Christian Georg Theodor Ruete
Encyclopedia
Christian Georg Theodor Ruete (May 2, 1810 - June 23, 1867) was a German ophthalmologist who was a native of Scharmbeck
, Lower Saxony
. In 1841 he became an associate professor at the University of Göttingen, receiving the title of "full professor" in 1847. Afterwards he was a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Leipzig
from 1852 to 1867.
Christian Ruete was a pioneer of German ophthalmology, and made several important contributions in this field. In 1845 he designed the first "ophthalmotrope", which was a mechanical model of the eye
and its muscles, and is used to clarify movements of the eye. In 1857 he constructed an improved version of his earlier prototype. He made modifications to Hermann von Helmholtz
's ophthalmoscope by implementing a concave focusing mirror, and thereby introducing "indirect ophthalmoscopy" to allow for a stereoscopic and wider view of the fundus
of the eye. Ruete also did extensive research of ophthalmic disorders such as strabismus
and hypermetropia.
In 1846 Ruete published Lehrbuch der Ophthalmologie which provided the first illustration of a visual migraine aura
in European medical literature. In this book he pictorially explained this phenomenon in three successive stages. With mathematician
Johann Benedict Listing
(1808–1882), he published a treatise on entoptic phenomena
and cataract
.
Osterholz-Scharmbeck
Osterholz-Scharmbeck is a town and the capital of the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Osterholz-Scharmbeck is situated in between the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.-Neighbouring places:* Bremen * Delmenhorst...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. In 1841 he became an associate professor at the University of Göttingen, receiving the title of "full professor" in 1847. Afterwards he was a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
from 1852 to 1867.
Christian Ruete was a pioneer of German ophthalmology, and made several important contributions in this field. In 1845 he designed the first "ophthalmotrope", which was a mechanical model of the eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
and its muscles, and is used to clarify movements of the eye. In 1857 he constructed an improved version of his earlier prototype. He made modifications to Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to several widely varied areas of modern science...
's ophthalmoscope by implementing a concave focusing mirror, and thereby introducing "indirect ophthalmoscopy" to allow for a stereoscopic and wider view of the fundus
Fundus (eye)
The fundus of the eye is the interior surface of the eye, opposite the lens, and includes the retina, optic disc, macula and fovea, and posterior pole. The fundus can be viewed with an ophthalmoscope. The term may also be inclusive of Bruch's membrane and the choroid.The color of the fundus varies...
of the eye. Ruete also did extensive research of ophthalmic disorders such as strabismus
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles, which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space and preventing proper binocular vision, which may adversely...
and hypermetropia.
In 1846 Ruete published Lehrbuch der Ophthalmologie which provided the first illustration of a visual migraine aura
Aura (symptom)
An aura is a perceptual disturbance experienced by some migraine sufferers before a migraine headache, and the telltale sensation experienced by some people with epilepsy before a seizure. It often manifests as the perception of a strange light, an unpleasant smell or confusing thoughts or...
in European medical literature. In this book he pictorially explained this phenomenon in three successive stages. With mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
Johann Benedict Listing
Johann Benedict Listing
Johann Benedict Listing was a German mathematician.J. B. Listing was born in Frankfurt and died in Göttingen. He first introduced the term "topology", in a famous article published in 1847, although he had used the term in correspondence some years earlier...
(1808–1882), he published a treatise on entoptic phenomena
Entoptic phenomenon
Entoptic phenomena are visual effects whose source is within the eye itself. In Helmholtz's words:...
and cataract
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
.