| Reference Number | MIMM/2018-5-44 |
| Title | Ophthalmoscope in Case |
| Date | 1875-1925 |
| Description | This rectangular black case contains an ophthalmoscope. The case opens by pushing the security button. Once opened, the two internal sides of the case are covered in red velvet: the top side has pockets meant to contain lenses, which are missing, and the bottom side houses the folding ophthalmoscope of Benson’s design.
Invented by Arthur Henry Benson (1860-1912) in 1885, it consists of "a plane and a concave mirror of the same size and curvature (...) The glass in both mirrors is perforated, the hole in the plane mirror being made somewhat larger than that in the concave one. The frame is made of black horn. cut into much the shape of the old fashion double eye-glasses, with a joint in the centre to permit its folding up. Behind the concave mirror is a clip for holding the lenses for direct examination of ametropia. (...) It is fitted into a small soft leather case which also contains pockets for the four small lenses, and for one large convex lens". The four small lenses are missing, and the convex lens is now broken. Signs of wear and tear are present. |
| Extent | 1 item |
| Dimensions | Case: 110mm x 60mm x 20mm |
| Lens: 45mm x8mm |
| Opthalmoscope (open): 110mm x 35mm x 4mm |
| Digital Collections | View online in our digital collections |
| Copyright | Free to use under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) |
| Credit Line | Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
| Object Name | Ophthalmoscope |
| Term | Physical Examination |
| Ophthalmology |
| Ophthalmology -- instrumentation |