As one of the few women in ophthalmology during her early career, Dr. Bath faced gender bias and discrimination. She had to work harder to prove her competence and gain the respect of her male colleagues.

As an African American woman, Dr. Bath experienced racial discrimination throughout her career. This included instances of being overlooked for opportunities and facing subtle biases in her interactions with patients and colleagues. Her work ethic always persevered above this discrimination, though.

Dr. Bath faced challenges in securing funding for her research, particularly in the early stages of developing the Laserphaco Probe. She had to overcome skepticism and demonstrate the potential of her invention to convince investors and grant-making organizations to support her work.

Initially, there was resistance to the use of laser technology in cataract surgery. Dr. Bath had to overcome skepticism and prove the safety and efficacy of her Laserphaco Probe to gain acceptance among her peers.