title: [Ophthalmoscopy attempts before Helmholtz].
abstract: The principle of contact lens ophthalmoscopy was discovered in 1703; the fundus contact lens was very nearly invented in 1844. Coaxial illumination was applied in 1823 and improved in 1841 by including a mirror, while, the first usable ophthalmoscope was designed in 1847. This article pays tribute to the virtually ignored services of Méry, Kussmaul, Purkinje, Hofmann, and Babbage.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik Remky Arabellapark, München.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Remky
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000266:history*
vernacular_title: Ophthalmoskopieversuche vor Helmholtz.