Thousands of people receive treatment every year with little to no side effects. But the removal of cataracts hasn’t always been so efficient. Let’s take a look at the history behind cataract surgery and recent advancements in technology.

The earliest known method for cataract surgery was called couching, where the lens was pushed out of direct sight lines but not fully extracted. Surgeons began by cutting out the cloudy area with a sharp tool. If a sufficiently sharpened blade wasn’t available, rudimentary objects like thorns were used instead. The cataract was then pushed into the lower eye until the patient could see motion and told the surgeon to stop. This was far from a perfect science, and often carried abysmal results and side effects like glaucoma. The majority of patients saw little improvement in vision, and 70% were rendered totally blind after the operation.

The first indication of cataract surgery using couching can be found in the tomb of an Egyptian surgeon. It’s estimated to have been painted in 2630 BC. The depiction seems to show a cataract surgery taking place, accompanied by approximately 30 bronze tools that could have been used for the procedure.

In Thebes, Egypt, another wall painting was found likely depicting a cataract surgery. Dated to 1200 BC the painting shows an oculist treating a workman’s eye.

Couching remained the primary treatment for cataracts despite the low success rate for decades. It wasn’t until 1747that the first successful lens extraction was performed by Jacques Daviel. This provided a much more reliable treatment for cataracts, but complications and side effects were still common.

After surgery, an artificial lens was prescribed to help patients see. These lenses were often uncomfortable, and didn’t do much to improve vision. An English ophthalmologist by the name of Harold Ridley was the first to address this problem. He created an artificial lens (IOL) that would improve sight without irritating the eye. In 1949 he performed the first successful implant of an artificial lens in London, England.

Cataract extraction surgery was still a risky procedure with unreliable outcomes. Repeat surgeries were common, as surgeons would cut too deep and miss part of the cloudy lens, or implant the wrong size IOL. In 1967, Charles D Kelman introduced the idea of phacoemulsification for cataract treatment. Phacoemulsification uses ultrasonic waves to soften the lens before removal, avoiding the need for a large incision. This technique is still used in the LensX system today.

Since then, advancements have been made to the LensX system allowing surgeons to test the strength of an IOL during the operation. This negates the need for repeat surgery since the cloudy lens is fully removed and the correct lens is put in its place. In the last 60 years cataract surgery has transformed from a painful unreliable procedure to a safe and consistent operation with minimal pain, no required hospital stay, and a 98% success rate.Watch the video below to learn more about the advancements in cataract surgery: