José Ignacio Barraquer Moner (January 24, 1916; Barcelona, Spain – February 13, 1998; Bogotá, Colombia) was an ophthalmologist known to many as "the father of modern refractive surgery". Barraquer invented the cryolathe

Cryolathe

A cryolathe is a device used for freezing and grinding human corneal tissue into different refractive powers.-References:...

 and microkeratome

Microkeratome

A microkeratome is a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade designed for creating the corneal flap in LASIK or ALK surgery. The normal human cornea varies from around 500 to 600 micrometres in thickness; and in the LASIK procedure, the microkeratome creates a 83 to 200 micrometre...

 and developed the surgical procedures of keratomileusis

Keratomileusis

Keratomileusis is the surgical improvement of the refractive state of the cornea performed by lifting up the front surface of the eye by forming a thin hinged flap under which the shape of the cornea is changed by using an excimer laser or other surgical device, and was developed by José Ignacio...

 and keratophakia.

Barraquer was the son of Ignacio Barraquer

Ignacio Barraquer

Ignacio Barraquer was a Spanish ophthalmologist known for his contributions to the advancement of cataract surgery. Barraquer was born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain...

, an ophthalmologist known for his contributions to the advancement of cataract surgery

Cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is the removal of the natural lens of the eye that has developed an opacification, which is referred to as a cataract. Metabolic changes of the crystalline lens fibers over time lead to the development of the cataract and loss of transparency, causing impairment or loss of vision...

. In 1953, Dr. Barraquer emigrated from the family home in Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

 to Colombia

Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

 where, in 1965, he founded the Barraquer Institute of America.

See also

• LASIK
  LASIK
  LASIK or Lasik , commonly referred to simply as laser eye surgery, is a type of refractive surgery for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism...