Forging ophthalmology in Puerto Rico: Dr Ramón Emeterio Betances (1827-1898)

Ramon Emeterio Betances (1827-1898) stands out as a pivotal figure in the fields of ophthalmology and public health in nineteenth-century Puerto Rico. Trained in France, he returned to the island in 1856, where he treated cholera patients and introduced vital public health interventions. Known as 'The Physician of the Poor', Betances dedicated himself to serving marginalised populations, including enslaved individuals. He co-founded a secret abolitionist society and championed Puerto Rican independence, actions that resulted in multiple periods of exile. Together with his contemporaries, Betances helped lay the groundwork for ophthalmology in Puerto Rico, significantly advancing medical knowledge, improving public health infrastructure, and inspiring successive generations of clinicians. His enduring legacy is recognised for its profound medical, social, and political impact.