Contact lenses milestones on a timeline

By: Amy G. Hutchinson, 2006 October 05

Early in 16th century Leonarado da Vinci sketched and described a method of changing corneal powers. Nowadays, companies and scientists improve the quality and explore the cosmetic uses of contact lenses.

An overview:

1508 Leonardo da Vinci describes ways to alter eye functions.
1632 Rene Descartes from France suggests corneal contact lenses.
1801 Thomas Young takes Descartes' suggestion and creates a contact lens from waterfilled glass tube which has a microscopic lens on the end to correct his own vision.
1827 Sir John Herschel design a concept of contact lenses that fit the eyeball.
1887 The first contact lens made from glass is produced in Germany.
1888 Two scientists report about the vision correctional purposes of contact lenses indepently but almost at the same time.
1929 A Hungarian scientist develops a methos to create molds from living eyes to use for contact lenses.
1936 Optometrist Dr. Feinbloom is the first to produce contact lenses made from plastic.
1945 The American Optometric Association acknowledges contact lenses as part of optometry.
1950 The first contact lens that follows eye shape is designed by Dr. Butterfield in Oregon.
1960 An experiment with contact lenses created from a new waterabsorbing, soft plastic developed by Dr. Wichterle and Dr. Lim was initiated.
1971 The soft lens becomes available commercially.
1978 Approval for the first toric contact lens.
1979 The first rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens made of co-polymers PMMA and silicone became available for commercial distribution. Many silicone- acrylate lenses are now available.
1980 The first daily wear soft lenses become commerially available.
1981 The first extended wear soft lenses become commercially available.
1983 The first colored lenses with RGP technology become available.
1986 The first extendeded wear RGP technology contact lenses become available.
1987 Disposable soft contact lenses became available for commercial distribution as well as a soft contact lens to change eye color. A new acrylate material for RGP lenses became available for commercial distribution.
1991 Contact lenses that need regular interval replacement (daily wear, two week replacement) become available.
1992 Disposable cosmetic contact lenses become commercially available.
1995 Daily disposable lenses, low silicone, high fluorosilicone lenses become available.
1996 The first lenses using UV filter become commercially available.
1998 The first multi focal contact lenses become available.

1508	Leonardo da Vinci describes ways to alter eye functions.
1632	Rene Descartes from France suggests corneal contact lenses.
1801	Thomas Young takes Descartes' suggestion and creates a contact lens from waterfilled glass tube which has a microscopic lens on the end to correct his own vision.
1827	Sir John Herschel design a concept of contact lenses that fit the eyeball.
1887	The first contact lens made from glass is produced in Germany.
1888	Two scientists report about the vision correctional purposes of contact lenses indepently but almost at the same time.
1929	A Hungarian scientist develops a methos to create molds from living eyes to use for contact lenses.
1936	Optometrist Dr. Feinbloom is the first to produce contact lenses made from plastic.
1945	The American Optometric Association acknowledges contact lenses as part of optometry.
1950	The first contact lens that follows eye shape is designed by Dr. Butterfield in Oregon.
1960	An experiment with contact lenses created from a new waterabsorbing, soft plastic developed by Dr. Wichterle and Dr. Lim was initiated.
1971	The soft lens becomes available commercially.
1978	Approval for the first toric contact lens.
1979	The first rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens made of co-polymers PMMA and silicone became available for commercial distribution. Many silicone- acrylate lenses are now available.
1980	The first daily wear soft lenses become commerially available.
1981	The first extended wear soft lenses become commercially available.
1983	The first colored lenses with RGP technology become available.
1986	The first extendeded wear RGP technology contact lenses become available.
1987	Disposable soft contact lenses became available for commercial distribution as well as a soft contact lens to change eye color. A new acrylate material for RGP lenses became available for commercial distribution.
1991	Contact lenses that need regular interval replacement (daily wear, two week replacement) become available.
1992	Disposable cosmetic contact lenses become commercially available.
1995	Daily disposable lenses, low silicone, high fluorosilicone lenses become available.
1996	The first lenses using UV filter become commercially available.
1998	The first multi focal contact lenses become available.