Abstract: Systems and methods of manufacturing ophthalmic lenses, for example, soft, extended wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses, are provided. The systems generally include a housing having an illuminated chamber, a carrier, for example a tray, movable in the illuminated chamber from an inlet portion to an outlet portion of the housing, and the tray configured to carry a plurality of contact lens molds. Polymerizing light energy is provided, for example, by multiple fluorescent lamps, to the molds at an intensity effective to at least initiate polymerization of a monomer composition located in each of the molds. The light may be illuminated onto two opposing sides of each mold. In some cases, the intensity of the light provided to one side of the mold may be different to the light intensity provided to the opposing side of the mold. In addition, the system may include features that are effective to provide for an instantaneous start and an instantaneous end to the light induced cure of the monomer in the molds.

Abstract: A blister package housing a contact lens is described. The package generally includes a base member including a cavity having a bottom surface, for containing a contact lens immersed in a liquid medium. The base member can include a grip region including a curved top surface shaped to accommodate a thumb and a curved bottom surface shaped to accommodate an inner curve of a forefinger. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses located in the liquid medium have a reduced tendency to stick to the bottom surface of the cavity without requiring a surfactant and/or a surface modification of the bottom surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. Certain of the present systems include a contact lens mold forming station, a station for filling a contact lens mold section with a lens precursor composition and for placing a second mold section on the filled mold section to form a contact lens mold assembly, a curing station for forming a contact lens, a mold assembly separation station, and an extraction/hydration station. Certain of the present methods include forming a plurality of mold sections, placing a lens precursor composition on a surface of a first mold section, placing a second mold section on the first mold section, polymerizing the lens precursor composition, separating the first and second mold sections, removing the silicone hydrogel contact lens from one of the mold sections, extracting extractable components from the contact lens, and hydrating the contact lens.

Abstract: Contact lens molds and systems and methods for producing contact lens molds are described. The contact lens mold sections include two optical quality surfaces, a flange circumscribing at least a portion of the two optical quality surfaces, and an elongate member extending from the flange. Two mold sections can contact one another to form a mold assembly having a contact lens shaped cavity. The mold sections are structured to form a contact lens having an edge that does not require further physical modification before placement on an eye. Systems and methods are described which direct a molten polymeric material into cavities corresponding to the mold sections.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating mold sections, removing a lens product from the separated mold sections, and transferring the lens product to a processing tray are provided and include contacting assembled mold sections with a warm fluid to break fused portions between the mold sections, and using one or more wedge shaped elements to pry apart and separate the mold sections, one from the other. A vacuum head having multiple vacuum ports is employed for lifting the newly molded lens product from a mold section and for releasing the lens from the vacuum head into a processing tray. A cylinder of flowing air directed around the circumference of the lens is effective to maintain the lens in an unfolded position as the lens is being released into the processing tray. A tray set including multiple trays holding multiple lenses is provided and includes features for enabling visual and/or mechanical distinction of the trays and lenses held thereby.

Abstract: Compositions, such as lens precursor compositions, and methods for producing lens precursor compositions have been invented. The present methods include forming a premix composition, which can include one or more monomeric components, forming a macromer composition, which includes one or more silicon containing macromers, forming a premix/initiator composition, which can include a photoinitiator, and contacting the premix/initiator composition with the macromer composition to form a polymerizable monomer-containing composition useful in the production of producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: A contact lens having a rotational stabilization mechanism thereon, such as prism ballast, and a thickness profile that reduces the torque imparted on the lens by the action of the eyelids, especially for stabilizing toric lenses. The prism ballast is provided on one or more portions of the anterior face of the lens such that the lens body has a uniform thickness of within 10% along horizontal cross-sections. The anterior face of the lens may be segregated into a peripheral zone, an inner zone circumscribed by the peripheral zone, and a central optic zone. The prism ballast portion is provided within the inner zone, which may be further subdivided into a superior portion, an intermediate portion proximate the optic zone, and an inferior portion. The ballast portion increases in thickness along a superior-inferior line parallel to a vertical meridian, and has a substantially uniform thickness perpendicular thereto. The peripheral zone may be tapered, and have a rounded edge.

Abstract: A contact lens having a rotational stabilization mechanism thereon, such as prism ballast, and a thickness profile that reduces the torque imparted on the lens by the action of the eyelids, especially for stabilizing toric lenses. The prism ballast is provided on one or more portions of the anterior face of the lens such that the lens body has a uniform thickness of within 10% along horizontal cross-sections. The anterior face of the lens may be segregated into a peripheral zone, an inner zone circumscribed by the peripheral zone, and a central optic zone. The prism ballast portion is provided within the inner zone, which may be further subdivided into a superior portion, an intermediate portion proximate the optic zone, and an inferior portion. The ballast portion increases in thickness along a superior-inferior line parallel to a vertical meridian, and has a substantially uniform thickness perpendicular thereto. The peripheral zone may be tapered, and have a rounded edge.

Abstract: A contact lens having a rotational stabilization mechanism thereon, such as prism ballast, and a thickness profile that reduces the torque imparted on the lens by the action of the eyelids, especially for stabilizing toric lenses. The prism ballast is provided on one or more portions of the anterior face of the lens such that the lens body has a uniform thickness of within 10% along horizontal cross-sections. The anterior face of the lens may be segregated into a peripheral zone, an inner zone circumscribed by the peripheral zone, and a central optic zone. The prism ballast portion is provided within the inner zone, which may be further subdivided into a superior portion, an intermediate portion proximate the optic zone, and an inferior portion. The ballast portion increases in thickness along a superior-inferior line parallel to a vertical meridian, and has a substantially uniform thickness perpendicular thereto. The peripheral zone may be tapered, and have a rounded edge.

Abstract: Methods for producing a junctionless ophthalmic lens are provided. Additionally, ophthalmic lenses having junctionless, three dimensional surfaces, for example, asymmetrical anterior and/or posterior surfaces, as well as molding tools used in the production of such lenses, are also provided. The method generally include providing sample data points to define a surface contour, and interpolating between these data points using an algorithm to produce a simulated three dimensional surface. The simulated three dimensional surface is used in producing an ophthalmic lens, for example, in cast molding a contact lens.

Abstract: Contact lenses for use in eyes are provided and include a lens body and a plurality of microchannels defined in a posterior face of the lens body. The microchannels are structured to promote effective tear fluid exchange between an exposed surface of the eye and a surface of the eye covered by the lens body. Each of the microchannels preferably includes a substantially junctionless, convex surface along a major portion of a length of the microchannel.

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: A contact lens having a rotational stabilization mechanism thereon, such as prism ballast, and a thickness profile that reduces the torque imparted on the lens by the action of the eyelids, especially for stabilizing toric lenses. The prism ballast is provided on one or more portions of the anterior face of the lens such that the lens body has a uniform thickness of within 10% along horizontal cross-sections. The anterior face of the lens may be segregated into a peripheral zone, an inner zone circumscribed by the peripheral zone, and a central optic zone. The prism ballast portion is provided within the inner zone, which may be further subdivided into a superior portion, an intermediate portion proximate the optic zone, and an inferior portion. The ballast portion increases in thickness along a superior-inferior line parallel to a vertical meridian, and has a substantially uniform thickness perpendicular thereto. The peripheral zone may be tapered, and have a rounded edge.

Abstract: A contact lens having a rotational stabilization mechanism thereon, such as prism ballast, and a thickness profile that reduces the torque imparted on the lens by the action of the eyelids, especially for stabilizing toric lenses. The prism ballast is provided on one or more portions of the anterior face of the lens such that the lens body has a uniform thickness of within 10% along horizontal cross-sections. The anterior face of the lens may be segregated into a peripheral zone, an inner zone circumscribed by the peripheral zone, and a central optic zone. The prism ballast portion is provided within the inner zone, which may be further subdivided into a superior portion, an intermediate portion proximate the optic zone, and an inferior portion. The ballast portion increases in thickness along a superior-inferior line parallel to a vertical meridian, and has a substantially uniform thickness perpendicular thereto. The peripheral zone may be tapered, and have a rounded edge.

Abstract: Devices and methods for improving vision are described. The vision of a person can be corrected using a corneal onlay or a lens positioned between an epithelial cell layer and Bowman's membrane of the person's eye. Wavefront aberrations are measured for the person's eye or eyes, and the aberrations are used to shape the corneal onlay to provide a desired vision correction power, or to shape the person's cornea.

Abstract: A contact lens having a rotational stabilization mechanism thereon, such as prism ballast, and a thickness profile that reduces the torque imparted on the lens by the action of the eyelids, especially for stabilizing toric lenses. The prism ballast is provided on one or more portions of the anterior face of the lens such that the lens body has a uniform thickness of within 10% along horizontal cross-sections. The anterior face of the lens may be segregated into a peripheral zone, an inner zone circumscribed by the peripheral zone, and a central optic zone. The prism ballast portion is provided within the inner zone, which may be further subdivided into a superior portion, an intermediate portion proximate the optic zone, and an inferior portion. The ballast portion increases in thickness along a superior-inferior line parallel to a vertical meridian, and has a substantially uniform thickness perpendicular thereto. The peripheral zone may be tapered, and have a rounded edge.

Abstract: A contact lens having a rotational stabilization mechanism thereon, such as prism ballast, and a thickness profile that reduces the torque imparted on the lens by the action of the eyelids, especially for stabilizing toric lenses. The prism ballast is provided on one or more portions of the anterior face of the lens such that the lens body has a uniform thickness of within 10% along horizontal cross-sections. The anterior face of the lens may be segregated into a peripheral zone, an inner zone circumscribed by the peripheral zone, and a central optic zone. The prism ballast portion is provided within the inner zone, which may be further subdivided into a superior portion, an intermediate portion proximate the optic zone, and an inferior portion. The ballast portion increases in thickness: along a superior-inferior line parallel to a vertical meridian, and has a substantially uniform thickness perpendicular thereto. The peripheral zone may be tapered, and have a rounded edge.

Abstract: Methods for producing contact lenses include providing a back surface tool having a surface generally corresponding to a desired contact lens surface and a convex curve along an outer radius thereof, positioning the tool in a molding apparatus, introducing a moldable material into the molding apparatus to form a first mold section having a negative impression of the surface of the tool, assembling the first mold section with a second mold section to form a lens shaped cavity therebetween and forming a contact lens member in the lens shaped cavity of the assembled mold sections. Molds useful in producing contact lenses, tools useful in making mold sections for molding contact lenses and contact lenses having rounded edge surfaces are also provided.

Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses, such as corneal contact lenses, include a lens body made of a composition including a lens body made of a composition including a first crosslinked polymer material which is water swellable, and a second polymeric material, other than the first material, selected from water soluble polymeric materials, water swellable polymeric materials and mixtures thereof. The second material is physically immobilized by the first material. Such lenses provide increased water retention and/or increased water content and/or increased modulus and/or reduced friction which increases lens wearer comfort. Compositions and methods for providing such lenses and compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for producing contact lenses include providing a back surface tool having a surface generally corresponding to a desired contact lens surface and a convex curve along an outer radius thereof, positioning the tool in a molding apparatus, introducing a moldable material into the molding apparatus to form a first mold section having a negative impression of the surface of the tool, assembling the first mold section with a second mold section to form a lens shaped cavity therebetween and forming a contact lens member in the lens shaped cavity of the assembled mold sections. Molds useful in producing contact lenses, tools useful in making mold sections for molding contact lenses and contact lenses having rounded edge surfaces are also provided.