Ernst Fuchs (doctor)

Ernst Fuchs
Born	14 June 1851 Kritzendorf, Austria
Died	21 November 1930 (1930-11-22) (aged 79) Vienna
Nationality	Austrian
Citizenship	Austria
Known for	Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis, Fuch's dystrophy, Fuchs spots
Scientific career
Fields	medicine, ophthalmology
Institutions	Head of second eye clinic of vienna at University of Vienna (1885–1915)

Ernst Fuchs (14 June 1851, Kritzendorf – November 21, 1930, Vienna) was an Austrian ophthalmologist, physician and researcher.

Overview

The importance of Fuchs' life achievement must surely be based on his discovery and description of numerous ocular diseases and abnormalities. As a result of more than 250 scientific publications, the name Ernst Fuchs became well known throughout the world. Although his name is commonly recognized in conjunction with various corneal and anterior segment disorders, Ernst Fuchs' contribution to ophthalmology exceeds purely the delineation of ocular diseases and the detailed description of signs. Fuchs' collection of microscopic samples laid the foundation for anatomical and pathological understanding of blood vessels, muscles, and most other tissues of the eye. Additionally, Fuchs was able to pass on his unique knowledge, educating ophthalmologists at an international level. His Textbook of Ophthalmology (Lehrbuch der Augenheilkunde) was, for many decades, the most extensively used reference book in the field of ophthalmology worldwide.

Fuchs' Textbook of Ophthalmology was first published in 1889. During the following 21 years, he edited 12 of the 18 German editions of the textbook himself. The Textbook of Ophthalmology was translated into numerous languages (including Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, Russian, and Italian). Between 1892 and 1933, 10 British and American editions were published. Later versions were edited by Salzmann, his oldest pupil. In America as well as the Far East, the textbook was considered the bible of ophthalmology for approximately 50 years. The final edition was published in 1945 in German. Other books about normal and pathological anatomy have evolved from Fuchs' textbook.

During his period of clinical practice and education, Austria and particularly Vienna became the centre of ophthalmology world-wide. In fact, Fuchs' success was not limited to Austria-Hungary or Germany, but he was known globally and his works were published in Japanese, Chinese, and English languages. Fuchs also had many international patients, including the wife of Naser al-Din, the Qajar Shah of Persia and a group of his entourage, who came to Fuchs for treatment of cataracts.

International Recognition

Fuchs was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) in 1905.