Contact lenses, once experimental curiosities, are now an essential part of vision correction for millions worldwide. Tina Patel, Contact Lens Optician, at Feel Good Contacts, says:
“Modern contact lenses are nothing less than a bliss for people who need vision correction. With the huge variety of lenses and wearing types, it has become easier for everyone to find the most suitable and comfortable lenses for themselves.”
The history of contact lenses covers everything that has contributed towards their creation. Starting from Da Vinci’s experiments to advanced silicone hydrogels, modern contact lenses and emerging smart lenses are a result of centuries of scientific breakthroughs, material innovations and design refinements. Here’s a detailed journey of how these tiny optical devices evolved into the comfortable and versatile lenses we are familiar with today, making it easy for you to learn about the history of contact lenses.
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The timeline of contact lenses over the years
The evolution of contact lenses starts in 1508 with Leonardo da Vinci, who thought about changing how we see by putting water in the eye or using water-filled domes. In 1632, René Descartes proposed placing a glass tube filled with liquid directly on the eye, but it was impossible to blink with. In 1801, Thomas Young tried sealing water-filled lenses onto his eyes with wax, which was an innovative approach but wasn’t practical. Finally, in 1823, Sir John Herschel suggested two ideas still used today: grinding lenses to fit the eye’s shape and making them into moulds of the eye for a better fit.
1887–1889: The first real lenses
The late 19th century turned theory into reality. In 1887, German glassblower Friedrich Anton Müller crafted protective glass shells to cover damaged eyes. A year later, Swiss ophthalmologist Adolf Eugen Fick made the first vision-correcting scleral lenses, which floated on a sugar solution, making him the person who invented contact lenses on a practical level. Around the same time, Eugène Kalt in France used similar designs to treat keratoconus, while August Müller refined lens curvature for a better fit. These lenses were groundbreaking but heavy and covered the entire eye. So, these could only be worn for a few hours.
1930s–1947: Plastic met contact lenses
By the 1930s, plastics changed lens design. William Feinbloom created hybrid lenses with glass in the centre and plastic around the edges to make them lighter. In 1944, Norman Bier added small holes to scleral lenses to help more oxygen reach the eye. Then, in 1947, Kevin M. Touhy accidentally made the first corneal lenses that only covered the cornea, making them lighter and easier to wear. This was an important step toward today’s lens designs.
1950s–1970s: Soft lenses arrive
Comfort took centre stage in the 1950s. Czech chemists Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav Lím invented the hydrogel material (pHEMA) and created the first soft lenses using a homemade spin-casting machine. By 1971, Bausch & Lomb launched the first FDA-approved soft contact lenses, making them mainstream. The decade also saw toric lenses for astigmatism, extended-wear options and even cosmetic printed lenses, opening a new world of choice for wearers.
1980s–1990s: Disposables and high-tech materials
In 1982, Denmark introduced the first disposable soft lenses and by 1995, daily disposables were on the market. Meanwhile, rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses offered sharper vision for those needing precise correction. The late 1990s brought silicone hydrogel lenses, which combined the softness of hydrogels with high oxygen permeability, allowing safer long-term wear.
2000s–Today: Beyond vision correction
From the time when the first contact lenses came into existence to the evolution of contact lenses over time has made today’s contact lenses smarter than ever. Silicone hydrogels dominate comfort and health, but research is pushing boundaries even further: lenses now even offer UV protection, monitor glucose, deliver medication and even project augmented reality. What started as a wild idea over 500 years ago changed the history of vision correction and is now poised to become a wearable piece of technology that does so much more than correct vision.
FAQs around the invention of contact lenses
Who invented the first contact lenses?
Adolf Eugén Fick created the first practical powered lenses in 1888, though earlier concepts came from Leonardo da Vinci, René Descartes and Sir John Herschel.
When did soft contact lenses become available?
Soft lenses made from hydrogel were introduced in 1971 by Bausch & Lomb, following the development of pHEMA by Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav Lím.
Tina Patel is a qualified Contact Lens Optician at Feel Good Contacts with over 25 years of experience in the optical industry. She is a member of ABDO and registered with the GOC. Tina holds a BSc. (Hons) in Optical Management from Anglia Ruskin University and qualified as a Dispensing Optician in 2002. In 2007, she further specialised by completing advanced training in contact lenses, gaining her qualification as a Contact Lens Optician. She now shares her clinical expertise through teaching at City, University of London, guiding future opticians.
