[Hjalmar Schiötz and his tonometer]

Hjalmar August Schiøtz (1850-1927) was the first Norwegian professor of ophthalmology. Drawing on his rare technical skills and deep insight into advanced mathematics and physiological optics, he designed several ophthalmological instruments, the two most important being the ophthalmometer he designed together with Professor Javal in Paris in 1881 and his own tonometer in 1905. Throughout more than 50 years, the Schiøtz tonometer upheld its position as the instrument most widely used world-wide for measuring intraocular pressure.