museumoftheeye

Discover surprising facts about how your vision works at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye®.

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New on the Eye Witness Blog: Discover the history of trachoma through the story of Sarah Showa Baz, an immigrant whose journey from the Ottoman Empire to Ellis Island was unexpectedly shaped by an eye infection. Read more: https://t.co/XXM7xTQLY5.

Images: (1) “Die Sogenannte Contagiose Oder Agyptische Augenentzundung," or “The So-Called Contagious or Egyptian Eye Inflammation,” by Burkhard Eble, 1839, (2) Ellis Island Immigration Station, c1999, (3) A U.S. Public Health Service physician inspects a woman’s eyelid for signs of trachoma, c1920.

#museumoftheeye #trachoma @statueellisnps

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We are proud to be a #BlueStarMuseum again in 2026! Active military personnel and their families can visit the Museum of the Eye for free from May 16 (Armed Forces Day) through September 7 (Labor Day). We appreciate your service and look forward to welcoming you. Plan your visit at https://t.co/GMazQUXLx2.

#museumoftheeye #BlueStarMuseums @neaarts

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MUSEUM UPDATE: Summer hours are here! From today until Labor Day, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Come by and see us after your breakfast at @cafedecasa.

Learn more about our hours and holidays at https://t.co/biO7y0KeHC. #museumoftheeye

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GRAND OPENING! Our special exhibition, “Trachoma: Bacteria, Immigration, and Public Health” is now open through May 2027. This year’s exhibition examines the surprisingly fascinating history of the bacterial infection trachoma, from early outbreaks during the Napoleonic Wars to a cure with the discovery of antibiotics.

Check out https://t.co/mdxNp6RWMb for more information. #museumoftheeye @aaoeye

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Behind every ophthalmologist is a story... sometimes, it’s a whole family tree.

The Museum of the Eye’s newly re-envisioned Ophthalmic Family Tree brings those stories together, honoring generations of physicians and the legacies they’ve built.

Discover the connections and share your own: https://t.co/xSRHu7mXpj
@aaoeye

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We are celebrating the final weeks of West Meets East: Eye Medicine in the Asia-Pacific before it closes by sharing some fascinating facts about ophthalmology in Asia.

#DidYouKnow that the world’s oldest evidence of a hospital is located in Asia? Mihintale, an archaeological site in Sri Lanka, hosts the ruins of a hospital complex dating back to the 9th century. It is likely that this site would have combined Buddhist teachings, local knowledge, and Ayurvedic medical practices to treat patients.

Plan your visit to see West Meets East before it closes on May 17 at https://t.co/jFOD5hGBeY. #museumoftheeye

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New exhibit coming soon! Our 2026-2027 special exhibition, “Trachoma: Bacteria, Immigration and Public Health,” will open on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

This exhibit traces the fascinating history of trachoma, a bacterial infection of the eye and eyelids. The exhibit begins with Trachoma’s earliest outbreaks during the Napoleonic Wars, moves into the eye inspections at Ellis Island and Angel Island Immigration Stations, and finishes with the discovery of an antibiotic cure through worldwide public health efforts. Featuring rare books, historical surgical tools, and more, “Trachoma: Bacteria, Immigration, and Public Health” highlights the story of a bacteria that is now rarely seen in the U.S. but continues to affect public health efforts worldwide.

Learn more about this exhibition at https://t.co/pv2HuV8b7o. #museumoftheeeye #trachoma

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It’s #NationalVolunteerWeek! Do you love museums, or want to learn more about history, medicine, and science? Volunteer with us at the Museum of the Eye. No previous volunteer experience necessary.

We are looking for individuals ages 15 and up to volunteer during regular museum hours and for special events and programs. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities and apply today at https://t.co/aTuwhS2EYQ. #museumoftheeye

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Last call for “West Meets East: Eye Medicine in the Asia-Pacific!” Our 2025-2026 special exhibit will close one month from today, on May 17. Visit the museum soon to see this special collection of eyeglasses, books, and medical instruments from the vast history of Eastern ophthalmology.

Plan your visit today: https://t.co/zkPLjCtoQT.
#museumoftheeye #asiapacific

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Explore the science of sight at home. Our downloadable online activities include coloring book pages, do-it-yourself experiments, ophthalmic word searches and more.

Browse these and more resources for educators and at-home learners at https://t.co/vvxMNdYDS1.
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It’s World Aquatic Animal Day! #DidYouKnow that the mantis shrimp has at least 12 types of cone cells, while humans only have three? This means that the mantis shrimp can probably perceive more colors than any other animal on earth.

Learn more about more animal eyes, both aquatic and terrestrial, in our online “Animal Eyes” exhibit: https://t.co/6av03u3mA2.
#museumoftheeye #worldaquaticanimalday

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At the Museum of the Eye, we preserve the history of ophthalmology—from early surgical tools to the breakthroughs that shape how vision is restored and protected today. But preserving this history and making it accessible to the public takes ongoing support.

Your donations help us:
-Preserve rare instruments, paper archives, medical artifacts, and more
-Expand educational programing and events for students, physicians, and the public
-Curate engaging exhibitions that bring the history of eye medicine to life
-Share the story of ophthalmology with audiences of all ages and backgrounds

When you give, you’re not just supporting a museum—you’re helping protect the legacy of the people and innovations that have transformed sight for millions.

Join us in keeping this history visible for generations to come. Support the Museum of the Eye at https://t.co/AF7pSqdvwu.

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Johann Sebastian Bach was born #onthisday in 1685. Learn how Bach and another well-known composer each experienced an unfortunate encounter with medical quackery at the end of their lives on the Eye Witness Blog: https://t.co/aFYaNvDJXF.

For more deep dives and behind-the-scenes museum stories, explore the Eye Witness Blog at https://t.co/m0eruNnhUd.

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#didyouknow that blue glass Evil Eye pendants and the eye on the back of the one-dollar bill come from the same root? They are both historical symbols of protection.

Learn more about eye symbols throughout time and across cultures in our online exhibit “Decoding the Eye: Signs & Symbols” at https://t.co/JA0SvqWQkr. #museumoftheeye

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UPCOMING EVENT - April Fools: After Hours is back by popular demand!

We’ll be taking our collection of 19th century medical quackery out of the vault for a special after hours event on Saturday, April 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you missed our exhibit “Hoodwinked: 19th Century Quack Medicine” last year, now is your chance to see these quack electronic devices, patent medicines, and more.

Purchase tickets: https://t.co/8SdxU4rSCJ.

Tickets include after-hours access to our quackery collection, a beer and wine bar, and a poster giveaway. This event is 21+. All proceeds support exhibits and programming at the Museum of the Eye. #museumoftheeye #aprilfools @aaoeye @fishermanswharf

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#FunFact: Macao was home to one of the first Western hospitals in China – and it was specifically ophthalmic. Macao, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) in China, is featured in our West Meets East: Eye Medicine in the Asia-Pacific exhibit. Take a deep dive into Macao’s fascinating history in a new edition of the Eye Witness blog at https://t.co/63hVAinPNi. West Meets East is on display until May 2026.

Images: (1) Pencil & ink drawing of Colledge Ophthalmic Infirmary in Macao, c1850. (2) Grand Lisboa Casino & Hotel in Macao, current day.

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Did you know you can search the museum’s collection of over 38,000 objects online? See more than 4,000 vision aids like glasses and contact lenses and over 2,000 books through our online collections search at https://t.co/YHIBdEYbHl. #museumoftheeye #didyouknow

Image: Contact lens set, c1990.

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Happy Valentine’s Day! Love is all around — you just have to open your eyes. Experience love at first sight with our special Valentine’s Day Spotify playlist, “The Look of Love.” Spin through our collection of ocular odes and ballads, ranging from blues to K-Pop. Which one is your favorite?

Listen along at https://t.co/2hN394UXAK. #museumoftheeye #valentinesday

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It’s Super Bowl Sunday! During our “Sports & Vision” tours, visitors often guess that football is a leading cause of eye injuries in sports. Though professional football players do injure their eyes occasionally, the true culprit for the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries might surprise you. Learn which sport and more about how vision affects athletics in our “Sports & Vision” online exhibit at https://t.co/SOVFmSpnUZ.

Want to take the “Sports & Vision” tour in person? Request a free special group tour at https://t.co/6lg5BYw5QR.

Image: Football game, c1920-1930. #museumoftheeye #superbowllx

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Craft & Learn: Lover’s Eyes is back for Valentine’s Day! Join us on either February 7 or February 14 to learn about the 18th century fad of Lover’s Eyes – the sometimes-secretive miniature portraits of just a loved one’s eye and eyebrow. Then, draw and decorate your own Lover’s Eye and have it made into a button or magnet to take home.

This year, we’ve added new templates and a keychain option!

This event is free but requires an RSVP at https://t.co/mugnkbFGpX. Recommended for ages 8 and up. #museumoftheeye #valentinesday @aaoeye @fishermanswharf