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The Ophthalmologist / Issues / 2026 / January / The Ophthalmologists Time Machine / Summary
Retina Educational Tools & Resources

The Ophthalmologist’s Time Machine 35

How did the macula get its name?

By Stephen G. Schwartz, Susan Schneider, Christopher T. Leffler, Andrzej Grzybowski 1/6/2026 3 min read

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article Full Article subject Summary summarize Notecard
The term 'macula' originates from the Latin word for 'spot' and refers to the macula lutea, emphasized in its historical use within medical and non-medical contexts. This term has been associated with ocular structures and conditions for centuries, including references in descriptions of corneal dystrophy and lesions of the eye. The visualization of the macula was historically limited until the ophthalmoscope's invention in 1850, although earlier descriptions existed. Notable figures such as Buzzi and Sömmerring contributed to our understanding of the macula's role and appearance.

About the Author(s)

Stephen G. Schwartz

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Naples, FL, USA

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Susan Schneider

Susan Schneider, MD, Consultant, Berwyn, PA, US

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Christopher T. Leffler

Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Commonwealth University and Richmond VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA. His book on the history of ophthalmology can be found here: https://kugler.pub/editors/christopher-t-leffler/

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Andrzej Grzybowski

Andrzej Grzybowski is a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland, and the Head of Institute for Research in Ophthalmology at the Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Poznan, Poland. He is EVER President, Treasurer of the European Academy of Ophthalmology, and a member of the Academia Europea. He is a member of the International AI in Ophthalmology Society (https://iaisoc.com/) and has written a book on the subject that can be found here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-78601-4.

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