contact lens

American  

noun

• contact lenses
  plural

1. one of a pair of small plastic disks that are held in place over the cornea by surface tension and correct vision defects inconspicuously.

---

contact lens British  

noun

1. a thin convex lens, usually of plastic, which floats on the layer of tears in front of the cornea to correct defects of vision

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• contact lenses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of contact lens

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contact lens

The contact lens maker just sprung a surprise no one saw coming.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

We went through four different contact lens and colors, but we wanted the one that would allow people in more.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2024

Those people, along with some athletic types, are catered to by the contact lens market.

From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2024

Collagen is a protein naturally found in the eye that's also often involved in the wound healing process -- however, it's too soft and weak to be a contact lens material.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2024

The inadequately studied procedure was marketed as a cure for the suffering of contact lens wearers.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis