William John Adie: the man behind the syndrome

William John Adie was an Australian neurologist in the early 20th century responsible for extensively describing the tonically dilated pupil associated with absent deep tendon reflexes – both features of a syndrome that now bears his name. In addition to other neurological syndromes, he was also significant in delineating narcolepsy through his clinical essays and case series. His ophthalmic and neurologic contributions have served the test of time and played an important role in the modern understanding of Adie syndrome and narcolepsy. This report reviews Adie's medical contributions, extensive descriptions of Adie syndrome, and provides a brief biographical account of his life.