Otto Wichterle
Czech chemist
Died when: 84 years 295 days (1017 months)Star Sign: Scorpio
Otto Wichterle (Czech pronunciation: ['oto 'v?xtr?l?]; 27 October 1913 – 18 August 1998) was a Czech chemist, best known for his invention of modern soft contact lenses.
Wichterle is the author or co-author of approximately 180 patents and over 200 publications.The studies and independent books covered various aspects of organic, inorganic and macromolecular chemistry, polymer science and biomedical materials.
He had an even higher number of patents out for organic synthesis, polymerization, fibres, the synthesis and shaping of biomedical materials, production methods and measuring devices related to biomedical products.
This was typical of his attitude to scientific research which, he considered, ought to serve society and its requirements by any means possible, without distinction as to "pure" and "applied" science.
