Karl Stellwag von Carion
Encyclopedia
Karl Stellwag von Carion (January 28, 1823 - November 21, 1904) was an Austrian ophthalmologist who was a native of Langendorf, a village in Moravia
.
He studied medicine at Prague
and Vienna
, where in 1847 he received his medical doctorate. After graduation he was an assistant in the department of ophthalmology
at Vienna General Hospital
. In 1854 he was a private lecturer at the University of Vienna
, where in 1857 he attained the title of "professor extraordinarius". In 1873 he became a full professor of ophthalmology at the university. During his years in Vienna, he also taught classes at Josephs Academy (Josephinum).
Stellwag von Carion made contributions in his investigations of glaucoma
, accommodation
and light polarization, and is remembered for his extensive research involving anomalies of refraction. In 1856 he coined the term ectopia lentis
, when describing a patient who had congenital lens dislocation.
He was the author of many works in the field of ophthalmology, including the widely popular Lehrbuch der praktischen Augenheilkunde (Handbook of Practical Ophthalmology), which was later translated into English, Italian and Hungarian. His name is lent to Stellwag's sign
, which is a sign of infrequent or incomplete blinking associated with exophthalmos
.
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
.
He studied medicine at Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and 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...
, where in 1847 he received his medical doctorate. After graduation he was an assistant in the department of ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
at Vienna General Hospital
Vienna General Hospital
The Vienna General Hospital is the University medical center of the city of Vienna, Austria. The AKH is the largest hospital of Austria and Europe, the second largest hospital in the world, and at 85-m high is one of the tallest hospital buildings in the world...
. In 1854 he was a private lecturer at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, where in 1857 he attained the title of "professor extraordinarius". In 1873 he became a full professor of ophthalmology at the university. During his years in Vienna, he also taught classes at Josephs Academy (Josephinum).
Stellwag von Carion made contributions in his investigations of glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
, accommodation
Accommodation (eye)
Accommodation is the process by which the vertebrate eye changes optical power to maintain a clear image on an object as its distance changes....
and light polarization, and is remembered for his extensive research involving anomalies of refraction. In 1856 he coined the term ectopia lentis
Ectopia lentis
Ectopia lentis is a displacement or malposition of the eye's crystalline lens from its normal location. A partial dislocation of a lens is termed lens subluxation or subluxated lens; a complete dislocation of a lens is termed lens luxation or luxated lens.-Ectopia lentis in dogs and cats:Although...
, when describing a patient who had congenital lens dislocation.
He was the author of many works in the field of ophthalmology, including the widely popular Lehrbuch der praktischen Augenheilkunde (Handbook of Practical Ophthalmology), which was later translated into English, Italian and Hungarian. His name is lent to Stellwag's sign
Stellwag's sign
Stellwag's sign is a sign of infrequent or incomplete blinking associated with exophthalmos or Graves orbitopathy. It is accompanied by Dalrymple's sign, which is a retraction of the upper eyelids resulting in an apparent widening of the palpebral opening....
, which is a sign of infrequent or incomplete blinking associated with exophthalmos
Exophthalmos
Exophthalmos is a bulging of the eye anteriorly out of the orbit. Exophthalmos can be either bilateral or unilateral . Measurement of the degree of exophthalmos is performed using an exophthalmometer...
.
Selected publications
- Theorie der Augenspiegel : auf elementarem Wege aus den Grundsätzen der Optik entwickelt (Ophthalmoscope Theory); 1854
- Die Ophthalmologie vom naturwissenschaftlichen Standpunkte (Ophthalmology from a Natural Scientific Standpoint); 1853-58
- Lehrbuch der praktischen Augenheilkunde (Handbook of Practical Ophthalmology); 1862
- Atlas der pathologischen Histologie des Auges (Atlas of Pathological Histology of the Eyes); (in collaboration with, and published by Carl WedlCarl WedlCarl Wedl was an Austrian pathologist who was a native of Vienna.In 1841 he obtained his doctorate in Vienna, and subsequently practiced medicine in Ischl and Salzburg...
(1815-1891). - "Treatise on the diseases of the eye including the anatomy of the organ". Translated and edited by D.B. St.John Roosa, C.S. Bull and C.E. Hackley. 4th edition. William Wood & Co. New York. 1873. 915p. 124 ill.