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Dr. Patricia Bath(1942– ) Bath's laser tool has helped restore or improve vision in patients worldwide. Background: Born in Harlem, N.Y., Bath developed an interest in science early in her life. She attended medical school at Howard University and completed a fellowship in ophthalmology at Columbia University. Invention: In 1981, Bath invented the surgical tool that made her famous: the Laserphaco Probe, which she continued to perfect and later patented in 1988. The tool was used during eye surgery to correct cataracts, an eye condition that clouds vision and can lead to blindness. Cataracts usually affect older people. Bath's laser tool was more precise, less invasive, and less risky than previous devices, and has been used around the world. Did You Know? Bath claims many "firsts": She was the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology; the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the United States; and the first African American female doctor to secure a medical patent. She also co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. |
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