Modern cataract surgery (phaco)

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Who

Charles Kelman, an American Jewish ophthalmologist who invented phacoemulsification

When

1967

Where

New York, United States

Charles Kelman invented phacoemulsification in 1967, a technique that uses ultrasound to break up and remove a clouded lens through a tiny incision. Kelman, an American Jewish eye surgeon, transformed cataract removal from a long hospital stay into a quick outpatient procedure that has restored sight to hundreds of millions of people.

Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.