David Boháček Otto Wichterle

Prof. Ing. RTDr. Otto Wichterle, DrSc. He was born on 27 th October 1913 in Prostějov He was a famous world scientist and inventor was particularly known for his discoveries and inventions which lead to improvement worldwide expansion of contact lenses These results were based on his original scientific work in the field of hydrogels. He also discovered synthetic polyamide fiber – silon. He was the youngest child from ten children and did´t have many friends. When he was six years old, he nearly drowned in the pond of slurry. He studied at home and consequently, despite his young age (nine years) came to the State High School.

Otto filed an aplication to the Faculty of Chemical Technology Engineering (ČVUT). And he was admitted to the college. Since 1940, he was employed at a research institute of Bata factory in Zlin, where he led a group dealing with research polyamides. After a series of complications related to secrecy before the German occupiers and then with the problems of post-war industry, the industrial production of polyamides bearing Nylon started for ten years.

Since 1952 he started working on synthesis hydrophilic gel which reacts with water in order to find suitable material for ocular implants. He managed to prepare (HEMA) gel, which absorbs water to 40 percent, it had the appropriate mechanical properties and was transparent. In 1958 professor Wichterle was fired from school. And research of intraocular lenses were discarded.

At Christmas 1961 he drew up with children's metal kits Merkur first prototype of the centrifugal casting equipment powered from a bicycle dynamo. On it he cast a very regular first four lenses to eye irritant. He was an author or coauthor of about 150 patents and over 200 publications, died on 18 August 1998 in the Strážisku v Prostějově. He had two sons - also chemists.