History of Ophthalmology in Islamic World

Majority of practical terms in ophthalmology were compiled firstly in Muslims` medical dictionary. Anatomical and pathological terms such as retina and cataract were improved in this lexicon. Mohammad Ghazi, in journal of Azziae, has considered ophthalmology as an innovation which was firstly introduced by Muslim Arabs. Their attempts promoted this science and retained it the best for a long time. The publications of these scientists had been taught at European universities as the final notions on ophthalmology till the beginning of the eighteenth century. They also had valuable discoveries in this regard. Razi, for the first time, explained pupillary light reflex and Pur Sina (Avicenna) by performing eye autopsy illustrated eye muscles and their function in The Canon of Medicine. Ibn al-Haytham`s broad knowledge of light rules and natural sciences, acquired from Muslim scientists, resulted in revolution and progress of preceding concepts and developed optic science. In this paper the history of ophthalmology in Islamic world is reviewed.