Contact lenses are made from

Contact lenses are primarily made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a transparent thermoplastic [1]. PMMA is widely known by various trade names, including Lucite, Plexiglas, and Perspex. Historically, PMMA was the standard material for 'hard' contact lenses because it served as an eye-friendly, shatter-resistant alternative to glass. While modern advancements have introduced soft hydrogel and silicone hydrogel materials to improve oxygen permeability, PMMA remains a foundational material in the history and production of rigid lenses [2]. In medical applications, Lucite (PMMA) is valued for its optical clarity and biocompatibility, making it suitable for replacing eye lenses and creating durable contact lenses. Other options like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, and Teflon (PTFE) are industrial polymers used for pipes, packaging, or non-stick coatings rather than corrective optical lenses.

Sources

1. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6356913/
2. [2] https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/13791/1/Koller,%20%20A.W..pdf