Rudolf Schirmer
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Schirmer was a German
ophthalmologist from Greifswald
.
He initially studied medicine at the University of Greifswald, then furthered his studies at Göttingen
, Berlin
, Paris
and Vienna
. Later he returned to Greifswald, where he was habilitated for ophthalmology in 1860. In 1873 he attained the chair of ophthalmology, a position he held until his retirement in 1893. His son, Otto Schirmer
(1864-1918) was also a professor of ophthalmology at Greifswald.
Schirmer is remembered for establishing ophthalmology
as an independent discipline at Greifswald, as well as his research involving the anomalies of refraction
and accommodation
of the eye. He performed extensive studies of diseases involving the lacrimal apparatus
, and in 1860 described the association of facial naevus flammeus with buphthalmos
in a disease now known as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis
. This condition is sometimes referred to as "Schirmer's syndrome".
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ophthalmologist from Greifswald
Greifswald
Greifswald , officially, the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald is a town in northeastern Germany. It is situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at an equal distance of about from Germany's two largest cities, Berlin and Hamburg. The town borders the Baltic Sea, and is crossed...
.
He initially studied medicine at the University of Greifswald, then furthered his studies at Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 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...
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...
. Later he returned to Greifswald, where he was habilitated for ophthalmology in 1860. In 1873 he attained the chair of ophthalmology, a position he held until his retirement in 1893. His son, Otto Schirmer
Otto Schirmer
Otto Schirmer was a German ophthalmologist from Greifswald. He studied medicine at several universities including the University of Greifswald. In 1896 he attained the chair of ophthalmology at Greifswald, a position earlier held by this father, Rudolf Schirmer...
(1864-1918) was also a professor of ophthalmology at Greifswald.
Schirmer is remembered for establishing 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...
as an independent discipline at Greifswald, as well as his research involving the anomalies of refraction
Refraction
Refraction is the change in direction of a wave due to a change in its speed. It is essentially a surface phenomenon . The phenomenon is mainly in governance to the law of conservation of energy. The proper explanation would be that due to change of medium, the phase velocity of the wave is changed...
and 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....
of the eye. He performed extensive studies of diseases involving the lacrimal apparatus
Lacrimal apparatus
The lacrimal apparatus is the physiologic system containing the orbital structures for tear production and drainage.It consists of:* the lacrimal gland, which secretes the tears, and its excretory ducts, which convey the fluid to the surface of the eye;...
, and in 1860 described the association of facial naevus flammeus with buphthalmos
Buphthalmos
Buphthalmos is a medical term that describes enlargement of the eyeball and is most commonly seen in infants and young children. It is sometimes referred to as buphthalmia . It usually appears in the newborn period or the first 3 months of life...
in a disease now known as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis
Sturge-Weber syndrome
Sturge–Weber syndrome, sometimes referred to as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, is a rare congenital neurological and skin disorder. It is one of the phakomatoses and is often associated with port-wine stains of the face, glaucoma, seizures, mental retardation, and ipsilateral leptomeningeal...
. This condition is sometimes referred to as "Schirmer's syndrome".