[From Tadini to Svjatoslav N. Fedorov. Difficulties of ophthalmologic surgery]

In 1765/66, the oculist Tadini showed to Giacomo Casanova artificial lenses, which he planned to implant into human eyes after removing the cataract by extraction. About 1795, the oculist Casaamata tried to put into effect Tadini's idea. It was not before 1949, however, that H. Ridley implanted the first artificial lens, when he had found out that acrylic glass could serve the purpose. In 1960, Svyatoslav N. Fedorov implanted the first hand-made artificial lens in the USSR. His successful operation was discredited to be non-physiological and antipavlovistic. He had to overcome many difficulties, but became important by promoting modern microsurgery of the eye in the USSR. Since 1974, he introduced his version of radial keratotomy to correct myopia surgically. Today Fedorov is managing a technical-scientific complex in Moscow with twelve branches throughout the Soviet Union and with 5500 employees. In this complex, his radial keratotomy should be used as standard treatment of visual defects, in spite of its controversial quality. For that reason Fedorov fails to export his special method, which might be an experimental stage towards new refractive therapies.