Abstract: Silicone hydrogel ophthalmic devices, such as ocular inserts and contact lenses, formed in direct contact with molds comprising at least one vinyl alcohol copolymer and related methods are described. The at least one vinyl alcohol copolymer of the molds is a vinyl alcohol copolymer other than an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. The methods of manufacturing ophthalmic devices can use dry or wet demolding processes, or dry or wet delensing processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a hybrid contact lens, comprising: a step of providing a hydrophilic disc (100); a step of providing a rigid disc (200); a step of hydrating the hydrophilic disc (100); a step of applying an adhesive element (202) on a surface of the rigid disc; a step of bonding the hydrophilic disc (100) to said surface of the rigid disc; a step of drying the two thus bonded discs (100); and a step of cutting the two thus bonded and dried discs (100).

Abstract: Soft contact lens having regions of a material forming one or more higher modulus of elasticity zones in the peripheral region of the lenses add stiffness to the contact lenses. This increased stiffness in different zones or regions enable the contact lens to be more easily handled and make it less likely to fold in on itself.

Abstract: A method of preparing a water extractable silicon-containing biomedical device is disclosed. The method involves curing a monomer mixture comprising one or more silicon-containing biomedical device-forming monomers in the presence of a diluent to produce a silicon-containing biomedical device; wherein the diluent comprises a boric acid ester of a C1 to C8 monohydric alcohol.

Abstract: A hydrophilizingly coated silicone contact lens has a radial cross-section of the inner face (1), the rim portion contour of which is convex (7) between a point of inflection (6) and the outer edge. For its manufacture, a silicone precursor is brought between a female and a male mold and is polymerized, and the polymerized contact lens is released from the mold by means of a liquid swelling same and is completed after a PECVD/CVD-coating without edge cutting.

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 hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.

Abstract: Provided is a silicone hydrogel soft contact lens obtained by curing in a double-sided casting mold, a liquid mixture including glycerol mono(meth)acrylate and at least one type of silicone monomer having at least one hydroxyl group or polyethylene glycol group in the molecular structure thereof, the silicone hydrogel soft contact lens having a wettable surface without a polymerized lens-shaped material being subjected to post-processing to improve the water wetting properties of a surface thereof.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a copolymer which is a graft or block copolymer useful to change wettability and surface characteristics of biological surfaces. Methods for use of these formulations and coatings to change wettability and sterically stabilize, and lubricate biological surfaces in a subject, for example, in the treatment of dry eye syndrome, and to prevent adherence of unwanted proteins, for example in the treatment of contact lens intolerance, are provided.

Abstract: Provided are a low hydrous soft ophthalmic lens that can remarkably reduce or avoid a phenomenon in which a lens sticks to a cornea when worn and can reduce a decrease in the performance of a coating layer when rubbing the low hydrous soft ophthalmic lens for cleaning and a method for manufacturing the same. The low hydrous soft ophthalmic lens has a layer formed of a hydrophilic polymer on at least part of the surface of a base material containing a polysiloxane compound, and at least part of the inside of the layer is cross-linked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for hydrophilizing surfaces of polymer workpieces. The method has a step (a) of pretreating the workpiece surfaces in a high-frequency gas plasma which is produced on the basis of an inert gas in order to clean and activate the workpiece surfaces; a step (b) of precoating the pretreated workpiece surfaces with polyacrylic acid using a high-frequency gas plasma made of a gas mixture, said gas mixture being composed of an inert gas and a first gas made of biocompatible, polymerizable carboxy group-containing monomers; and a step (c) of subsequently coating the precoated workpiece surfaces using a second gas substantially containing acrylic acid monomers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising a polymeric substrate comprising at least one volume excluding polymer. In one embodiment, the present invention provides polymeric articles that are capable of acting as osmotic drivers. The articles are capable of maintaining a desired water balance by moving water in or out of a substrate to maintain cation concentration equilibrium between the substrate and its environment.

Abstract: Medical devices having a wettable, biocompatible surface are described herein. Processes for producing such devices are also described.

Abstract: A medical device includes a layer made of an acidic polymer and a basic polymer formed on at least a part of a surface of a water-containing base material, wherein at least one kind of an acidic polymer and a basic polymer forming the acidic polymer or the basic polymer is a polymer having a hydroxy group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contact lens including at least one clay and at last one silicone component, wherein the at least one clay is applied to the surface of the contact lens and the contact lens does not include any diffusible material whose release from the contact lens is inhibited by the at least one clay.

Abstract: An ophthalmic device having improved oxygen transmissibility is provided. The ophthalmic device includes a hydrogel lens wherein the peripheral zone of the hydrogel lens includes a plurality of raised portions on the surface of the lens proximal to the ocular surface.

Abstract: An ophthalmic device includes a hydrogel lens and a media insert removably attached to the hydrogel lens. A method for removably attaching the media insert to the hydrogel lens includes receiving a first hydrogel lens including an annular opening, at least partially inserting a media insert into the annular opening of the first hydrogel lens, removing the media insert from the annular opening of the first hydrogel lens, receiving a second hydrogel lens including an annular opening, and at least partially inserting the removed media insert into the annular opening of the second hydrogel lens.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus to form organic semiconductor transistors upon three-dimensionally formed insert devices. In some embodiments, the present invention includes incorporating the three-dimensional surfaces with organic semiconductor-based thin film transistors, electrical interconnects, and energization elements into an insert for incorporation into ophthalmic lenses. In some embodiments, the formed insert may be directly used as an ophthalmic device or incorporated into an ophthalmic device.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus for forming Ophthalmic Lenses with Stabilizing Features, and more specifically, Ophthalmic Lenses that include an encapsulated Insert Device.

Abstract: The present invention describes single-piece or multi-piece Rigid Inserts that may be included in an Ophthalmic Lenses or may comprise the Ophthalmic Lens, wherein the Rigid Insert may be formed through the processing of thin sheet material by thermoforming. Single piece annular Rigid Inserts may perform the function of providing a template for printed patterns to be included in Ophthalmic Lenses. Single piece full Rigid Inserts may perform the function of polarizing light or filtering light based on the properties of materials used to form the insert. Multi-piece Rigid Inserts may include activation and energization elements. The present invention also includes methods and apparatus for forming the Rigid Inserts.

Abstract: Contact lenses, such as hydrogel contact lenses, are described. The present contact lenses include a lens body that is the reaction product of a polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition includes one or more monomers and a crosslinker that crosslinks the one or more monomers during polymerization. The polymerization of the one or more monomers occurs in the presence of a hydrophilic polymer that is present in the polymerizable composition, which comprises a polymer of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine. The present lenses are capable of releasing the hydrophilic polymer from the contact lens for prolonged periods of time and also have a reduced surface friction compared to similar lenses without the hydrophilic polymer. The present invention also relates to packaging systems for use with such lenses and methods of producing such lenses.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are produced without using volatile organic solvents to extract materials from the polymerized contact lens bodies, and instead are washed with aqueous liquids. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses so produced have ophthalmically wettable lens surfaces such that less than five percent of a batch of twenty or more such silicone hydrogel contact lenses have visually identifiable non-wetting spots when the contact lenses are located on eyes of subjects.

Abstract: A medical device includes a layer made of an acidic polymer and a basic polymer formed on at least a part of a surface of a base material, wherein at least one kind of an acidic polymer and a basic polymer forming the layers made of the acidic polymer and the basic polymer is a multi-component copolymer of three or more components.

Abstract: The invention provides silicone hydrogel contact lenses that exhibit reduced back surface debris and reduced incidence of superior epithelial arcurate lesions.

Abstract: A substantially fully copolymerized UV blocking hydrogel lens demonstrating sufficient blocking of UV light to meet at least FDA Class II specifications for UV blocking formed from a reaction mixture comprising at least NVP and one other comonomer and a free-radical polymerizable, substituted or unsubstituted, Bis O-hydroxy benzophenone is provided herein.

Abstract: Soft contact lens having regions of a material forming one or more higher modulus of elasticity zones in the peripheral region of the lenses add stiffness to the contact lenses. This increased stiffness in different zones or regions enable the contact lens to be more easily handled and make it less likely to fold in on itself.

Abstract: To provide a medical device which is excellent in wettability and lubricity and is also scarcely broken since it is soft, by a medical device in which a layer made of an acidic polymer and a basic polymer is formed on at least a part of a surface of a low water content soft base material, the low water content soft base material containing, as a main component, a copolymer containing a monofunctional monomer component M having one polymerizable functional group and one silicone moiety per molecule.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical device having an elastic modulus of 100 kPa or more and 2,000 kPa or less, a water content of 10% by mass or less, a tensile elongation of 50% or more and 3,000% or less, and a dynamic contact angle (advancing angle) relative to a borate buffer of 80° or less. The present invention can significantly reduce or avoid a phenomenon of adhesion to a surface when contacted with a surface outside or inside the body, which has hitherto been regarded as a problem in a conventional medical device.

Abstract: This invention relates to comfortable ophthalmic devices and methods of producing such devices.

Abstract: Antimicrobial ophthalmic devices such as contact lenses, ocular inserts, ocular bandages, and intraocular lenses comprise a hydrogel and an antimicrobially-effective amount of epsilon polylysine non-covalently attached to the hydrogel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and to a device for manufacturing a hybrid contact lens (7, 21), from a composite part formed of a rigid central portion connected to a soft peripheral portion (9, 23) by an adhesive material (10, 24), to such a part and to such a lens. Starting from an oxygen-permeable rigid disc (2) and from a previously hydrated hydrophilic soft disc (3), a composite part (1) comprising three superposed layers is formed by bonding one disc to the other, said composite part (1) is dried for a defined time sufficient to allow the dehydration of the soft disc, then said composite part is dry cut with a machining tool by presenting the face of the hydrophilic soft portion (3) toward the tool in order to obtain the hybrid lens, by making a release strip (26) on the outer circumference (27) of the rigid peripheral portion.

Abstract: This invention provides a mold set for manufacturing a hybrid contact lens. The mold set comprises two types of upper molds and a lower mold; alternatively, the mold set comprises an upper mold and two types of lower molds. It is selectable to form the near-center region of a hybrid contact lens first and form the near-periphery region subsequently, or to form the near-periphery region first and the near-center region subsequently. This invention also provides a hybrid contact lens manufactured with any of said mold sets, comprising a first portion and a second portion which are disposed concentrically relative to a center of the hybrid contact lens and adhered to each other. The first portion and second portion are modeled to form a near-center region and a near-periphery region of the hybrid contact lens respectively, wherein the first portion has vision correction properties.

Abstract: A method for making a hydrogel, photochromic contact lens including supplying a first lens composition comprising a contact lens monomer and a photochromic material to a front contact lens mold and supplying a second lens composition to said contact lens mold wherein the viscosity of said first composition is at least about 1000 cp greater than the viscosity of said second contact lens composition, and the makeup of said second composition matches the of said first composition to reduce strain between said compositions of the resulting lens.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods employing a contact lens that generates information indicative of a hydration level of an eye in which the lens is worn, are provided. In some aspects, a contact lens includes a substrate that forms at least part of a body of the contact lens and a hydration component that generates information associated with a hydration level of an eye in which the contact lens is worn.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses, when hydrated, have a plurality of depressions on one or more of the lens surfaces. The depressions have a depth less than 1 micrometer, or less than 100 nanometers. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses have not been subject to treatment with plasma. Methods of manufacturing the silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A toric contact lens having a prism ballast structure, wherein a center optical area, an annular transition area surrounding the center optical area determining a refractive degree, and an annular peripheral area surrounding the transition area, are defined on a lens front surface. A shape of the lens front surface has a mirror symmetry with a vertical meridian as a boundary, in such a manner that a thickness is smoothly decreased toward a lens lower end portion from two maximum thickness portions and where the thickness of the lens is maximum, and a valley-shaped slab-off is formed between these maximum thickness portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid soft contact lens including a central portion formed with a first hydrous soft material, and a peripheral portion formed with a second hydrous soft material, in which the first hydrous soft material is obtained by curing a first curable composition including a silicone-containing monomer. Preferably, the first hydrous soft material has a Young's modulus of no less than 3.0 MPa and no greater than 100 MPa, and the second hydrous soft material has a Young's modulus of no less than 0.20 MPa and less than 3.0 MPa.

Abstract: Embodiments of the technology relate to a contact lens having a core that is covalently coated by a hydrogel layer, and to methods of making such a lens. In one aspect, embodiments provide for a coated contact lens comprising a lens core comprising an outer surface; and a hydrogel layer covalently attached to at least a portion of the outer surface, the hydrogel layer adapted to contact an ophthalmic surface, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer population having a first PEG species and a second PEG species, the first PEG species being at least partially cross-linked to the second PEG species.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one acrylate-containing siloxane monomer, at least one hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent. The contact lenses have ophthalmically-acceptable ionoflux values and surface wettability, and can be manufactured without the use of volatile organic solvents.

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: A lens body comprising at least one form of boronic acid, boronic ester or boronic anhydride is provided. The lens body is contacted with a solution comprising at least one form of TRIS. A contact lens package including the contact lens, and methods of producing and using the contact lens, are also provided.

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: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one acrylate-containing siloxane monomer, at least one hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent, wherein the polymerizable composition has a molar ratio of total amount of hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer to total amount of acrylate-containing siloxane monomer of from 5:1 to 30:1, respectively. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses have good manufacturing processability, can be manufactured without the use of alcohol solvents, and have excellent surface wettability.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (3): wherein m of formula (3) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (3) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (3) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (3) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and at least one vinyl ether-containing cross-linking agent are described. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described. In one example, the batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses are dimensionally stable, and the method of making is a method of making dimensionally stable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one hydrophilic vinyl amide-containing monomer, at least one acrylate-containing siloxane monomer, and at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer. The contact lenses have ophthalmically-acceptable surface wettability and can be manufactured without the use of volatile organic solvents.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are derived from a polymerizable composition including at least one siloxane monomer and at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer, or at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer, or both, wherein, when the at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, and when the at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, are described. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.

Abstract: Ophthalmically compatible contact lenses include lens bodies configured for placement on a cornea of an animal or human eye. The lens bodies are made of a hydrophilic silicon-containing polymeric material. The lens bodies have oxygen permeabilities, water content, surface wettabilities, flexibilities, and/or designs to be worn by a lens wearer even during sleep. The present lenses can be worn on a daily basis, including overnight, or can be worn for several days, such as about thirty days, without requiring removal or cleaning.

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: A substantially fully copolymerized UV blocking hydrogel lens demonstrating sufficient blocking of UV light to meet at least FDA Class II specifications for UV blocking formed from a reaction mixture comprising at least NVP and one other comonomer and a free-radical polymerizable, substituted or unsubstituted, Bis O-hydroxy benzophenone is provided herein.

Abstract: A substantially fully copolymerized UV blocking hydrogel lens demonstrating sufficient blocking of UV light to meet at least FDA Class II specifications for UV blocking formed from a reaction mixture comprising at least NVP and one other comonomer and a free-radical polymerizable, substituted or unsubstituted, Bis O-hydroxy benzophenone is provided herein.