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Patricia Bath
1942–2019 · Ophthalmologist and Inventor
An American ophthalmologist, laser scientist and inventor who developed a laser-based approach to cataract surgery while campaigning to make eye care available to underserved communities.
“The ability to restore sight is the ultimate reward.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Inventing the Laserphaco technique and device for cataract surgery and pioneering community ophthalmology.
Bath combined invention with public health. She worked not only on new ways to treat cataracts but also on the problem of people losing their sight because good eye care was not equally available.
Patricia's story
Becoming a Doctor
Patricia Bath was born in Harlem, New York City, in 1942. She studied chemistry at Hunter College and received her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in 1968. After an internship at Harlem Hospital and further ophthalmology training, she completed her residency at New York University. She became the first African American resident in ophthalmology at NYU. Her early medical experiences made her increasingly interested in differences in access to eye care.
Community Ophthalmology
While working between eye clinics serving different communities, Bath noticed striking differences in levels of blindness and visual impairment. Her research helped demonstrate that Black patients were experiencing much higher levels of blindness and that unequal access to eye care was an important factor. Bath proposed an approach called community ophthalmology, combining clinical eye medicine with public health and community-based screening. The idea was simple but powerful: preventing blindness should include taking eye care to people who might otherwise never reach a specialist.
Breaking Medical Barriers
Bath joined UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in 1974. She became the first woman ophthalmologist appointed to the faculty of UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute and, in 1983, the first woman in the United States to chair an ophthalmology residency programme. Her career was affected by both racism and sexism. She later described these barriers openly and continued pursuing clinical work, research and invention despite them.
What Is a Cataract?
A cataract occurs when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. This blocks or scatters light and can cause serious loss of vision. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens so that vision can be restored using an artificial replacement lens. Bath became interested in whether laser technology could provide another way to break apart and remove cataract material. Her work combined medicine, physics, engineering and laser science.
Laserphaco
Bath conceived the Laserphaco approach in the early 1980s and spent several years developing and testing it. The technology used laser energy as part of a method for ablating and removing cataract lenses. Her first U.S. patent for the invention, Patent No. 4,744,360, was granted in 1988. Bath later obtained further patents relating to laser cataract surgery. Patricia Bath did not invent cataract surgery itself. Her invention was a new laser-based device and technique for cataract removal.
Eyesight as a Human Right
Bath's interests went beyond surgical technology. She co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness with colleagues and promoted the principle that eyesight and access to basic eye care should not depend on wealth or geography. She carried out humanitarian work, taught medical techniques and advocated for telemedicine later in her career. For Bath, scientific invention and improving access to healthcare were parts of the same mission.
What did they discover?
Laserphaco
Developed a laser-based device and technique for cataract removal and received a U.S. patent for it in 1988.
Community Ophthalmology
Pioneered an approach combining ophthalmology, public health and community-based preventive eye care.
Blindness Prevention
Worked internationally to improve access to eye care and promoted eyesight as a basic human right.
Amazing facts
Bath earned her medical degree from Howard University in 1968.
She became the first African American resident in ophthalmology at New York University.
She became the first woman ophthalmologist on the faculty of UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute.
In 1983 she became the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency programme in the United States.
Her Laserphaco patent was granted in 1988.
She became the first African American woman to receive a U.S. patent for a medical device.
She also became an advocate for telemedicine.
Timeline
Born in Harlem, New York City, on 4 November
Earned her chemistry degree from Hunter College
Graduated from Howard University College of Medicine
Began ophthalmology training at New York University
Joined UCLA and Charles R. Drew University
Conceived the Laserphaco device
Became the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency programme in the United States
Received U.S. Patent No. 4,744,360 for Laserphaco technology
Retired from UCLA and continued advocacy and humanitarian work
Died on 30 May
Awards & honours
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