The
history of contact lenses and their evolution in the human acts. From ancient
times, man has wanted to see things far smaller than could be perceived with
the naked eye, although the first use of a lens is a bit of a mystery, it is
now believed that the use of lenses is more modern that previously thought.
history of contact lenses and their evolution in the human acts. From ancient
times, man has wanted to see things far smaller than could be perceived with
the naked eye, although the first use of a lens is a bit of a mystery, it is
now believed that the use of lenses is more modern that previously thought.
The
development of contact lenses is an old story dating back to 1500 – 1508. The
first insight to the treatment of optical defects of the corneal with a device
is given to a great Italian, Leonardo da Vinci. This man filled a bowl with
water, then placed on a man’s face and it was recorded that the individual was
able to see clearly for the first time in his life.
development of contact lenses is an old story dating back to 1500 – 1508. The
first insight to the treatment of optical defects of the corneal with a device
is given to a great Italian, Leonardo da Vinci. This man filled a bowl with
water, then placed on a man’s face and it was recorded that the individual was
able to see clearly for the first time in his life.
There
are two important factors about Leonardo’s discovery:
are two important factors about Leonardo’s discovery:
·
Improved peripheral visual acuity
Improved peripheral visual acuity
·
Improved refraction.
Improved refraction.
He
also made a contact lens with a funnel on one side so that water could be
poured into it, but his experiment was discarded due to impracticality.
also made a contact lens with a funnel on one side so that water could be
poured into it, but his experiment was discarded due to impracticality.
Another
French scientist, Renee Descartes in 1936 after reviewing Leaonardo’s work
tried a way of perfecting vision, he described a concept of a lens placed
directly onto the eye, he developed a tube he could fill with water and placed
it directly against the cornea. But this was also discarded.
French scientist, Renee Descartes in 1936 after reviewing Leaonardo’s work
tried a way of perfecting vision, he described a concept of a lens placed
directly onto the eye, he developed a tube he could fill with water and placed
it directly against the cornea. But this was also discarded.
In
the nineteenth century (1801), wearable contact lenses were invented. For the
forerunner of the contact lenses, Thomas Young described a neutralizing surface
for the cornea.
the nineteenth century (1801), wearable contact lenses were invented. For the
forerunner of the contact lenses, Thomas Young described a neutralizing surface
for the cornea.
Sir
John Herschel, the English astronomer and a physicist, wrote and circulated an
opinion that the cornea contact lenses were in fact optically feasible. He was
the first to suggest that an actual mould of the cornea might be taken. His
suggestion was theoretically application that were too difficult to overcome.
One of the barriers was the need to make a mould of the sensitive cornea issue,
but with the introduction of anaesthesia in 1881, contact lens technology
advanced because moulding was made possible as at that time.
John Herschel, the English astronomer and a physicist, wrote and circulated an
opinion that the cornea contact lenses were in fact optically feasible. He was
the first to suggest that an actual mould of the cornea might be taken. His
suggestion was theoretically application that were too difficult to overcome.
One of the barriers was the need to make a mould of the sensitive cornea issue,
but with the introduction of anaesthesia in 1881, contact lens technology
advanced because moulding was made possible as at that time.
Contact
lenses came into being in the early 1880s. This was the first lens that fits
the anterior of the eye and it is called scleral lenses. It was invented by
Adulf Fic, Eugene Cute and August Mueller independently. 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 eyes and later for visual improvement. This first lens was
made by F.A. Mueller in 1887.
lenses came into being in the early 1880s. This was the first lens that fits
the anterior of the eye and it is called scleral lenses. It was invented by
Adulf Fic, Eugene Cute and August Mueller independently. 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 eyes and later for visual improvement. This first lens was
made by F.A. Mueller in 1887.
Fic
also recognised a correction of different types of irregular astigmatism other
than spectacle lenses, which did not adequately correct the refractive power of
irregular cornea. This device to neutralize the refractive power of the cornea
consist of placing a small glass bowl directly on the eye, much like Leonardo
had done 300 years ago. Fic presented a set of trial glass lenses, he used then
to treat patients with corneal diseases and abnormalities such as keratoconus.
It can cause scaring and a definite obstruction to the refraction of light. His
lenses were successfully compared to other application, but were still cumbersome
and uncomfortable.
also recognised a correction of different types of irregular astigmatism other
than spectacle lenses, which did not adequately correct the refractive power of
irregular cornea. This device to neutralize the refractive power of the cornea
consist of placing a small glass bowl directly on the eye, much like Leonardo
had done 300 years ago. Fic presented a set of trial glass lenses, he used then
to treat patients with corneal diseases and abnormalities such as keratoconus.
It can cause scaring and a definite obstruction to the refraction of light. His
lenses were successfully compared to other application, but were still cumbersome
and uncomfortable.
Cute,
who was a glass blower from Wiesbaden, Germany, described another method by
which keratoconus could be corrected by suppressing the corn and correction of
the refraction with glass shells.
who was a glass blower from Wiesbaden, Germany, described another method by
which keratoconus could be corrected by suppressing the corn and correction of
the refraction with glass shells.
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.
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.
In
the 1930s, 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.
the 1930s, 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, Theordore Obrig developed manufacturing techniques for making plastic
lenses and suggested the use of flourescein dyes to study the morphology of the
lens fit against the patient’s cornea with the introduction of
polymethylmethacylate (PPMA) a flush fitting scleral lens was made possible. A
few laboratories still fit and manufacture these lenses for the treatment of
severe keratoconus disease and Stevens Johnson Syndrone.
1937, Theordore Obrig developed manufacturing techniques for making plastic
lenses and suggested the use of flourescein dyes to study the morphology of the
lens fit against the patient’s cornea with the introduction of
polymethylmethacylate (PPMA) a flush fitting scleral lens was made possible. A
few laboratories still fit and manufacture these lenses for the treatment of
severe keratoconus disease and Stevens Johnson Syndrone.
The
therapeutic use of these lenses was developed by Woody in England in 1954.
These lenses also had desirable cosmetic effects. Innovations greatly
contributed to the success of contact lenses, for both cosmetic and therapeutic
use.
therapeutic use of these lenses was developed by Woody in England in 1954.
These lenses also had desirable cosmetic effects. Innovations greatly
contributed to the success of contact lenses, for both cosmetic and therapeutic
use.