Abstract: The invention provides a method for washing, with a water-based system, reusable molds for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The water-based washing system comprises an ethoxylated silicone polyether surfactant. The water-based system of the invention can effectively wash away silicone-containing components and other components of a lens formulation left behind on the molding surfaces of a reusable mold, after removing a silicone hydrogel contact lens cast molded in the reusable mold.

Abstract: The invention provide a method for making silicone hydrogel based on the Lightstream Technology from a monomer mixture with a curing time of less than about 100 seconds. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to methods of the invention.

Abstract: Described are methods for covalently attaching one or more functional compounds to an ophthalmic lens. The method involves (a) contacting the lens with a functional compound, wherein the functional compound comprises at least one group capable of forming a covalent bond with the lens upon exposing the lens to irradiation and/or heat; and (b) irradiating and/or heating the lens produced in step (a) to covalently attach the functional compound to the lens. Also described herein are ophthalmic lens produced by the methods described herein.

Abstract: This invention is related to lenses and the associated processes used to manufacture lenses. In particular, the present invention is related to a process for designing and creating bifocal, multifocal, and single vision ophthalmic lenses by modulating an energy source.

Abstract: The invention provides a class of actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymers which comprise (1) ethylenically-unsaturated groups and (2) UV-absorbing polymeric units, latent UV-absorbing polymeric units, and/or dual photo-functional polymeric units. The prepolymer of the invention can be used to prepare silicone hydrogel contact lenses capable of absorbing UV/visible radiation. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made from a prepolymer of the invention and methods for making the contact lenses in a cost-effective way and with high consistency and high fidelity to the original lens design.

Abstract: Described herein are tri-functional compounds useful in the production of ophthalmic lenses. The compounds are composed of UV absorber having a polymerization initiator directly or indirectly bonded to the ultraviolet absorber, and an olefinic group directly or indirectly bonded to the ultraviolet absorber. Also described herein are polymers and ophthalmic lenses produced from the tri-functional compounds described herein.

Abstract: The invention provide a method for making silicone hydrogel based on the Lightstream Technology from a monomer mixture with a curing time of less than about 100 seconds. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to methods of the invention.

Abstract: Described are methods for covalently attaching one or more functional compounds to an ophthalmic lens. The method involves (a) contacting the lens with a functional compound, wherein the functional compound comprises at least one group capable of forming a covalent bond with the lens upon exposing the lens to irradiation and/or heat; and (b) irradiating and/or heating the lens produced in step (a) to covalently attach the functional compound to the lens. Also described herein are ophthalmic lens produced by the methods described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for washing, with a water-based system, reusable molds for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The water-based washing system comprises an ethoxylated silicone polyether surfactant. The water-based system of the invention can effectively wash away silicone-containing components and other components of a lens formulation left behind on the molding surfaces of a reusable mold, after removing a silicone hydrogel contact lens cast molded in the reusable mold.

Abstract: The invention provide a method for making silicone hydrogel based on the Lightstream Technology from a monomer mixture with a curing time of less than about 100 seconds. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to methods of the invention.

Abstract: This invention is generally related to a biocompatible sensor for detecting/measuring sugar, especially glucose, in an ocular fluid in a non-invasive or minimally invasive manner and a method for using the biocompatible sensor. A biocompatible sensor of the invention comprises, consists essentially, or consists of an ophthalmic device comprising a molecular sensing moiety which interacts or, reacts with sugar to provide an optical signal which is indicative of sugar level in an ocular fluid.

Abstract: This invention is generally related to a biocompatible sensor for detecting/measuring an analyte of interest in a body fluid and a method for making the biocompatible sensor. A biocompatible sensor of the invention comprises, consists essentially, or consists of a reflection hologram therein or thereon, wherein the reflection hologram is produced in a crosslinkable and/or polymerizable fluid material. The polymer matrix contains a molecular sensing moiety which interacts or reacts with an analyte of interest to provide an optical signal which is indicative of a change in one or more optical properties of the reflection hologram.

Abstract: The invention provides a class of actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymers which comprise (1) ethylenically-unsaturated groups and (2) UV-absorbing polymeric units, latent UV-absorbing polymeric units, and/or dual photo-functional polymeric units. The prepolymer of the invention can be used to prepare silicone hydrogel contact lenses capable of absorbing UV/visible radiation. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made from a prepolymer of the invention and methods for making the contact lenses in a cost-effective way and with high consistency and high fidelity to the original lens design.

Abstract: The invention provide a method for making silicone hydrogel based on the Lightstream Technology from a monomer mixture with a curing time of less than about 100 seconds. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to methods of the invention.

Abstract: Described herein are tri-functional compounds useful in the production of ophthalmic lenses. The compounds are composed of UV absorber having a polymerization initiator directly or indirectly bonded to the ultraviolet absorber, and an olefinic group directly or indirectly bonded to the ultraviolet absorber. Also described herein are polymers and ophthalmic lenses produced from the tri-functional compounds described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides silicone hydrogel materials having relatively high oxygen permeability and a relatively low modulus. The relatively-low modulus is achieved by adding a chain transfer agent into a polymerizable fluid composition in an amount sufficient to provide to the resultant silicone hydrogel material with a reduced modulus. In addition, the invention provides silicone hydrogel contact lenses comprising a silicone hydrogel material of the invention, a method for making a silicone hydrogel material of the invention, and a method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a porous polymer; wherein a composition comprising a polymerizable component, a porogen having an inverse temperature dependent solubility and a solvent are polymerized at a temperature around the cloud point temperature of the composition. The porous polymers obtainable according to the process of the invention are useful, for example, as materials for the manufacture of biomedical devices and prostheses, including ophthalmic devices such as contact lenses or artificial corneas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a porous polymer, wherein a composition comprising a polymerizable component, a porogen having an inverse temperature dependent solubility and a solvent are polymerized at a temperature around the cloud point temperature of the composition. The porous polymers obtainable according to the process of the invention are useful, for example, as materials for the manufacture of biomedical devices and prostheses, including ophthalmic devices such as contact lenses or artificial corneas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell growth substrate polymer that is obtainable by polymerizing a polymerizable component comprising least one hydrophilic monomer or macromer which is devoid of a sulfo group, at least one sulfo-group-containing monomer, and optionally a crosslinker in a weight ratio as defined in the claims. The polymers of the invention are useful, for example, as substrates for the attachment and growth of mammalian cells and tissue and in particular as materials for the manufacture of biomedical devices and prostheses, including implanted devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a porous polymer, wherein a composition comprising a polymerizable component, a porogen having an inverse temperature dependent solubility and a solvent are polymerized at a temperature around the cloud point temperature of the composition.