UNKNOWN ANCIENT-GREEK OPHTHALMOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT

Discoveries of some ancient medical instruments and equipment found in the Hellenic world have been published in magazines of general intere st and in a rare Greek medical journal, yet none caught the attention of ophthalmologists. Among these instruments are two forms of the famo us 'Kenteterion', dating from the Hellenistic period, used for the cou ching of cataract. These were found on the island of Miles in the last century. Two magnifying lenses of the Archaic period from the recent Cretan excavations gave us the opportunity to discuss the problem of t heir medical use. The two drop-bottles from the excavations on Cyprus and at Tanagra, which are also described, seem to be of medical, and p ossible ophthalmological, use.