August 8 is a professional holiday of ophthalmologists. World Ophthalmology Day has been held since 2004.

International day of ophthalmology in history

August 8 is chosen in honor of the birthday of the ophthalmologist, innovator and noble person Svyatoslav Fedorov. It is difficult to overestimate his contribution to the field: he developed an artificial lens and implanted it during an experimental operation, was involved in the implantation of an artificial cornea, was the first in the world to begin surgical treatment of glaucoma in the early stages of the disease, and his method of myopia therapy is still used by doctors around the world.

The initiative to hold the Day of Ophthalmology belongs to the head of the St. Petersburg Medical Chamber, Tamaz Mchedlidze, who called on ophthalmologists to support the case of Svyatoslav Fedorov, conduct consultations, operations, and help patients on this day. Subsequently, the idea of ​​holding this day was supported in Italy, the Czech Republic, the USA, Greece and Venezuela.

The field of ophthalmology is developing rapidly, therefore, the introduction of this holiday has also become a way of spreading current information about opportunities, new technologies and methods of treating vision problems.