Abstract: Crosslink agents used to copolymerize at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare polymeric materials for ophthalmic lenses. The crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer. Accordingly, the invention is also directed to a hydrophilic crosslinked polymer that comprises at least two monomeric units and at least two different crosslink units. The use of the dual crosslink system provides an improved means to control the final chemical, physical and structural characteristics of the resulting polymer.

Abstract: A topical pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical active and a polymer of general formula I or general formula II wherein Ck is a saturated or unsaturated, five, six or seven-membered ring; R is a C1-C3alkyl; n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and m provides a number average molecular weight of the polymer of from 2000 to 80,000.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical device comprising refractive optical structures, wherein the refractive structures are characterized by a change in refractive index, exhibit little or no scattering loss, and exhibit no significant differences in the Raman spectrum with respect to the non-irradiated optical, polymeric material.

Abstract: A packaged, sterilized intraocular lens prepared by a process comprising providing a hydrophobic acrylic, or low water acrylic, intraocular lens and positioning the acrylic lens in a lens enclosure with an aqueous solution to provide a lens package. The lens package is then heated to a temperature sufficient for sterilization, however, the heating of the lens package must begin before the acrylic lens reaches an equilibrated, hydrated state following contact of the lens with the aqueous solution. The resulting sterilized acrylic intraocular lens will have less than sixty percent of total volume of disc-like features, or less than forty percent of total volume of water vacuoles, after 60 days following sterilization compared to an acrylic lens of the same composition, which was sterilized under the same conditions, but in an equilibrated, hydrated state.

Abstract: Ophthalmic composition that includes 0.05% w/v to 2% w/v diglycine or a salt thereof; 1.0 ppm to 8.5 ppm alexidine, and 0.1% w/v to 2% w/v of one or more boron buffering compounds.

Abstract: A process for sterilizing a solution comprising hyaluronic acid. The process comprises providing an aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid with a weight average molecular weight from 0.6 MDa to 3.6 MDa, and the concentration of the hyaluronic acid is from 0.04% to 0.8% by weight. The aqueous solution also has an ionic strength equivalent to an aqueous concentration of sodium chloride from 3% to 30% by weight. Once the aqueous, high salt, hyaluronic acid solution is prepared the solution is maintained at a temperature from 40° C. to 80° C. for at least 1 hour and not longer than six days. Following the heat treatment step, the aqueous solution is filtered through a sterilization filter medium to provide a sterilized high salt, hyaluronic acid solution.

Abstract: Novel crosslink agents are described that provide for the copolymerization of at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare materials for ophthalmic lenses. The new crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer.

Abstract: Ophthalmic composition comprising one or more polyglycines selected from the group consisting of diglycine, triglycine, tetraglycine and pentaglycine, or the salts of each thereof and one or more boron buffering compounds. The ophthalmic composition will have an osmolality of from 200 mOsmol/kg to 420 mOsmol/kg.

Abstract: Ophthalmic compositions that comprise 0.1 ppm to 10 ppm of a cationic antimicrobial component selected from the group consisting of biguanides, polymeric biguanides, quaternium ammonium compounds and any one mixture thereof; 0.005 wt. % to 0.15 wt. % of hyaluronic acid; and 0.01 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of an amphoteric surfactant of general formula I wherein R1 is R or —(CH2)n—NHC(O)R, wherein R is a C8-C16alkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl and n is 2, 3 or 4; R2 and R3 are each independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl or iso-propyl; and R4 is a C2-C8alkylene optionally substituted with hydroxyl. The invention is also direct to the use of the ophthalmic compositions to clean and disinfect contact lenses, and in particular, soft, silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: Crosslink agents used to copolymerize at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare polymeric materials for ophthalmic lenses. The crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer. Accordingly, the invention is also directed to a hydrophilic crosslinked polymer that comprises at least two monomeric units and at least two different crosslink units. The use of the dual crosslink system provides an improved means to control the final chemical, physical and structural characteristics of the resulting polymer.

Abstract: A synthetic route to polymers comprised of at least two monomers each with a very different reactivity ratio by using a corresponding crosslink agent for each monomer. Novel crosslink agents are described that provide for the copolymerization of at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare materials for ophthalmic lenses. The new crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer.

Abstract: A polymeric biguanide composition comprising less than 18 mol % of terminal amine groups as measured by 13C NMR. The polymeric biguanide composition also is characterized by a relative increase in the molar concentration of terminal guanidine groups or terminal cyanoguanidino groups. The invention is also directed to ophthalmic compositions comprising the polymeric biguanide compositions. The polymeric biguanide compositions can be used as an antimicrobial component in an ophthalmic lens care solution, or as a preservative to in a pharmaceutical composition or other health care product.

Abstract: An intraocular lens with an ordered polymer system contained within a lens capsule or a membrane in the lens capsule. The ordered polymer system includes at least one negatively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, anionic groups and hydrophobic groups, and at least one positively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, cationic groups and hydrophobic groups. The at least one negatively charged copolymer and the at least one positively charged copolymer are associatively arranged through non-covalent interactions in the lens capsule or the membrane.

Abstract: A hydrogel that is the hydrated polymerization product of a monomer mixture that includes a hydrophilic monomer and a polysiloxane-containing monomer. The resulting hydrogel has an oxygen permeability of at least about 120 Barrers, a water content of at least about 20 weight percent, and a modulus from 40 to 57 g/mm2.

Abstract: The synthesis of benzotriazole monomers and the use of the benzotriazole monomers and one or more other monomers to prepare ultraviolet (UV) light absorbing polymer compositions. The synthetic methods described in this application provide a significant improvement over the previous methods used to prepare benzotriazole monomers.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical, polymeric material. The method comprises irradiating select regions of the optical, polymeric material with a focused, visible or near-IR laser having a pulse energy from 0.05 nJ to 1000 nJ. The irradiation results in the formation of refractive optical structures, characterized by a change in refractive index, exhibit little or no scattering loss, and exhibit no significant differences in the Raman spectrum with respect to the non-irradiated optical, polymeric material. The method can be used to modify the refractive index of an intraocular lens following the surgical implantation of the intraocular lens in a human eye.

Abstract: Polysiloxanes having vinyl or epoxy functionality. The polysiloxanes are used to form polymer-based materials having properties particularly suited for biomedical device applications. The polysiloxanes are of general formula I: wherein R is a C2-10 alkenyl, a C2-10 alkyl with an epoxy group or a C5-C7cycloalkyl with an epoxy group; R2, R3 and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 fluoroalkyl, optionally substituted phenyl and optionally substituted benzyl; A is —OH or —NHR5, wherein R5 is hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl; and B is —R1-A or —R6, wherein R1 is a linking group having an alkylene group with 2 to 8 carbon atoms wherein the alkylene group optionally includes ether, urethane or ureido linkages; and R6 is selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted benzyl; and m and n are integers with an m:n ratio from 30:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: An intraocular lens comprising a polymer that is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising a monomer of formula G-D-Ar??(I) wherein Ar is a C6-C24 aromatic group having a hydrophilic substituent, D is a divalent linking group, and G is a reactive functional group selected from the group consisting of acryloyl, acryloyloxy, methacryloyl, methacryloyloxy and mercapto. The polymer has an equilibrium water content of greater than 4.5 percent by weight.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the lubricity of implant delivery devices are provided. The present methods of enhancing the lubricity of an intraocular lens inserter reduce the force required to express an intraocular lens therefrom. By reducing the force required to express an intraocular lens from an inserter, intraocular lens delivery is improved.

Abstract: A polymeric material having improved gas permeability comprises units of fluorinated dioxole. The polymeric material may further comprise units of a hydrophobic monomer, a hydrophilic monomer, or combinations thereof. Such a polymeric material is desirably used to produce medical devices, such as ophthalmic devices that provide increased comfort to a user.