| Albrecht von Graefe was a second generation ophthalmologist- his father was a student of George Joseph Beer in Vienna, but he died when Albrecht was 12 years old. Therefore Graefe sought teachers and colleagues from all over Europe in order to become what some have called “the founder of modern ophthalmology”. Albrecht von Graefe was, himself, a fine teacher with students first seeking him out in his private offices and finally as professor at the University of Berlin. Graefe is known for his many innovations including treating chronic iridocyclitis with iridectomy, distinguishing the forms of glaucoma and creating a special knife to perform linear extraction of cataracts. He was the founder of an ophthalmic journal and the Heidelberg Ophthalmological Society- the first ophthalmic society in the world and the sponsor of today’s Graefe medal. | 
70c Albrecht von Graefe stamp single, 1978 Manufactured by the German Democratic Republic Paper, ink, adhesive
Gift of John F. Bigger, MD |
