Theodor Axenfeld
Encyclopedia
Karl Theodor Paul Polykarpus Axenfeld (24 June 1867 – 29 July 1930) was a German ophthalmologist who was born in Smyrna
(İzmir
) in the Ottoman Empire
to a German minister. As a child his family moved back to Germany in the town of Godesberg. He received his medical doctorate in 1890 from the University of Marburg. In 1896 he became an assistant to Wilhelm Uhthoff
(1853-1927) in Breslau, and in 1897 a director of the university eye clinic in Rostock
. In 1901 he attained the chair of ophthalmology in Freiburg
, where he remained until his death in 1930. In 1925 he was chosen as president of the German Ophthalmological Society (Deutsche ophthalmologische Gesellschaft).
and is associated with almost 200 written works concerning the eye, including an important textbook of ophthalmology titled Lehrbuch und Atlas der Augenheilkunde (1909). He also published numerous articles on glaucoma
, retina
l disorders, trachoma
and other eye maladies. He was particularly interested in bacterial infections of the eye. In 1909 he was awarded the Graefe Medal by the German Ophthalmological Society for his research of sympathetic ophthalmia
.
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
(İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
) in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
to a German minister. As a child his family moved back to Germany in the town of Godesberg. He received his medical doctorate in 1890 from the University of Marburg. In 1896 he became an assistant to Wilhelm Uhthoff
Wilhelm Uhthoff
Wilhelm Uhthoff was a German ophthalmologist who was born in Klein-Warin. In 1877 earned his doctorate at the University of Berlin, and later became a professor of ophthalmology at the Universities of Marburg and Breslau , where he succeeded Carl Friedrich Richard Förster .Uhthoff specialized in...
(1853-1927) in Breslau, and in 1897 a director of the university eye clinic in Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
. In 1901 he attained the chair of ophthalmology in Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, where he remained until his death in 1930. In 1925 he was chosen as president of the German Ophthalmological Society (Deutsche ophthalmologische Gesellschaft).
Publications and research
Axenfeld was involved in all aspects of ophthalmologyOphthalmology
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...
and is associated with almost 200 written works concerning the eye, including an important textbook of ophthalmology titled Lehrbuch und Atlas der Augenheilkunde (1909). He also published numerous articles on glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
, retina
Retina
The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
l disorders, trachoma
Trachoma
Trachoma is an infectious disease causing a characteristic roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. Also called granular conjunctivitis and Egyptian ophthalmia, it is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world...
and other eye maladies. He was particularly interested in bacterial infections of the eye. In 1909 he was awarded the Graefe Medal by the German Ophthalmological Society for his research of sympathetic ophthalmia
Sympathetic ophthalmia
Sympathetic ophthalmia is a granulomatous uveitis of both eyes following trauma to one eye. It can leave the patient completely blind. Symptoms may develop from days to several years after a penetrating eye injury. See also the reviews by Damico et al. , Chu and Foster , and Friedlaender et al...
.
Eponyms
Axenfeld has several eponymous ophthalmic terms named after him, including:- Axenfeld's conjunctivitis: ConjunctivitisConjunctivitisConjunctivitis refers to inflammation of the conjunctiva...
caused by Moraxella lacunata. Sometimes called Morax' disease; named after Victor MoraxVictor MoraxVictor Morax was a French ophthalmologist who was born in Morges, Switzerland. He studied in Freiburg and Paris, and from 1891 to 1903 he worked at the Pasteur Institute in Paris...
(1866-1935), who also described the disorder. - Axenfeld's nerve loop: A posterior ciliary nerve loop that is noticeable in the scleraScleraThe sclera , also known as the white or white of the eye, is the opaque , fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye containing collagen and elastic fiber. In the development of the embryo, the sclera is derived from the neural crest...
. - Axenfeld syndromeAxenfeld syndromeAxenfeld syndrome is the name given to a rare autosomal dominant disorder, which affects the development of the teeth, eyes, and abdominal region.-Eponym:...
: A syndrome characterized by corneaCorneaThe 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...
l embryotoxon (posterior arcuate ring), a distinct Schwalbe's lineSchwalbe's lineSchwalbe's line is the anatomical line found on the interior surface of the eye's cornea, and delineates the outer limit of the corneal endothelium layer. Specifically, it represents the termination of Descemet's membrane. In many cases it can be seen via gonioscopy....
and irisIris (anatomy)The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
adhesion to Schwalbe's line.