In October 2021, Contact Lens Spectrum debuted a new livestream series called “CLS Live!” during which host Jason Jedlicka, OD, sits down with leaders in the world of contact lenses to pinpoint key trends, critical insights, and intelligent takeaways. Dr. Jedlicka is a clinical associate professor at Indiana University School of Optometry and chief of the school’s Cornea and Contact Lens Service.

During each episode, Dr. Jedlicka and his monthly guest(s) discuss new and future products, the latest research, and worldwide trends in prescribing—and even bring viewers up to date live from the floor of CLS conferences such as the Global Specialty Lens Symposium.

>> Each CLS Live episode airs on the CLS Facebook and LinkedIn pages plus the CLS YouTube channel.

In the episode featured here, which originally appeared online in April 2022, CLS kicked off a three-part look at contact lenses yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The livestream discussion tackled the history of contact lenses and, specifically, rigid lenses. To that end, it took a brief stroll down memory lane with two icons and legends in the world of contact lenses: Patrick J. Caroline and Craig W. Norman, who among their many accomplishments are co-curators of the Contact Lens Museum in Forest Grove, OR.

Here, an excerpt from this CLS Live! conversation:

Q: Jason Jedlicka, OD: How did the Contact Lens Museum come to be?

A: Patrick Caroline: This story begins 40 years ago when Craig and I first hooked up in this industry. At that time, we had started collecting different things and, like most collections, you wake up one morning and you virtually have a museum’s worth. It got to the point that it was a unique collection that we decided to display it. Right now, the museum, which was formally opened in 2019, has the largest collection of glass contact lenses in the world—things that date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.

We have the only glass-contact-lens-making apparatus left on planet Earth. And, believe it or not, it is still functioning. We fired it up about a year ago and we were literally making glass contact lenses. They didn’t look very good, but, nonetheless, they were the first glass contact lenses made in a very, very long time.

The collection is very extensive. We now have more than 6,000 items that take the individual through the history of contact lenses from birth to the modern soft contact lens.

Craig Norman: My perspective is a little different. It’s that Patrick is a hoarder and that he has been hoarding anything possibly related to contact lenses for 40 years. The second reason that there is a freestanding facility today is that his wife finally said, “You have to move this out of the garage.” So, we had to find space to put it.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: At some point, you either get a dumpster or you hang a sign up that says “Museum,” right?

A: Mr. Caroline: That’s exactly how it works.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: Let’s talk about the history of “rigid” lenses.

Note: Patrick + Craig wrote about the history of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in the April edition of CLS.

A: Mr. Caroline: The first corneal PMMA lenses that we’re aware of were from a gentleman in Ohio called Dennis England. He would take a scleral contact lens made of PMMA and he had this apparatus that just cut out the center optic portion. He would then round the edges and, in 1946, took out the first corneal PMMA patent.

Unfortunately, his patent was rejected for a variety of reasons that are just very bizarre today. But, the fortunate thing is that we’re lucky enough to have the actual apparatus he used for making these first corneal PMMA lenses in the museum.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: Did he make the scleral lens first and then cut it into a corneal?

A: Mr. Caroline: Yes, he would mold the scleral lens in traditional fashion. And, once that was made, he would simply cut out the center.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: So, sclerals in the ’40s, they were molded?

A: Mr. Caroline: Yes, they were molded. Essentially, [England] was molding both the corneal and the scleral portions but throwing out the scleral haptic and keeping only the corneal. He had two sizes: a 7.8mm diameter and a 11.2mm. We know that because those were the two tools donated to the museum.

Mr. Norman: The tool itself is quite interesting because it was like two drill bits…with a sharp, pointed end on it. And it would just spin around that center optic and it would pop the lens.

The other interesting story about England is that his family is still deeply involved in the contact lens field today. His company was the DMV company. They went from where he couldn’t get his patent on corneal lenses to selling [application] and removal devices for scleral lenses 40 years later.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: What about the challenges of fitting irregular corneas with corneal GPs back then? Did you do a lot of your own modification of lenses in-office?

A: Mr. Norman: Constantly…We would be modifying lenses in between interactions with patients all day long. Changing power. Modifying the periphery and the edges. It was a routine part of the day, and you’d go home with polish underneath your fingernails.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: We wouldn’t have much luck modifying today’s hyper-Dk materials in the same fashion, would we?

A: Mr. Caroline: Probably not. With the tools we were using—the diamond tools and the velveteen-covered tools we were using at the time—it was pretty archaic. We still do it today. When I need to loosen up a corneal GP lens, it’s always a kick for the residents because they say, “Oh my gosh, I saw YouTube videos of people doing this, and I get to see it live now!” It’s just quite a kick to have the history we have.

Mr. Norman: At that time, the cost for corneal lenses was extremely expensive. In early-1970s’ dollars, it was $250 to $300, or something like that. So, if one damaged a lens or had a chip or a nick going on, you had to be able to try to salvage that lens because it was so expensive for the patient to get it. Plus, you couldn’t necessarily get it quickly. So, especially for the irregular corneas, to keep them in their lenses, you had to perform all kinds of little tricks with fingernail files and other stuff.

Mr. Caroline: I would want to communicate to younger practitioners how incredibly wonderful they have it today. The scleral lenses have been a godsend. To try to take these symmetric corneal GP lenses and put them on these highly asymmetric corneas—it was hell. It was a hard thing to do and make the patient any degree comfortable. So, the evolution of the scleral contact lens—the only thing, I’d look back at the rebirth of scleral lenses, and ask myself, why did it take us so long to discover these? The folks who did need to be given a lot of credit because it’s changed everything we do.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: The materials were the big thing that we were waiting for, right?

A: Mr. Norman: And the manufacturing. The routine process was, when you received an order in from the laboratory, the first thing you did was put it over in the inspection area. And you inspected all the parameters and you’re probably rejecting 20% or 25% of the lenses. And the change to computer numerically controlled lathing equipment changed overnight. It’s like that roomful of radiuscopes that you have at the university you hope somebody at some point will learn how to use.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: We teach everyone how to use it.

A: Mr. Norman: True, but after they take the test and leave...

Dr. Jedlicka: And they forget.

Mr. Norman: …university it becomes a boat anchor to them. I think that part has been incredible because the reproducibility and perfection of today’s lenses is fantastic.

Q: Dr. Jedlicka: What, if anything, do you miss about the way you practiced 30 years ago?

A: Mr. Caroline: I gotta be honest with you. It was such an endeavor to get these patients fitted. I don’t miss that. I hate to say it but, man, today is so much more fun. CLS

CATCH CLS LIVE! Watch this livestream’s full interview—and catch past and future episodes in the series via the online version of Contact Lens Spectrum at clspectrum.com or our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. Additionally, you can subscribe to Contact Lens Spectrum’s YouTube channel (bit.ly/38XCosS ) to view this and other past interviews and to receive notifications for upcoming ones.