The first contact lenses were invented around the turn of the century in Germany. The lenses were made of glass and covered the entire eye. In the 1950s, hard plastic contact lenses, like the ones above, were created. The lenses fit over the corneas, and while they were an improvement over the glass lenses, they were still uncomfortable, expensive, and difficult to care for. The main problem with the contacts of the 1950s was that the plastic did not allow enough oxygen to penetrate the eye. The lack of adequate oxygen resulted in redness, swelling, and blurred vision. It was not until the 1970s that the soft lenses of today became available.