The History of ACUVUE® AND CONTACT LENSES

Contact lens technology has come a long way since Leonardo da Vinci first imagined the concept, way back in 1508. Having introduced the first mass-marketed disposable contact lens in 1987, ACUVUE® is proud to have been at the forefront of contact lens research and development.

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1508

Leonardo da Vinci illustrates the concept of contact lenses.

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1823

British astronomer Sir John Herschel conceptualises practical lens design.

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Late 1880s

The first glass contact lenses, designed to cover the whole eye, were developed. They were crude and uncomfortable to wear.

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1930s

More eye-friendly Plexiglas (1930) then Rigid Plastic (1936) contact lenses superseded glass. These too were uncomfortable and blocked the flow of oxygen to the eyes.

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Late 1960s

The first major breakthrough in contact lens technology occurred with the invention of hydrogel for soft lenses

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1987

ACUVUE® introduces the first mass-marketed disposable contact lenses.

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1993

ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses become the No. 1 prescribed contact lenses in the world.

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1995

ACUVUE® introduces the world’s first daily disposable contact lenses.

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1997

UV (ultraviolet) blocking added to all ACUVUE® disposable contact lenses as standard*

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1998

ACUVUE® introduces its first BIFOCAL lens for presbyopia (an age-related condition that makes it harder to focus on objects up close).

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2004

ACUVUE® establishes The Vision Care Institute® for Eye Care Professional and optometry students. Today, known as the Johnson & Johnson Institute, there are 26 centres on four continents hosting more than 125,000 health care professionals globally each year.

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2005

Launch of ACUVUE OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology. Later that year, ACUVUE® introduce Accelerated Stabilisation (EYELID STABILISED) Design to make lenses especially tailored for people with astigmatism.

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2006

Launch of 1‐DAY ACUVUE® MOIST Brand Contact Lenses with LACREON® technology to permanently embed water-holding ingredients into the lenses, ideal for sensitive eyes

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2008

Launch of the world’s first silicone hydrogel daily disposable lens with 1‐DAY ACUVUE® TruEye® Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Technology.

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2014

1-DAY ACUVUE® DEFINE® Brand Contact lenses with their BEAUTY WRAPPED IN COMFORT™ are launched in Europe after a decade of success in South East Asia

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2015

Launch of 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST MULTIFOCAL, an innovative lens design for presbyopia.

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2016

ACUVUE® OASYS 1-DAY with HYDRALUXE™ technology contact lenses are launched across EMEA. For clearer, brighter and sharper vision^{1 2 *}

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2019

ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ launches, the FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND contact lens built with TRANSITIONS™ LIGHT INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY™,3 .

*Enhanced optical design compared to our other lenses.

1. JJV Data on File 2017. VA and CSF with ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day, Preference results with ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day.

2. JJV Data on File 2016. Clinical Performance of ACUVUE® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses 1-Day with HydraLuxe® Technology in Two Clinical Trials.

3. JJV Data on File 2018. Definition of ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions Light Intelligent Technology