For your consideration is this pair of original, Dr. A.N. Berger hard corrective scleral contact lenses made for Mr. Robert Hazel in 1947. Commercial production of hard contact lenses made from ground glass began in the early 1900s. Scleral lenses are named for the fact that they cover the entire eye, including the white area. Kenneth Dunscombe, a British practitioner, created the first contact lens in 1932. He'd traveled to Germany to study the technique from Zeiss. In 1936, Theodore Obrig in the United States created plastic lenses made of acrylic resin. In 1937, his compatriot William Feinbloom created a lens with a glass cornea and a plastic sclera. Plastics were simply not clear enough to look through at this point, but they were materials that allowed for greater control over the manufacturing process. They would eventually win out because they are safer for patients to wear, with a lower danger of infection or breaking. This pair came from Dr. A.N. Berger's Optometrist Practive in Clevland, Ohio and was made for a Mr. Robert Hazel on April 10th, 1947. They come in their original leather and felt lined case and feature the original suction stick to assist in putting in and removing the contacts. The interior features a small card with the doctor's name, the patients name, the location and the date. The rubber suction cup has since hardened and is slightly crumbly. Overall the lenses and case show good condition overall with slight wear present from their age but no major signs of damage noted. The case measures 1 3/4" L x 3 1/4" W x 3/4" H and weighs 48.7 grams. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. MS207