History of IOLs – did it start in Poland?

It was reported that 1. the idea of IOL implantation originated from Italian itinerant oculist Tadini, 2. the first attempt of IOL implantation was conducted by Italian ophthalmologist Joannis Virgilius Casaamata (1741–1807) in 1795 in Dresden. The majority of these facts, however, is based on secondary sources and need verification. The study is based on analysis of original materials related to Tadini, Casanova and Casaamata and some contemporary descriptions related to this issue, including original doctoral dissertations. The study enabled to collect some information about life and work of Tadini and Casaamata. The original description of Tadini's concept of intraocular lens implantation was delivered in Casanova's Memoirs. It is clear that Tadini has never attempted this procedure. The interesting description of the first, although unsuccessful, attempt by Casaamata comes from the dissertation of Swiss surgeon Rudolph Schiferli (1775–1837) in 1797 entitled “On Cataract” (Theoretisch-praktische Abhandlung über den grauen Starr). In conclusion, the first concept of intraocular lens implantation was created by Tadini, and the first attempt of this procedure by Casaamata.