Arthur von Hippel (physician)
Encyclopedia
Arthur von Hippel was a German ophthalmologist who was a native of Fischhausen, East Prussia
. He was the father of ophthalmologist Eugen von Hippel
(1867-1938).
Arthur von Hippel studied medicine at the Universities of Königsberg
, Munich and Berlin, where he earned his doctorate in 1864. Following graduation he furthered his training in Prague
, and afterwards became an assistant at the eye clinic at Konigsberg. In 1879 he became a "full professor" of ophthalmology
at the University of Giessen
, and in 1890 returned as a professor to the University of Konigsberg
. In 1892 he attained the chair of ophthalmology at the University of Halle, and in 1901 went to Göttingen
, where he was director of the newly-founded University Eye Clinic. He retired in 1914, and was replaced at the Göttingen eye clinic by his son Eugen.
Von Hippel made contributions in his research of intraocular pressure, color blindness
and near-sightedness, but is remembered for his pioneer work in lamellar keratoplasty. In 1886 he grafted a full-thickness cornea
from a rabbit into the lamellar bed of a young female patient. After the operation the girl was able to count fingers at a distance of two meters, for a visual acuity
of 20/200. He is also credited for the invention of a mechanized trephine
for corneal procedures. This device became the prototype for trephines that are presently used in ophthalmology today.
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
. He was the father of ophthalmologist Eugen von Hippel
Eugen von Hippel
Eugen von Hippel was a German ophthalmologist who was born in Königsberg. He studied medicine in Heidelberg under ophthalmologist Theodor Leber and neurologist Wilhelm Heinrich Erb . In 1897 he attained the title of "professor extraordinary" at Heidelberg, and in 1909 became a professor at the...
(1867-1938).
Arthur von Hippel studied medicine at the Universities of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
, Munich and Berlin, where he earned his doctorate in 1864. Following graduation he furthered his training in 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 afterwards became an assistant at the eye clinic at Konigsberg. In 1879 he became a "full professor" 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 the University of Giessen
University of Giessen
The University of Giessen is officially called the Justus Liebig University Giessen after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.-History:The University of Gießen is among the oldest institutions of...
, and in 1890 returned as a professor to the University of Konigsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
. In 1892 he attained the chair of ophthalmology at the University of Halle, and in 1901 went to 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:...
, where he was director of the newly-founded University Eye Clinic. He retired in 1914, and was replaced at the Göttingen eye clinic by his son Eugen.
Von Hippel made contributions in his research of intraocular pressure, color blindness
Color blindness
Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the inability or decreased ability to see color, or perceive color differences, under lighting conditions when color vision is not normally impaired...
and near-sightedness, but is remembered for his pioneer work in lamellar keratoplasty. In 1886 he grafted a full-thickness cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
from a rabbit into the lamellar bed of a young female patient. After the operation the girl was able to count fingers at a distance of two meters, for a visual acuity
Visual acuity
Visual acuity is acuteness or clearness of vision, which is dependent on the sharpness of the retinal focus within the eye and the sensitivity of the interpretative faculty of the brain....
of 20/200. He is also credited for the invention of a mechanized trephine
Trephine
A trephine is a surgical instrument with a cylindrical blade. It can be of one of several dimensions and designs depending on what it is going to be used for. They may be specially designed for obtaining a cylindrically shaped core of bone that can be used for tests and bone studies, cutting holes...
for corneal procedures. This device became the prototype for trephines that are presently used in ophthalmology today.
- Note: Arthur von Hippel is sometimes confused with his grandson Arthur Robert von HippelArthur R. von HippelArthur Robert von Hippel was a German American materials scientist and physicist. Von Hippel was a pioneer in the study of dielectrics, ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials, and semiconductors and was a codeveloper of radar during World War II.-Early life:Von Hippel was born in Rostock,...
(1898-2003), a German-American physicist.