An ophthalmologist, inventor, and humanitarian, Dr. Bath’s groundbreaking work has helped restore eyesight worldwide. She made vital advances in treating cataracts and blindness, among other achievements.
The first Black American woman to receive a medical patent, Dr. Bath broke many barriers. Her innovations include a revolutionary cataract-surgery device, the Laserphaco Probe. She also established an artificial-cornea transplant program at UCLA’s Stein Eye Institute, which has returned vision to thousands.
An advocate for health equity, Dr. Bath co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. She pioneered the field of “community ophthalmology,” focusing on higher rates of blindness in marginalized populations.
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