History of the First Disposable Contact Lenses

80's Disposable Contact Lenses

1983		Johnson & Johnson licenses and refines a cast-molding manufacturing technology that permits consistent replication of a polymer-based product.

1987		ACUVUE® Disposable Contact Lenses enter test market in Florida.

1988		ACUVUE® Disposable Contact Lenses are introduced throughout the USA, effectively creating a whole new category of contact lenses which eliminate a complicated cleaning ritual in favor of a lens that can be worn for up to seven days and discarded.

1989		ACUVUE® Disposable Contact Lenses are introduced in Europe.

1990		ACUVUE® Disposable Contact Lenses are introduced in Asia.

1994		1 • DAY ACUVUE® is successfully test marketed in Omaha and Las Vegas.

1997		1 • DAY ACUVUE® is launched in Singapore, making it the first daily disposable contact lens in the Singapore market.

2000		ACUVUE® TORIC™ debuts in Singapore – the first dual, thin zone, two-week replacement toric lens. ACUVUE® TORIC™ features Constant Stabilization Design with an ultra-thin, independent optic zone for outstanding visual acuity. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. passes $1 billion in sales.

2001		New and improved 1 • DAY ACUVUE® is released, which replaces the original one day product.

2003		Vistakon® Announces Program for Teen Eye Health with Professional National Football League (NFL) player Jason Sehorn.

2004		Dr. Ganesh N. Kumar assumes the position of Vice President, New Business & Technology Transfer for the Consumer & Personal Care Group. Dr. Ganesh has made many significant contributions to the business including his role in the development of the ACUVUE® disposable contact lens for which he was co-recipient of the Johnson Medal.

2005		Vistakon® introduces ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ FOR ASTIGMATISM in Singapore, making it the first silicone hydrogel lens with astigmatism correction launched in the Singapore market. 1 • DAY ACUVUE® DEFINE™, the first disposable limbal ring contact lens in the world, is launched in Singapore.