Abstract: The present invention describes novel statistical copolymers and the preparation and possible uses thereof. Copolymers are described that are water-soluble and cross-linkable and that comprise the copolymerization product of a monomer mixture consisting substantially of a vinyl lactam (a) and at least one further vinyl monomer (b) of a different type selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic, hydrophilic and functional vinyl monomers, wherein the monomers are present in the copolymer in the form of statistically distributed building blocks, and, if a functional vinyl monomer is present as a building block in the copolymer, that building block is, where appropriate, modified with a reactive vinyl monomer (c), the reactive vinyl monomer (c) being linked to a building block of a functional vinyl monomer with retention of its vinylic group and with the formation of a covalent bond.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the production of tinted mouldings, in particular tinted contact lenses, in which a crosslinkable tinted polymer comprising units containing a crosslinkable group and units containing a reactive dye radical is crosslinked in solution, and to tinted mouldings, in particular tinted contact lenses, obtainable by this process.

Abstract: In a process for the manufacture of mouldings, especially optical lenses, specifically contact lenses (CL), a starting material that is crosslinkable by the impingement of suitable energy is introduced into a mould (1) having a cavity (15), which mould is at least partially permeable to the energy concerned. The starting material is introduced into the cavity in a still at least partially uncrosslinked state, the mould cavity determining the shape of the moulding (CL) to be produced. By means of impingement of the energy concerned, the starting material is crosslinked to an extent sufficient for it to be possible for the moulding (CL) to be released from the mould. The filling of the mould cavity is carried out in the starting material that is still at least partially in the uncrosslinked state.

Abstract: The present invention describes novel statistical copolymers and the preparation and possible uses thereof. Copolymers are described that are water-soluble and cross-linkable and that comprise the copolymerisation product of a monomer mixture consisting substantially of a vinyl lactam (a) and at least one further vinyl monomer (b) of a different type selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic, hydrophilic and functional vinyl monomers, wherein the monomers are present in the copolymer in the form of statistically distributed building blocks, and, if a functional vinyl monomer is present as a building block in the copolymer, that building block is, where appropriate, modified with a reactive vinyl monomer (c), the reactive vinyl monomer (c) being linked to a building block of a functional vinyl monomer with retention of its vinylic group and with the formation of a covalent bond.

Abstract: The present invention describes a water-soluble crosslinkable prepolymer that comprises, in the copolymer chain, units derived from the following monomeric structural units: a vinyl lactam (a), vinyl alcohol (b), optionally a lower alkanecarboxylic acid vinyl ester (c), a vinylic crosslinking agent (d) and optionally a vinylic photoinitiator (e); a process for the preparation of the novel prepolymers; crosslinked water-insoluble polymeric networks therefrom; hydrogels and moulded articles made from the crosslinked water-insoluble polymeric networks, especially contact lenses; and a process for the manufacture of hydrogels and finished contact lenses using the mentioned crosslinkable water-soluble prepolymers.

Abstract: The blister pack comprises a base portion and a cover layer. The base portion comprises a hollow chamber that contains a soft hydrophilic contact lens and a sterile aqueous preserving solution, and a substantially flat flange that extends right round the outside of the hollow chamber. The cover layer is releasably sealed to the flange in a sealing zone that extends right round the circumference of the hollow chamber. The flange comprises a grip region that extends from one side of the hollow chamber beyond the sealing zone and is covered by a corresponding grip region of the cover layer but is not sealed thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for rendering contact lenses hydrophilic, which comprises treating a contact lens with a compound of formula IAr--Z--Ar' (I)wherein Ar and Ar' are each independently of the other an aromatic radical that may be substituted by lower alkoxy and/or by lower alkyl and wherein one of the radicals Ar and Ar' or both radicals Ar and Ar' contain one or more substituents X selected independently of one another from a polar functional group Y, lower alkyl substituted by a polar functional group Y, and lower alkoxy substituted by a polar functional group Y, and wherein Z is a divalent group that separates Ar and Ar' from each other by from one to six atoms. The invention relates also to contact lenses treated according to the invention and to the use of compounds of formula I in the process according to the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing a contact lens and a contact lens comprising a crosslinked lipophilised cyclodextrin derivative, wherein each repeating cyclodextrin unit includes at least one polysiloxane group. The process for producing the contact lens includes the reaction of a cyclodextrin with a polysiloxane.

Abstract: The invention relates to contact lenses made from a copolymer comprising units of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently of the other hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, organosilylalkyl or organosilyl, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each hydrogen or, taken together, are a divalent alkylene radical containing up to 8 carbon atoms, and A is a divalent substituted 1,2-ethylene radical which is derived from a copolymerisable vinyl monomer by virtue of the vinyl double bond being replaced with a single bond. The invention further relates to the copolymers themselves, to the use thereof for making contact lenses, and to a process for making contact lenses from such copolymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polymers, to processes for the preparation thereof, to contact lenses consisting substantially of those polymers and to processes for the manufacture thereof and to the use of the novel polymers for the manufacture of contact lenses. The polymers according to the invention are especially the copolymerisation products of monomer mixtures comprising the following monomers:______________________________________ a) 20-60% siloxane monovinyl component b) 1-25% siloxane oligovinyl component c) 10-55% fluorine-containing vinyl component d) 3-30% hydrophobic vinyl component having a bulky hydrocarbon radical, e) 0-10% hydrophilic vinyl component f) 0-15% additional cross-linking vinyl component. ______________________________________The novel polymers and the contact lenses made therefrom are distinguished by a high degree of hardness while at the same time being highly permeable to oxygen.

Abstract: The invention relates to contact lenses made from a polymer comprising macrocycles that are made up of units of formula I--(--CR.sup.1 .dbd.CR.sup.2 --A--)-- (I)wherein A is alkylene or alkenylene each having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms and each of which may be substituted by one or more R.sup.3 radicals, each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, independently of the other, is hydrogen or lower alkyl, and R.sup.3 is lower alkyl, fluorinated lower alkyl or a siloxane radical.They exhibit a combination of a high degree of hardness and oxygen permeability. They can be produced in an especially advantageous manner, that is to say by hot compression moulding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polymers, to processes for the preparation thereof, to contact lenses consisting substantially of those polymers and to processes for the manufacture thereof and to the use of the novel polymers for the manufacture of contact lenses. The polymers according to the invention are especially the copolymerisation products of monomer mixtures comprising the following monomers:a) 20-60% siloxane monovinyl componentb) 1-25% siloxane oligovinyl componentc) 10-55% fluorine-containing vinyl componentd) 3-30% hydrophobic vinyl component having a bulky hydrocarbon radical,e) 0-10% hydrophilic vinyl componentf) 0-15% additional cross-linking vinyl component.The novel polymers and the contact lenses made therefrom are distinguished by a high degree of hardness while at the same time being highly permeable to oxygen.

Abstract: Hard polymers with extremely high oxygen permeability are described, which consist of the copolymerization product of 1-15% by weight of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) bearing multiple polymerizable vinyl groups and having a number-average molecular weight M.sub.n of 1000-7000, 20-50% of an oligosiloxanylalkyl (meth)acrylate, 25-50% of an at least three fluorine atoms containing vinyl-monomer, 0-30% of copolymerizable monomers, which by themselves as homo- or copolymers have a Shore-D hardness of at least 85, 1-25% of polyvinyl-crosslinking monomer of 200-1000 molecular weight, and 0-15% of a watersoluble, copolymerizable monomer. The novel polymers combine a Shore-D hardness of 70-85 with an oxygen permeability of 40-90 barrers, making them outstanding materials for the manufacture and use as rigid, gas-permeable contact lenses.