First Author: S.Scholtz GERMANY
Co Author(s): G. Auffarth
Purpose:
Prof. Otto Wichterle was one of the most important pioneers of modern soft contact lens industry; his work has made a significant impact on the ophthalmic world. 50 years ago, in 1961, Otto Wichterle produced the first soft contact lenses. Due to his work, nowadays millions of people around the world enjoy comfortable vision correction with soft contact lenses. This poster honours Wichterle´s scientific achievements.
Setting:
: International Vision Correction Research Centre (IVCRC),
Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Methods:
This poster is based on an intensive literature research of current and historic literature via PubMed, Google Scholar and Google in order to document the life and to evaluate the scientific impact of Otto Wichterle´s work.
Results:
This poster gives an overview of life and the impact on ophthalmology by the Czechoslovakian chemist Prof. Otto Wichterle born in 1913. The most important steps in the development of soft contact lenses will be shown and the impact on the visual correction of millions of people with refractive errors will be discussed. Today contact lenses gain more and more importance again when the visual function needs to be improved while suffering from complications after refractive surgery.
Conclusions:
Prof. Otto Wichterle was an outstanding man of honor and a remarkable scientist. His vision of life without glasses became reality by his tenacity and exceptional commitment to science, even under adverse conditions for which he was not responsible. Due to his attainment of creating soft, hydrophilic contact lenses, millions of people suffering from refractive errors have been able to achieve natural vision again. From Prague around the world - in only 50 years Otto Wichterle’s invention conquered the globe!
Financial Disclosure:
No
