SUSHRUTA - THE FATHER OF INDIAN SURGERY AND OPHTHALMOLOGY

Sushruta is the most celebrated physician and surgeon in India. Though he practiced during the 5th century B.C., many of his contributions t o medicine and surgery preceded similar discoveries in the Western wor ld. Sushruta devotes a complete volume of his experiences to ophthalmo logic diseases. In the Uttar Tantrum, Sushruta enumerates a sophistica ted classification of eye diseases complete with signs, symptoms, prog nosis, and medical/surgical interventions. In particular, Sushruta des cribes what may have been the first extracapsular cataract surgery usi ng a sharply pointed instrument with a handle fashioned into a trough. His ability to manage many common eye conditions of the time with lim ited diagnostic aids is a testament to his virtuosity.