Abstract

SO.04.03

The knowledge on the ceratoconus by Albrecht von Graefe

Herde J.
Universitäts-Augenklinik Halle

v. Graefe described the ceratoconus as a mysterious corneal disease. (Arch Ophthalmol 4, 2 1858 271 -276) For the cause of the ceratoconus, he believed a disproportion between the corneal resistance and of the intraocular pressure, working on the cornea, especially the failing regularity of the corneal resistance, an infiltration into the deep layers or a congenital anomaly. He diagnosed the ceratoconus by the patients history, by the careful observing of the corneal reflexes and by the examination of the profile of the cornea in advanced stages. v. Graefe only used the ophthalmometer by Helmholtz to establish gradual differences after therapeutical measures. In 1868 v. Graefe doubted the influence of the of the intraocular pressure. (Klin Wschr 23, 24 1868 I, II) the decrease of the corneal resistance concerne only the centre of the cornea, resulting in the development of the hyperbolic figure. The combining thinning of the corneal apex he take it as a genuine atrophy beside of the congenital reason. v. Graefe supposed sudden exogenous influences, causing gaps of the descemet membrane. He burned the apex of the conus to decrease the curvature and to improve the visual acuity. The simple as well as the double iridesis by Critchett and Bowman and the iridectomy were unsuccessfully. He had no optical devices to compensate the high irregular astigmatism. (Arch Ophthalmol 12, 2 1866 215 - 222)

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