Eye impressions (four), used in the manufacture of scleral contact lenses 1935-1950, USA

Made of plaster these four eye impressions were used in the manufacture of scleral contact lenses. Contact lenses are now made of soft malleable silicone. However, they were made of glass in the 1930s. This was when contact lens technology was in its infancy. Scleral contact lenses were much larger than today’s contact lenses. They covered almost the entire surface of the eye rather than just the pupil and could only be worn for short periods of time. The first contact lens centre in England was established in 1937 at 18 Cavendish Square, London.