Arthur von Hippel

Who was Arthur von Hippel?

Arthur von Hippel was a German ophthalmologist who was a native of Fischhausen, East Prussia. He was the father of ophthalmologist Eugen von Hippel.

Arthur von Hippel studied medicine at the Universities of Königsberg, Munich and Berlin, where he earned his doctorate in 1864. Following graduation he furthered his training in Prague, and afterwards became an assistant at the eye clinic at Konigsberg. In 1879 he became a "full professor" of ophthalmology at the University of Giessen, and in 1890 returned as a professor to the University of Konigsberg. In 1892 he attained the chair of ophthalmology at the University of Halle, and in 1901 went to Göttingen, where he was director of the newly founded University Eye Clinic. He retired in 1914, and was replaced at the Göttingen eye clinic by his son Eugen.

Von Hippel made contributions in his research of intraocular pressure, color blindness and near-sightedness, but is remembered for his pioneer work in lamellar keratoplasty. In 1886 he grafted a full-thickness cornea from a rabbit into the lamellar bed of a young female patient.