On September 2, 1945, Japan signed an agreement for unconditional surrender and America and her allies declared the final victory over the Axis powers.  World War II had come to an end after 6 years of fighting, involving over 25 countries.  Nations and individuals began to take stock of how their world had changed. 

Within the fabric of this complex history, there is the thread that belongs to ophthalmology.  Like so many professions, the war shaped ophthalmology by creating the need for innovations in industry, altering the course of institutions and interrupting the lives of individuals. 

It is still difficult to definitively capture the number of deaths and casualties, or to quantify the destruction of property from the war.  However, it is estimated that 2.5% of all battle casualties suffered eye injuries and 15,000 soldiers were blinded.  During battles, it took an average of 36-48 hours for an injured soldier to be seen by an ophthalmologist.  This led to the advocacy of having ophthalmologists on the front lines, in forward hospitals or, at the least, to improving support services to evacuate soldiers faster. 

Presented in this exhibit is ophthalmology’s response to World War II including the history of the Academy, ophthalmic industry and the stories of individuals whose lives were changed forever by their experiences during the war.  

Ophthalmology on the Home Front
Sir Harold Ridley (1906-2001) and the IOL
The Academy During Wartime
Personal Stories
Holocaust Memorial

Photo this page:
Jack Levin, c.1945. Courtesy of Jay M. Galst, MD