30 years in the contact lens industry

Memories, impressions and opinions

Three decades are a long time – for a magazine, for an industry and also for the people who fill it with life. On the occasion of GlobalCONTACT's 30th birthday, we asked seven well-known personalities in our industry to take a look back and continue some strands of thought for us: on their first encounter with the contact lens industry, significant innovations of the past, challenges of the present and visions for the future. Read their memories, impressions and opinions here.

Edward Bennet

O.D., M.S.Ed., F.A.A.O., F.S.L.S., Executive Director and President, GP Lens Institute, Professor Emeritus University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry

30 years ago I was ... developing video programs for the GP Lens Institute at a time when this was new and innovative. I was also beginning a 22 year labor of love with the Academy of Optometry Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies Section leadership.

I had my first encounter with the contact lens industry... in 1978. I was a beginning 4th year optometry student and had developed a tremendous interest in contact lenses. My optometry program (Indiana University School of Optometry) had just started a contact lens research clinic under the direction of Drs. Irvin Borish and Sarita Soni. I literally talked my way into this rotation which changed my life as I was able to perform clinical investigations on the first soft extended wear, gas permeable, and soft toric lenses. The first study was the D3X4 soft toric which – although it resulted in discomfort, edema, and inconsistent vision – impacted my life significantly in three ways: 1) the funding I received from Wesley-Jessen funded my tuition for the year; 2) I reported to Alan Tomlinson who then became a good friend and my research mentor until he became ill; and 3) one of the subjects was a second year student who I ultimately married. The most significant innovations during this period were in my opinion... without a doubt the introduction of scleral lenses. They allowed for excellent vision and good initial comfort, allowing a significant percentage of irregular cornea patients to avoid surgery while also enhancing the quality of life of those with pathological dry eye. Secondly, we experienced a tremendous increase in our understanding of the importance of myopia management and developed innovative GP and soft lenses to help slow the progression of this condition.

The greatest challenge at the moment is... effective communication to the consumer that contact lenses are health care devices.

In 10 years, the industry will... continue to play an important role in refractive correction. Myopia management will become standard of care, and lenses for drug delivery, as well as smart auto-focus lenses for presbyopia will be available.

If I could wish for one innovation it would be... a way to make corneal lenses more initially comfortable, so that astigmats, presbyopes, children, and those with corneal disease have a truly exceptional initial experience.

Erik Larsen

President Larsen Equipment Design

30 years ago I was... in our tenth year of the founding of Larsen Equipment Design and was just entering the international market.

I had my first encounter with the contact lens industry... in 1973 in a small shop owned by an ophthalmologist which did general machining and made machines to make CL. It would never have been possible without... support and collaboration from our customers.

The greatest challenge at the moment is... global unrest.

In 10 years, the industry will... be dependent on global stability.

If I could wish for one innovation it would be....

peace.

The most significant innovations during this period were in my opinion... CNC CL lathes.

Eef van der Worp

Optometrist PhD, Eye-Contact-Lens Research & Education

30 years ago I was ... a student! But I was actually not at the optometry school in Utrecht in the Netherlands, but in Manchester (UK), doing an externship at Eurolens Research, Department of Optometry and Vision Science UMIST under supervision of Professor Nathan Efron. Magical times! Phil Morgan was there too, doing his PhD. I am pretty sure my enthusiasm for research and education sparked right there and then.

I had my first encounter with the contact lens industry... My first encounter with contact lenses as a wearer of rigid lenses, in the late 1980s: with the contact lens industry as such – about 30 years ago actually. I remember doing another externship for my education at NKL (back then) in Emmen in the Netherlands. And the Director Henk van Bruggen invited me personally for a dinner at a fancy restaurant (at least for a poor student!). We talked about the contact lens industry all night and ate fresh asparagus from the region. I will never forget.

The most significant innovations during this period were in my opinion... Corneal topography really has been quite instrumental. But in the end, it must be the resurgence of scleral lenses: that really had a significant impact on the industry. (See my article in this edition of GlobalCONTACT.) What a great journey, and how beautiful to be part of that ride. I can only feel gratitude being included in that and making so many great friends on the way. It would never have been possible without... enthusiasm. The scleral lens arena is such a fun one, with so many people together working on this. I think, because it has been so much pioneering since the very first days of scleral lens fitting, that it feels like we are in this together: industry, researchers, educators, practitioners, etc. Love that.

The greatest challenge at the moment is... to make the next move. We know so much about the optics side of the eye and aberommetry – now it is time to implement that in practice. This is true for specialty soft lenses too, and myopia management applications: there are so many opportunities, it almost drives me nuts. But practitioners need to embrace it and exploit it.

In 10 years, the industry will... be a much better place as we will be starting to apply big data to our patients’ eyes. Trial sets will be obsolete (in any type of lens probably) by then. Like what we see with corneal rigid lenses in parts of the world and orthokeratology increasingly: you take the topography and create the best possible lens for that individual eye from that. Whether it be a corneal lens, corneal remodeling, scleral or soft specialty lens: that’s the way forward!

If I could wish for one innovation it would be... soft specialty lenses to mature, and to individually design better soft lenses if desired because of shape or optics. I think there is so much to gain here in terms of myopia control, improved comfort, better visual performance and reduction of dropout.

Marion Beeler

Dipl. Ing. (FH) Augenoptik SBAO, Association Manager VMI, EFCLIN Executive Director

30 years ago I was... a contact lens specialist in a renowned contact lens practice in Lucerne, Switzerland.

I had my first encounter with the contact lens industry... in 1980 when I met the specialists from Wöhlk-Contactlinsen and Titmus Eurocon (now Alcon) for the first time.

The most significant innovations during this period were in my opinion... the silicone hydrogels, the more gas-permeable RGP materials, the quadrant-specified RGPs and the restart of Ortho-K. A lot also happened in terms of measurement technology 30 years ago, the first autorefractometers came on the market, measurement of the corneal periphery became a huge topic, fundus photography and other things came up. Socially, the spread of the worldwide-web and mobile phones changed our lives.

It would never have been possible without... all the fantastic innovative women and men in science and research and in the many small contact lens practices and optometry shops where practitioners have tried to develop new devices or techniques for their needs. The dialogue between research, practice and industry has taken the contact lens so far. Here in Europe we have had so many bright minds that I cannot list all the names. We also always looked to the USA and Australia. I still think of a formative meeting with Irving Fatt, the pioneer of gas permeability measurements of contact lens materials, in 1993, when he said "vision is an island in the sea of blindness, and our job is to prevent that island from sinking."

The greatest challenge at the moment is... besides world peace, which seems threatened to me at the moment, climate change and environmental protection. In our industry it is to continue to encourage and support the innovative minds. We still need RGP lenses to provide good care for people with special vision problems. This must not be sacrificed on the altar of making a quick buck with disposable lenses, which of course have their justification and clientele. The market needs both. Another challenge is the heavy regulation of the medical devices market, which includes IOLs, contact lenses and care products as well as spectacle lenses and frames. In addition, under the EU's "Green Deal", certain substances are to be banned from contact lens materials and care products. These demands are challenging the contact lens industry, as it takes 10-15 years to develop and test new materials until they are ready for the market.

In 10 years, the industry... of this sector will continue to stand together and, in healthy competition with each other, bring further top products to the market for the benefit of better vision.

If I could wish for one innovation it would be... the accommodative IOL or contact lens or the breathable lens material.

Robert McGregor

Managing Director Contamac

30 years ago I was… still dreaming of becoming a professional footballer with Manchester United, I remain baffled how Utd’s scouting system missed me!

I had my first encounter with the contact lens industry... when supplying a glass of Whisky to my father in the Garden Shed. (See GlobalCONTACT 2020-3 and 2016-1)

The most significant innovations during this period were in my opinion... the invention and launch of silicone hydrogels, a significant chemistry milestone. It would never have been possible without... exceptional chemists and corporations who understood the benefits this technology can provide to patient health.

The greatest challenge at the moment is... the external environment.

In 10 years, the industry will... remain buoyant whilst embracing many new technologies and innovations to ensure all companies continue to thrive, delivering products that enhance or change people’s lives.

If I could wish for one innovation it would be... environmentally friendly and sustainable unleaded fuel.

Ken Payne

President DAC International

30 years ago I was... building DACInternational’s European business, establishing sales and service for contact and intraocular lens manufacturers throughout West and East Europe and the Middle East.

I had my first encounter with the contact lens industry... in 1984 as an engineer at Hydron (later, Allergan Hydron) based in Farnborough, UK.

The most significant innovations during this period were in my opinion... the introduction of CNC machinery and manufacturing technologies such as ‘fast-tool-servo’ systems for complex (non-axisymmetric) lens geometries and the automation of manufacture of individual/prescription contact lenses. Ortho-K modality advancement and multi- and tri-focal IOL’s.

It would never have been possible without... innovators, technological advancement and incredible peers that saw far beyond their time

The greatest challenge at the moment is... pandemic and conflicts aside, the medical device regulation and continued downward lens price pressures.

In 10 years, the industry will... still be here! Will be subject to increased regulation. More widely automated vision solutions (closed-loop) from practice via manufacturing and back to patient. The awakening of disruptive technologies in vision correction techniques.

If I could wish for one innovation it would be... How to make an inflatable high precision fully automated lens manufacturing process  No, but really – A lab-in-a-box!

Wim Aalbers

30 years ago I was ... 45 years old, executive director of EFCLIN and had just started as publisher of this magazine. Exciting time, in which we revitalized EFCLIN with a great team of enthusiastic board members and developed a magazine that still exists and still is very successful.

I had my first encounter with the contact lens industry... In 1972 I became Benelux area manager for Bausch & Lomb. We introduced the first soft contact lenses in Europe. In 1975 I started my contact lens practices. In the 90’s I started with Procornea in marketing and sales.

The most significant innovations during this period were in my opinion... In Europe that was no doubt the introduction of the CE marking. A lot of struggling and resistance in the beginning, but we ended up with a better industry.

It would never have been possible without... The rules came from Europe. But the efforts of the industry and organizations like EFCLIN and Euromcontact made it workable and improved the quality of the industry. Also monitoring new rules was very helpful.

The greatest challenge at the moment is... to maintain the professionalism of the contact lens practitioners at a high level. In several countries (soft) lenses are sold in drugstores and on the internet without any guidance. Lenses with only an indication of the power on the packaging. No diameter, thickness, curvature, material, geometry. That is dangerous and we see the results around.

In 10 years, the industry will... be partly based on disposables and prices. But we also see a very specialized professionalism. Think of myopia management, scleral lenses etc. Also, lenses as part of medical treatment will get more important, as production techniques will increase even more.

If I could wish for one innovation it would be... 3D printing of lenses and better quality of online communication.