History of Contact Lenses: The First Disposable Contacts

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.

	1999	1 • DAY ACUVUE® is launched in Malaysia, making it the first daily disposable contact lens in the Malaysia market.

	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.

	2006	1 • DAY ACUVUE® DEFINE™, the first disposable limbal ring contact lens in the world, is launched in Malaysia.