Kerikeri 12/13/2012 3:32:38 AM
News / Health & Wellness

Contact Lens Technologies are worth a Second Look

Since the invention of contact lenses, many new innovations have been found to make the lens easier to wear, more widely available to those with serious visual issues, and more comfortable.

Contact lenses actually date back to Leonardo Da Vinci's discovery that putting one's face into water changes how surroundings are viewed. This, followed by numerous variations, led to 1948, when a doctor accidentally cut away the portion of the lens that would have covered the whites of the eyes and realized the lens would still work. Thus, the current style of contact lens was born. From there, it was only a matter of time until the invention of disposable contact lenses, which not only increased comfort but also decreased the price of this corrective technology.

Newer disposable contacts allow the eye to receive more air, are more flexible, and are thinner. These changes mean less strain on the eye and more chances of keeping the eye healthy while optimizing vision. Contact lenses have also seen enough improvement that individuals with complex issues with their vision can wear contacts as well. With improved technology and understanding of the contact lens, it is now possible for people with more serious astigmatism, presbyopia, myopia, and other afflictions to wear contact lenses.

There is even a type of corrective lens currently in use that is worn by the individual overnight. This process is called Corneal Refractive Therapy, or OrthoK. Individuals who are suited for this therapy can get through waking hours without wearing glasses or contact lenses. This therapy is also commonly used for individuals who see a change in their prescription annually. It helps to slow down or stop the continual changes for a longer period.

Today's technology allows wearers to more faithfully follow the schedule for changing disposable contact lenses. An app on a smart phone reminds the wearer when it is time for a new pair. However, technology has also affected the abilities of the contact lens.

There has been a new breakthrough that has made it possible to embed an LCD computer display in a contact lens. This opens the door to numerous possibilities. The era of disposable contact lenses has branched out from offering the chance to change eye color. It now has opened the doors to countless abilities provided through wearing a lens in the eye.

This type of lens can be used for many situations. Scientists hope it will help individuals with a damaged iris still be able to see. Meanwhile, the military will have limitless opportunities to provide information to a soldier directly to their line of vision. And, eventually, the entertainment sector will be able to utilize this technology to further increase its hold on individuals by providing movies, videos and even sports and news directly to the eye regardless of an individual's location.

The contact lens has come a long way from the blown glass that was initially tested on rabbits. Combined with today's technology and quality of electronics, the lens has nowhere to go but up in terms of importance to the world.