Emil von Behring, the first Nobel prize laureate in medicine or physiology, and his ophthalmic interests

Purpose Emil von Behring (1854‐1917) received the Nobel Prize in 1901 for his work on serum therapy, especially its application against diphtheria. There are many publications about the life and work. It is thus surprising, that his interests and relationship to ophthalmology were only rarely mentioned, usually presented incorrectly and never analyzed thoroughly. The aim of this work is to fill this gap. Methods The study was based on the detailed analysis of materials from National Archives in Berlin and in Poznan, cities where Behring lived and and Behring's works, including his doctoral dissertation. Results Behring was trained and worked as an ophthalmologist. He also wrote his doctoral dissertation on “Neurotomia opticociliaris” (optociliary neurotomy) whilst in Berlin under Carl Schweigger (1830‐1905). He later worked as an assistant and co‐worker with the prominent Polish ophthalmologist Boleslaw Wicherkiewicz (1874‐1915), in Poznan where he described an interesting ophthalmic case in a scientific journal. Conclusion Behrings’ biography and achievements in serotherapy are well‐known, however his interest in ophthalmology was not previously analyzed in detail. Both his doctoral dissertation and later his work as an assistant to Wicherkiewicz’ ophthalmic hospitals in Poznan reveal his deep concern in ophthalmology in the early period of his medical career.