THE HISTORY OF CATARACT SURGERY

Abstract

The history of cataract surgery, like other medical procedures, presents a circular course, with repetition of previously reported and tested ideas. From the ruins of ancient Babylon arose the technique of crystalline aspiration, which lasted only a short time. The idea of dislocation of the crystalline to the vitreous chamber came from India and was used for more than 3000 years.During this period, there were several other sporadic and localized attempts to treat cataracts. It was only in 1750 that the French surgeon Jacques Daviel successfully performed the first planned extracapsular extraction. At first, the idea of opening the eye to remove the cataract was not well accepted due to the technical difficulties involved in the procedure. The intracapsular technique was easier and therefore started to gain adepts all over the world, becoming the model of choice by the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1950, the use of a microscope, of the extracapsular technique and of intraocular lenses has led to a new, constantly evolving era in the treatment of cataracts.