[Cataract surgery 220 years ago]

The author reports on the first 14 cataract extractions performed by Karl Kaspar von Siebold, a Würzburg surgeon, in 1766/67. He used Daviel's method. At that time there was no anesthesia, no sterility or even antisepsis, and no optical correction of aphakia for his patients. Four eyes were lost due to infection and another four had much poorer vision after surgery due to irregular corneal scarring. In six cases both patient and physician were satisfied with the result. Siebold's case reports exhibit a fascinating degree of self-criticism and frankness.