The distinguished Austrian ophthalmologist Ernst Fuchs (1851-1930) and the "sarcom des uvealtractus".

ABSTRACT

Born in Vienna, in mid 19th century, Ernst Fuchs became an innovative ophthalmologist and is currently considered as the father of modern ophthalmology. Conditions like heterochromic uveitis and endothelial dystrophy were discovered by Fuchs and a series of ocular diseases are named after him. His work dealing with eye pathology, entitled "Textbook of Ophthalmology", became known as the masterpiece of the 19th century ophthalmology. In ocular oncology, Fuchs introduced first the "sarcom des uvealtractus" (uveal sarcoma), known today as uveal melanoma. His treatment approach by enucleation was in vogue for more than 100 years, while his theory for hepatic metastasis of ocular cancer remains valid.