Age, Biography and Wiki

Charles Kelman (Charles David Kelman) was born on 23 May, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., is an American ophthalmologist and entertainer. Discover Charles Kelman's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 74 years old?

Popular As Charles David Kelman
Occupation Ophthalmologist, surgeon, inventor, jazz musician, entertainer and Broadway producer
Age 74 years old
Zodiac Sign Gemini
Born 23 May 1930
Birthday 23 May
Birthplace Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Date of death 1 June, 2004
Died Place Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 23 May. He is a member of famous other with the age 74 years old group.

Charles Kelman Height, Weight & Measurements

At 74 years old, Charles Kelman height not available right now. We will update Charles Kelman's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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Charles Kelman Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Charles Kelman worth at the age of 74 years old? Charles Kelman’s income source is mostly from being a successful other. He is from United States. We have estimated Charles Kelman's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
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Source of Income other

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Timeline

1930

Charles David Kelman (May 23, 1930June 1, 2004) was an American ophthalmologist, surgeon, inventor, jazz musician, entertainer, and Broadway producer.

Known as the father of phacoemulsification, he developed many of the medical devices, instruments, implant lenses and techniques used in cataract surgery.

Charles David Kelman was born on May 23, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York, to Eva and David Kelman.

He grew up in East New York before the family moved to Forest Hills, Queens.

His father was a Jewish immigrant from Greece who never received the proper compensation and recognition for his inventions, including the first tar-free cigarettes and cellophane Christmas wreaths.

He inspired his son's desire to proudly seek recognition of his own inventions.

Charles began playing music at four years old, when he learned to play his first instrument, the harmonica.

He began playing regularly for The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour radio show.

Kelman also learned to play the saxophone and clarinet, receiving professional training from musicians in the big band era.

While attending Forest Hills High School, he played in the high school band and as the first clarinet of the New York All-City Orchestra.

He dreamed of stardom in music, however, he said that, when he was 17 years old, his father told him to bring his saxophone to the basement of their house and play for him.

Charles played a song by Jimmy Dorsey after which his father asked if he had played as well as Dorsey.

When Charles admitted he had not, his father announced: "You'll be a doctor."

1950

Kelman attended Boston's Tufts University and graduated in just two years to earn a B.S. degree in 1950.

He then studied medicine at the University of Geneva and, after learning that his father was diagnosed with cancer, accelerated his studies with the hope of having his father see him becoming a doctor.

1956

He obtained his M.D. degree in 1956, but not before his father's death the year before.

After interning at Kings County Hospital, he did his residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

1960

In the early 1960s, he began the use of cryosurgery to remove cataracts and repair retinal detachments.

In 1960, Kelman started an ophthalmology private practice and began to experiment with the use of cryosurgery.

1962

His first invention in 1962 was the cryoprobe which he used to freeze a cataractous lens before removal in intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), which removed the lens with the capsule intact.

1963

In 1963, Kelman then developed the use of cryopexy to treat retinal detachment.

1964

In 1964, he applied for a research grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation to further investigate freezing techniques in eye surgery and, in an addendum to the application, proposed "a method for removing a cataract through an incision small enough so that no hospitalization will be required."

He received a three-year grant from the foundation.

The idea for his next invention came to Kelman after seeing an ultrasonic device at his dentist's office.

1975

After inventing phacoemulsification, in part to promote the procedure, he began appearing regularly on television, first on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1975.

He developed a musical comedy routine which he performed on television as well as in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Carnegie Hall in New York, alongside several notable jazz musicians and entertainers.

He co-produced several Broadway musicals and wrote at least two off-Broadway musicals.

1978

Cryosurgery for cataracts remained in heavy use until 1978, when phacoemulsification, a procedure Kelman also developed in 1967, became the modern standard treatment.

Kelman was given the National Medal of Technology by President George H. W. Bush and recognized as the Ophthalmologist of the Century by the International Congress of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in Montreal, Canada.

While the technique has not been in heavy use since 1978 and the advent of other techniques such as extracapsular cataract surgery (ECCE) which Kelman helped develop, ICCE remains a viable surgical option.

2004

He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, and received the 2004 Lasker Award.

Born in New York, Kelman graduated from Tufts University and earned his medical degree from University of Geneva before returning to New York to intern at Kings County Hospital and complete his residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

He was later an attending surgeon at the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and maintained a private practice.

Kelman served as clinical professor of ophthalmology at New York Medical College and individually taught his techniques to many surgeons around the world.

Kelman pursued a career as an entertainer alongside his medical career.

He began playing the harmonica at a young age and performed on a radio show, The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour.

He later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone.

As a teenager, he formed a big band, began composing music, and played in his high school band and as first clarinet on the New York All-City Orchestra.

While in medical school in Geneva, he appeared on two jazz radio shows and one on television.

After returning to New York, he recorded a song, "Telephone Numbers", released by Chancellor Records to some success in national billboard charts.