Each morning, over 120 million people wake up, open the uniquely shaped container that stores their contact lenses and begin to see their part of the world a bit clearer. Ciba Vision, a Gwinnett-headquartered company, has locations in 30 countries from which they can ship their lenses around the globe. If you wear contacts, the plastic lenses you need to read this article might have been created in Duluth. if you don't wear contacts, Ciba Vision is helping people that can't see, see you... and that's why you should care.
Different kinds of lenses have been used for centuries to correct eye vision. Leonardo da Vinci drew sketches of contact lenses as early as 1508 but the first real contact lenses were made in 1888 by Swiss physician A. Eugen Fick and Parisian optic Edouard Kalt, each on their own. The honor is usually attributed to Fick, who first created molds of rabbit eyes and later manufactured lenses for himself. According to historical records, these first lenses were extremely uncomfortable and he was able to use them for only two hours... sort of like 3D glasses today.
As techniques developed, the lenses became better fitting. However, the material used was still glass, which deprived the eye of oxygen and increased the risk of infections.
As the years rolled on, comedic writers waited in anticipation until they could one day invent the "I lost a contact" prank. You know, the joke where you get all your co-workers to crawl around on all fours looking for a contact you didn't really loose? Anyway, after some early innovations with a new material called "plastic," Ciba Vision decided they would take it from there. In the 1980s alone, they created the first visibility tinted soft contact, the first FDA-approved soft bifocal contact lens, a soft contact; that enhances eye color; and AOSept, a Hydrogen peroxide-based disinfecting solution. Through innovation, strategic acquisition and an ability to quickly meet market developments and emerging technologies, Ciba Vision has grown from a start-up company in 1980, to a mega-corporation that sold more than 1.9 billion lenses in 2009 to address the eye care needs of patients across the world.
Ciba-Vision employs over 5,900 employees, that's roughly 11,800 eyeballs.
"Our products not only improve patients' vision, they also enhance self-esteem, appearance and well-being, and ultimately make their lives better by allowing for freedom of vision and superior comfort to match today's active lifestyles and demands." – Eric Miller, vice president of communications at Ciba Vision.
Back in the 80s and early 90s, the cosmetic attribute of contacts was simply that you didn't have to wear eyeglasses. Remember how huge frames could get back then? Today, glasses are much cooler, but they can't change your eye color can they? With "3-in-1" color technology, the first daily disposable color contact in the U.S. came from Ciba Vision. If you want to waste some time at the office one day, or if you are genuinely interested in what you might look like with baby blue eyes, you should check out freshlookcolorstudio.com. Ciba Vision created this site so that customers could upload their photo and with a few easy clicks they can see what they would look like with different eye colors. "Now, if I can only find a pair of eyes to match these shoes?"
"For the future, Ciba Vision continues its focus on better vision and comfort by advancing lenses that are highly breathable. We will continue to improve both the flow of oxygen and moisture to the eye, so that eyes are replenished as the contacts are worn," says Eric Miller, VP communications.
