Dr Mehmet Esat (Işık) Pasha and his contributions to ophthalmology

Abstract

Dr Mehmet Esat (Işık) Pasha (general) was one of the leading military physicians and politicians of the Ottoman Empire who made innovations in the field of ophthalmology. Dr Esat, who specialised in ophthalmology during his medical education in Istanbul and Paris, first made his name with his double-mirror ophthalmoscope, ‘Ophtalmoscope Essad’, which he designed and developed himself. In addition to his scientific studies, the international scientific congresses he attended as a delegate and the innovations he brought to the field of ophthalmology, he established the first modern eye clinic and ophthalmology chair at Mekteb-i Tıbbiye (Ottoman Medical School). He worked as a lecturer at Darülfünun (Istanbul University) for many years and trained many ophthalmologists. He played a major role in the social inclusion of the visually impaired through his health, education and rehabilitation activities. Dr Esat, who served as Sıhhiye Umûm Müdürü (the General Director of Sanitary Medicine), was involved in many political and military activities during the First World War and then the Turkish National Struggle. He assumed administrative duties in the Hilâl-i Ahmer (Red Crescent).