[Ophthalmology in the Middle East from antiquity to the twentieth century]

This article reviews the history of ophthalmology in the Middle East in the era spanning from antiquity to the twentieth century. Although there is little material concerning ophthalmology in antiquity the authors strove to present the way people and healers overcome eye problems. Moreover, ophthalmology in middle ages was reviewed, with emphasis on the great role Arab and Muslim ophthalmologists had in developing eye care and ocular sciences. Finally, the latest developments in eye health care in our region were shown.