Dr. Leonard Seidner

Leonard Seidner, OD died at the age of 96 at home in San Antonio on November 8, 2022. He practiced optometry for 50 years after graduating from Columbia University. He was one of the earliest and most experienced fitters of contact lenses leading other doctors to refer their most demanding patients to him. But his real passion was the contact lenses themselves, which he always felt could be made more comfortable and more visually satisfying. With his brother, Joseph, and his longtime associate, Anthony Leone, he constructed a contact lens lab in his office, continually inventing and refining the machinery at a time when only large corporations did anything of the sort. His greatest achievement was his collaboration with a chemist, Norman Gaylord, as they achieved, after decades of setbacks, a gas permeable contact lens material only he believed was possible. A material that could be manufactured to have the comfort of a soft (hydrophilic) lens with the visual acuity of a hard (PMMA) lens. For this achievement, the industry would refer to him as “the father of the gas permeable lens.” This gave birth to a worldwide industry of gas permeable material (“button”) manufacturers, labs to lathe the material into contact lenses, and college courses and professional organizations, such as the CLMA and GPLI, to instruct practitioners in utilizing the new modes made possible. The development of specialty lenses using gas permeable material became the focus of the rest of his life. His particular passion became the perfect bifocal contact lens and he would abandon one successful iteration after another in his quest to eliminate any perceived imperfection. Others in the field seized on the new material to manufacture toric lenses to address astigmatism, myopia control to ameliorate nearsightedness in children, and large diameter scleral lenses, to address dry eye and complications after Lasik. The professional achievement he valued most highly was the testimonials from patients who credited him with giving them the ability to see clearly again.

While Dr. Seidner achieved worldwide recognition and financial success that he never would have believed possible for “Lenny from the Bronx,” that pales next to the inspiration and memories he leaves behind. He had unforgettable shining eyes, an infectious smile, a sly sense of humor, unparalleled generosity and a determination to see everyone around him be successful and secure. He was warm affectionate, and constantly affirming his love for his family. He leaves behind his wife, Phyllis Davis. His three children, Dr. Steven Seidner, Thomas Seidner, and Cynthia Ellis and their spouses Laura Beizer, Martin Riehm, and Justin Eliis. Their children, Rachel and Sam Seidner, Kylee and Jesse Riehm, and grandchildren Saralynn, Payden, Kemper, and Zoe Riehm. His brother, Joseph Seidner and his children, Michael Seidner, Sabrina Seidner, and Heidi Gray. Also his unparalleled caregivers, hundreds of grateful employees over the years, struggling firms he extended credit to, and countless friends and acquaintances.

Funeral Services will be at 12noon on Friday, November 11 at Beth- El Memorial Park located at 1715 Austin Highway.