The History of the Contact Lens: From da Vinci to Disposable
This paper briefly outlines the history of the development of the contact lens. It begins with a description of the theoretical basis for the lens laid out by Leonardo da Vinci and Sir John Herschel. It moves on to discuss the major breakthroughs made in the 19th century in materials used and in conceptual design. Finally, the paper describes the developments made in the latter half of the 20th century.