Dr. Juan Santos Fernández Hernández. Eminente Oftalmólogo matancero / Dr. Juan Santos Fernández Hernández. Eminent Matanzas Ophthalmologist

El doctor Juan Santos Fernández Hernández, una de las más prominentes figuras médicas de Cuba, destacado en la medicina y cirugía oftalmológica, realizó, por primera vez en la Isla, complejas operaciones oftálmicas. Fue autor de un gran número de artículos e informes científicos y es considerado uno de los más prolíficos autores cubanos del siglo XIX. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir mediante una síntesis biográfica los principales logros del Dr. Juan Santos Fernández Hernández. El nombre de este galeno aparece entre las personalidades médicas cubanas más distinguidas de todos los tiempos por su saber y su civismo, por su abnegación y perseverancia, por su valiosa contribución al progreso de la ciencia y la cultura nacional (AU).

Doctor Juan Santos Fernandez Hernandez is one of the most prominent medical figures in Cuba, outstanding in ophthalmological medicine and surgery. He made, for the first time on the Island, complex ophthalmic operations. He was the author of a large number of articles and scientific reports and is considered one of the most prolific Cuban authors of the nineteenth century. The objective of this work is to describe through a biographical synthesis, the main achievements of Dr. Juan Santos Fernandez Hernandez. The name of this doctor appears among the most distinguished Cuban medical personalities of all times due to his knowledge and his civics, for his dedication and perseverance, for his valuable contribution to the progress of national science and culture (AU).

Apuntes históricos de la práctica de la Oftalmología en Matanzas / Historical notes about Ophthalmology' practice in Matanzas

Se narran los sucesos históricos más relevantes de la práctica de la especialidad de Oftalmología en la provincia de Matanzas y los relacionados con la formación de profesionales a partir de la década del 70 del siglo XX. Al utilizar el método de la narración histórica, se propició la reflexión sobre los propios acontecimientos y su relación con el contexto socio-económico al momento en que estos se produjeron; destacándolos como los antecedes y factores favorecedores del desarrollo de la Oftalmología en Matanzas. Este trabajo se realizó no sólo para narrar de manera cronológica la historia desde los inicios y creciente práctica local de la especialidad, sino también, como a manera de testimonio para las actuales y futuras generaciones, de cómo tributaron los profesionales, las instituciones y los propios eventos, al avance científico y al impacto social de la especialidad en Matanzas. Se concluye, que el comienzo del esplendor de la práctica de la Oftalmología en la provincia de Matanzas, se enmarca a la década del 70 del siglo pasado; y a los inicios del siglo XXI al de mayor desarrollo acumulado. Todo este salto de calidad en el tiempo y en el espacio, ha sido posible, gracias a las políticas de salud y educacionales implementadas por el Ministerio de Salud Pública del país (AU).

The authors recount the most relevant historical facts of the Ophthalmology practice in the province of Matanzas and those related to professionals´ training from the seventies of the XX century. Using the method of historical recount helped the reflection on the proper facts and their relation to the socio-economic context at the moment they took place, highlighting them as antecedents and factor favoring the development of Ophthalmology in Matanzas. The current paper was written not only to recount in a chronological way the history from the beginning and growing local practice of the specialty, but also as a testimony for the current and future generations to know how the professionals, institutions and events contributed to the scientific advance and to the social impact of the specialty in Matanzas. It is concluded that the beginning of the splendor of Ophthalmology practice in the province of Matanzas falls within the decade of the seventies of the past century, and the beginning of the XXI century is the time of the bigger accumulated development. All this quality jump in the time and space has been possible thanks to health and educational politics implemented by the Ministry og Public Health of the country (AU).

Jules Gonin. Pioneer of retinal detachment surgery.

Before the turn of the 20th century, eyes with a retinal detachment were considered doomed. Contrary to other branches of ophthalmology, such as cataract extraction, the surgical treatment of retinal detachment was still in its infancy, and the surgical success rates were less than five percent. From 1902 to 1921 Jules Gonin almost single handedly changed the landscape of retinal detachment surgery forever. He recognised that the retinal break was the cause--and not the consequence as it was largely believed at the time--of the retinal detachment, and that the treatment had at all costs to comprise the closure of the break by cauterisation. He named the procedure ignipuncture, as he cauterised the retina through the sclera with a very hot pointed instrument. Despite rigorously detailed clinical observations and increasing success rates, his discovery was not readily accepted and sometimes openly opposed by a large part of the ophthalmic establishment. It was not until 1929 that he received worldwide acclaim at the International Ophthalmological Congress in Amsterdam for his surgical technique. His legacy lives on in the eye hospital in Lausanne that bears his name, in the Gonin Medal awarded by the International Council of Ophthalmology every four years for the highest achievement in ophthalmology, and in a street named after him, the very street that he used to walk from his home to the hospital every day.