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Invention of the Soft Contact Lens

Czech chemist Otto Wichterle invented the soft contact lens, but preferred to wear glasses

Czech chemist Professor Otto Wichterle, invented the soft contact lens, but always preferred to wear glasses.

His colleague Pavel Kratochvil recalls that at first "Professor Wichterle invented a material without knowing exactly what it would be good for."

Wichterle began by experimenting with making soft contact lenses in his kitchen at home.

Picture: Contact lens, Credit: Thinkstock

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