Healing the eyes of the Indies: Circulating and localizing European ophthalmological knowledge and technology in twentieth-century Yogyakarta

This research explores the emergence of ophthalmological practices in Yogyakarta, specifically within the realm of hospital practice. By focusing on the Prinses Juliana Gasthuis voor Ooglijders, this study analyzes the circulation and localization of European ophthalmological knowledge and technology within a colonial context. The investigation involved a thorough review of archival documents, including colonial and hospital reports, alongside an examination of the brands and origins of medical devices currently preserved at the Museum of Dr. Yap Prawirohusodo. The analysis utilizes David Arnold’s framework, which highlights intercultural exchange, regional circulation, and the hybridization of European knowledge and technology within a colony. The Prinses Juliana Gasthuis voor Ooglijders (Princess Juliana Hospital for Eye Disease Patients) was established in 1923 by Dr. Yap Hong Tjoen, a Chinese-Indonesian ophthalmologist who earned his doctorate from the University of Leiden. For this reason, his European education integrated him into a global network of medical expertise. He played a pivotal role in circulating ophthalmological knowledge and technology upon returning to the Dutch East Indies to work at the hospital. While he applied standardized European diagnoses and treatments for eye care, he simultaneously adapted this knowledge to local contexts by translating unfamiliar Western concepts for indigenous patients. Furthermore, the analysis of medical devices reveals a significant influx of imported equipment from Europe to Yogyakarta, underscoring the existence of a robust transnational network. Interestingly, the research also uncovers evidence of modification and self-fabrication, particularly regarding Snellen charts, wheelchairs, and medicine-compounding equipment. Such adaptations provide insight into how technology was tailored to suit local needs shaped by social, cultural, and physical factors. Ultimately, this study contributes to the historiography of medicine in the Dutch East Indies by examining the role of local agencies and the materiality of medical technology. It also underscores the significance of indigenous environments in the global dissemination and practical application of European medical science.