隐形眼镜是一种直接附在角膜表面泪液层上的镜片，可以矫正视力、减缓近视眼进一步发展。

把镜片直接戴在眼球的想法，早在1508年被达文西提出，1636年笛卡尔（René Descartes）亦有相近的建议。1887年，德国科学家Adolf Eugen Fick成功制造出第一只玻璃隐形眼镜，但由于其透氧率过低，易引发角膜炎等眼睛疾病。1938年，Mullen和Obring使用PMMA为材料，制造出第一副全塑胶隐形眼镜，1940年位于美国纽约的Obrig以压克力系的*********s发展全塑胶隐形眼镜。1961年捷克化学家Otto Wichterle发明软性隐形眼镜。1970年推出透气性硬性隐形眼镜（RGP），直径小（9mm左右），又是高透氧材料，是隐形眼镜喜好者理想的选择。2004年，已有超过一亿二千万的人口使用隐形眼镜。而随着具备妆容功能的隐形眼镜被发明，使用人数不断提升。

A contact lens, or simply contact or CL, is a thin lens placed directly on the surface of the eye. CLs are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, or for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people (2%) use CLs worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United States. In 2010, worldwide CL-market was estimated at $6.1 billion, while the U.S. soft lens market was estimated at $2.1 billion. Multiple scientists estimated that the global market would reach $11.7 billion by 2015. As of 2010, the average age of CL wearers globally was 31 years old, and two thirds of wearers were female.