Abstract
From antiquity through the Renaissance, congenital blindness was generally regarded as incurable, as noted in both medical and lay publications. The earliest reference to congenital cataract surgery that we identified, reported in 1663, referred to an 18-year-old female treated by English oculist John Stepkins (d. 1652). An examination of the literature related to the Stepkins family reveals the presence of male and female oculists during that period, including his daughter, Lady Theodosia Ivy. Eye waters attributed to Stepkins contained tutty (an oxide of zinc), roses, sugar candy, and other ingredients. Interestingly, John Thomas Woolhouse, the author of the next identified report of congenital cataract surgery in 1706, stated that he was related to Stepkins. Woolhouse reported by 1721 that he had performed 36 congenital cataract surgeries, with the youngest patient being 18 months of age.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 883-884 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | JAMA Ophthalmology |
| Volume | 132 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
Cite this
Congenital cataract surgery during the early enlightenment period and the stepkins oculists. / Leffler, Christopher T.; Schwartz, Stephen; Davenport, Byrd.
In: JAMA Ophthalmology, Vol. 132, No. 7, 01.01.2014, p. 883-884.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Congenital cataract surgery during the early enlightenment period and the stepkins oculists
AU - Leffler, Christopher T.
AU - Schwartz, Stephen
AU - Davenport, Byrd
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - From antiquity through the Renaissance, congenital blindness was generally regarded as incurable, as noted in both medical and lay publications. The earliest reference to congenital cataract surgery that we identified, reported in 1663, referred to an 18-year-old female treated by English oculist John Stepkins (d. 1652). An examination of the literature related to the Stepkins family reveals the presence of male and female oculists during that period, including his daughter, Lady Theodosia Ivy. Eye waters attributed to Stepkins contained tutty (an oxide of zinc), roses, sugar candy, and other ingredients. Interestingly, John Thomas Woolhouse, the author of the next identified report of congenital cataract surgery in 1706, stated that he was related to Stepkins. Woolhouse reported by 1721 that he had performed 36 congenital cataract surgeries, with the youngest patient being 18 months of age.
AB - From antiquity through the Renaissance, congenital blindness was generally regarded as incurable, as noted in both medical and lay publications. The earliest reference to congenital cataract surgery that we identified, reported in 1663, referred to an 18-year-old female treated by English oculist John Stepkins (d. 1652). An examination of the literature related to the Stepkins family reveals the presence of male and female oculists during that period, including his daughter, Lady Theodosia Ivy. Eye waters attributed to Stepkins contained tutty (an oxide of zinc), roses, sugar candy, and other ingredients. Interestingly, John Thomas Woolhouse, the author of the next identified report of congenital cataract surgery in 1706, stated that he was related to Stepkins. Woolhouse reported by 1721 that he had performed 36 congenital cataract surgeries, with the youngest patient being 18 months of age.
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U2 - 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2014.519
DO - 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2014.519
M3 - Article
C2 - 24810006
AN - SCOPUS:84904193106
VL - 132
SP - 883
EP - 884
JO - JAMA Ophthalmology
JF - JAMA Ophthalmology
SN - 2168-6165
IS - 7
ER -