Tadeusz Krwawicz, MD: The inventor of cryosurgery in ophthalmology

Abstract

Tadeusz Krwawicz (1910–1988) pioneered the use of cryosurgery in, as ophthalmology. The idea arose in 1959 while experimenting because on lyophilization to store corneas and lenses for transplantation it was difficult to remove the lens without damage the capsule was usually torn. Subsequent experiments on rabbits revealed that touching the lens with a wire cooled to 203°K (–70°C) resulted in firm attachment of the lens capsule and subcapsular masses. A cryoextractor was developed and employed for clinical use in cataract extraction, likewise in intumescent cataracts and lens subluxation. Cataract surgery utilizing cryoextraction led to substantial progress to ophthalmology by reducing the number of complications, particularly capsule rupture, and resulted in achieving better outcome compared to other methods. This surgery soon and for almost 20 years became a routine method used all around the world in cataract removal. Simultaneously, Krwawicz developed techniques for corneal refractive surgery—partial lamellar removal of the corneal stroma and temporary interlaminar introduction of a plastic disk in order to change the corneal curvature. Krwawicz presented other ophthalmic interests—his research concerned immunology, histology, histochemistry, biochemistry of ocular tissue, and mainly corneal and experimental surgery with a particular focus on the pathology of the cornea.