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History of Contact Lenses

January 15th, 2011
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LATE 1400S 

Leonardo da Vinci is cited as the first individual to develop the concept of a contact lens based on certain sketches. It is suggested, however, that the sketches dealt with the concept of image reversal and not the concept of a contact lens.

 
LATE 1880S

 

Adolf E. Fick, Eugene Kalt, and August Müller all produced glass scleral shells. Fick called them “Contactbrille” or contact spectacles, while Müller called them “Hornhautlinsen” or Corneal Lenses. Kalt was later the first to treat keratoconus by utilizing a glass shell approximating the radius of the normal cornea.

 
 1886

 

Xavier Galezowski introduced using “plaquettes” to cover the corneal surface. These were gelatin squares soaked in mercury chloride and designed to reduce the possibility of infection after cataract surgery. This was considered the first use of a “therapeutic” contact lens.

 
 EARLY 1900S

 

German companies Carl Zeiss and Müller led the optical industry in advanced usage of scleral contact lenses. In 1931, Joseph Dallos determined that tear flow beneath the contact lens was important and published the results of his study of 120 fittings. He later added fenestrations at the corneoscleral junction of the lens, which provided the flow of oxygenated tears to the underlying cornea.

 
1934 – 1960 S

 

In 1934, Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was the first plastic used for corneoscleral lenses. In 1948, Kevin Touhy was granted a patent for a corneal contact lens using PMMA that fit only on the cornea and not on the sclera, and became the contact lenses of choice throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

 
1954 – 1971

 

The first synthesis of a “soft” contact lens material, hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), by O. Wichterle and D. Lim (Czechoslovakian scientists) occurred in 1954. This was followed by the development of spin-casting of HEMA by Otto Wichterle, (Christmas night in 1961 using his son’s erector set). Spin-casting became an ideal way to manufacture soft contact lenses. Soft contact lenses were first introduced in the United States in 1971 by Bausch and Lomb who acquired the rights to spin-casting and HEMA in 1966 from the National Patent Development Corporation.

 
1971

 

20/20 Optical Group estimates that the wholesale contact lens market was approximately $800,000.

 
1979

 

20/20 Optical Group estimates that the wholesale contact lens market was approximately $480 million.

 
1981

 

First contact lenses for overnight wear were introduced.

 
1982

 

The first bifocal soft contact lenses were introduced (BiSoft® by CibaVision).

 
 1984

 

Enhancement tinted soft contact lenses were released (SoftColors® by CibaVision). Introduction of hydrogen peroxide care systems also occurred.

 
1987

 

A major development occurred with the introduction of disposable soft contact lenses (Acuvue® by Vistakon).

 
LATE 1980S

 

A formulation of fluorosilicone acrylate material for rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses became available; disposable soft contact lenses were introduced, along with soft contact lenses to change eye color.

 
1990S

 

Direct contact lens distribution to patients through companies or eye care practitioners who provided this option as a value-added service increased significantly. Daily disposable lenses were introduced along with RGP lenses with low silicone content and high Dk fluorosilicone acrylates.

 
2001

 

A new concept in extended wear (continuous wear up to 30 nights) was first approved by the FDA in the United States

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What are contact lenses?

January 15th, 2011
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Contact lenses are small visual devices made with curved pieces of plastic shaped in a way to conform directly to the wearer’s eye. They provide an artificial refracting surface to the human eye and are used to correct vision problems like myopia and hypermetropia. Contact lenses aid in eye focusing in the same manner as spectacles do. Apart from these corrective measures, contact lenses can also be used for cosmetic and therapeutic reasons.

There have been many modifications and improvements to the original idea of contact lenses, conceptualized first by Leonardo Da Vinci, through centuries. About 35 million people in the U.S. wear contact lenses today.

Features of Contact Lenses

The lenses are made from different types of materials – soft and rigid – and come in a variety of designs and colors. These include disposable, colored, astigmatic, aphakic, presbyopic and keratoconic lenses. The initial fitting and follow up care are important parts of contact lens usage to give maximum benefits of vision, appearance, comfort and tissue integrity.

Advantages of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are capable of correcting most of the problems that spectacles can as well as some additional ones that glasses cannot.

People not satisfied with their appearance using glasses can opt to use contact lenses for improved appearance. Contact lenses are not in the danger of slipping off, getting wet, or fogging up, which can easily happen with spectacles.

Extremely hypermetropiac people or those who have had cataracts removed, feel better wearing contact lenses as compared to spectacles, which in these cases produce uneven vision. Moreover, contact lenses give improved vision for people with damaged corneas due to disease or injury. Also for sportsmen, wearing contact lenses prove to be more practical as in the case of those where wearing spectacles pose a problem in their jobs. In addition to all these, contact lenses provide better side vision compared to glasses.

Uses of Contact Lens

The primary use of contact lenses is to correct myopia (short sightedness). They can also be used to rectify hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia and aphakia. Rigid lenses are used to correct irregular corneal trauma. Soft lenses are used as bandages for conditions like bullous keratopathy, recurring corneal erosion as well as to increase comfort, vision and postoperative wound healing.

Main Types of Contact Lenses

There are two principal types of contact lenses in use today. Soft contact lenses are those that are made of hydrophilic plastics and absorb liquid and must be kept moist for softness and easier moulding to the corneal surface. They are extremely comfortable and are used by majority of contact lens users. The other type in use is the gas permeable (RPG) or rigid contact lenses, which are composed of durable and flexible plastics, which permit oxygen to pass through to the cornea and are easier to maintain. The original hard lenses, or PMMAs, used earlier did not allow oxygen to pass to the eye and have been replaced by the RPGs.

If a person desires to use contact lenses, he or she should do so only after consultation with an ophthalmologist. He/she will advise whether contact lenses would be suitable for a person to use or which kind of lenses, soft or gas permeable, should be used in a particular case. It is imperative that a yearly examination be done after the initial use of contact lenses.

The Adverse Effects of Contact Lenses

People have difficulty in using contact lenses if they have eye irritations due to allergies or dust and chemicals. Overactive thyroid gland, severe diabetes or extreme arthritis in the hands, dry eyes related to pregnancy, contraceptives, diuretics, antihistamines and decongestants and eye disease prevents a person form using contact lenses.

The usage of contact lenses may give rise to problems like eye infections, allergic reactions to lens care solutions and deposit on lenses, redness of the eyes, scratched corneas, alteration in corneal shape and structure and abnormal blood vessels growing in the apparently clear cornea. You should consult your eye specialist without delay if there is burning, extreme sensitivity or hazy vision or pain.

SoftTouchLenses dot com provides information on contact lenses and their use.

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Choose The Best Colour For Your Eyes

January 14th, 2011
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Contact Lenses

Contact Lenses

People sometimes get confused about which colour lens to go for. To know the solution of this problem, go on reading.

 

 

 

You are again at a crossroads to decide upon the colour of your Contact lenses. Take a chill pill, as here I am to throw some light on this matter and help you out.

Mainly there are two types of colour contacts – enhancement and opaque. The first one is for people with light eyes and these lenses make the eyes brighter or add some hue e.g. a person with naturally brown eyes can wear hazel enhancement coloured contact lenses and get a cool effect. However, opaque lenses create more effect as these non-transparent lenses entirely replace the original colour of your eyes with its own colour. Therefore, first you should decide on the effect you want to achieve.

Now, there are two major scenarios. The first one is if one wants brighter eye colour without shocking people who know the person’s original eye colour:

•If you are a person with gray eyes, try hazel from Aryan 1/2/3 tone color lenses or Freshlook Dimensions and get a nice grayish-hazel colour. However, if you want to experiment more, go for green (preferable for people with fair skin). Green eyes are very rare among Indians (though Aishwarya Rai’s eyes are green), so you will make a bold fashion statement with your green contacts.

•If, brown is the colour of your eyes, then I am sorry to say that none of the enhancement colour contacts can be of any help. You may better try brown opaque lenses that will at least add some shimmer to your eyes.

But, if one is adventurous enough to try something entirely different from his/her natural colour, then following are some options:

•Go for any of the three – Acuvue 2 Colors opaques, Freshlook Colorblends or Illusions by Ciba Vision – all are best in the job.

•True Sapphire from Freshlook Colorblends collection will be the perfect choice for people with dark hair and dark eyes. These lenses makes one look extremely sophisticated and bold as the colour is quite rare.

•To look intelligent and trustworthy (a lethal combination, no doubt about that) along with a feel of warmth, try honey colour contacts. It works, believe me.

•If you just want to attract a lot of attention, go for blue or green lenses, as Indians generally have dark skin with brown eyes and it will surely create a striking appearance.

Last but not the least, change your hairstyle and wear an outfit which will complement your colour lenses. Now, if you are still not sure which colour is best for you, then visit SoftTouchLenses.com and all your doubts will be over.

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Contact Lenses World

January 13th, 2011
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Take Proper Care of Your Contact Lenses – It will take proper Care of Your Eyes

January 13th, 2011
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You may find it taxing, but it is necessary for you to understand the importance of proper contact lens care, else you may end up with infection in your eyes, even blindness is not a distant possibility.

In today’s world, with disposable contact lenses and one–bottle care systems, taking care of contacts asks for far less trouble, expense and time than it did earlier.

It is better not to switch your care regimes if your eye doctor does not permit for it. Some products are incompatible with each other, even with some contact lenses also. These incompatible products may spoil your contacts or damage your coveted eyes.

To utilize the bottles and boxes, C-R-D is the best formula. C – Clean, R – Rinse and D – Disinfect. I will help you to know the steps required to care for your contact lenses:

  1. Properly wash your hands (not with moisturizing soaps) to minimize the chance of dirt and germs being transferred to your eyes. Then dry it with a lint-free towel.
  2. Remove either of the lenses (but always one at a time) and with the help of the recommended solution, clean it gently. Our eyes produce proteins, cosmetics and other debris on the surface of the lens impairing lens comfort. Cleaning removes all these stuff. The best way to do it is to rub the lens in the palm of your hand after pouring a few drops of solution (it does not matter even if it is a “no-rub” product as eye doctors only recommended it).
  3. Rinse for as long as it is directed in the manual to remove the loosened debris completely. This is important.
  4. Now it is turn to place your lens into the clean lens case (it may be a lens holder also) and fill it with fresh solution. It is not recommended to ‘top off’ your old solution. Disinfecting is the best way to kill microorganisms, which build up on the lens. However, the duration of time to disinfect may vary from product to product. You should check the package for the entire details.
  5. Go through the above three steps for the other lens also.

This was about lens care but the million dollar question is from where to buy the lenses? SoftTouchLenses.com, the ‘numero uno’ site for contact lenses and contact lens solutions is the ultimate destination for any kind of contact lenses that also of the best quality with discounted prices – only for you. Try it out. I bet, you will buy from them again.

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