subject: The History Behind Contact Lenses [print this page] The History Behind Contact Lenses The History Behind Contact Lenses
Many think that the use of contact lenses have only occurred in the modern times, but they are actually dating back to the artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci, who was among the first to consider the use of contact lenses. It was in the year 1508, more than 500 years before the first lens was known. It is quite amazingly that the artist and scientist Da Vinci this early mentions the use of lenses directly in the eye, but it would take long before the actual usage of these.
It was in 1827 that the astronomer Herschel came up with an idea about making a mold of the eyes so it was possible to make something that would fit perfectly with the eye cornea. In 1887 the glassblower Muller adopted the idea and created the first glass lenses. Then came a Swiss doctor, Fick, and an optician, Kalt. They were the first to succeed in adept the lenses, so they helped patients who were nearsighted or farsighted. The lenses designed by Fick is very hard, uncomfortable and still made of glass.
In 1936, an optician, Fein Bloom, introduced plastic lenses.They were actually made of both glass covering the cornea, and plastic covering sklera.
When the Americans made plastic lenses, the otherwise so clever invention encountered alot of problems. As the whole eye is covered, the oxygen supply is limited which is painful and the eyes would dry out.
In 1948 Tuohy, an optician from California created lenses that were smaller than those previously produced and would still encircle the cornea - but without drying them. In the same year the optometrist, Butterdfield, improveed the Tuohy lens and made flatter curves in the lens, creating a complete match to the shape of a cornea. These lenses are known as corneal lenses. They could even be called hard contact lenses.
In the 1950s and 1960s the hard, uncomfortable plastic lenses was made even thinner and smaller. These newer designs were used as a model for today's lenses. actually many of the earlier ideas are used as the basis for modern lenses.
In 1961, Dr. Wichterle created a molding machine to shape lenses. This was used to make the first soft contact lenses. Later on this led to the design of the first commercial soft contact lenses.
We are very grateful for the creation of eyeglasses and contact lenses, which only became possible thanks to dedicated opticians. Currently, nearly everyone who has glasses, also have contact lenses because they are comfortable and very convenient to use. Whether you want contact lenses is just a matter of how comfortable your eyeglasses are and of course if they look good on you.
