From Molten Plastic to Perfect Vision: The Journey of Contact Lenses
Everyone knows Leonardo Di Vinci for his incredible paintings, such as the Mona Lisa or The Last Supper, but do you know he also conceptualized contact lenses?
In 1508, Di Vinci described the idea of manipulating the cornea’s power by submerging someone’s head in a bowl of water in his written works. While this wasn’t necessarily a means of vision correction, he was one of the first people to investigate the eye’s functionality. Nearly 350 years later, multiple theories by inventors came to life, and slowly but surely after advances in lens manufacturing, there was a launch of FDA-approved soft lenses in 1971.
How are soft contact lenses made?
Soft lenses begin with hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, as they’re both very breathable materials, and they go through a rigorous molding process to be the small, flexible discs that many use today.
One method is dispensing the liquid plastic into molds, which are spun thoroughly until it reaches the intended shape. The other method is called lathe-cutting, which is when the lenses are carved into a specific form using computer-controlled tools. Both methods lead to polishing so that the surface of the lenses is smooth and comfortable, and they are then immersed in a sterile solution to hydrate and reach their desired moisture content. Afterward, all lenses go through rigorous testing for quality inspection purposes. When all is completed, they are packaged in cases and a few drops of saline solution, ready to be worn.
High-precision and complex machinery, including molding machines, material application equipment, curing ovens, inspection systems, and packaging machines, are what make this process happen. When something becomes faulty, it can severely impact production lines. Industrial Repair Service works with a variety of contact lens companies and offers the best mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic repairs to keep your production lines running smoothly. We provide rapid turnaround, so there’s little downtime, and we offer preventative maintenance to optimize efficiency.
For reliable and efficient contact lens manufacturing machinery repair, choose Industrial Repair Service. Call us today!