Wichterle

Otto Wichterle (1913–1990) was a Czech chemist who became widely known for pioneering the development of modern soft contact lenses and for advancing polymer chemistry. He is best remembered for inventing hydrogel-based contact lenses in 1961, a breakthrough that made comfortable, wear-and-forget lenses feasible for mass use. The lenses were produced using a spin-casting method that allowed a hydrogel polymer, based on hydroxyethyl methacrylate, to form into precise optical shapes.

Wichterle studied chemistry in Prague and spent most of his career at Czech institutions focused on polymer science. He played a leading role at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry and contributed significantly to the understanding and application of polymers in ophthalmology and medicine. His collaboration with Drahošlav Dvořák led to the practical realization of soft contact lenses, a material and manufacturing approach that differed from the hard lenses then in use.

The invention had a profound impact on vision care and the broader field of polymers. It opened new avenues for medical devices made from hydrogels and stimulated ongoing research into biocompatible polymer systems. Wichterle’s work earned international attention and laid the groundwork for subsequent commercialization of soft contact lenses in the following decades. His legacy endures in both ophthalmology and polymer science, where the hydrogel concept remains central to many contemporary applications.