A Tribute to Douglas Argyll Robertson in the Centenary of his Death: His Achievements, the Influence of his Father and his “Pupil” Today

Abstract

Douglas Argyll Robertson (1837–1909) was the first surgeon in Scotland to practice entirely in the field of ophthalmology. He completed his medical education under von Arlt in Prague and Albrecht von Graefe in Berlin. He made major contributions to ophthalmic surgery. He described that in cases of spinal cord disease there may be loss of the pupil light reflex but retention of the response to accommodation. This condition was named the “Argyll Robertson pupil” which has become one of the best known physical signs in Neurology. Argyll Robertson can be credited with a large number of other original observations in neuro-ophthalmology and he made a particular contribution to the management of glaucoma both from the discovery of the action of physostigmine (extract of the Calabar bean) and as the first to recommend trephining the sclera in those cases of glaucoma where extensive degenerative changes in the iris made an iridectomy impracticable. Less widely known was the importance of his father (John Argyll Robertson) as a likely influence on his choice of career. Current understanding of the pathophysiological basis of the “Argyll Robertson pupil” is discussed.

KEYWORDS::

• John Argyll Robertson
• Douglas Argyll Robertson
• history of neuro-ophthalmology
• Argyll Robertson pupil

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.