Allvar Gullstrand (1862–1930) was trained as an ophthalmologist and became the first professor of Ophthalmology at University of Uppsala. He was neither a mathematician nor a specialist in geometrical optics. Nevertheless, he made valuable contributions to theoretical optics as well as carrying out fundamental research on the mathematical and physical properties of the human eye. He invented several important ophthalmic devices. Gullstrand applied the methods of physical mathematics to optical images and to the refraction of light in the eye. For his work, he received numerous awards and, in 1911, was the first ophthalmologist to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.