[Galen of Pergamum (130-200)--his views on ophthalmology (part I)].

The development of medicine owes a lot to Galen of Pergamum (Asia Minor) who lived around 130-200 AD. He was of Greek origin and he wrote his works only in Greek. However, he lived and worked mostly in Italy. He studied both medicine and philosophy. When he came to Rome in 162 he was quickly recognised as a talented physician due to his unusual medical skills. He even became a physician at the Emperor's court. Apart from being an outstanding physician, he had a great knowledge of medicines and ways of their production. Being familiar with various philosophical doctrines, in particular with Hippocrates' thoughts, as well as the views of Plato, Aristotle and the Stoics, Galen developed his general theory of body functioning. It was only after his death that his works attracted more general attention. Both theoretical developments and his works on various ailments were first recognised in the Arabic world. It was only this fact that resulted in his works being gradually translated from Arabic into Latin and published in Europe where they grew important among European university circles. The article outlines ophthalmologic aspects included in Galen's works. The accuracy of descriptions of eye diseases and elements of descriptions of particular cases are underlined. It is concluded that the knowledge of symptoms of certain diseases followed from clinical observations, as well as from experiments on animals.