Together, We’re Educating Future Generations

THE ACADEMY’S MUSEUM OF VISION^® is the largest publicly accessible collection of ophthalmic history in the United States. With the support of the 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. And when we preserve our rich heritage, we’re able to educate future generations.

Here are some highlights of the past year:

• The museum’s newest exhibit, “History of Ophthalmology in the Asia Pacific,” explores and celebrates the roots of ophthalmology found in the Asia Pacific — a heritage largely unknown in the West. The exhibit traces historical evidence from ancient times through the 18th century to highlight ophthalmology in four countries linked by the famous Silk Road: India, China, Japan and Sri Lanka.
• The Museum of Vision collaborated with the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester, Va., to create their “Health Works” exhibit. Local kindergarten students as well as first and second graders will attend this exhibit to help achieve their state and national common core science standards.
• Travel Channel’s “Mysteries at the Museum” filmed a feature on the Museum of Vision’s Lucien Howe Medal, the first to be awarded by the American Ophthalmological Society in 1922. It was given to Carl Koller, MD, who discovered local anesthesia.

Visit the museum’s new website at aao.org/museum.