Glasgow Eye Infirmary

General items relating to the Eye Infirmary; c.1820s-1990; Annual Reports, 1861-1865; student notebook, 1764-1765; documents relating to William Brown, 1821- 1873; documents relating to ophthalmological instruments, 1890-c.1949; pharmaceutical labels c.1930s-1980s; medical and ophthalmological, photographs, prints and illustrations, c.1830s-c.1960s; photographs of the Infirmary, 1998; medical illustrations from Universitäts-Augenklinik, Basel, 1924-c.1937.

The Infirmary was founded in 1824. In 1874 it moved into purpose built accommodation in the West End of Glasgow at Berkeley St which, by the late 1880s, had over 100 beds. The Infirmary continued to run an outpatients department in the East End. In 1945 the Spencer Research Committee was formed with capital of over £12,000, to oversee research in the GEI. In 1971 the entire in-patient accommodation at Berkeley St was destroyed by fire. From 1948 to 1974 the Glasgow Eye Infirmary was under the Board of Management for Glasgow Western (later Western and Gartnavel) Hospitals. In 1974 it was placed in the Western District of the Greater Glasgow Health Board and in 1993 it became the responsibility of the West Glasgow University NHS Trust. It was transferred to Gartnavel Hospital in 1998.

Access to some items may be restricted. Please contact Heritage staff at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Descriptive list available at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

RCPSG 24 Papers of William Mackenzie

RCPSG 12 Papers of William Brown

Acc 1998.8 Dissection of left facial nerve attributed to William Mackenzie.

Acc 2003.77 Ophthalmic museum items from the Infirmary