Paul of Aegina (c. 625–690 AD), the Origins of the Early Correction of Pediatric Strabismus in Byzantine Empire

Abstract

The eminent Greek physician Paul of Aegina, native of the Saronic island Aegina and pupil of the Alexandrian School, understood both exotropia and endotropia, his designation for esotropia and proposed therapeutic measures for their treatment during baby or toddler age. He had introduced an innovative method for the newborns to have a straight vision, “the congenital strabismus of the newborns must be treated with the placement of a facial mask (with 2 open holes in the middle axes of the eyes), so that the babies could only see in a straight line”, combined with a small oil lamp to assure a direct eye alignment. Although not even a diagram of the masks was saved until nowadays, Paul was the first to suggest the early correction of the eyes deviation, and considered to be the father of orthoptics.