Editing Wills Eye Hospital (section)

== History ==

James Wills, a Quaker merchant, bequeathed funds to establish an institution for the treatment of eye diseases, leading to the hospital's founding in 1832. The hospital was America's first dedicated to ophthalmology, reflecting the early nineteenth century's emerging medical specialization. The original facility on Logan Square served patients for over a century before the hospital relocated.<ref name="wills"/>

Wills Eye contributed to ophthalmology's development as a medical specialty through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Training programs established standards for ophthalmologic education while faculty advanced understanding of eye diseases and treatments. The hospital's research and teaching shaped the field beyond its direct patient care.<ref name="wills"/>

The hospital moved to its current Center City location on Walnut Street in 1980, with the modern facility designed for ophthalmic care. Subsequent renovations and technology additions have maintained contemporary capabilities. The specialty hospital model—focusing exclusively on eye care rather than operating within a general hospital—has persisted despite trends toward system integration.<ref name="wills"/>