Abstract: Thermoplastic silicone-containing composition are useful as a hydrogel contact lens material. The compositions are based on polymers including a siloxane segment and a highly hydrophilic segment.

Abstract: A method for transferring a lens-shaped article from a first support to a centered position on a second support employs a transfer tool having a slideable plunger and plunger sleeve that cooperates with the first and second support to ensure that the article is oriented in a desired manner when transferred.

Abstract: Monomers of the following formula are useful in contact lens materials: ##STR1## wherein: A is an activated unsaturated group;R and D independently are alkylene or haloalkylene radicals having 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein said carbon atoms may include ether linkages therebetween;each R.sup.1 is independently selected from: alkyl or haloalkyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein ether linkages may be included between carbon atoms; siloxane groups; and carbocyclic ring groups having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms;R.sup.2 is selected from: ##STR2## and--((CR.sup.3 --CH.sub.2)--O).sub.n --R.sup.4 ;wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms, n is 1 to 20; and R.sup.4 is alkyl or haloalkyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein ether linkages may be included between carbon atoms;m is an integer from 1 to 500; x and y are 0 or 1;z is 1 or 2; and x+y+z=3.

Abstract: An improved method for forming plastic molds for casting articles having an optical surface such as contact lenses employs a plastic tool having an optically smooth surface.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lens having UV-absorbing properties involves charging to a mold a monomer mixture comprising lens-forming monomers and an essentially non-UV-absorbing compound; exposing the monomer mixture in the mold to a light source including ultraviolet light to cure the monomer mixture and form the lens, whereby the non-UV-absorbing compound converts to a UV-absorbing agent.

Abstract: A method of lathing a lens, especially a contact lens, involves attaching the cylindrical blank of lens material to a first block of machineable plastic material, lathe cutting a desired first lens surface in the cylindrical blank, attaching the machined first lens surface of the blank to a second block, lathe cutting to remove the block of machineable plastic material, and lathe cutting a desired second lens surface in the blank. Both the first and second blocks may be adhered to the lens blank with an adhesive curable by ultraviolet radiation, and a two-piece block, composed of a head section and a body section, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lens having UV-absorbing properties involves charging to a mold a monomer mixture comprising lens-forming monomers and an essentially non-UV-absorbing compound, and curing the monomer mixture to form a lens, followed by treating the lens to convert the essentially non-UV-absorbing compound to a UV-absorbing agent.

Abstract: Monomeric units useful in reducing the modulus of hydrogels are disclosed. Silicone hydrogels including the subject monomeric units are especially useful in the formation of biomedical articles such as silicone hydrogel contact lenses. ##STR1## wherein: A is an activated unsaturated group;R and D independently are alkyl, alkylene or haloalkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein said carbon atoms may include ether linkages therebetween;R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from: alkyl or haloalkyl groups wherein ether linkages may be included between carbon atoms; siloxane groups, and carbocyclic ring groups having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms;m is an integer from 1 to 500; n is an integer from 1 to 20; x and y are 0 or 1;z is 1 or 2; and x+y+z=3;so long as at least one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An improved method for cast molding RGP contact lenses employs mold sections injection molded from a specific class of thermoplastic, polyolefin resins.

Abstract: A method for labeling packages containing contact lenses involves applying to a package that contains a contact lens a machine-readable code identifying characteristics of the contact lens in the package, and later applying to the package printed language information generated from the machine readable code. The printed language information can be applied to the package at a site and/or time remote from the packaging and sterilization operations while ensuring product integrity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifocal contact lens having an edge, a front and back side and a series of concentrically arranged zones comprising central zone, a marginal zone and a peripheral zone. Each of the zones on the back side of the lens is defined by a second-order surface of revolution other than spherical. The front side of the lens comprises multiple spherical surfaces for providing increasing power correction from the central zone toward the peripheral zone.

Abstract: An improved hydrogel formed from hydrated polymerization products of monomer mixtures containing a major amount of at least one hydrophilic monomer and a strengthening monomer wherein the strengthening monomer is 2-hydroxycyclohexyl methacrylate. Contact lenses made from the hydrogels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for obtaining contact lenses having optimized visual acuity involves providing the anterior surface or the posterior surface of the contact lens with a conic section having a shape factor value within the range of about 0.3 to 2.0, the shape factor value being selected so as to adjust spherical aberration in the central optical zone to a value within the range of about -0.2 diopter to about -0.6 diopter and to a value that provides optimal visual acuity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contact lens having a back side comprising a central zone and a peripheral zone located about the central zone, wherein the peripheral zone has a surface defined by a logarithmic function. Systems and methods for making such lenses are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contact lens having a back side comprising a central zone and a peripheral zone located about the central zone, wherein the peripheral zone has a surface defined by an exponential function. Systems and methods for making such lenses are also provided.

Abstract: Multispheric contact lenses have a posterior surface including a central, concave spherical optical zone and at least two concave spherical curves peripheral to the central concave optical zone. The lens includes a fillet convex curve connecting the central zone and the first peripheral curve, and fillet convex curves connecting adjacent peripheral concave curves, wherein each junction of a fillet convex curve with a concave spherical curve is tangential. The lenses have an anterior surface including one or more convex spherical curves.

Abstract: An eyewear frame is provided having an integral frame piece with a front portion and two temple portions positioned on opposite ends of the front portion wherein the integral frame piece is a continuous metallic wire having super-elastic properties.

Abstract: A sunglass lens having improved anti-reflection and transmittance comprises a lens-shaped substrate and a coating formed on the concave surface of the lens. The first layer deposited adjacent to the concave surface of the lens comprises a titanium suboxide material, the second layer comprises a material having a high refractive index, and the third layer comprises a material having a low refractive index.

Abstract: A method for increasing hydrophilicity of a contact lens, so as to improve surface wettability of the lens, comprises contacting a surface of the contact lens with an aqueous solution including a hydrophilic monomer, and heating the solution while in contact with the surface of the contact lens to effect polymerization.

Abstract: Monomeric units useful in reducing the modulus of low water polymeric silicone compositions are disclosed. Low water compositions including the subject monomeric units are especially useful in the formation of biomedical articles such as low water silicone contact lenses. ##STR1## wherein: A is an activated unsaturated group;R and D independently are alkyl, alkylene or haloalkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein said carbon atoms may include ether linkages therebetween;M is hydrogen, fluorine, or an alkyl group;R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from: alkyl or haloalkyl groups wherein ether linkages may be included between carbon atoms; siloxane groups; and carbocyclic ring groups having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms;m is an integer from 1 to 500; n is an integer from 1 to 20; x and y are 0 or 1;z is 1 or 2; and x+y+z=3;so long as at least one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.