History of ophthalmology at Baylor University Medical Center

Barry W. Uhr, MD

Ophthalmology has been a specialty at Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) since the opening of its predecessor institution, the Texas Baptist Memorial Sanitarium. The first operative procedure at that institution was an ocular surgery performed by Dr. Edward H. Cary in 1909.
A review of the practice of ophthalmology at BUMC and its predecessor institutions over the past 100 years reveals the accelerated advances in medical and surgical treatment of the eye during that period. The most significant advances in the treatment of eye diseases and ocular surgery occurred in the 20th century. To place these in perspective, I review some notable discoveries and developments before the 20th century that allowed for our most recent advances.