Commentary & Perspectives

The Ophthalmologist’s Time Machine 38

Glaucoma, eugenics, and Lucien Howe (1848-1928): when the personal became political

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Lucien Howe, a prominent ophthalmologist from Buffalo, New York, played a pivotal role in promoting eugenics in the early 20th century, influenced by personal experiences with hereditary glaucoma in his family. His 1887 case series highlighted cases of multiple generations affected by the disorder, which was often termed 'angle-closure glaucoma' at the time. Concerned about the hereditary nature of this condition, which appeared in his own lineage, Howe argued for the moral justification of sterilization and other measures to prevent future suffering among those at risk of hereditary blindness, reflecting the eugenic sentiments of his era.

Original Source(s)

The Ophthalmologist’s Time Machine 38

Glaucoma, eugenics, and Lucien Howe (1848-1928): when the personal became political

  • by Christopher T. Leffler, Stephen G. Schwartz, Andrzej Grzybowski

  • February 27, 2026

  • 3 min

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