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The Invention of Spectacles between the East and the West |
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By: FSTC Limited, Wed 12 November, 2008 |
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The following article by the expert scholar Lutfallah Gari surveys the historical sources to uncover the ancient history of the invention of spectacles. To the question "where and when were they invented?", and after a close investigation in the some original sources and a survey of secondary literature, the author shows the evidence in favor of the determining role played by Arabs and Muslims in the early history of this tremendous tool.
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Salahuddin ibn Yusuf (1290 C.E.) |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 July, 2007 |
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Salahuddin ibn Yusuf (1290 C.E.) Salahuddin Ibn Yusuf from Hammah (Syria) in 1290 C.E. wrote a book called "The Light of the Eyes" in which he discussed new work on the optical theory of vision.
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Khalifa ibn al-Mahasin (1260 C.E.) |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 July, 2007 |
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Kalifah Ibn Al-Mahasin of Allepo or Haleb (Syria) who flourished around 1260 CE wrote a book of 564 pages in which he describes and provides diagrams of various surgical instruments including 36 instruments for eye surgery.
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Kamal Al-Din Al-Farisî (d. 1320) |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 July, 2007 |
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Kamal Al-Din Al-Farisî observed the path of rays of light in the interior of a glass sphere in order to examine the refraction of sunlight in rain drops. This led him to an explanation of the genesis of primary and secondary rainbows.
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Al-Ghafiqi (d. 1165) |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 July, 2007 |
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Al-Ghafiqi, from Spain, wrote a book in the 12th century called Al-Murshid fil Kuhl (The Right Guide in Ophthalmology).
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Al-Jurjani (1088 C.E.) |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 July, 2007 |
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Al-Jurjani (1088 C.E.) Al-Jurjani was an excellent surgeon from Persia who flourished around 1088 C.E., and wrote a book entitled "Nur-ul-'Ayun" (The Light of the Eyes).
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Ammar ibn Ali al-Mosuli (1010 C.E.) |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 July, 2007 |
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Ammar ibn Ali al-Mosuli (1010 C.E.) Ammar ibn Ali al-Mosuli flourished around 1010 C.E.
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Ali ibn Isa (9th Century) |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 July, 2007 |
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One of the outstanding classical works "Memorial of Ophthalmology" was written by Ali Ibn Isa. This work built on and further developed Galen and other Greek medical scientists.
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Eye Specialists in Islam |
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By: FSTC Limited, Thu 20 December, 2001 |
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"I invite you... to go back with me 1000 years to consider the fascinating history of the old Arabian ophthalmology which I have studied in the past five years." With these words Julius Hirschberg, addressing the American Medical Association in July 1905, presented the work of Muslim ophtalmologists. Inspired by the pionnering work of the eminent German expert, Dr Ibrahim Shaikh describes in brief in this well informed article the contributions of Al-Ghafiqi, Ibn al-Haytham, Salahuddin Ibn Yusuf, Kalifah of Aleppo, Zarrindast, and Ammar Al-Mosuli. He devotes a special interest to the first description of cataract operation by Al-Mosuli and its subsequent impact on the works of his followers.
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