The Barraquer Institute was founded on April 15, 1947 by Ignacio Barraquer and his wife, Josefa Moner. The Institute is an independent, self-funded scientific association dedicated to research and teaching of ophthalmology, the exchange of ideas and scientific discovery, improvement and dissemination of medical and surgical therapies, and general promotion of ophthalmology.

Since 1947, the Instituto Barraquer ophthalmologic teaches postgraduate specialization. In 1972, Joaquín Barraquer officially opened the Ophthalmic Specialist Training School, under the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and its affiliated medical school.

The Institute collaborates with the Barraquer Barraquer Ophthalmology Center in the specialization programs MIR (resident physicians), which has five seats for each course accredited.

Since 1993, the Barraquer Institute was affiliated to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), as the Institut Universitari Barraquer. Its main objectives are the basic and clinical research in ophthalmology, making eye refresher courses, scientific exchange and information, and in general, institutional collaboration in research and teaching.