Abstract: The invention is the method of preparing macromer for use in making ophthalmic lenses comprising combining two or more monomers and using a macromer-forming catalyst, wherein the macromer-forming catalyst comprises triethylamine or bismuth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising poly-HEMA having a peak molecular weight between about 25,000 and about 100,000, preferably between 25,000 and 80,000 and a polydispersity of less than about 2 to less than about 3.8 respectively and covalently bonded thereon, at least one cross-linkable functional group. The present invention further relates to low polydispersity poly-HEMA suitable for making the crosslinkable prepolymers, processes for functionalizing and purifying said poly-HEMA to form said crosslinkable prepolymers, viscous solutions made from said crosslinkable prepolymers, hydrogels made from said viscous solutions and articles made from said crosslinkable polymers, hydrogels and viscous solutions.

Abstract: This invention includes a wettable biomedical device containing a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer and a hydroxyl-functionalized silicone-containing monomer.

Abstract: This invention includes a wettable biomedical device containing a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer and a hydroxyl-functionalized silicone-containing monomer.

Abstract: Ophthalmic lens are made by reacting a lens forming mixture in a mold to form a polymer. The polymer is then demolded from the mold and processed into a completed lens. The molds are made of at least two parts, a first part having a surface for forming the polymer into a portion of the lens and a second part having a surface for forming the polymer into a portion of the lens. The first and second parts of the mold each have different surface energies.

Abstract: A method for coating hydrogel and silicone hydrogel articles, and articles made by the method, are provided in which the coating is first applied to the molding surface in which an article-forming material will be cured to form the article. The method permits the thickness and uniformity of the coating to be more easily controlled than in known coating methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a packaging solution for use with hydrophobic contact lenses. The packaging solution of the invention substantially prevents adherence of the lenses to the packages' surfaces, thus preventing deformation or breakage of the lens.

Abstract: The invention provides a colorant for use in tinting contact lenses in which the binding polymer used is capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material. When the colorants of the invention are applied to uncured lens material that is subsequently cured, the binding polymer forms an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material embedding the colorant within the lens material resulting in a stable, tinted lens.

Abstract: The invention provides a colorant for use in tinting contact lenses in which the binding polymer used is capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material. When the colorants of the invention are applied to uncured lens material that is subsequently cured, the binding polymer forms an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material embedding the colorant within the lens material resulting in a stable, tinted lens.

Abstract: A soft contact lens containing a silicone-hydrogel made by curing a reaction mixture containing a silicone-containing monomer.

Abstract: The invention provides a packaging solution for use with hydrophobic contact lenses. The packaging solution of the invention substantially prevents adherence of the lenses to the packages' surfaces, thus preventing deformation or breakage of the lens.

Abstract: A wettable silicone hydrogel made by including a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer into the silicone hydrogel monomer mix is presented. The hydrophilic polymer is entrapped in the hydrogel with little or no covalent bonding between it and the hydrogel matrix.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for forming ocular devices which compositions contain latent UV absorbers. The compositions of the invention may be used to conveniently and efficiently produce ocular devices through UV initiated, free radical polymerization.

Abstract: A highly purified monomer-dye unit is disclosed. A method for producing a highly purified monomer-dye unit is also disclosed. A hydrophilic monomer is reacted with a halotriazine or vinyl sulfone dye in the presence of a base under conditions that yield highly pure monomer-dye units.

Abstract: An improved method for imparting a tint or color to a soft, hydrogel contact lens by uniformly dispersing a dye throughout the lens. The dye is a water-soluble halotriazine dye. The dye is reacted with a hydrophilic monomer to prepare a reactive dye containing predominantly monofunctionality. The monomer is then subjected to polymerization in the presence of a homogeneous solution of the reactive dye in the monomer under conditions to yield the hydrophilic polymer from which the lens is formed. The dye becomes bonded to the polymer during polymerization. The finished lens does not require soaking in an aqueous solution of the dye to impart the desired tint or color to the lens. Additionally, the dye uniformly dispersed throughout the lens according to the improved method does not leach out of the lens or migrate within the lens. Furthermore, the lens does not need to be washed with aqueous base to bond the dye to the lens.

Abstract: Shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses are prepared by the steps of:(1) molding or casting a polymerization mixture comprising:(a) a monomer mixture comprising a major proportion of one or more hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and one or more cross-linking monomers; and(b) an inert, displaceable diluent selected from the group consisting of:(i) ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(ii) ethoxylated bisphenol A;(iii) polyethylene glycol;(iv) mixture of propoxylated and ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(v) single phase mixture of ethoxylated or propoxylated alkyl glucoside and C.sub.2-12 dihydric alcohol;(vi) adduct of .epsilon.-caprolactone and C.sub.2-6 alkanediols and triols;(vii) ethoxylated C.sub.3-6 alkanetriol; and(viii) mixtures of one or more of (i) through (vii),under conditions to polymerize said monomer mixture to produce a shaped gel of a copolymer of said monomers and said diluent; and(2) thereafter replacing said diluent with water.

Abstract: Method of testing inert displaceable diluents used in forming shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses prepared by the steps of:(1) molding or casting a polymerization mixture including:(a) a monomer mixture having a major proportion of one or more hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and one or more cross-linking monomers; and(b) an inert, displaceable diluent chosen from:(i) ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(ii) ethoxylated bisphenol A;(iii) polyethylene glycol;(iv) mixture of propoxylated and ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(v) single phase mixture of ethoxylated or propoxylated alkyl gtucoside and C.sub.2-12 dihydric alcohol;(vi) adduct of .epsilon.-caprolactone and C.sub.2-6 alkanediols and triols;(vii) ethoxylated C.sub.3-6 alkanetriol; and(viii) mixtures of one or more of (i) through (vii),under conditions to polymerize the monomer mixture to produce a shaped gel of a copolymer of the monomers and the diluent; and(2) thereafter replacing the diluent with water.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens, particularly a soft hydrogel contact lens, is disclosed. The lens can be derived from a crosslinked polymer made by reacting a hydrophilic monomer with a crosslinking amount of a polyfunctional compound containing a saccharide residue. The preferred hydrophilic monomer is actually a mixture of the following individual hydrophilic monomers: a) the reaction product of a free radical reactive monoisocyanate and a monoalkoxy polyalkylether, b) N,N-dimethylacrylamide, and optionally c)hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The preferred polyfunctional compound is a prepolymer derived from an alkoxylated glucose or sucrose. This prepolymer can be made by reacting glucose or sucrose, which has been ethoxylated or propoxylated, with a free radical reactive isocyanate which has been capped. The free radical reactive isocyanate can be capped by reacting it with a polyalkylether, such as polyethylene glycol, and then reacting this intermediate with a diisocyanate.

Abstract: Shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses are prepared by the steps of:(1) molding or casting a polymerization mixture comprising:(a) a monomer mixture comprising a major proportion of one or more hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and one or more cross-linking monomers; and(b) an inert, displaceable diluent selected from the group consisting of:(i) ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(ii) ethoxylated bisphenol A;(iii) polyethylene glycol;(iv) mixture of propoxylated and ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(v) single phase mixture of ethoxylated or propoxylated alkyl glucoside and C.sub.2-12 dihydric alcohol;(vi) adduct of .epsilon.-caprolactone and C.sub.2-6 alkanediols and triols;(vii) ethoxylated C.sub.3-6 alkanetriol; and(viii) mixtures of one or more of (i) through (vii),under conditions to polymerize said monomer mixture to produce a shaped gel of a copolymer of said monomers and said diluent; and(2) thereafter replacing said diluent with water.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing an ultraviolet radiation absorbing contact lens from a lens shaped polymer having hydroxyl groups pendant therefrom and having dispersed therein a UV absorbing agent substituted with at least one anhydride group which is exposed to basic conditions such that the hydroxyl groups react with the anhydride groups on the UV absorbing agent. As a result the UV absorbing agent becomes fixed to the polymer through the formation of a covalent ester bond.