Hjalmar August Schiøtz
Encyclopedia
Hjalmar August Schiøtz was a Norwegian ophthalmologist born in Stavanger
. He studied medicine in Kristiania, Vienna
and Paris
. In 1884 he became head of a polyclinic for ear, nose, throat and eye diseases in Kristiania. Beginning in 1901 he worked solely as an ophthalmologist.
Schiøtz is credited as being Norway's first professor of ophthalmology. He was also a skilled technician and mathematician
. While in Paris, he invented a keratometer
with Dr. Louis Émile Javal
, that was to become known as the Javal-Schiøtz ophthalmometer
. This is an optical instrument used to measure the curvature of the anterior corneal surface
. He demonstrated the device at the 1881 International Medical Congress in London
. In 1905 Schiøtz invented the "Schiøtz tonometer", which is an indentation tonometer used to measure intraocular pressure.
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. He studied medicine in Kristiania, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1884 he became head of a polyclinic for ear, nose, throat and eye diseases in Kristiania. Beginning in 1901 he worked solely as an ophthalmologist.
Schiøtz is credited as being Norway's first professor of ophthalmology. He was also a skilled technician and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
. While in Paris, he invented a keratometer
Keratometer
A keratometer, also known as a ophthalmometer, is a diagnostic instrument for measuring the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, particularly for assessing the extent and axis of astigmatism...
with Dr. Louis Émile Javal
Louis Émile Javal
Louis Émile Javal was a French ophthalmologist born in Paris. Originally trained as a civil engineer, he switched to the medical profession, receiving his degree from the University of Paris in 1868. Following graduation he travelled to Berlin and studied under Albrecht von Graefe...
, that was to become known as the Javal-Schiøtz ophthalmometer
Keratometer
A keratometer, also known as a ophthalmometer, is a diagnostic instrument for measuring the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, particularly for assessing the extent and axis of astigmatism...
. This is an optical instrument used to measure the curvature of the anterior corneal surface
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
. He demonstrated the device at the 1881 International Medical Congress in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1905 Schiøtz invented the "Schiøtz tonometer", which is an indentation tonometer used to measure intraocular pressure.