Harry Moss Traquair (1875‐1954) – Scottish ophthalmologist and perimetrist

Abstract Purpose: The aim of the study was to1 analyze the medical achievements of Harry Moss Traquair and2.collect all available informations concerning his family and privat life for a future biography. Methods: Typical for the study in the field of the history of science. Results: Harry Moss Traquair (1875‐1954) was a Scottish ophthalmologist, who devoted most of his professional life to made important contributions to our understanding of visual field studies. His fundamental work An Introduction to clinical perimetry was for years the primary reference work for perimetry. Traquair carried out many carefully designed experiments concerning different aspects of visual field testing, including working distance, test‐objects, movement of test‐objects, illumination, and background. He also contributed detailed recommendations and standards for clinical perimetry in ophthalmology and neurology. He introduced, as well, definitions for some scotomata, which were used for years in the ophthalmic literature. The junction scotoma, often named the Traquair scotoma or the Traquair junction scotoma, is this term used to describe a unilateral temporal visual field defect and is named for the pathology of the ipsilateral optic nerve where it joins the chiasm. Traquair also devoted much work to phenomena which are not considered important any longer, such as baring of the blind spot in glaucoma and visual field defects in tobacco toxic amblyopia. He was an accomplished eye surgeon and had a special interest in dacryocystorhinostomy. Conclusions: Traquair was a strong advocate of the benefits of visual field testing in ophthalmology and neurology. But most of all, we will remember him as the scholar who taught that “perimetry is not done by the perimeter but by the perimetrist.“