We are quite sure that you have been asking the same question: just what, exactly, are contact lenses made of? These tiny pieces of what seems to be clear and elastic material have helped millions of people break free from the limitations their eyeglasses imposed on them—allowing these visually-impaired people to see things in a whole new light, literally and figuratively.
Contact lenses are often made from a special transparent polymer, which is cut and shaped by computers. With the production of contact lenses, the slightest miscalculation will spell ruin for the products. Precision is highly valued in manufacturing these medical devices, and that is why computers are built and programmed to deliver the same perfect results every time. Poorly manufactured contact lenses will not only cause blurry vision and discomfort to the user, but it can also pose serious danger to the eyes of the user.
The special polymer used to manufacture contact lenses is very much permeable to moisture—which is an important and unique feature of this material. The material will need to soak fluids to remain soft and comfortable for actual use. The solutions and fluids used in the care of contact lenses are also specially formulated to trick the user’s eye into thinking that the polymer “button” on the surface of the eye is not a harmful foreign object. When confronted with foreign objects, our eyes’ natural instinct is to tear up and expel the intruder—but contact lenses are designed just so our eyes will think they are just tears.
There are also plenty of modern materials used in the production of contact lenses, all of them designed to heighten the user’s comfort in using them on a regular basis. Many materials now offer improved moisture retention and oxygen permeation for maximum comfort.