Milestones:

Department of Ophthalmology
1933 First corneal transplant, Dr. Ramon Castroviejo
1935 Discovery of Hyaluronic acid and its molecular structure, Dr. Karl Meyer
1936

Microbiologic transmission of trachoma established, Dr. Philips Thygeson

1940 New methods developed for the quantitative analysis of DNA sugars, Dr. Zacharias Dische
1947 First retinoblastoma, pediatric, and adult ocular tumor clinics, Dr. Algernon B. Reese
1958 Retina clinic established, Dr. Charles Campbell
1961 First medical use of the ruby laser, Dr. Charles Campbell
1961 First basic and clinical corneal research center established, Dr. A. Gerard DeVoe and Dr. Anthony Donn
1965

Keratoprosthesis developed, Dr. Hernando Cardona

1966 Development of System for preserving corneas until transplant, Dr. Saiichi Mishima
1968

First argon laser developed, Dr. Francis L'Esperance, Jr.

1968 Confocal microscopy first used to detect new structural features of the eye, Dr. David Maurice
1980

First wide field specular microscope developed, Dr. Charles Koester

1983 Development of Healon, a hyaluronic acid polymer that transformed cataract and corneal surgery, Dr. Endre Balazs
1983 Pioneering excimer laser surgery, Dr. Stephen Trokel and Dr. Francis A. L'Esperance, Jr.
1994 First human retinal cell transplants, Dr. Peter Gouras
1996 Development of latanoprost (Xalatan™) for the treatment of glaucoma, Dr. Laszlo Bito
1996 FDA approval of Perfluorocarbons for retinal surgery, Dr. Stanley Chang