Muhammad ibn Aslam al-Ghafiqi, a pioneering figure in Islamic medicine, revolutionized ophthalmic surgery with his unparalleled expertise in eye anatomy and groundbreaking treatments. His legacy, celebrated in Cordoba and beyond, continues to illuminate the path of medical progress centuries after his time. The pages of Islamic history are filled with brilliant scientists who profoundly shaped human progress. Among them stands Muhammad ibn Aslam al-Ghafiqi, not only a physician but also a trailblazer and founder of one of medicine's most intricate branches: ophthalmic surgery. Although historical sources do not precisely record the date or place of his birth, al-Ghafiqi is believed to have been born in a village near Cordoba, then a flourishing center of science and learning. Immersed in this intellectual environment, he grew into a gifted ophthalmologist, pharmacist, and botanist. According to Hassan Ali Hassan's study The Guide to Ophthalmology by al-Ghafiqi, «he was the most knowledgeable of his time regarding the properties of individual medicines, their uses, and characteristics. His book on individual medicines was unmatched in precision, drawing on the works of Galen and Dioscorides». The same source notes that German orientalist and ophthalmologist Max Meyerhof (1874–1945) was the first modern scholar to draw attention to al-Ghafiqi's legacy, particularly his treatise The Guide to Ophthalmology. Meyerhof edited and translated the manuscript into Spanish in 1933, coinciding with his participation in a scientific conference in Madrid. In The Guide to Ophthalmology, al-Ghafiqi divided his work into two parts: theoretical and practical. The theoretical section explored natural, unnatural, and supernatural aspects, while the practical section focused on preserving eye health and treating diseases through diet, medicine, and surgery, with special consideration for children and the elderly. This treatise represented a scientific breakthrough in both Andalusian and Islamic medicine. al-Ghafiqi critically reviewed earlier works by Hunayn ibn Ishaq, Ammar al-Mawsili, and Ibn al-Haytham, arguing that none had produced a comprehensive text combining theory and surgical practice in ophthalmology. A Master of Vision and Precision Al-Ghafiqi's contribution extended far beyond cataloging ailments and treatments. He provided a remarkably accurate description of the anatomy of the eye, surpassing the medical knowledge of his era. His detailed explanations of diseases such as conjunctivitis, cataracts, and corneal ulcers, along with their conservative and surgical treatments, demonstrate his mastery of both observation and technique. According to researcher Nabil Darwish, Al-Ghafiqi was likely the first to invent eyeglasses, predating Roger Bacon by nearly half a century. Darwish supports this claim linguistically, noting that the Spanish word for glasses, gafas, derives from al-Ghafiqi's name. Beyond ophthalmology, al-Ghafiqi was a distinguished botanist and pharmacist, authoring The Book of Simple Drugs, a reference on medicinal herbs and compounds. Although the original manuscript has been lost, its abridged version heavily influenced later scholars — notably Ibn al-Baytar, who cited al-Ghafiqi's work over 200 times. Meyerhof described him as «the most knowledgeable Muslim physician of the Middle Ages in the field of medicines and herbs». In recognition of his enduring contributions, the city of Córdoba honored al-Ghafiqi in the 1960s by erecting a bronze bust of him in Cardinal Salazar Square, commemorating roughly 700 years since his death around 1165, a fitting tribute to a man whose vision continues to illuminate medical history.
