Indirect evidence of cataract surgery in ancient Egypt

A critical analysis of evidence suggests that while direct proof remains elusive, ancient Egypt likely performed cataract surgery. The study highlights indirect clues, including the discovery of a 4000-year-old tomb containing surgical tools and medical texts describing eye procedures. Notably, the tomb of Skar, chief physician to a fifth-dynasty ruler, contained instruments resembling those used in modern ophthalmology, hinting at early surgical practices. Additionally, historical accounts describe Nebenchari's successful treatment of Persian royalty through an unspecified eye procedure, while medieval illustrations mirror ancient depictions of ocular surgery. Despite the lack of definitive evidence, these findings imply that cataract surgery may have been practiced in ancient Egypt.

Grzybowski, A., & Ascaso, F. J. (2014). Indirect evidence of cataract surgery in ancient Egypt. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 40(11), 1944–1945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrs.2014.09.017