Museum of Vision Offering Free Passes

On Sept. 23, the Museum of Vision, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, will participate in Smithsonian Magazine's seventh annual Museum Day. The Museum of Vision, the only institution in the United States whose sole purpose is to preserve the history of ophthalmology and celebrate its unique contributions to science and health, will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide, including six San Francisco museums, in opening their doors free of charge to all visitors who download the Museum Day ticket from the Smithsonian Museum Day web site: www.smithsonian.com/museumday. The museum has one of the world's leading collections of ophthalmic history, containing approximately 38,000 items including artifacts, archives and rare books. It current showcases the exhibit Collecting Ophthalmology: 30 years at the Museum in its San Francisco gallery. This exhibit highlights the wide array of artifacts dating from the 17^th century to the present day, such as the rare book library, instrument collection, and eyeglasses. A preview can be found online at the museum's website.