How a Wartime Accident Led to One of the Most Common Surgeries in the World
Today, implanting a tiny plastic lens inside the eye is the gold standard for cataract surgery. It’s also widely used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. But the origins of this life-changing procedure are as remarkable as the results it delivers—and they begin with a stroke of wartime serendipity.
A Discovery Born from the Battlefield
During World War II, British fighter pilots sometimes sustained serious eye injuries when their aircraft canopies shattered during combat. These canopies were made of lightweight plastic, and small fragments occasionally became lodged in the eyes of wounded pilots.
Dr. Harold Ridley, a British ophthalmologist who treated many of these soldiers, noticed something unusual: the plastic fragments weren’t being rejected by the body. The material—polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)—was surprisingly well-tolerated inside the eye.
Ridley’s observation was a revelation. At the time, no one had considered placing a synthetic lens inside the eye to replace the natural one damaged by cataracts. But if the eye could accept this material without inflammation or infection, why not try?
The First Lens Implant
On November 29, 1949, Dr. Ridley performed the first intraocular lens (IOL) implant surgery in London. He used the same plastic material from the aircraft canopies—PMMA—to create the lens. It was a revolutionary procedure, one that challenged the conventional thinking of ophthalmology at the time.
However, the medical community was not quick to embrace Ridley’s idea. It took 25 years before intraocular lens implantation became widely accepted in ophthalmic surgery.
From Controversy to Common Practice
Today, Dr. Ridley’s invention has become the foundation of modern cataract surgery. In fact, lens implant surgery is now the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States and around the world—not just in ophthalmology, but across all fields of medicine.
Dr. Ridley lived to see his once-radical concept fully embraced. His groundbreaking work earned him numerous international honors, and in 2000, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at the same ceremony as actor Sean Connery.
A Legacy Carried Forward at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center
At Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, we’ve been a part of this legacy from the beginning. We were the first in Arizona to adopt intraocular lens implants in 1972, and we’ve remained at the forefront of vision correction ever since.
Today, we perform more than 10,000 lens implant procedures each year, making us one of the leading eye surgery centers in the United States.
Why It Matters
This story is more than just a fascinating piece of medical history. It’s a reminder of how innovation often comes from the most unexpected places—and how the courage to challenge conventional thinking can transform millions of lives.
Whether you’re exploring cataract surgery for yourself or a loved one, know that the procedure you’re considering has a legacy rooted in resilience, science, and vision. And at Barnet Dulaney Perkins, you’re in expert hands every step of the way.