There
are two very important factors about this discovery. Improved refraction
and improved peripheral visual acuity. Master Leonardo filled a bowl with
water, then placed a man’s face into it. It is said that for the first
time the individual was able to see clearly. Leonardo da Vinci also made
a contact lens with a funnel on one side so that water could be poured into
it. Of course, this was immediately discarded due to impracticality. The
first insight into the treatment of optical defects of the cornea with a device
is given to the great Italian, Leonardo da Vinci. The development of
contact lenses is an old story, dating back to 1500 – 1508.
are two very important factors about this discovery. Improved refraction
and improved peripheral visual acuity. Master Leonardo filled a bowl with
water, then placed a man’s face into it. It is said that for the first
time the individual was able to see clearly. Leonardo da Vinci also made
a contact lens with a funnel on one side so that water could be poured into
it. Of course, this was immediately discarded due to impracticality. The
first insight into the treatment of optical defects of the cornea with a device
is given to the great Italian, Leonardo da Vinci. The development of
contact lenses is an old story, dating back to 1500 – 1508.
Individuals
with corneal astigmatism or diseases and abnormalities of the cornea had
minimal visual improvement with glasses. Wearable contact lenses did not
begin to evolve until the nineteenth century. In 1801, Thomas Young described a
neutralizing surface for the cornea that was the forerunner of contact
lenses. He developed a tube he could fill with water and place directly
against the cornea. That being the case, spectacle lenses were the only devices
used to correct vision. This was also impractical and discarded. We
must remember that early technology did not make it possible to develop and
manufacture devices that would fit directly on the eye and produce good
vision. In 1636, after reviewing Leonardo’s work, a French scientist,
Renee Descartes, in a special medical treatise, Ways of Perfecting Vision,
described a concept of a lens placed directly onto the eye. Patient’s
with regular corneas and normal astigmatism had very good vision.
with corneal astigmatism or diseases and abnormalities of the cornea had
minimal visual improvement with glasses. Wearable contact lenses did not
begin to evolve until the nineteenth century. In 1801, Thomas Young described a
neutralizing surface for the cornea that was the forerunner of contact
lenses. He developed a tube he could fill with water and place directly
against the cornea. That being the case, spectacle lenses were the only devices
used to correct vision. This was also impractical and discarded. We
must remember that early technology did not make it possible to develop and
manufacture devices that would fit directly on the eye and produce good
vision. In 1636, after reviewing Leonardo’s work, a French scientist,
Renee Descartes, in a special medical treatise, Ways of Perfecting Vision,
described a concept of a lens placed directly onto the eye. Patient’s
with regular corneas and normal astigmatism had very good vision.
Sir
John Herschel, the English astronomer and physicist, wrote and circulated an
opinion that corneal contact lenses were, in fact, optically
feasible. Herschel was also the first to suggest that an actual
mould of the cornea might be taken.
John Herschel, the English astronomer and physicist, wrote and circulated an
opinion that corneal contact lenses were, in fact, optically
feasible. Herschel was also the first to suggest that an actual
mould of the cornea might be taken.
This
first lens was made by F. A. Mueller in 1887, a manufacturer of artificial
eyes. These ideas though, lay dormant for approximately sixty years.
His suggestions were theoretically sound but very problematic due to practical
applications that were too difficult to overcome. One of the barriers was
the need to make a mould of the sensitive corneal tissue. The cornea is
totally avascular, with thousands of nerves, making a very sensitive tissue. With
the introduction of anesthesia in 1884, contact lens technology advanced because
moulding was made possible.
first lens was made by F. A. Mueller in 1887, a manufacturer of artificial
eyes. These ideas though, lay dormant for approximately sixty years.
His suggestions were theoretically sound but very problematic due to practical
applications that were too difficult to overcome. One of the barriers was
the need to make a mould of the sensitive corneal tissue. The cornea is
totally avascular, with thousands of nerves, making a very sensitive tissue. With
the introduction of anesthesia in 1884, contact lens technology advanced because
moulding was made possible.
Dr.
Fic was a physician in Zurich, Switzerland, who wrote a treatise entitled A
Contact Spectacle, in which he described the first contact lens with a
refractive power, to protect the eye and later for visual
improvement. In the early
1880’s, glass contact lenses that fit the anterior of the eye, called scleral
lenses, were invented by Adolf Fic, Eugene Cult and August Mueller,
independently.
Fic was a physician in Zurich, Switzerland, who wrote a treatise entitled A
Contact Spectacle, in which he described the first contact lens with a
refractive power, to protect the eye and later for visual
improvement. In the early
1880’s, glass contact lenses that fit the anterior of the eye, called scleral
lenses, were invented by Adolf Fic, Eugene Cult and August Mueller,
independently.
This
device to neutralize the refractive power of the cornea, consisted of placing a
small glass bowl directly on the eye, much like Leonardo had done 300 years
prior. Later, Fic prepared a set of trial glass lenses. Fic
selected the diagnostic lens that was most suitable for each of his
experimental subjects. These original contact lenses were made of very thin
glass. Fic used these lenses quite successfully in treating
patients with corneal disease and abnormalities. These abnormalities, such as
keratoconus, can cause scarring and a definite obstruction to the
refraction of light. Fic also recognized a method for correction of
different types of irregular astigmatism other than spectacle lenses, which did
not adequately correct the refractive power of irregular corneas. Fic’s
lenses were quite successful compared to other applications but were still
cumbersome and uncomfortable.
device to neutralize the refractive power of the cornea, consisted of placing a
small glass bowl directly on the eye, much like Leonardo had done 300 years
prior. Later, Fic prepared a set of trial glass lenses. Fic
selected the diagnostic lens that was most suitable for each of his
experimental subjects. These original contact lenses were made of very thin
glass. Fic used these lenses quite successfully in treating
patients with corneal disease and abnormalities. These abnormalities, such as
keratoconus, can cause scarring and a definite obstruction to the
refraction of light. Fic also recognized a method for correction of
different types of irregular astigmatism other than spectacle lenses, which did
not adequately correct the refractive power of irregular corneas. Fic’s
lenses were quite successful compared to other applications but were still
cumbersome and uncomfortable.
Over
the course of about sixty years, scleral lenses made of glass were the major
contact lenses used. Scleral glass lenses were primarily manufactured by
Carl Zeiss Company in Jiena, Germany, as early as 1912. Cult, who was a
glass blower from Wiesbaden, Germany, described another method by which
keratoconus could be corrected by suppression of the cone and correction of the
refraction with glass shells.
the course of about sixty years, scleral lenses made of glass were the major
contact lenses used. Scleral glass lenses were primarily manufactured by
Carl Zeiss Company in Jiena, Germany, as early as 1912. Cult, who was a
glass blower from Wiesbaden, Germany, described another method by which
keratoconus could be corrected by suppression of the cone and correction of the
refraction with glass shells.
A
few Labs still fit and manufacture these types of contact lenses for the
treatment of severe keratoconus disease and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. In the
1930’s, the availability of plastics produced lenses that were lightweight and
very transparent. They were chemically consistent, stable, unbreakable,
scratch resistant and much easier to manufacture. This eventually changed
the course of contact lens technology. In 1937, Theodore Obrig developed
manufacturing techniques for making plastic lenses and suggested the use of
fluorescein dyes to study the morphology of the lens fit against the patient’s
cornea. With the introduction of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) a flush
fitting scleral lens was made possible.
few Labs still fit and manufacture these types of contact lenses for the
treatment of severe keratoconus disease and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. In the
1930’s, the availability of plastics produced lenses that were lightweight and
very transparent. They were chemically consistent, stable, unbreakable,
scratch resistant and much easier to manufacture. This eventually changed
the course of contact lens technology. In 1937, Theodore Obrig developed
manufacturing techniques for making plastic lenses and suggested the use of
fluorescein dyes to study the morphology of the lens fit against the patient’s
cornea. With the introduction of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) a flush
fitting scleral lens was made possible.
The
lenses, patented by Touhy in 1948, rested directly against the limbal margin of
the cornea. These lenses had diameters of 10.80 to 12.50 mm. They
were much more attractive and easier to wear than the glass and plastic scleral
lenses that preceded them. An optician from England, Kevin Touhy,
introduced the corneal lens, which covered only the transparent portion of the
protective coating of the eye (the cornea) in 1947. These lenses also had
desirable cosmetic effects. Innovations greatly contributed to the
success of contact lenses, for both cosmetic and therapeutic use. The
therapeutic use of these lenses was developed by Woodly in England in
1954.
lenses, patented by Touhy in 1948, rested directly against the limbal margin of
the cornea. These lenses had diameters of 10.80 to 12.50 mm. They
were much more attractive and easier to wear than the glass and plastic scleral
lenses that preceded them. An optician from England, Kevin Touhy,
introduced the corneal lens, which covered only the transparent portion of the
protective coating of the eye (the cornea) in 1947. These lenses also had
desirable cosmetic effects. Innovations greatly contributed to the
success of contact lenses, for both cosmetic and therapeutic use. The
therapeutic use of these lenses was developed by Woodly in England in
1954.
These
changes allowed early contact lens patients to address the public with
confidence. The new contact lenses could be worn in all kinds of weather
and were useful for sporting activities of all kinds. Because the contact
lens was large, but smaller than earlier scleral lenses, it was not easily
dislodged or lost. Many changes were rapidly introduced to these types of
lenses until a product emerged that was safer and could be worn all day, had
tremendous optical clarity and was invisible to the human eye.
changes allowed early contact lens patients to address the public with
confidence. The new contact lenses could be worn in all kinds of weather
and were useful for sporting activities of all kinds. Because the contact
lens was large, but smaller than earlier scleral lenses, it was not easily
dislodged or lost. Many changes were rapidly introduced to these types of
lenses until a product emerged that was safer and could be worn all day, had
tremendous optical clarity and was invisible to the human eye.