A Brief History of Contact Lenses

1508   Leonardo da Vinci illustrates the concept of contact lenses

1823   British astronomer Sir John Herschel conceptualizes practical lens design

1887   First contact lens manufactured from glass, and fitted to cover the entire eye

1939   Contact lenses first made from plastic

1948   Plastic contact lenses designed to cover only the eye's cornea

1971   Introduction of soft contact lenses

1978   Introduction of GP contact lenses

1981   FDA approval of new soft contact lenses for extended (overnight) wear

1986   Overnight wear of GP contact lenses becomes available

1987   Introduction of disposable soft contact lenses

1987   GP contacts available in next-generation fluorosilicone acrylate materials

1996   Introduction of one-day disposable soft lenses

2002   Silicone-hydrogel contact lenses first marketed

2002   Overnight orthokeratology approved by FDA

2010   Custom-manufactured silicone-hydrogel lenses become available

 

Please note that dates above reflect events in the United States; introduction of products in other countries may vary from this timeline.