Many people believe that the contact lens is a modern invention, but that’s actually not the case. In fact, the origins of the contact lens extend as far back as the early sixteenth century. Even the modern form of contact lenses first emerged several decades ago. Since the very first conception of the principle behind contact lenses, these optical devices have undergone many different changes at the hands of several different inventors and eye care professionals. In fact, contacts have gone from cumbersome and uncomfortable devices made of glass to today’s plastic lenses which offer a high level of comfort while providing sharp, clear vision for those with a wide variety of vision problems.

The history of the contact lens dates back to the early sixteenth century. More specifically, in 1508 Leonardo da Vinci came up with the general principle behind contact lenses. While he didn’t actually create such a lens and wasn’t necessarily concerned with correcting vision, da Vinci sketched and described a variety of ideas involving placing a lens directly on the eye in order to aid vision and alter the corneal power of the eye.

During the following century, in the 1630′s, France’s Ren