COMPANY PROFILE
Menicon: marking 70 years of contact lens innovation May 2021 will be a very special month for Menicon as it will mark the 70th anniversary of the formation of Menicon in Japan...
To mark its special anniversary, the company will unveil a beautiful photobook celebrating its history, heritage and many achievements across the world. The images are still under wraps, but Vision Now has been given a sneak preview of this fascinating pictorial journey through the decades...
1960s: Menicon becomes a registered trademark. Kyoichi continues to strive for perfection as he researches and tests different materials to improve the wearer’s experience (Figure 3).
1970s: Menicon Soft, with its excellent comfort and oxygen permeability, launches. Menicon is also granted the patent for the world’s first silicone hydrogel contact lens material.
1980s: The company launches an oxygen permeable rigid lens, Menicon O, creating a new field of contact lenses.
1990s: Menicon Z is launched – the world’s first hyper Dk material.
2000s: Rose K lenses, heralded as “a Figure 1. Founder Kyoichi Tanaka is introduced to contact lenses by a military wife
1950s: Menicon’s founder, Kyoichi Tanaka, was first introduced to contact lenses by the wife of an Allied Occupation Forces commander (Figure 1). He immediately set out to make his own and in February 1951, just three months later, the 21-year-old successfully produced his first corneal contact lenses (Figure 2). The lens was called the MT – after ophthalmologist Dr Yutaka Mizutani and Tanaka. Dr Mizutani provided great support to the chairman in developing the corneal contact lens.
quantum leap forward in the evolution of lens design”, join the Menicon family of contact lenses and become the world’s most frequently prescribed gas permeable lens for keratoconus. Marking 50 years of contact lens innovations, Menicon’s mission for the next 50 years is set out: “We are responsible for making the eyes of all people shine”.
2010s: Menicon UK Ltd is formed from the acquisition of David Thomas Ltd. Miru 1day Flat Pack is introduced to the market. This novel, flat pack daily disposable lens not only reduces the amount of material used in their production, it reduces waste helping to achieve Menicon’s Sustainable Development Goals. Menicon Bloom Night obtains CE mark approval.
Figure 3. The chairman undertakes a fitting check
Neil Retallic, European professional services director: “Since joining Menicon, I have been amazed at the incredibly diverse range of contact lenses and care products pioneered by the R&D teams. The way consumer feedback and insights are used to create high quality consumer-driven products, utilising innovations such as Smart Touch technology, is a great example of Menicon craftsmanship, offering far more than just a visual solution. “To pick a favourite is difficult. My choice would be the Flat Pack products, as I love the triple combo of eco-friendly packaging, high lens comfort and the unique – and really clever – Smart Fit concept in our toric
2020s: The company celebrates 70 years of innovative contact lens technology that prioritises eye health and vision. Figure 4 shows chairman Tanaka today.
CONTACT LENS HEROES Figure 2. MT, the first corneal contact lens in Japan, launched commercially in 1953
Some of the Menicon team share their favourite contact lens products, materials and packaging...
Figure 4. Chairman Kyoichi Tanaka today Vision Now APRIL 2021
23
