Contact lenses are thin, corrective devices placed directly on the surface of the eye to improve vision. The journey to the modern lens spans over four centuries, evolving from obscure theoretical drawings to sophisticated polymer technology. This evolution involved multiple inventors and material science breakthroughs that transformed the concept from an impractical curiosity into a widely used medical device.
Conceptual Origins: The Ideas Before the Reality
The earliest known theoretical exploration of vision correction via a lens placed on the eye dates back to the early 16th century. In 1508, the polymath Leonardo da Vinci sketched several concepts illustrating how the refractive power of the cornea could be altered. His sketches, found in the Codex of the Eye, Manual D, proposed a water-filled glass hemisphere placed directly onto the eye.
Da Vinci’s model was never a practical device, but his drawings established the principle of neutralizing the cornea’s power with a fluid interface. Over a century later, in 1636, the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes advanced this concept. He proposed a glass tube filled with liquid, sealed with a corrective lens at one end, and placed against the eye.
Descartes’ design was impractical because it would have prevented the wearer from blinking. These early conceptual models provided the scientific foundation, showing that placing a material in direct contact with the eye could alter vision. The creation of a wearable device required advances in glass-making and medical knowledge over the next 250 years.
The First Wearable Lenses: Answering the Core Question
The first successful, wearable contact lenses emerged in the late 1880s, marking the transition from concept to medical reality. German physiologist Adolf Fick is widely credited with fabricating and fitting the first such device in 1887. Fick’s lenses were made of heavy, blown glass and were large, covering the entire sclera, the white part of the eye, and floating on a dextrose solution.
Fick initially tested his “contact spectacle” on rabbits, then on himself, publishing his findings in 1888. Around the same time, French ophthalmologist Eugen Kalt also began using glass shells to correct the irregular corneal shape associated with keratoconus. These early glass lenses, known as scleral lenses due to their size, were unwieldy and could only be tolerated for a few hours. The thickness of the glass prevented oxygen from reaching the cornea, leading to discomfort and corneal swelling.
The first functional, though highly uncomfortable, contact lenses emerged in 1887 or 1888. A year later, in 1889, German optician August Müller corrected his own severe myopia with a blown-glass scleral lens. This period solidified the use of glass scleral shells as a specialized medical treatment, though they were too cumbersome for mass consumer use.
From Glass to Plastic: The Material Revolution
A major leap in wearability occurred with the introduction of plastic polymers in the mid-20th century. The development of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a rigid, transparent plastic, revolutionized the industry in the 1930s and 1940s. PMMA was significantly lighter and easier to manufacture than glass, leading to the creation of smaller lenses.
In 1948, American optician Kevin Tuohy is credited with patenting the first corneal lens, which was made entirely of PMMA. This lens was much smaller than the older scleral lenses, resting only on the cornea, which allowed for better tear exchange and slightly longer wearing times. However, PMMA remained a rigid material that did not allow oxygen to pass through, meaning wearers still had to remove them frequently to avoid corneal hypoxia.
The next transformative material was hydrophilic gel, or hydrogel, invented by Czech chemists Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav Lím in the late 1950s. They patented poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), which could absorb up to 40% water, making the lenses soft and flexible. This water content allowed some oxygen to pass to the cornea, increasing comfort and wear time. The introduction of these soft lenses to the public in the early 1970s marked the beginning of modern, widespread contact lens use.
Modern Innovations: Daily Wear and Beyond
The foundation laid by hydrogel materials paved the way for continuous advancements focused on comfort, convenience, and eye health. The development of disposable lenses began in the 1980s, offering a hygienic, low-maintenance option that reduced the risk of infection.
A major material science breakthrough came with the introduction of silicone hydrogels in the late 1990s. This material significantly increased oxygen permeability compared to traditional hydrogels, allowing five times more oxygen to reach the eye. This innovation made extended-wear and continuous-wear lenses possible, as the cornea could remain healthy overnight. Today, specialized lenses like toric for astigmatism, multifocal for presbyopia, and lenses with built-in UV protection are common options.