List of Contact Lens Manufacturers

Contact lenses have changed the lives of millions of vision-impaired people. They provide people with options and flexibility that are not available with glasses. The manufacturers of contact lenses continue to create new customized versions that make living with less-than-perfect vision easier. Whether you want contacts you can replace daily or need specialty lenses, a manufacturer makes what the right style of contacts for you.

Bausch and Lomb

• Bausch and Lomb is one of oldest American companies still operating. The company began in 1853 in Rochester, New York. Starting out as a small optical shop, Bausch and Lomb now employs nearly 11,000 employees with products in over 100 countries. Bausch and Lomb produces five contact lens brands: PureVision, SofLens, Optima, SilSoft and Boston. These brands range from silicone hydrogel lenses to deposit-resitant contacts. They cater to most types of vision correction, such as astigmatism and bifocals. There is even a brand designed for children and adults who have had cataract surgery (SilSoft).

CIBA Vision

• CIBA Vision is the eye care unit of Novartis AG and, therefore, has the backing and resources of one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. It was established in 1980 and now sells over 1.9 billion lenses a year. CIBA Vision manufactures three brands: Air Optix, Dailies and FreshLook. Air Optix focuses on maintaining moisture in the eye as well as resisting deposits. The CIBA Vision Dailies brand offers a daily disposable contact lens for standard eye correction, bi-focals or an astigmatism. The FreshLook brand is a line of color contact lenses.

CooperVision

• CooperVision is a division of CooperCompanies. In 2004 CooperVision acquired Ocular Sciences Inc., the manufacturer of the Biomedic contact lens series. CooperVision is the largest manufacturer of contact lenses for patients with astigmatisms. Along with the Biomedic line, they offer four families of lenses: Avaira, Biofinity, ClearSight and Proclear. Between these families, contact lenses cater to providing moisture and oxygen for the eye as well as lenses for those who need astigmatism or spherical correction.

Johnson and Johnson

• Starting in Buffalo, New York, in the 1950s, Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc. has grown over the years. They entered the contact lens business in 1981 with the purchase of Frontier Contact Lenses and are now known for their line of Acuvue contact lenses, such as Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue Advance. The Acuvue Soft Disposable Contact Lenses were the world's first disposable soft contact lens. They have also created contacts for astigmatism as well as bifocal lenses. The Acuvue brand offers 13 contact lens varieties.

Wesley Jessen

• Wesley Jessen VisionCare, Inc. is a manufacturer of soft contact lenses. They were acquired in 2001 by CIBA Vision and now produce their contact lines in conjunction with CIBA Vision. Wesley Jessen produces Precision UV contact lens as well as the Softmate line. Precision UV contacts block up to 90 percent of harmful UV radiation. Wesley Jessen also manufactures FreshLook Colors and ColorBlends for those interested in changing their eye color and FreshLook ColorBlends Toric for those with an astigmatism.