Cataract Surgery – Clearing the Clouded Vision

The Concept A cataract develops when the eye’s natural lens becomes obscured, which can cause blindness. Surgery can either push the hazy lens aside (Couching) or remove it, allowing light back into the eye.

The Story While medieval Europe relied on charms and prayer to cure blindness, Sushruta was performing microsurgery. Using a specialized needle called a Jabamukhi Salaka, he would delicately pierce the eye and push the clouded, opaque lens aside, allowing light to reach the retina once more. The patient, who had been blind for years, would suddenly regain their sight. This technique of “couching” traveled from India to the Arab world and eventually to the West, forming the very foundation of modern ophthalmology.

The Timeline

The Original Text

Sanskrit Shloka: दैवात्तु विद्धे… शनैः शनैर्हस्तमवग्रह्य दैवम् । नासां प्रति स्थाप्य कफं तु विद्ध्वा… ॥

Transliteration: Daivāttu viddhe… śanaiḥ śanairhastamavagrahya daivam | Nāsāṃ prati sthāpya kaphaṃ tu viddhvā… || Sushruta Samhita (Uttara Tantra 17.55-68) (Step-by-step eye operation) .

Meaning: “Then, holding the needle firmly… gently push the phlegm (lens) towards the nose… When the pupil becomes clear like a cloudless sun, the operation is successful.”

 

Related Innovations The Sushruta Samhita mentioned specialised microsurgical instruments for eye surgery, such as the Mandalagra, and described the Arma-chedana procedure for surgically removing pterygium growths from the eye’s surface.

Fun Fact Sushruta stated that the surgeon’s hand should not shake and should only sweat from ‘pure exertion’, demonstrating the level of physical control required.

The Modern Legacy Every year, millions of elderly people benefit from ophthalmology and microsurgery.