When was contact lenses first invented

These types of contact lenses were called scleral lenses, and they covered the entire eye, not just the cornea. In , Dr. Fick constructed and fitted the first successful contact lens. The weight alone made them uncomfortable to wear, but worse, the glass lenses covered the entire exposed eye. Unlike other bodily organs, which are oxygenated by the blood, the eyes get their oxygen directly from the air. So covering your eyeballs with glass shields is, essentially, suffocating them.

Scleral lens wearers experienced excruciating eye pain after a few hours of use. Nonetheless, glass scleral lenses were the main form of contact lenses for the next 60 years. For the first time, it was possible to create contact lenses that conformed to the actual shape of the eye. Unbreakable, scratch-resistant, malleable, and easy to manufacture plastic revolutionized the contact lens industry, making glass lenses quickly become obsolete.

But even though the new lenses were plastic, they were still scleral lenses, covering the entire eye and only wearable for a few hours at a time. In , an English optical technician named Kevin Touhy was sanding down a plastic lens when the part that covered the white of the eye fell off.

Rather than start over, he decided to try the smaller lens. He smoothed the edges and popped it in his eye, delighted to discover that the lens still worked and stayed in place, even when blinking. Contact technology has come a long way in terms of comfort and safety. The next time you put your contacts in, think of how far contact technology has come to create them. Piedmont Eye Center has resumed appointments and essential and non-essential procedures with updated protocol, including requiring masks in our buildings.

We continue to adhere to recommendations by the CDC and local officials to protect our staff and community. Read Our Response. Search The Site. Our Blog. The History of Contact Lenses October 26, These designs feature smaller and larger diameters and a wider range of curvatures and powers than conventional soft lenses for a more customized fit.

I couldn't recommend a better doctor, a better facility, and I'm so glad I did it. From my very first visit, the staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in me. I recommend it highly for anyone in a similar situation. Ceballos has always been very positive, clarifying everything medically, never leaving me in doubt and has always made me feel special and important.

Bowers and his staff treated me with the utmost in professional care, making sure I was comfortable throughout the entire process. It was money well spent and it is unbelievable how clear and colorful everything is. I want to tell Dr. Bowers and his staff how grateful I am. They have been caring and have answered my questions to my satisfaction. Bowers and his team at Piedmont Eye Center, my everyday life is now a whole lot easier.

Bowers and all his staff are so knowledgeable and professional, yet very personal, warm, caring, and friendly. Over more than years, optical science has advanced to develop modern contact lenses. Search for:. The History of Contact Lenses.

The Origins of Contacts Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian polymath, was quite interested in the science of optics. Making Contacts Practical Contacts came of age with the advent of plastics.