José Antonio Barraquer Roviralta
The Barraquer Family has been devoted to eyecare for 140 years. Prof. Ignacio Barraquer, a member of the second generation of ophthalmologists, went down in history for being a visionary and for building the first hospital in Spain exclusively for the treatment of visual impairments in the middle of the Spanish post-war era.
The inauguration of the Centre in 1941 generated magnetic international appeal due to its success and impact on medical work. In addition, given its style combining Art Deco and Bauhaus, it also became a source of pride for Barcelona’s residents and an architectural emblem of the city.
After almost 80 years of success and attracting patients from all over the world, the Centre continues undertaking its original mission and has strengthened its trajectory, distinguished by its revolutionary techniques and treatments which have led it become recognised as a pioneering body in its area of specialisation. See below to find out about the five generations of ophthalmologists who made it possible.
The ophthalmology service at the old Hospital de la Santa Creu is inaugurated.
He is appointed the first Professor of Ophthalmology in Spain.
He founds the Barcelona Ophthalmology Society.
Ignacio Barraquer Barraquer
He receives his PhD in Medicine, gaining the highest marks.
He revolutionises the world of ophthalmology with the invention of the erysiphake, an adjustable vacuum-producing device to facilitate the extraction of the crystalline lens. He introduces the procedure known as phacoerisis (from the Greek, phakós = lens, and erysis = to remove).
He is appointed Professor of Ophthalmology.
He sets up an ophthalmology service at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.
He inaugurates the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre, the first single-specialisation centre for this specialist area in Spain. He designs the building alongside architect and designer Joaquín Lloret Homs and it becomes an emblem of Barcelona for its style combining Art Deco and Bauhaus.
Along with his wife, he founds the Barraquer Institute, an independent self-financed scientific association dedicated to ophthalmic research and teaching, the exchange of ideas and scientific discoveries, the dissemination of medical and surgical therapies and general promotion of ophthalmology. The Institute is currently affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
José Ignacio Barraquer Moner
He devises the refractive keratoplasty, an innovative technique adopted by all ophthalmologists throughout the world.
It becomes the precursor to refractive surgery thanks to the development of a technique that can be used to surgically correct myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism The procedure, also known as keratomileusis, involves removing a malfunctioning cornea, freezing it, reshaping it with the right curvature, defrosting it and transplanting it into the eye once again.
Joaquín Barraquer Moner
He discovers the effect of alpha chymotrypsin on the zonular fibres and develops the technique of enzymatic zonulysis, a surgical procedure that makes the extraction of a cataract considerably easier.
Along with his father, Ignacio Barraquer Barraquer, he presents new operating theatre models designed specifically for teaching. A differentiating feature is the transparent dome, which allows observing medics to witness the procedures at a minimum distance from the operating field.
Alongside his father, he founds the Eye Bank for the Treatment of Blindness, the first in continental Europe.
Alongside his brother José Ignacio Barraquer Moner, he devises a special microscope for microsurgery with a slit-lamp.
In partnership with Hans Litman, an optical engineer at the tech company Zeiss, he invents another special microscope to videotape eye microsurgery. The images are broadcast live on an internal circuit and allow operations to be viewed from the same perspective as the surgeon while he operates, which is a huge innovation in medical education.
He is appointed Professor of Eye Surgery at the UAB.
He upgrades the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre and adds two floors to it.
He inaugurates the Professional School for Specialisation in Ophthalmology, affiliated with the UAB's Faculty of Medicine.
Along with his children, Dr. Elena Barraquer and Prof. Rafael I. Barraquer, he sets up the Barraquer Foundation, a non-profit organisation that contributes to the development of ophthalmology and facilitates access to eyecare to people from all round the world.
The implantation of the first bionic eye with artificial sight in Spain is undertaken at the Centre. This system, the Argus II, restores part of the vision of patients who are completely blind due to retinitis pigmentosa.
Elena Barraquer
She specializes in Ophthalmology at the Harvard Medical School (Harvard University).
For 13 years she has served as president and executive director of the Barraquer Foundation, organizing more than 100 expeditions around the world.
She establishes the Elena Barraquer Foundation, a non-profit organization that fights against preventable blindness due to cataracts in developing countries.
Since this year, she has been included annually in the Forbes list of the best specialists in Spain.
She received the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute of New York award in the Excellence Awards category for her work at the head of the foundation that bears her name.
Rafael I. Barraquer
He receives a doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
He is appointed holder of the "Joaquin Barraquer" Chair in Ophthalmology Research of Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
He takes over medical management of the Centre, after the passing of Joaquín Barraquer Moner.
He is elected as President of the European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER), a prestigious scientific association that brings together around a thousand researchers in the fields of ophthalmology and visual science.
He is appointed Professor of Ophthalmology by the International University of Catalonia (UIC) and chairs the 36th meeting of the World Ophthalmology Congress.
Alexandra Barraquer
A graduate in Business Administration from ESADE Business School who has had a penchant for cultural industries since she started her professional career, Alexandra joined the management of Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre in 2019.
Barraquer is starting its international expansion process with the opening of the Barraquer Eye Hospital in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), a 13,000 m2 ophthalmology centre equipped with the latest technology in eye health.
Anton Barraquer
He graduated in Medicine from the International University of Catalonia in 2016. Subsequently, he specialized in Ophthalmology at the KBC University Hospital in Zagreb and, that same year, he joined the team at the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre.