Description

Japanese ophthalmoscope 1895

Antique Japanese Ophthalmoscope from the Meiji period (1868-1912).
Made by M. Takata, Hongo, Tokyo.
In very good condition in its original case.
The two lenses are known as condensing lenses and were used to perform “indirect ophthalmoscopy” as opposed to direct.
Direct ophthalmoscopy required an external light source such as a candle or gas lamp to reflect off the mirror and into the eye to illuminate the interior of the eye for viewing.The examiner’s face is very close to the patient’s face. Indirect ophthalmoscopy used the same light but the examiner stood back and held the condenser lens to create a virtual image of the back of the eye which was viewed as upside down and backwards.
Rare example kindly submitted by Mr. Peter Rourke.