Ophthalmology in North America: Early Stories (1491-1801).

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical History
• Ethnobotany

Background:

• Indigenous healers in the Americas used plants like tobacco and tomato for eye ailments.
• European settlers employed harsh treatments such as bleeding and blistering for eye conditions.
• Early surgical interventions for corneal opacity and cataracts were documented in New Spain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the historical development of ophthalmology in the New World.
• To document early surgical techniques and understanding of eye diseases in North America.
• To highlight the influence of indigenous practices and European contributions to American ophthalmology.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of medical practices and documented procedures in North America.
• Analysis of early surgical records and physician observations.
• Examination of the impact of historical events, like the American Revolution, on medical practice.

Main Results:

• The earliest New World cataract couching was performed in 1769.
• Anticholinergic properties of *Datura stramonium* were observed for pupil dilation in 1801.
• Various procedures including enucleation and tumor resection were described before the 19th century.

Conclusions:

• Ophthalmology in early America was a blend of indigenous knowledge, European techniques, and evolving surgical practices.
• The field saw significant development post-American Revolution, with the adoption of advanced techniques like cataract extraction.
• Early American physicians demonstrated an understanding of complex conditions like sympathetic ophthalmia and glaucoma.