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Johann Friedrich Horner is remembered in ophthalmology due to his brief report in the German scientific journal 'Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde', in which emphasized the clinical value of a cluster of external signs of damage to the cervical sympathetic nerve. Although J .F .Horner was not the first to describe such a syndrome, he was credited with the nomination. For the French, Francois Pourfour du Petit was the pioneer in that case. Born in Zurich, travelled Europe to be further educated, becoming later on Professor and Director of the University Clinic of Ophthalmology in his native city. In conclusion, J .F .Horner's adamantine character, hard work, assiduous teaching and skills in eye surgery made him one of the main contributors for the evolution of ophthalmology in the nineteenth century Central Europe.

Although Ernst von Bergmann (1837-1907) is considered the father of neurosurgery in Germany, Fedor Krause (1857-1937) should be considered as its main founder. He was principally a general surgeon but he had a special interest in neurosurgery, a field in which he introduced many new techniques. He also fabricated innovative surgical methods for the treatment of patients with epilepsy.

Carl Ferdinand von Arlt, Ritter von Bergschmidt (1812-1887) was a pioneer in ophthalmology. The purpose of our paper is to highlight his scientific work. He did not only introduce new surgical techniques and invent new instruments in ocular surgery, but also influenced the development of ophthalmology in the 19th century. He was an excellent and reputable professor of ophthalmology, and his students became very respected figures in ophthalmology.

Sir William Arbuthnot Lane (1856-1943) is considered a pioneer in orthopedic surgery, especially for his breakthrough for the time technique for bone and mainly femoral surgery, the so-called screw and plates technique, which was also accompanied by his aseptic surgical approach. Apart from his innovations in colon, nose, ear, throat, and reconstructive surgery, his treatises on orthopedic surgery were considered as masterpieces. Femoral anatomy and surgical anatomy attracted mainly his interest as seen in his treatises.

The aim was to study Adriaan van den Spiegel’s ideas on ocular anatomy. He is better known by his Latinized name as Adrianus Spigelius (1578 – 1625). He was a Flemish physician and anatomist who lived and worked in Padua, where in 1605 he was elected to be Professor of Anatomy and Surgery. Chapter IX of book ten of Spigelius’ work on human anatomy, entitled De humani corporis fabrica libri X tabulis aere icisis exornati (1627) was devoted to an anatomical description of the eye. Corresponding to contemporary ideas of the production of knowledge Spigelius endeavoured to enhance Andreas Vesalius’ (1514–1564) anatomy, he did not repeat his predecessor’s theories of ocular anatomy. He conceptualised that the eye has six muscles, five tunics and three humors, while he gave a brief description of ocular physiology combining anatomy and the functional role of the anatomic ocular parts.Conclusion. He managed to correct Vesalius’ errors and to present ocular anatomy with original notes, which so far, have been ignored and are highlighted now.