Abstract: The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

Abstract: The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

Abstract: The invention provides a cost-effective and in-situ method for applying an LbL coating onto a silicone hydrogel contact lens directly in a lens package. The resultant silicone hydrogel contact lens has a coating with good hydrophilicity, intactness and durability and also can be used directly from the lens package by a patient without washing and/or rising. In addition, the invention provides a packaging solution for in-situ coating of a silicone hydrogel contact lens in a lens package and an ophthalmic lens product.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for producing silicone hydrogel lenses. The methods involve introducing into a mold a water-based lens-forming composition, curing the lens-forming composition in a mold to form the lens, and removing the lens from the mold. The lens-forming composition comprises (i) a polysiloxane-containing vinylic monomer or macromer, (ii) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer, (iii) a surfactant, and, and (iv) water. The surfactant is polysiloxane-containing surfactant that is free of actinically-polymerizable groups and is a copolymer having from about 10% to about 40% by weight of one or more polysiloxane segments and from about 90% to about 60% by weight hydrophilic units and/or segments. The methods permit the use of water as a solvent and reduce the need for organic solvents. Additionally, the lenses produced by the methods can have improved properties such oxygen permeability.

Abstract: The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

Abstract: The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

Abstract: A lens care system and method for venting gas to release pressure from a container, such as generated in peroxide-based lens treatment. A seal formed between a deformable cap and a container cup prevents release of liquid, but deformation of the cap under the influence of pressure generated within the container temporarily releases the seal to permit venting of gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a medical device, preferably a contact lens, having an antimicrobial metal-containing LbL coating on a medical device, wherein the antimicrobial metal-containing LbL coating comprises at least one layer of a negatively charged polyionic material having —COOAg groups and/or silver nanoparticles formed by reducing Ag+ ions associated with the —COO? groups of the negatively charged polyionic material. In addition, the present invention provides a medical device prepared according to a method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens products which not only have initial insertion comfort but also are comfortable to wear for more than about 6 hours. The invention is achieved by packaging and storing a hydrogel lens with two or more leachable polymeric lubricants incorporated therein in a relatively viscous packaging solution including a relatively low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer. The present invention also provides methods for making contact lens products of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens products which not only have initial insertion comfort but also are comfortable to wear for more than about 6 hours. The invention is achieved by packaging and storing a hydrogel lens with two or more leachable polymeric lubricants incorporated therein in a relatively viscous packaging solution including a relatively low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer. The present invention also provides methods for making contact lens products of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a medical device, preferably a contact lens, having an antimicrobial metal-containing LbL coating on a medical device, wherein the antimicrobial metal-containing LbL coating comprises at least one layer of a negatively charged polyionic material having —COOAg groups and/or silver nanoparticles formed by reducing Ag+ ions associated with the —COO? groups of the negatively charged polyionic material. In addition, the present invention provides a medical device prepared according to a method of the invention.

Abstract: A method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens is provided. In one embodiment, a prepolymer mixture is polymerized in a lens mold in an atmosphere having less than about 10000 ppm oxygen to form a silicone hydrogel contact lens suitable for extended wear as characterized by producing less than 10% corneal swelling after a period of continuous wear of 7 days including normal sleep periods. In one embodiment, the prepolymer mixture comprises at least one oxyperm material containing hydrophilic groups, wherein the at least one oxyperm material is a siloxane-containing macromer or monomer, at least one ionperm material, and a cross-linking agent. In certain embodiments, the polymerization of the prepolymer mixture may be carried out in an atmosphere having less than about 1000 ppm oxygen.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a basket for holding ophthalmic lenses. A basket of the present invention has a lattice structure having a lens contacting side and an opposite lens non-contacting side, wherein the lens-contacting side of the lattice has a very sharp edge structure and the lens non-contacting side can be a normal solid surface to maintain the mechanical strength of the basket. A tray that comprises a plurality of baskets is another embodiment of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a stack assembly that comprises a plurality of trays each of which comprises a plurality of baskets.

Abstract: The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

Abstract: A method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens is provided. In one embodiment, a prepolymer mixture is polymerized in a lens mold in an atmosphere having less than about 10000 ppm oxygen to form a silicone hydrogel contact lens suitable for extended wear as characterized by producing less than 10% corneal swelling after a period of continuous wear of 7 days including normal sleep periods. In one embodiment, the prepolymer mixture comprises at least one oxyperm material containing hydrophilic groups, wherein the at least one oxyperm material is a siloxane-containing macromer or monomer, at least one ionoperm material, and a cross-linking agent. In certain embodiments, the polymerization of the prepolymer mixture may be carried out in an atmosphere having less than about 1000 ppm oxygen.

Abstract: The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

Abstract: The instant invention pertains to a method and a fluid composition for producing contact lenses with improved lens quality and with increased product yield. The method of the invention involves adding a phospholipid into a fluid composition including a lens-forming material in an amount sufficient to reduce an averaged mold separation force by at least about 40% in comparison with that without the phospholipids.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. In one embodiment, an ophthalmic lens is a copolymerization product of at least one oxyperm, at least one ionoperm, and a crosslinker. In one embodiment, a lens has a tensile modulus of less than about 3.0 MPa, yet in another embodiment, the tensile modulus is between about 0.5 to about 1.5 MPa.

Abstract: Described herein are tri-functional compounds useful in the production of ophthalmic lenses. The compounds are composed of UV absorber having a polymerization initiator directly or indirectly bonded to the ultraviolet absorber, and an olefinic group directly or indirectly bonded to the ultraviolet absorber. Also described herein are polymers and ophthalmic lenses produced from the tri-functional compounds described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a medical device, preferably a contact lens, having an antimicrobial metal-containing LbL coating on a medical device, wherein the antimicrobial metal-containing LbL coating comprises at least one layer of a negatively charged polyionic material having —COOAg groups and/or silver nanoparticles formed by reducing Ag+ ions associated with the —COO? groups of the negatively charged polyionic material. In addition, the present invention provides a medical device prepared according to a method of the invention.