When was the first cataract surgery? This question has intrigued medical historians and ophthalmologists alike for centuries. Cataracts, a common eye condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, have been affecting humans for thousands of years. The earliest evidence of cataract surgery dates back to ancient Egypt, where surgical procedures were performed on patients suffering from this condition. However, the exact time and method of the first cataract surgery remain a subject of debate among experts.
Historians believe that the first cataract surgery was performed in ancient Egypt around 1800 BCE. The procedure was carried out by an ophthalmologist named Hesiredi, who is mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical text. According to the Ebers Papyrus, Hesiredi used a sharp instrument to remove the cloudy lens from the eye, which was then replaced with a copper tube. This primitive method, though risky, marked the beginning of cataract surgery.
However, some experts argue that the first cataract surgery may have occurred even earlier, around 600 BCE, in India. In the ancient Indian medical text called the Sushruta Samhita, there is a mention of a surgical procedure called “cikitsa,” which is believed to be a precursor to cataract surgery. The text describes the use of a needle to remove the cloudy lens, followed by the insertion of a glass or crystal lens as a replacement. This method, although not as advanced as the one described in the Ebers Papyrus, still represents a significant milestone in the history of cataract surgery.
Another theory suggests that the first cataract surgery may have been performed in China around 1000 BCE. The Chinese medical text, the “Shang Han Za Bing Lun,” mentions a surgical procedure called “tong gua,” which is believed to be a form of cataract surgery. The text describes the use of a needle to puncture the cloudy lens, followed by the insertion of a crystal lens as a replacement. This method, although less invasive than the ones described in the Ebers Papyrus and the Sushruta Samhita, still demonstrates the early attempts to treat cataracts.
Despite the various theories and evidence, it is challenging to determine the exact date and location of the first cataract surgery. However, it is clear that ancient civilizations made significant strides in the field of ophthalmology, laying the foundation for modern cataract surgery techniques. Today, cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful surgeries performed worldwide, with advanced techniques and technologies making it safer and more effective than ever before.
