Esther Franks, physician and first woman ophthalmic surgeon to practise in SA, is born in Zurich

Date: 17 May 1900
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Esther Franks, physician and first woman ophthalmic surgeon to practise in SA, was born in Zurich, Switzerland. Her parents emigrated from Russia via England and Switzerland and came to SA shortly after her birth. She was a pioneer in the fight against blindness. In 1971 she was adjudged Woman of the Year by the readers of The Star for her outstanding work in restoring sight to thousands of rural Africans.

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How we know this

01Verwey, E.J. (ed)(1995). New Dictionary of South African Biography, v.1, Pretoria: HSRC.
02Andrea, (2001), 'Esther Franks Biography', from Remembered, Available at https://remembered.co.za/obituary/view/15078 [Accessed 29 May 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Esther Franks, physician and first woman ophthalmic surgeon to practise in SA, is born in Zurich. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011206

South African History Online (2011) 'Esther Franks, physician and first woman ophthalmic surgeon to practise in SA, is born in Zurich', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011206 (Accessed: 23 August 2026).

South African History Online, Esther Franks, physician and first woman ophthalmic surgeon to practise in SA, is born in Zurich [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011206, (accessed 23 August 2026).

"Esther Franks, physician and first woman ophthalmic surgeon to practise in SA, is born in Zurich." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011206. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Esther Franks, physician and first woman ophthalmic surgeon to practise in SA, is born in Zurich." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011206.