Drahoslav Lím
Encyclopedia
Drahoslav Lím was a Czech chemist
. He invented polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate
, the synthetic material used for contact lenses (hydrogel).
Lím worked as a member of the team of Otto Wichterle
(the inventor of soft contact lenses) and in 1955, he came up with poly(hydroethyl-acrylate), the material later used for the lenses. This work was later published in Nature and was the subject of US patents. During 1970 to 1974 he worked in Palo Alto, California
, improving contact lenses materials and technology. When he returned to Czechoslovakia
he was persecuted for political reasons and was not allowed to work in his specialisation. In 1979, he was allowed to emigrate to the United States. There Lím worked on materials for artificial kidney
s and continued with research on polymer
s. He was both a professor at the University of California, San Diego and the de facto founder of the Revlon Materials Research Center. At the latter he led a team of scientists who researched tinting technologies for hydrogel contact lenses, materials for intraoccular lenses, and formulations for nail enamel. He was awarded over 150 patents.
Although the academic community recognises the importance of his inventions, the Czech public almost never hears his name.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
. He invented polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate
Polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate
Poly is a polymer that forms a hydrogel in water. It was invented by Drahoslav Lim for use in soft contact lenses. Copolymers of pHEMA are still widely used today....
, the synthetic material used for contact lenses (hydrogel).
Lím worked as a member of the team of Otto Wichterle
Otto Wichterle
Otto Wichterle was a Czech chemist, best known for his invention of modern soft contact lenses.-Biography:His father Karel was co-owner of a successful farm-machine factory and small car plant but Otto chose science for his career...
(the inventor of soft contact lenses) and in 1955, he came up with poly(hydroethyl-acrylate), the material later used for the lenses. This work was later published in Nature and was the subject of US patents. During 1970 to 1974 he worked in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, improving contact lenses materials and technology. When he returned to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
he was persecuted for political reasons and was not allowed to work in his specialisation. In 1979, he was allowed to emigrate to the United States. There Lím worked on materials for artificial kidney
Artificial kidney
Artificial kidney is often a synonym for hemodialysis, but may also, more generally, refer to renal replacement therapies that are in use and/or in development...
s and continued with research on polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
s. He was both a professor at the University of California, San Diego and the de facto founder of the Revlon Materials Research Center. At the latter he led a team of scientists who researched tinting technologies for hydrogel contact lenses, materials for intraoccular lenses, and formulations for nail enamel. He was awarded over 150 patents.
Although the academic community recognises the importance of his inventions, the Czech public almost never hears his name.