Mntsnow
11-30-2005, 8:13 AM
On December 7, 1905 Dr. Eduard Zirm, of what is now Moravia in the Czech Republic, performed what is recognized as the first successful cornea transplant. His was also the first successful transplant of any living tissue or organ from one person to another. This procedure has grown to become the most successful of all transplants, restoring sight to over 46,000 patients annually. Over the years there have been significant improvements in instruments, storage media, and medicines used for the operation but the basic procedure remains remarkably similar to the first one performed by Dr. Zirm a century ago.