February 5, 2008
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Profile America for the fifth day of Black History Month. Dr. Patricia Bath has dedicated her life to the treatment and prevention of visual impairments. Her personal belief is that everyone has the right to sight. To that end, she co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. Her outstanding abilities were already evident in cancer research she did at age 16. Her best known achievement was the invention of a laser device to vaporize cataracts, more effective and less invasive than previous mechanical techniques. Dr. Bath is credited as the first female African-American doctor to receive a patent. Across the U.S., there are nearly 19,000 ophthalmologists helping Americans maintain good vision. This special edition of Profile America for Black History Month is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.