Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses having less optical defects or free of optical defects by subjecting the extraction tray for the formed silicone hydrogel contact lenses to a reciprocating lowering and raising motion thereof to obtain the silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provides a method producing contact lenses, comprising the step of: separating the mold into the male and female mold halves, with the silicone hydrogel contact lens adhered on one of the male and female mold halves; bring a shaped ultrasonic horn in direct contact with at least one area of a non-optical surface of the female mold half or the male mold half having the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached thereon; and applying a ultrasonic vibrational energy to the at least one area of the non-optical surface of the female mold half or the male mold half having the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached thereon so as to separate the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens from the mold half attached thereon.

Abstract: The invention provides a method producing contact lenses, comprising the step of: separating the mold into the male and female mold halves, with the silicone hydrogel contact lens adhered on one of the male and female mold halves; bring a shaped ultrasonic horn in direct contact with at least one area of a non-optical surface of the female mold half or the male mold half having the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached thereon; and applying a ultrasonic vibrational energy to the at least one area of the non-optical surface of the female mold half or the male mold half having the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached thereon so as to separate the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens from the mold half attached thereon.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a basket for holding contact lenses. The basket comprises a first basket and a second basket mating members, each basket member includes a basket wall defining a first cavity, a planar flange extending out around the first cavity, a plurality of spaced fingers extending upward circumferentially from the periphery of the cavity, wherein the first basket and second basket mating members having a same structure, wherein the first basket and second basket mating members forming a second cavity when mated for receiving said contact lens, the cavity inhibiting inversion or rolling over of said contact lens when emplaced therein. 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 present invention generally relates to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses having less optical defects or free of optical defects by subjecting the extraction tray for the formed silicone hydrogel contact lenses to a reciprocating lowering and raising motion thereof to obtain the silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a reusable mold for making a contact lens and the reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves is made from an oxide glass having a Knoop Hardness less than HK 350. The invention is also directed to a method for making an optical part by single point diamond turning an oxide glass having a Knoop Hardness HK less than 350.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a hydrogel contact lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded, wherein the lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by an actinic radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves having an absorbing antireflective coating, wherein the reusable mold is a non-plastic mold.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a basket for holding contact lenses. The basket comprises a first basket and a second basket mating members, each basket member comprises a basket wall defining a first cavity, a planar flange extending out around the first cavity, a plurality of spaced fingers extending upward circumferentially from the periphery of the cavity, wherein the first basket and second basket mating members having a same structure, wherein the first basket and second basket mating members forming a second cavity when mated for receiving said contact lens, the cavity inhibiting inversion or rolling over of said contact lens when emplaced therein. 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 present invention general related to a reusable mold and a method of using the mold to manufacture contact lenses. The mold comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded, wherein the lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by an actinic radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves is a precision press molded mold made from an oxide glass selected from a group consisting of borosilicates glass and fluorophosphates glass.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a reusable mold for making a contact lens and the reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves is made from an oxide glass having a Knoop Hardness less than HK 350. The invention is also directed to a method for making an optical part by single point diamond turning an oxide glass having a Knoop Hardness HK less than 350.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a mold for making a contact lens comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a polymerizable and/or crosslinkable silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens-forming composition, and the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface. The cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. At least one of the mold halves is made from a sulfur containing polymer having a refraction index greater than 1.5. The dimension stability of the plastic mold can be improved.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a reusable mold for making a contact lens and the reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves is made from an oxide glass having a Knoop Hardness less than HK 350. The invention is also directed to a method for making an optical part by single point diamond turning an oxide glass having a Knoop Hardness HK less than 350.

Abstract: The invention provides a method producing contact lenses, comprising the step of: separating the mold into the male and female mold halves, with the silicone hydrogel contact lens adhered on one of the male and female mold halves; bring a shaped ultrasonic horn in direct contact with at least one area of a non-optical surface of the female mold half or the male mold half having the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached thereon; and applying a ultrasonic vibrational energy to the at least one area of the non-optical surface of the female mold half or the male mold half having the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached thereon so as to separate the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens from the mold half attached thereon.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface. The cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by actinic radiation. The reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves is made from chalcogenide glasses, Zinc Selenide or Zinc Sulfide.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by a UV radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves is made from an oxide glass material having a UV transmission cut-off wavelength no less than 390 nm and a specific gravity higher than 3.5.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a material into a mold for forming contact lenses, comprises the steps of: (1) providing a contact lens mold, (2) providing a dispensing needle, wherein the dispensing needle is made from a material having a surface energy less than 32 dynes/cm, (3) arranging the contact lens mold underneath the dispensing needle, (4) dispersing a fluid composition into a mold for making a contact lens, wherein the fluid composition comprises a lens-forming material, and the lens-forming material containing a solvent and is crosslinkable and/or polymerizable by thermal curing or actinic radiation.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a reusable mold for making a contact lens comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a polymerizable and/or crosslinkable silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens-forming composition, and the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface. The cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves being made from an oxide glass comprising fluorine and/or fluoride. The mold made by oxide glass comprising fluorine and/or fluoride demonstrates improving mold cleanability with water based cleaning process.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a hydrogel contact lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded, wherein the lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by an actinic radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves having an absorbing antireflective coating, wherein the reusable mold is a non-plastic mold.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface. The cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by actinic radiation. The reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves is made from chalcogenide glasses, Zinc Selenide or Zinc Sulfide.

Abstract: The present invention general related to a reusable mold and a method of using the mold to manufacture contact lenses. The mold comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded, wherein the lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by an actinic radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves is a precision press molded mold made from an oxide glass selected from a group consisting of borosilicates glass and fluorophosphates glass.