The art of ophthalmology

Article

This article highlights a photo competition from countries across the globe.

Photographs are usually taken in ophthalmology to verify diagnosis, detect diseases or to document the progression over time. Researchers interested in the network and anatomical structures of the eye use histological and sophisticated imaging techniques to elucidate the complex interactions of the cells involved.

However, in addition to the clinical and scientific benefit of these pictures, they are also aesthetic treasures. The beauty of these pictures often blurs the border between documenting science and art. We know pieces of art with ophthalmological motives such as famous paintings including 'The Parable of the Blind' by Pieter Bruegel (1568), 'The blind sister' by Paula Modersohn-Becher (1903) and 'The Blind' by Egon Schiele (1913) just to mention a few.

Fascinated by photography

Overwhelming response

Taking a closer look at the winning photos (Figures 1–5) it is obvious that three categories are evident: The 'investigation' category is the result of seeking what is imagined but not yet shown. The 'clinical' category is the encounter between pathology and an attentive photographer. Lastly, in the 'artistic' category, there is a search of beauty in the teaching of ophthalmology.

The cooperation with Heidelberg Engineering is a rare stroke of luck for the European Vision Institute to enable the implementation of an activity, which demonstrates the inherent beauty of the work by colleagues of the worldwide ophthalmological community. Our particular thanks also go to the numerous photographers around the world, who permit us to enjoy the beauty and fascination of ophthalmology.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Robert Sergott, MD, describes fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and the International SPECTRALIS Symposium – And Beyond (ISS) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with Ophthalmology Times Europe about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma" at the International SPECTRALIS Sympsoium. In conversation with Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe
Anat Loewenstein, MD, describes her presentation on remote imaging for age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium, in conversation with Hattie Hayes of Ophthalmology Times Europe
Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, a US Navy Aerospace Optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS)
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
Alfredo Sadun, MD, PhD, chief of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, shared exciting new research with the Eye Care Network during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting on the subject of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.