Virtual AAO Museum of the Eye event kicks off November 18

Creativity abounds during the COVID-19 pandemic with all manner of virtual things to do. The American Academy of Ophthalmology Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye, in San Francisco, plans to open its virtual doors with a series called Behind the Scenes. This educational opportunity presents some of the museum’s collection for a fun and informative presentation and question-and-answer session that can be appreciated from the safety of home.

The first of two events is on November 18. The second event is slated for December 16. Registration for both activities is open now.

The National Trachoma Service

The first of the free and open-to-the-public series is entitled "The National Trachoma Service." Jenny Benjamin, the director of the Museum of the Eye, will showcase medical oddities in this video. This episode is said to feature “a rare set of glass propaganda teaching slides prepared by the National Trachoma Service. Trachoma is a bacterial infection that attacks the eyes and has been documented for thousands of years. Learn about the trachoma epidemic in the United States between 1912 and 1924, and its parallels to our current health crisis—the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The launch of The National Trachoma Service is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2020, from noon to 1 pm Pacific time.

Those interested can register for this event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/behind-the-scenes-the-national-trachoma-service-tickets-124454931049

Renaissance Medicinal Recipes

The second offering in the Behind the Scenes series is entitled "Renaissance Medicinal Recipes."

Clinical herbalist, Rylan Sian of North Wind Apothecary in San Francisco, is scheduled to discuss the smells and tastes of 16th-century herbal eye medicines as they were described in a 1583 publication authored by Georg Bartisch, “Ophthalmodouleia,” the oldest text in the museum. This video promises to be imminently entertaining. The presentation will take a close look at the Renaissance era medicinal recipes and the ingredients used to treat eye issues.

This discussion is scheduled to run on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, from noon to 1 pm Pacific time.

Registration also is required for this free event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/behind-the-scenes-renaissance-medicinal-recipes-tickets-125205319481?aff=erelpanelorg

Benjamin

“We’re taking advantage of the fact that many people are at home right now and looking for new ways to entertain and educate themselves. We’re thrilled to offer this online series so people can marvel at the medical oddities and scientific collection of the Museum of the Eye, all from their own homes. Behind the Scenes represents our commitment to providing the public with fun and fascinating educational opportunities, free of cost,” Benjamin said.

For further information about the museum itself, please see https://www.aao.org/museum-of-the-eye.