Arthur von Hippel (physician)

Arthur von Hippel studied medicine at the Universities of Königsberg, Munich and Berlin, where he earned his doctorate in 1864.

Following graduation he furthered his training in Prague, and afterwards became an assistant at the eye clinic at Konigsberg.

Von Hippel made contributions in his research of intraocular pressure, color blindness and near-sightedness, but is remembered for his pioneer work in lamellar keratoplasty.

In 1886, he grafted a full-thickness cornea from a rabbit into the lamellar bed of a young female patient.

After the operation the girl was able to count fingers at a distance of two meters, for a visual acuity of 20/200.