Abstract: A case for disinfecting, cleaning or storing contact lenses is described that provides a venting system for discharging gas therefrom without significant liquid discharge. The case includes a cap securable to a container, having an inner surface including a hollow pedestal with its open distal end extending into the container. The end of the pedestal adjacent the inner cap surface encompasses an aperture through said cap for venting and discharging of gas to the environment. A gas and liquid impermeable gasket fits inside the hollow end of the pedestal adjacent the aperture area, permitting venting of gas but not liquid through the adjacent aperture. A support for holding and positioning contact lenses in the container includes a post that is fitted into the distal end of the hollow pedestal, wherein the pedestal and post are provided with a channel therethrough to permit gas to escape from the container through the gasket and adjacent aperture.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surfaces of the polymeric objects by adding a polymerizable surfactant to the monomer mix used to form the object. Also disclosed are surface-modified objects prepared by this method, which is particularly suited for modifying the surfaces of contact lenses.

Abstract: Contact lenses are cleaned by contacting the lenses with a composition containing an effective amount of one or more cyclodextrins. The compositions can also be employed at elevated temperatures or may contain suitable antimicrobial agents in order to simultaneously clean and disinfect the lenses.

Abstract: A composition and method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses is taught wherein the lenses are contacted with a composition including solid PVP-H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and a solid neutralizing component for neutralizing residual H.sub.2 O.sub.2. The composition may also include a preserved saline solution in which the composition components are contacted with the lenses substantially simultaneously. The neutralizer component may be a metal catalyst, a chemical salt or an enzyme. The effect of the neutralizer component may be delayed until after disinfecting is complete.

Abstract: Improved methods of modifying target surfaces through ablation are disclosed resulting in a reduction of debris redeposition on the target surface.

Abstract: Polymeric materials comprising novel wetting agents such as 2-isopropenyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolin-5-one, 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolin-5-one, and the like.

Abstract: Improved silicone-containing hydrogels are disclosed with enhanced wettability comprising a silicone-containing monomer, hydrophilic monomers, and a relatively non-polar ring-containing monomer able to be converted to a highly polar amino acid upon hydration.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatic, intermittent feed of workpieces into a lathe. The apparatus includes a collet having a side entry for receiving workpieces and a workpiece positioning aperture, in alignment with the lathe spindle, for finally positioning the workpieces for machining. The collet further includes dowel pins that initially position the workpiece and a plunger that reciprocates intermittently to advance and press the individual workpieces into the positioning aperture. The apparatus includes a delivery chute for intermittently dropping the individual workpieces into the collet assembly side access for initial positioning. A control system positions the collet assembly to receive the workpiece, releases the workpiece from the delivery chute, actuates the plunger to press the workpiece into final position for machining, actuates machining, and, at its completion, actuates the plunger to withdraw the workpiece whereupon it drops from the machine by gravity.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid esters devoid of beta hydrogens are homopolymerized or copolymerized with contact lens organic materials to form desirable contact lens materials and contact lenses. These materials have good contact lens properties, including desirable DK values, hardness, machineability and a desirable refractive index of at least 1.

Abstract: Siloxane macromonomers are disclosed which can be copolymerized with hydrophilic monomers or hydrophobic monomers to prepare polymeric materials useful as biomedical devices. The copolymers made from hydrophilic monomers exhibit good oxygen permeability and are particularly suitable for use in contact lenses.

Abstract: Improved methods for modifying target surfaces through ablation which result in a reduction of ablation debris redeposition on the target surface are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel class of compounds are disclosed which may be used as novel crosslinking agents for acrylic-containing, vinyl-containing and/or styrene-containing hydrophilic monomers to prepare novel UV-curable hydrophilic copolymers suitable for use as biomedical articles, especially contact lenses.

Abstract: Copolymers useful as a contact lens material are prepared from a mixture comprising:(a) an N,N-dialkyl(meth)acrylamide monomer; and(b) a monomer represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is methyl or hydrogen;R.sup.2 is --O-- or --NH--;R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --, --CHOH-- and --CHR.sup.6 --;R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently a branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkyl group; andn is an integer of at least 1, and m and p are independently 0 or an integer of at least 1, provided that the sum of m, p and n is 2, 3, 4 or 5.

Abstract: A method for inducing cylinder power into an optical surface which comprises the steps of providing a corneal surface to an apparatus capable of indexing the position of said target to the beam path of a laser capable of photoablating the material of said target, passing said corneal surface through the domain of said laser along at least one axis and controlling the product of the intensity of said laser with time in order to control the amount of ablation of said corneal surface along at least one axis of said corneal surface.

Abstract: When molding shaped articles such as contact lenses from monomeric mixtures containing silicone monomers and hydrophilic monomers, the wettability of the resulting article is improved by using a mold material produced from a resin comprising a copolymer of an alpha, beta, olefinically unsaturated mononitrile and at least one comonomer to enhance melt processability.

Abstract: A mold assembly includes first and second mold sections having respective first and second mold cavity defining surfaces, the first mold cavity defining surface terminating in an encircling peripheral rim and the second mold cavity defining surface terminating in a deformable peripheral annulus disposed at a diameter corresponding to the rim, and cooperating tapers depending from each of the first and second molds for relatively centering the molds.

Abstract: Branched cycloalkyl methacrylate monomers, such as t-butylhydroxycyclohexyl methacrylate, are polymerized with hydrophilic monomers and crosslinking agents to produce compositions for shaped biomedical devices, including soft contact lenses. Such copolymers have high oxygen permeability and good mechanical properties.

Abstract: An improved method for generating a toric surface on a molding tool for forming contact lens molds comprises: providing a tool which comprises an elongated body and a molding portion at one end of the tool, wherein the molding portion comprises a surface which is substantially spherical; applying a force to the elongated body so as to distort the spherical surface of the molding portion; machining a substantially spherical curve in the distorted surface while maintaining the applied force; and releasing the applied force, wherein the spherically cut surface assumes a toric shape upon release of the applied force.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing hydrophilic polymeric devices wherein surfactants are added to the hydration bath to assist in the mold release and processing of hydrophilic polymeric devices, especially hydrophilic contact lenses.

Abstract: An improved process for spincasting contact lenses with differently shaped concave lens surfaces from the same mold design comprises providing molds with uniformly shaped concave surfaces, and spincasting in the molds a series of polymerizable mixtures. Contact lenses with differently shaped concave lens surfaces are obtained by varying the ratio of the monomers and an organic diluent in the polymerizable mixtures.