2007

More than 150,000 small-incision cataract surgeries have been performed at Wolfe Eye Clinic.

Wolfe Eye Clinic first in Iowa to begin performing glaucoma surgery with the use of a Trabectome. The Trabectome is used for the surgical treatment of open angle glaucoma.

More than 25,000 LASIK Laser Vision Correction procedures have been performed at Wolfe Eye Clinic.

2006

Wolfe Eye Clinic first in Iowa to implant Intracollamer Lenses (ICL's) as an alternative to LASIK.

First use of toric IOL’s to correct for astigmatism during cataract surgery.

2005

First intravitreous injection for the treatment of wet-type age-related macular degeneration.

Wolfe Eye Clinic first in Iowa to implant apodized diffractive IOL’s.

2003

First SLT procedure to improve the treatment of glaucoma.

2002

Wolfe Eye Clinic first in Iowa to perform small-incision, no-stitch vitrectomy surgery. This advanced procedure minimizes trauma to the eye and is more comfortable for the patient.

Wolfe Eye Clinic first in Iowa to obtain and begin using the IntraLase laser for all-laser LASIK procedures.

2001

First use of feeder vessel treatment with high-speed ICG angiography at Wolfe Eye Clinic to treat specific forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

2000  

10,000 LASIK procedures and 100,000 cataract procedures performed at Wolfe Eye Clinic.

First use of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) to treat specific forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

1999

More than 80,000 small-incision cataract operations have been performed at the Wolfe Eye Clinic.

More than 9,000 refractive surgeries have been performed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism

Wolfe Eye Clinic first in Central and Eastern Iowa to perform the intracorneal rings procedure to correct nearsightedness.

First use of Transpupillary Thermotherapy (TTT) to treat specific forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

1996

First utilization of Graether (of Wolfe Eye Clinic) pupil expander by surgeons across the globe.

LASIK first performed at Wolfe Eye Clinic.

1994

First Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty procedure to correct high myopia performed.

Wolfe Eye Clinic is first in Iowa to perform laser vision correction with the excimer laser.

1993

"Eyedrop" topical anesthesia for cataract surgery first performed.

1991

Wolfe Eye Clinic introduces one-stitch or no-stitch surgery in Iowa – some of the first in the world to use this technique.

1988

First foldable intraocular implanted lens in Iowa.

1985

Coinvention of the continuous tear capsulotomy by Wolfe Eye Clinic's Dr. Graether that is currently the standard technique used throughout the world.

1984

Refractive surgery first performed to reduce reliance on eyeglasses or contact lenses.

1978

Laser surgery first performed.

1977

Services expanded to include medical and surgical care of the ears, nose and throat as well as facial plastic surgery.

1975

Lens implant surgery first performed.

1972

First small-incision phacoemulsification surgery for cataracts performed in Iowa at Wolfe Eye Clinic.

1966

Ocular microsurgery first performed.

1965

Xenon arc photocoagulation (in treatment of retinal disease) first performed.

1960

Corneal transplants first performed.

1959

First board-certified ophthalmologist on staff at the Wolfe Eye Clinic.

1931

Cataract suction-aspiration surgery performed on children.

1930

Intracapsular cataract surgery first performed.

1927

Dr. Otis Wolfe goes to Spain to work on early techniques for cataract removal.

1919

Wolfe Eye Clinic founded in Marshalltown, Iowa.