[Complications following cataract incision 1751].
In 1751 the oculist Joseph Hillmer was expelled as charlatan from Petersburg by an expert opinion, which was founded on 125 case reports on his Russian clients, amongst them 60 suffering from cataracts, which had been couched on 80 eyes. Beside 82% of failures these case reports on cataract-couching contain postoperative complications, epicritically symptomatic for today's clinical pictures, which have been etiologically unknown in 1751. At least five eyes suffered postoperatively blindness by supposed detachment of the retina. The experts believed Hillmer's unexact, rough handling of the cataract needle to have been the reason. No less than 18 cases were complicated post operationem by secondary glaucomata, which ended at least twice as absolute glaucoma. We also recognize acute glaucoma, caused by couching the cataract. Secondary glaucomata were associated with severe iridocyclitis. In three cases there are indications of sympathetic ophthalmia. The experts seem to have been well acquainted with that threat to the untreated second eye. We are enabled to recognize a vitreous hemorrhage and an abscess in vitreum. No less than 21 times the couched crystalline lenses had set up again, in one case repeatedly after having been couched a second time.
Henning
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Osteuropa-Institut der Freien Universität Berlin.
D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history*; D005858:Germany; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011781:Quackery / Q000266:history*
Komplikationen nach Starstich-Operationen 1751.