Origin Couching, the earliest form of cataract surgery, is documented from antiquity; the American Ophthalmological Society was founded 7 June 1864, and the joint ophthalmology and otolaryngology academy split into independent academies in 1979.
The specialty concerned with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye, including surgical treatment. It is among the oldest documented surgical specialties, with cataract removal practiced in the ancient world for millennia before evolving into modern cataract extraction in the eighteenth century. In the United States it organized nationally in 1864 and shared a joint professional academy with otolaryngology from 1896 until the two specialties formally separated in 1979.
Facts
Origin PeriodCouching, the earliest form of cataract surgery, is documented from antiquity; the American Ophthalmological Society was founded 7 June 1864, and the joint ophthalmology and otolaryngology academy split into independent academies in 1979. 2 Classification
Type/Classification Ophthalmology
Filter Results19 entries
FAQs
What was couching in early cataract surgery?
Couching was the ancient cataract operation of pushing the clouded lens out of the way with a needle.
Couching is the earliest documented form of cataract surgery. A long sharp needle or spine was used to dislodge the clouded lens and push it toward the bottom or back of the eye. It belongs to the ancient surgical practice that the American Academy of Ophthalmology museum traces back to the Sushruta Samhita, and it was practiced for millennia before modern cataract extraction developed in the eighteenth century. This describes a historical technique, not current medical advice.
Connections
Associated With
Cataract surgery, from ancient couching to Jacques Daviel's 1750 extracapsular extraction, is ophthalmology's oldest and most emblematic procedure.
Source Surgery's Ancient Roots
Inflammation of the conjunctiva ("pink eye"); ophthalmology specialty.
Otolaryngology and ophthalmology shared a single joint professional academy in the United States from 1896 until they formally separated into independent academies in 1979.
Source History of AAO-HNS/F
Source Stargardt disease (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists
Source Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf (Wikipedia)
Source Antonio Scarpa (Wikipedia)
Source Fred Hollows (Wikipedia)
Source Friedrich August von Ammon (Wikipedia)
Source Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg (source article)
Source Georg Bartisch (source article)
Source Herman Snellen (Wikipedia)
Source John Hulke (Wikipedia)
Source Julius Scriba (Wikipedia)
Source Karl August Burow (Wikipedia)
Source Graefe, Karl Ferdinand von (Neue Deutsche Biographie)
Source Karl Stargardt (Wikipedia)
Source Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria (Wikipedia)
Source Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck (source article)
Source Max Linde (Wikipedia)
Source Nan Hayworth (Wikipedia)
Source Renée Richards (Wikipedia)
Source Shinobu Ishihara (Wikipedia)
Source Uğur Erdener (Wikipedia)
Treats
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Medical specialty
WikipediaClassification tableQuote, Classification table
Surgical specialties focus on manually operative and instrumental techniques to treat disease.
2. About (American Ophthalmological Society)
American Ophthalmological Societyaosonline.org About page, main content areaQuote, aosonline.org About page, main content area
The American Ophthalmological Society (AOS) is a medical society of ophthalmologists and the second oldest specialty medical society in the United States, after the New York Ophthalmological Society (founded on March 7, 1864). It was founded on June 7, 1864 by 18 physicians, including Henry Noyes, D. B. St. John Roosa, and Edward Delafield.
Surgery's Ancient Roots
American Academy of Ophthalmologyaao.org museum blog, Surgerys Ancient Roots, Sushruta Samhita discussion
Couching, the earliest form of cataract surgery, is described as using a long sharp needle or spine to dislodge the cloudy lens and push it towards the bottom or back of the eye.
- Associated With: Cataract Surgery
View the Source History of AAO-HNS/F
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck SurgeryAssociated With: OtolaryngologyView the Source Renée Richards (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Renée Richards, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Renée Richards, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
is an American ophthalmologist and former tennis player
Shinobu Ishihara (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Shinobu Ishihara, Lead sentence, specialtyQuote, Notable Specialists: Shinobu Ishihara, Lead sentence, specialty
was a Japanese ophthalmologist who created the Ishihara color test to detect colour blindness
Herman Snellen (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Herman Snellen, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Herman Snellen, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
was a Dutch ophthalmologist who in 1862 introduced the Snellen chart
Fred Hollows (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Fred Hollows, LeadQuote, Notable Specialists: Fred Hollows, Lead
became known for his work in restoring eyesight
Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, Lead and biography [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, Lead and biography [specialist-in]
Then he studied ophthalmology under Professor Deutschland
Stargardt disease (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Stargardt disease, TreatmentQuote, Associated With: Stargardt disease, Treatment
ophthalmologists recommend measures that could slow the rate of progression
Karl Stargardt (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Karl Stargardt, Lead sentenceQuote, Notable Specialists: Karl Stargardt, Lead sentence
was a German ophthalmologist
Antonio Scarpa (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Antonio Scarpa, Article textQuote, Notable Specialists: Antonio Scarpa, Article text
father of Italian ophthalmology
Nan Hayworth (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Nan Hayworth, Lead and biography [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Nan Hayworth, Lead and biography [specialist-in]
is an American ophthalmologist
John Hulke (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: John Hulke, Lead paragraph or Medical career sectionQuote, Notable Specialists: John Hulke, Lead paragraph or Medical career section
made his special mark as an ophthalmologist
Julius Scriba (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Julius Scriba, Biography, subjects taughtQuote, Notable Specialists: Julius Scriba, Biography, subjects taught
taught surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology and gynecology
Graefe, Karl Ferdinand von (Neue Deutsche Biographie)
Notable Specialists: Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe, NDB BiographieQuote, Notable Specialists: Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe, NDB Biographie
G. war ein glänzender Operateur und Augenarzt.
Georg Bartisch (source article)
Notable Specialists: Georg Bartisch, Article text, career [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Georg Bartisch, Article text, career [specialist-in]
He is credited for producing the first Renaissance manuscript on ophthalmic disorders and eye surgery
Max Linde (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Max Linde, Lead, first sentenceQuote, Notable Specialists: Max Linde, Lead, first sentence
was an ophthalmologist who is best known as a patron and art collector
Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf, Article body [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf, Article body [specialist-in]
In 1853 he became an associate professor of surgery and ophthalmology at Breslau
Friedrich August von Ammon (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Friedrich August von Ammon, Article body [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Friedrich August von Ammon, Article body [specialist-in]
Friedrich August von Ammon (10 September 1799-18 May 1861) was a German surgeon and ophthalmologist born in Göttingen.
Uğur Erdener (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Uğur Erdener, Lead sentence [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Uğur Erdener, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
is a Turkish physician specialized in ophthalmology
Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg (source article)
Notable Specialists: Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg, Third paragraphQuote, Notable Specialists: Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg, Third paragraph
his interest turned to ophthalmology
Karl August Burow (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Karl August Burow, Lead sentence [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Karl August Burow, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
in which he specialized in ophthalmology and surgery
Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck (source article)
Notable Specialists: Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck, Lead and biography textQuote, Notable Specialists: Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck, Lead and biography text
was a German surgeon, ophthalmologist and anatomist
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