Hans Goldmann (1899–1991): Remembering the man behind our current ophthalmic practice

Gunjan Saluja; Asha Samdani

doi:10.4103/tjosr.tjosr_74_20

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HISTORICAL/REMEMBERING THE PAST

Year : 2020 | Volume : 58 | Issue : 4 | Page : 327-328

Hans Goldmann (1899–1991): Remembering the man behind our current ophthalmic practice

Gunjan Saluja, Asha Samdani
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India

Date of Submission	21-Jun-2020
Date of Acceptance	12-Jul-2020
Date of Web Publication	16-Dec-2020

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Gunjan Saluja
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi
India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/tjosr.tjosr_74_20

How to cite this article:
Saluja G, Samdani A. Hans Goldmann (1899–1991): Remembering the man behind our current ophthalmic practice. TNOA J Ophthalmic Sci Res 2020;58:327-8

How to cite this URL:
Saluja G, Samdani A. Hans Goldmann (1899–1991): Remembering the man behind our current ophthalmic practice. TNOA J Ophthalmic Sci Res [serial online] 2020 [cited 2021 Jan 28];58:327-8. Available from: https://www.tnoajosr.com/text.asp?2020/58/4/327/303656

Hans Goldmann [Figure 1] was born on November 21, 1899, at Bohemia, a part of Austrian Monarchy. He had a classical German education and studied medicine at Charles University, Prague. Goldmann then became the assistant of the renowned physiologist A. von Tschermak-Seysenegg from whom he acquired the knowledge and orientation of physiology. Later, he joined A. Elschnig, a leading ophthalmologist and eye surgeon. Goldmann in 1924 moved to the University Eye Hospital Inselspital, Berne, which he headed for 44 years and finally retired in 1968.

Figure 1: Hans Goldmann (Source: Gloor BR. Hans Goldmann (1899– 1991). Eur J Ophthalmol 2010;20:1-11.)

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Goldmann's Contributions

Hans Goldmann made indispensable contributions to the field of ophthalmology, with his contributions being an essential part in the day-to-day practice of ophthalmology.

Goldmann's journey began with his work on the pathogenesis of glass blower's cataract which he presented in 1923.^[1] Goldmann improved the basic model of slit lamp given by Gullstrand. Goldmann's initial models were as simple as using tape and plasticine,^[2] and he eventually developed the modern-day slit lamp with Haag Streit. His innovations were essential to develop the modern-day slit lamp. The first new apparatus constructed in 1933 was the Slitlamp 320^[3] followed by the Slitlamp 360^[4] in 1938.

Adding an interposable prism reduces the angle between illumination and observation beam, making the fundus and chamber angle easily accessible for biomicroscopy.^[5]

The gonio lens developed by Goldmann gave a new insight to study and grade the anterior chamber angle. The three-mirror gonio lens developed by Goldmann further aided in posterior segment biomicroscopy and is still one of the commonly used.^[6],[7] He also carried out kinetic analysis of ocular fluorometric experiments and in 1950, he was the first to determine the aqueous flow in human eyes with an increased resistance to aqueous outflow at the inner wall of Schlemm's canal.^[8],[9] Goldmann's next contribution was the applanation tonometer which is based on Imbert-Fick's principle.^[10] Another important contribution of Goldmann was in the field of perimetry, with the presentation of Goldmann's projection-perimeter,^[11],[12] taking perimetry to a completely new level. The apparatus allowed examination of the visual fields under standardized background illumination and stimulus intensity for the first time. Goldmann was scientifically active even till the later years of his life.

Hence, it will not be wrong to say that Goldmann was an outstanding experimentalist who solved many riddles involving medicine, physics, and physiology and created the instruments without which the modern-day ophthalmic practice is impossible.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

1.	Goldmann H. Critical and experimental studies on the so-called ultra-red star of rabbits and the fire star. Graefes Arch 1930; 125: 313-402.
2.	Witmer R. Opening of the advanced course by the President of the SSO. Berne 1968, Ophthalmologica 1969; 158: 354-60.
3.	Goldmann H. A new slit lamp. Klin monthly bl Augenheilkd 1933; 91: 494-502.
4.	Goldmann H. On the technology of slit lamp microscopy. Ophthalmologica 1938;96:9.
5.	Goldmann H. An improved slit lamp apparatus. Br J Physiol Optics 1939;13:77-85.
6.	Bangerter A, Goldmann H. Angle Chamber studies in the primary Glaucoma, choice of surgery according to the angular findings. Ophthalmologica 1941; 102: 321-50.
7.	Favre M, Goldmann H. On the genesis of the posterior vitreous detachment. Ophthalmologica 1956; 132: 87-97.
8.	Goldmann H. The aqueous humor veins and Poiseulle's law. Ophthalmologica 1949; 118: 496-519.
9.	Goldmann H. Do the aqueous humor veins contain aqueous humor? Ophthalmologica 1949; 117: 240-3.
10.	Goldmann H. A new applanation tonometer. Bull Mém Soc Franç Ophtalmol 1954; 67: 474-7.
11.	Goldmann H. Basics of exact perimetry. Ophthalmologica 1945; 109: 57-70.
12.	Goldmann H. A self-registering projection sphere perimeter. Ophthalmologica 1945; 109: 71-9.

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