Born in Harlem, New York, to Rupert and Gladys Bath, she demonstrated exceptional academic ability, completing high school in just two years. Subsequently, she pursued higher education at Hunter College, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1964. Later, she obtained her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and served as an intern at Harlem Hospital from 1968 to 1969. She further specialized in ophthalmology through a fellowship at Columbia University between 1969 and 1970.
After completing her fellowship at Columbia University, she continued her training at New York University, where she distinguished herself as the first Black resident in ophthalmology from 1970 to 1973. In 1974, Patricia Bath assumed faculty positions at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University, serving as an assistant professor of surgery (Drew) and ophthalmology (UCLA).
One of her most notable accomplishments was the invention of the Laserphaco Probe (1986), a revolutionary device that harnessed laser technology to offer a less painful and more precise treatment for cataracts. Operating as a tiny laser tool, the laserphaco probe effectively vaporized cataracts in a patient's eye, enabling surgeons to subsequently replace the lens.
The development of this groundbreaking technology demanded nearly five years of diligent research and testing before Patricia Bath successfully obtained a patent for the device in 1988. This milestone achievement marked her as the first African American female doctor to be granted a patent for a medical purpose.
Cataract Laserphaco Patent
