Leona Zacharias Helped Solve a Blindness Epidemic, Receiving Little Credit
Leona Zacharias was a path-breaking researcher and doctor who helped remedy a significant public well being downside again within the ’70s. She was an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins University who recognized a blindness epidemic within the untimely infants that she handled.
The Growing Blindness Problem
In 1974, Leona Zacharias had seen that the variety of untimely infants within the neonatal intensive care unit who had developed blindness was rising exponentially. These infants all confirmed indicators of a extreme type of retinopathy of prematurity, inflicting irreversible sight loss and even blindness in some circumstances.
Zacharias Develops New Treatment Protocols
Leona Zacharias set to work to develop new protocols for the prognosis and remedy of those untimely infants to keep away from blindness. She developed a collection of remedies, together with pulse gentle photocoagulation, laser photocoagulation, and cryotherapy, which efficiently halted the development of the blindness in these infants, and even restored some imaginative and prescient in some circumstances.
Acknowledging Zacharias’s Contributions
Leona Zacharias’s contribution was invaluable in lowering blindness amongst untimely infants. However, she obtained little recognition or credit score for her work.
Unfortunately, her efforts had been overshadowed by the work executed by Dr. William Tasman, who additionally labored to deal with retinopathy of prematurity. Tasman’s work obtained far more recognition and acclaim than Zacharias’s, although her contributions had been simply as essential.
Conclusion
Leona Zacharias’s analysis and coverings saved the sight of numerous untimely infants who would in any other case have been blinded. She deserved to be highlighted for her tireless efforts and invaluable contributions. Her exceptional work shouldn’t be forgotten and we must always acknowledge her contributions to the world of well being and medication.
