Bronze instruments from the
1st century AD found in the Montbellet in France. They were probably used
in couching.
Couching was perfected by Sustruta (the Hippocrates
of India) in the 6th century BC. The procedure involved
pressing down the afflicted lens (couch the cataract) with sharp instuments.
The procedure lifted the veil of blindness in a matter of minutes though
the patient is left aphakic.
Post-operative complications such as endophthalmitis, severe uveitis
and retinal detachment were likely to be high and the patients were unlikely
to enjoy more than a few days of brightness.
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