José Ignacio Barraquer Moner – (1916 ‑ 1998)
Dr José Ignacio Barraquer Moner was a distinguished ophthalmologist from a long and prominent lineage of eye care professionals. Born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1916, José was the first son of Ignacio Barraquer, an eminent ophthalmologist who invented a surgical procedure to remove cataracts using a suction cup device. From an early age, José’s father instilled in his children his knowledge of science and ophthalmology, with the aim of continuing the family tradition. To further his education, José Ignacio Barraquer enrolled in medicine at the University of Barcelona to become a surgeon, graduating in 1940.
With his father as mentor, he continued his work in ophthalmology at what is now the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre in Barcelona. In 1952, he completed his doctorate with distinction, graduating as a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Madrid. While completing his doctorate, José Ignacio regularly travelled to teach and meet other leading eye care professionals around the world.
Following a visit to South Africa in 1953, Barraquer decided it was time to open his own independent clinic and moved with his family to Bogotá, Colombia. The Barraquer Institute of America was founded in 1964, followed by the Barraquer Clinic of Bogotá in 1968. In Colombia, Dr Barraquer carried out the bulk of his research and developed techniques for refractive surgery. Like his father and grandfather before him, Barraquer was a gifted teacher who mentored many young colleagues at the institute in his later years. Dr José Barraquer remained actively involved in teaching and practising optical research until his death in Bogotá in 1998.
José Barraquer’s contributions to eye care
Dr José Barraquer’s most significant contribution to eye care was the invention of keratomileusis in 1948. This procedure is achieved by surgically adjusting the curvature of a corneal disc — removing it, reshaping its tissue using specialised tools (many of which were invented by Barraquer himself), and then repositioning it in the patient’s eye. The procedure can correct myopia and hyperopia and allows the patient to become free from dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
Among the other notable contributions of José Ignacio Barraquer to ophthalmology:
- Invention of the refractive keratoplasty surgical procedures — keratomileusis and keratomileusis (keratophakia) — in which corneal tissue is frozen and reshaped to correct refractive errors
- The ‘K’ in the acronym LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) derives from his procedure: keratomileusis
- Throughout his lifetime, he published more than 260 articles on eye tissue, refractive surgery and optical theories
- He invented 19 ophthalmic surgical techniques and 45 surgical instruments
- The Barraquer Prize is an annual award recognising ophthalmologists who have made outstanding contributions to refractive surgery throughout their careers
- He received numerous awards for his research and teaching, including: Ophthalmologist of the Century by the International Society of Surgery, and was named one of the Most Influential Ophthalmologists of the 20th Century by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Final thoughts
Often referred to as the “Father of Modern Refractive Surgery”, the impact of Dr José Ignacio Barraquer on the ophthalmological community and on eye care is still felt today. Many of his surgical techniques and innovations are routinely used by ophthalmologists worldwide. The procedure he developed (keratomileusis) formed the basis for LASIK and other modern eye procedures to correct common vision errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism in millions of people.