Which company was the first to market soft contact lenses in the United States?

The first company to market soft contact lenses in the United States was Bausch and Lomb. This milestone occurred in 1971 when they introduced the first commercially available soft contact lens, referred to as the "SofLens." The innovation was significant because soft contact lenses were made from a flexible hydrogel material that allowed for greater comfort and ease of wear compared to hard lenses that were previously on the market. This development opened up new possibilities for individuals requiring vision correction and made contact lenses a more appealing option for consumers.

Bausch and Lomb's pioneering effort not only helped to establish the viability of soft lenses but also spurred further advancements and innovations in contact lens technology, ultimately leading to the wide variety of soft lenses available today. Understanding the historical context of soft contact lenses is important for appreciating how advancements in material science have improved the comfort and performance of lenses over the past decades.