[5] Founded in 1965 by Gerald D. Stephens, Replacement Lens, Inc. (RLI) was one of the first insurers of contact lenses.

[8] In a Rough Notes magazine article, Stephens said, "At that time, it cost around $200 to replace a pair of lenses, and most of the people who wore them were young and couldn't afford to take that risk.

[4] Over time, the demand for contact lens insurance shrank with the emergence of more affordable disposable soft lenses.

[4] In order to remain competitive, Stephens expanded RLI's offerings to include commercial property and liability insurance.

[5] Craig W. Kliethermes, who had previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer since 2016 and joined the company in 2006, became the CEO on January 1, 2022.