Boleslaw Wicherkiewicz: interesting contributor to European ophthalmology

AbstractPurpose Boleslaw Wicherkiewicz (1847–1915) was the most prominent Polish ophthalmologist at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Between 1877 and 1895, he founded in Poznan and developed the largest and internationally best known 19th century ophthalmic hospital in Poland. In 1895, the hospital had a total of 80 beds. With his extensive experience gained abroad, Wicherkiewicz was well prepared to become in 1895 the head of the most important university ophthalmology centre in Poland – the Department of Ophthalmology at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. In 1899, Wicherkiewicz founded the first Polish ophthalmic journal ‘Progress in Ophthalmology'.Methods The study is based on analysis of all papers written by Wicherkiewicz, mainly in Polish and German. The biographical details were verified in National Archives in Poznan and Cracow, cities where he lived and worked. The secondary sources, including review articles and other reports about his life and activities, were also collected and analyzed.Results Original contributions on oculoplastic surgery (epicanthus, lid coloboma, ectropion and enctropion, trichiasis, distichiasis, lid replacement, free skin transplantation), cornea transplants (first in Poland), glaucoma surgery (sclerotomia cruciata posterior superficialis), cataract surgery (cataract irrigation technique), clear lens surgery in myopia (before Fukala).Conclusion Wicherkiewicz played a crucial role in the development of Polish ophthalmology. He was internationally recognized due to his surgery innovations and scientific activities. He was a member of majority of ophthalmic European societies (including many honorary memberships), and he was given honorary doctorate by Leuven University in 1909.