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Jules Gonin. Pioneer of Retinal Detachment
Surgery
Thomas J Wolfensberger, MD, PD, MER
Final years
Jules Gonin's last few years of life were exceedingly
exhausting. Apart from his normal daily work as chairman
of the department, he was inundated with difficult cases
from around Europe (Figure 8a & 8b).
Figure 8a. Examination room at the Eye
Hospital in the mid 1930ies, where patients were seen
every day of the week including on saturday. (From: “Asile
des Aveugles: La pérennité d’une vocation”
Lausanne, 1993)
Figure 8b. Jules Gonin
leaves the hospital after finishing his consultation in
the evening. This picture was taken in the last few years
of his life. (From: “Asile des Aveugles: La pérennité
d’une vocation” Lausanne, 1993)
Often these were patients with an only eye. In addition,
he received innumerable visitors from all over the world
who often made excessive demands on his time and energy.
Once asked by a visitor where his laboratory was, Gonin
replied, pointing at this forehead, "That's my lab."1
Gonin's wife died in 1932 when he was 62 years
old, after a marriage that had lasted for 33 years. This
loss affected him greatly. Despite increasing weariness
in his final years he decided to publish his book on retinal
detachment surgery called "Le décollement
de la rétine" which he edited with the help
of his daughter Gabrielle in 1934.8
(Figure 9)
Figure 9. The title page of Jules
Gonin’s monograph on retinal detachment called "Le
décollement de rétine". The book was
published in French by the local publishing house Payot
in Lausanne one year before his death in 1934, (From J.
Gonin: "Le décollement de rétine"
1934, Payot, Lausanne)
Jules Gonin died unexpectedly in late May 1935. In his
will he stipulated that a large part of his assets go
the blind who had lost their sight late in life. The Nobel
Prize Committee considered giving their award to Gonin.
A questionnaire on Gonin's work was sent to several ophthalmic
authorities from around the world. All replied favourably,
with one exception. This unfortunate decision persuaded
the Nobel committee to postpone their decision on Gonin's
work for a year. It is very likely that the prize would
have been conferred to Gonin the year after, since the
reasons for the opposition against him getting the prize
were unsubstantiated. However, Gonin's premature death
prevented him from receiving the award.9
Today his name is carried into the future by the hospital
that bears his name, and which functions as the University
Eye Hospital in Lausanne. Furthermore, in 1937 the University
of Lausanne established, with the help of the Swiss Ophthalmological
Society, the Gonin Medal. This is awarded by the International
Council of Ophthalmology every four years for the highest
achievements in ophthalmology (Figure 10).
Figure 10. The original joint declaration
by the University of Lausanne and the Swiss Ophthalmological
Society in 1937 to establish the Gonin Medal to honour
the individual who has contributed the most to ophthalmology.
The International Council of Ophthalmology awards this
medal every four years. (From: "Asile des Aveugles"
Lausanne, 1985)
Even a street is named after him in Lausanne, the very
street that he used to walk from his home to the hospital
every day.
References
1. Rumpf J. Jules Gonin inventor of surgical treatment
of retinal detachment. Surv Ophthalmol 1976;21:276-84.
2. Gonin J. Décollement rétinien. Encycl
Franç Ophtalmol 1906;6:947-1025.
3. Gonin J. La pathogénie du décollement
spontané de la rétine. Ann Oculist, 1904;132:30-55.
4. Gonin J. La thermoponction oblitérante des déchirures
rétiniennes dans le décollement de la rétine.
Ann Oculist 1931;168:1-29.
5. Gonin J. Divergences of principles and differences
of technics in the treatment of retinal detachment. Am
J Ophthalmol 1934;17:74-79.
6. Thilges V. Jules Gonin: L'homme et son oeuvre. Ann
Oculist 1970;203:631-37.
7. Gonin J. Guérison opératoires de décollements
rétiniens. Rev Gén Ophtal 1923;37:337-40.
8. Gonin J. Le décollement de rétine. 1934,
Lausanne: Payot.
9. Arruga A. Little known aspects of Jules Gonin?s life.
Doc Ophthalmol 1997;94:83-90.
Stories from stamps
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Allvar Gullstrand (1862-1930)
Vladimir Filatov (1875-1956)
Jules Gonin (1870-1935) |
Jules Gonin (1870-1935) |
Courtesy: Samar K Basak, MD, DNB, Disha Eye Hospitals
& Research Centre, Barrackpore, West Bengal-743 120,
India.
E-mail: disha@cal2.vsnl.net.in
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History
