefe at the age of about 25 years [2]

Fig. 2)

Volume 1 of the “Archive for Ophthalmology”, 1854, still without “Graefe”

Fig. 3)

“Archive” of 1871, now, after his death, with the addition of “Graefes”

Fig. 4)

Graefe monument at the Charité. In his right hand Graefe holds an eye mirror of Helmholtz. The bronze statue and majolica reliefs depicting healing seekers and healing finders were created by the sculptor Rudolf Siemering (1835–1905). Unusual for the time was that the figure of Graefe was placed not on a podium, but in a niche. The verse “O a noble gift of heaven is the light of the eye” comes from Friedrich Schiller’s (1759–1805) “William Tell”

Fig. 5)

Commemorative stele in the Berlin Tiergarten from 1970 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Albrecht von Graefe’s death with the inscription “To the brilliant physician and pioneer of ophthalmology”. The wave-like shape of the stele designed by Edzard Hobbing (1909–1974) symbolizes the light waves

Fig. 6)

Tomb of Albrecht von Graefe and his wife (right picture edge) and his parents (left edge of picture) in the cemetery II of the Jerusalem and New Church parish in Berlin-Kreuzberg. On the back of the stele, there are the Bible texts “Love is strong as death” (Song of Songs) and “It is the light sweet and the eyes lovely to see the sun” (Preacher)

Fig. 7)

“Journal of Surgery and Eye Medicine”, 2nd volume of 1821. The father of Albrecht von Graefe, Carl Ferdinand, was responsible as publisher. If you like, this magazine, which only appeared for a few years, was the predecessor of today’s “Graefe’s Archive”

Fig. 8)

“Dr. Gräfe” in his clinic during an operation. The picture was published in 1857 in the then best-known illustrated tabloid “Die Gartenlaube” (“The Gazebo”) [8]. The text for the drawing was written by the physician, journalist and Graefe friend Max Ring (1817–1901). Other reports on Graefe with a drawing appeared in the illustrated magazines “Daheim” (“Home”) 1865, and “Über Land und Meer” (“Over Land and Sea”) 1869