History of the eye cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is one of the oldest surgical procedures known, first documented in the fifth century BC. The earliest method known was couching. This method involved applying pressure digitally or via a sharp needle to the cataract and dislocating it into the posterior part of the eye known as the vitreous. There was no replacement of the lens and patients were left with a large focussing error known as aphakia. There was little regard for the prevention of infection by sterilisation of instrumentation and no anaesthesia. Complications such as chronic inflammatory scarring were common and patients were often left blinded. Couching is still performed in some parts of rural Africa and Asia today.