Even though the contact lens is barely 150 years old, the history of its development is almost forgotten. It began with the attempt to cover irregularities in the corneal contour using a hemispherical glass disc and to mask them with the help of tear fluid.
Irregular corneal shapes have always posed particular challenges for contact lens fitters. Keratoconus, pellucid marginal corneal degeneration, postoperative scarring and corneal steps following penetrating keratoplasty or refractive surgery, as well as scarring following trauma, can significantly impair the optical quality of the corneal surface.
Contact lenses (CLs) have evolved from simple refractive devices into sophisticated biomedical platforms capable of a wide variety of functions, including diagnosing systemic and ocular disease, monitoring physiology, being used for a number of advanced optical functions and, the purpose of this review, delivering topical ophthalmic drugs.
Excellence in contact lens manufacturing is driven by leadership, culture and a constant willingness to improve. Inspired by observations from elite sports and international industry meetings such as the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), this article explores what distinguishes highly efficient laboratories from average performers.
What an incredible vibe at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) 2026 at Paris in Las Vegas earlier this year. The energy and enthusiasm were truly of a higher order, with a strong focus on the application of higher-order aberrations in specialty lenses – going well beyond correction alone.
International conference for optometry and vision science The Jena Vision Conference, held from 31 October to 2 November 2025, marked the 20th anniversary of the Jena Vision Research Institute. Over 300 guests, 25 speakers from 6 countries came together to discuss current developments in optometry and vision science – and to look back on two…
A guide through awareness, science and practice Short-sightedness, medically known as myopia, has gradually and continuously crept into our school classrooms, families and optometry practices over the past decades. It is not a ‘trend’ but a global challenge that has a concrete impact on everyday working life. A fundamental question for optometrists and ophthalmologists is:…
Holy grail aberrations What I like about the contact lens field – as opposed to general medicine, for instance – is that we can ‘create things.’ Beautiful things. General medicine and eye care is more about dealing with existing conditions, while in the contact lens field, we can create vision. How cool is that? We…
Too much “baggage” for success? Legacy labs sometimes rely on outdated technologies and processes, even when new equipment has already been acquired. This has many undesirable effects on efficiency and makes it difficult to compete with start-ups that enter the market with the aim of keeping pace with changes in the production landscape. However, it…
Concepts and applications for functionalized contact lenses and keratoprostheses The development of biofunctionalized materials represents a paradigm shift in contact lens technology. By mimicking natural biological structures such as mucins through synthetic (glyco)polymers, researchers are creating advanced materials with tailored properties for improved wearing comfort, therapeutic drug delivery, enhanced biocompatibility, and diagnostic applications. These biomimetic…
