Sir Harold Ridley and his fight for sight : he changed the world so that we may better see it / David J. Apple.

Thorofare, NJ : Slack, [2006], ©2006.

xxxiii, 316 pages : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 26 cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The secret code: "the extra-capsular ext." -- From darkness to light -- Roots of a modest giant of science -- "David, Mr. Ridley wants to meet you" -- River walks -- Adlertag: the quest for a complete cataract operation, step 2: visual rehabilitation with the IOL -- A simple question, mobilization -- The operation: November 29, 1949 -- Rapid descent into a period of doldrums -- A gradual ascent to a new revolution in surgical eye care -- The good, the bad, and the ugly: evolution of IOLs, ups and downs -- Let's get rid of our glasses -- Innovations in addition to the intraocular lens -- Released prisoners of war in Thailand and Burma -- Technical applications from World War II -- Biomedical engineering and artificial organ transplantation -- Honors, many received "Long after I should have been gone" -- Knighthood and the end -- A service of Thanksgiving and redemption on Battle of Britain Sunday, September 18, 2005.