Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Focusing of Light in the Eye01:16

Focusing of Light in the Eye

2.5K
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
2.5K
Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

507
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
507

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Feasibility and impact of a patient support group care model on diabetes and hypertension care in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya: a quasi-experimental study.

Global health action·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Visual Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: A Novel Technique to Prevent Posterior Capsular Opacification Through IOL Rotation
04:59

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Visual Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: A Novel Technique to Prevent Posterior Capsular Opacification Through IOL Rotation

Published on: July 7, 2023

2.2K

Harold Ridley and the Invention of the Intraocular Lens: a Reappraisal.

Robert K Maloney1, Sloan Mahone2

  • 1Maloney-Shamie Vision Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
|December 10, 2024
PubMed
Summary

The common story of intraocular lens (IOL) inventor Harold Ridley facing hostility is biased. A closer look reveals valid concerns about early IOL complications and Ridley's secretive methods.

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application
11:49

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application

Published on: March 8, 2019

12.5K
Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing
05:22

Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing

Published on: May 5, 2022

1.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Visual Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: A Novel Technique to Prevent Posterior Capsular Opacification Through IOL Rotation
04:59

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Visual Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: A Novel Technique to Prevent Posterior Capsular Opacification Through IOL Rotation

Published on: July 7, 2023

2.2K
Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application
11:49

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application

Published on: March 8, 2019

12.5K
Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing
05:22

Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing

Published on: May 5, 2022

1.3K

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Medical History
  • Innovation Studies

Background:

  • The established narrative portrays Harold Ridley's pioneering intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in 1950 as met with resistance from ophthalmic leaders.
  • This narrative frames Ridley as a misunderstood innovator battling animosity and close-mindedness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically re-evaluate the historical reception of the first intraocular lens (IOL).
  • To challenge the biased, self-promoted narrative of Ridley's innovation and its reception.
  • To provide a more balanced historical account of early IOL development and its challenges.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of primary and secondary sources concerning Harold Ridley and early IOL development.
  • Critical examination of the narrative's origins, including Ridley's own accounts and his biographer's influence.
  • Comparative analysis of Ridley's methods with contemporary scientific and clinical norms.

Main Results:

  • The widely accepted narrative of Ridley's hostile reception is biased, largely stemming from Ridley's own accounts and those of his close associate.
  • Valid reasons existed for skepticism, including Ridley's lack of pre-clinical studies, resulting in patient complications, and his secretive approach.
  • Early IOLs had a high rate of poor outcomes, making the cautious stance of leaders like Stewart Duke-Elder understandable.

Conclusions:

  • The history of the first IOL is a conflict between rapid innovation driven by a clinical need and established leaders' concerns for patient safety.
  • Skepticism towards unproven innovations, even when seemingly hostile, can serve as a crucial safeguard against potential patient harm.
  • Understanding this historical context offers valuable lessons for managing innovation in medicine today.