Lighting the Torch of Knowledge in the Darkness of the Middle Ages: The Arab-Islamic influence on Ophthalmology

Umar Ahmad; John Delieu; Sami Al-Ani

Lighting the Torch of Knowledge in the Darkness of the Middle Ages: The Arab-Islamic influence on Ophthalmology

Umar Ahmad^*
, John Delieu
, Sami Al-Ani

^*Corresponding author for this work

Aston Medical School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The eyes have fascinated scholars for millennia. From anatomy and disease to the process of vision, many have contributed to the present understanding of optics. The difficulty lies in establishing the origins of discoveries.
Obtaining original manuscripts is arduous as texts have been lost in wars, conflagrations and disasters. Praise for developments is sometimes ascribed to early scholars who may have inspired later academics. Greek luminaries such as Aristotle and Galen laid strong foundations which the Arabs built upon, keeping the candle of knowledge burning in the Middle Ages, a time when Europe was in darkness. This article aims to review the Arab-Islamic impact on optics by presenting ancient theories, the contributions of prominent Arab scientists exploring how the rise of Islam allowed them to flourish and influence optics.

Original language	English
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association
Volume	17
Issue number	6
Publication status	Published - 31 Aug 2024

Bibliographical note

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published in BIMA. The published version is available at: https://www.jbima.com/article/lighting-the-torch-of-knowledge-in-the-darkness-of-the-middle-ages-the-arab-islamic-influence-on-ophthalmology/

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LightingtheTorchofKnowledge_BIMA
This is an accepted manuscript of an article published in BIMA. The published version is available at: https://www.jbima.com/article/lighting-the-torch-of-knowledge-in-the-darkness-of-the-middle-ages-the-arab-islamic-influence-on-ophthalmology/
Accepted author manuscript, 148 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

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AB - The eyes have fascinated scholars for millennia. From anatomy and disease to the process of vision, many have contributed to the present understanding of optics. The difficulty lies in establishing the origins of discoveries. Obtaining original manuscripts is arduous as texts have been lost in wars, conflagrations and disasters. Praise for developments is sometimes ascribed to early scholars who may have inspired later academics. Greek luminaries such as Aristotle and Galen laid strong foundations which the Arabs built upon, keeping the candle of knowledge burning in the Middle Ages, a time when Europe was in darkness. This article aims to review the Arab-Islamic impact on optics by presenting ancient theories, the contributions of prominent Arab scientists exploring how the rise of Islam allowed them to flourish and influence optics.

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Lighting the Torch of Knowledge in the Darkness of the Middle Ages: The Arab-Islamic influence on Ophthalmology

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