August Müller
Encyclopedia
August Müller born in Mönchengladbach
, was a medical student at the University of Kiel
, Germany
, and a pioneer in the manufacture of contact lens
es. In 1889, he presented at the university his doctoral thesis titled Eyeglasses and corneal lenses in which he described his efforts to grind scleral lens
es from blown glass. Refinements in his process led him to be able to correct his own severe -14 dioptre
myopia
to within 0.50 D
.
Müller's compatriot Adolf Fick
had published his work on contact lenses earlier in 1887, but his lenses were heavy and could only be worn for short periods. Müller's lenses were lighter and shaped to match the curved contour of the cornea
. He suggested that the lens would remain in place on the cornea due to capillary action
lubricated by the tear film.
Müller called his development Hornhautlinsen or 'corneal lenses'. His efforts to develop a new corrective lens
were ultimately unsuccessful, since a patient could only tolerate the lens bearing down heavily on the sclera
for half an hour, less than those of Fick. Moreover, it had to be inserted underwater to prevent trapping air bubbles, and cocaine
administered to anaesthetise
the eye, but he did however lay the groundwork for later researchers and his ideas and recommendations on fit, tear
flow and rounded edges still form the basis for contact lens fitting today.
In 1932, Müller donated three lenses to the German Museum
in Munich
. These were the same lenses that he had discussed in his thesis.
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach , formerly known as Münchengladbach, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located west of the Rhine half way between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border....
, was a medical student at the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and a pioneer in the manufacture of contact lens
Contact lens
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United...
es. In 1889, he presented at the university his doctoral thesis titled Eyeglasses and corneal lenses in which he described his efforts to grind scleral lens
Scleral lens
A scleral lens is a large lens that rests on the Sclera and creates a Tear-filled vault over the Cornea. Scleral lenses are designed to treat a variety of eye conditions, many of which do not respond to other forms of treatment.- Design :...
es from blown glass. Refinements in his process led him to be able to correct his own severe -14 dioptre
Dioptre
A dioptre, or diopter, is a unit of measurement of the optical power of a lens or curved mirror, which is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length measured in metres . It is thus a unit of reciprocal length. For example, a 3-dioptre lens brings parallel rays of light to focus at metre...
myopia
Myopia
Myopia , "shortsightedness" ) is a refractive defect of the eye in which collimated light produces image focus in front of the retina under conditions of accommodation. In simpler terms, myopia is a condition of the eye where the light that comes in does not directly focus on the retina but in...
to within 0.50 D
Dioptre
A dioptre, or diopter, is a unit of measurement of the optical power of a lens or curved mirror, which is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length measured in metres . It is thus a unit of reciprocal length. For example, a 3-dioptre lens brings parallel rays of light to focus at metre...
.
Müller's compatriot Adolf Fick
Adolf Eugen Fick
Adolf Eugen Fick was a German physiologist. He started to study mathematics and physics, but then realized he was more interested in medicine. He earned his doctorate in medicine at Marburg in 1851...
had published his work on contact lenses earlier in 1887, but his lenses were heavy and could only be worn for short periods. Müller's lenses were lighter and shaped to match the curved contour of the cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
. He suggested that the lens would remain in place on the cornea due to capillary action
Capillary action
Capillary action, or capilarity, is the ability of a liquid to flow against gravity where liquid spontanously rise in a narrow space such as between the hair of a paint-brush, in a thin tube, or in porous material such as paper or in some non-porous material such as liquified carbon fiber, or in a...
lubricated by the tear film.
Müller called his development Hornhautlinsen or 'corneal lenses'. His efforts to develop a new corrective lens
Corrective lens
A corrective lens is a lens worn in front of the eye, mainly used to treat myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Glasses or "spectacles" are worn on the face a short distance in front of the eye. Contact lenses are worn directly on the surface of the eye...
were ultimately unsuccessful, since a patient could only tolerate the lens bearing down heavily on the sclera
Sclera
The sclera , also known as the white or white of the eye, is the opaque , fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye containing collagen and elastic fiber. In the development of the embryo, the sclera is derived from the neural crest...
for half an hour, less than those of Fick. Moreover, it had to be inserted underwater to prevent trapping air bubbles, and cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
administered to anaesthetise
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
the eye, but he did however lay the groundwork for later researchers and his ideas and recommendations on fit, tear
Tears
Tears are secretions that clean and lubricate the eyes. Lacrimation or lachrymation is the production or shedding of tears....
flow and rounded edges still form the basis for contact lens fitting today.
In 1932, Müller donated three lenses to the German Museum
Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany, is the world's largest museum of technology and science, with approximately 1.5 million visitors per year and about 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 fields of science and technology. The museum was founded on June 28, 1903, at a meeting of the Association...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. These were the same lenses that he had discussed in his thesis.
Further reading
- Heitz RF. The invention of contact lenses by August Muller (1887-1889). CLAO J. 1984 Jan-Mar;10(1):88-95. PMID 6368043
- Müller's 3 lenses at the Deutsches Museum URL accessed 10 March 2006
- Image of Müller at Biblioteca Argentina de Oftalmología URL accessed 10 March 2006