Soon, ophthalmologists won’t be the only ones to experience eye surgery first hand. That’s because the world’s first major public museum dedicated to vision and eye health is set to open in the United States by 2020, providing a place where anyone can walk in and learn about the eye.
This new project is an extension of the already existing Museum of Vision, which serves as the history and archives department of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), housing its 38,000-piece collection of artifacts, books and instruments, which have been collected for more than 30 years. It is an important educational resource for Academy members, medical historians, researchers and the public, but opportunities to view the archives are limited to a yearly exhibit at the Academy’s annual conference. An appointment is also needed for visitors to the museum.
Now, that’s changing.
The first of its kind, this free museum offers an immersive experience for both children and adults, with virtual reality headsets and interactive touch screens, where visitors will get to learn about the history of medical and surgical eye care, as part of efforts to help the public understand their own eye health. Members of the public will get to learn about instruments and even know what it is like to carry out a cataract operation.
David W. Parke II, M.D, chief executive officer of the AAO, recently announced plans for the new museum at the 2018 AAO Congress: “The museum has been a treasure of the Academy for many, many years, and it exists right now because of the work of an incredible group. We have a tremendous heritage as a profession, as ophthalmologists. We’ve got wonderful things: artifacts, instruments, books, things that are really the heritage of our profession,” he said.
“We haven’t been able to share it, they have been in closets, storage vaults, and there has always been this vision in the background that we are going to do something about that. But we are now,” explained Dr. Parke.
The new museum will be built at the AAO headquarters in San Francisco – and it will not just be about dusty history books and tools. It will showcase the latest in technological advances, medical breakthroughs and cutting-edge technologies . . . all of which are saving the eyesight of millions of patients around the world each day.
“Most people don’t know what ophthalmology is or how ophthalmologists protect sight,” said Dr. Parke. “The new Museum of Vision will be the first-of-its-kind where the public can go to learn about sight, to see it, to touch it.”
Hopefully, the museum will help to inspire future generations of eye doctors and surgeons.
“For thousands of years, ophthalmology has pushed the envelope, discovering breakthrough innovations to protect sight,” said prominent ophthalmologist Stanley M. Truhlsen, M.D. “The museum is the vehicle by which our heritage remains both relevant and inspiring; promoting continued discovery and advancement.”
Dr. Truhlsen, who gifted the project with a $4 million donation, is a past AAO president. He is also a university educator and recipient of the prestigious Lucien Howe Medal for ophthalmic service.
An estimated 30,000 visitors a year are expected to walk through the planned 3,500-square-foot museum in the heart of a major tourist destination, Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California, USA.
Editor’s Note: The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, it aims to protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for patients and the public. It innovates to advance its profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. For more information, visit aao. org. The Academy’s Museum of Vision is the largest publicly accessible collection of ophthalmic history in the United States. With the support of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation, the museum’s collection of 38,000 artifacts helps to preserve ophthalmic history and celebrate its unique contributions to science and health in preventing vision loss. For more information, visit aao.org/museum-of-vision.
