Abstract: Described herein is a cost-effective and time-efficient method for making UV-absorbing contact lenses. In contrast to the conventional method for making UV-absorbing contact lenses which involves copolymerizing a lens forming composition including a UV-absorbing vinylic monomer, a method of the invention involves dipping a contact lens in a solution of UV-absorbing polymer comprising carboxyl-containing monomeric units, UV-absorbing monomeric units and covalently bound radical-initiating moieties to form a UV-absorbing coating on the contact lens.

Abstract: There is described a method of separating excess lens forming material from a molded ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens. After polymerization and/or cross-linking of a lens forming material (P) within a mold cavity (4) of a mold (1) comprising female and male mold halves (2, 3) to form an ophthalmic lens non-polymerized and/or non-cross-linked lens forming material is flushed away from the mold halves (2, 3) with a jet of a fluid flushing medium, such as, e.g., water or a solvent or an inert gas. Subsequently the molded lens is dried. In accordance with the invention the flushing is accomplished with the mold halves (2, 3) still in the closed position. There is also described an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: There is described a process for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens and an apparatus for forming an ophthalmic lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein in a mold assembly a first and a second mold half (101, 102) are first arranged in an intermediate closed position in which the mold surfaces of the two mold halves are spaced apart from each other at a distance increase (d1) of preferably 1 to 100 ?m relative to a final distance (d0) in a final closed position, and wherein, during curing of the lens forming material (202), the mold surfaces (105, 106) of the mold halves (101, 102) are actively or passively moved or moving from the intermediate closed position to the final closed position, where the distance increase (d1) is 0.

Abstract: There is described a process for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens and an apparatus for forming an ophthalmic lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein in a mold assembly a first and a second mold half (101, 102) are first arranged in an intermediate closed position in which the mold surfaces of the two mold halves are spaced apart from each other at a distance increase (d1) of preferably 1 to 100 ?m relative to a final distance (d0) in a final closed position, and wherein, during curing of the lens forming material (202), the mold surfaces (105, 106) of the mold halves (101, 102) are actively or passively moved or moving from the intermediate closed position to the final closed position, where the distance increase (d1) is 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for singulating ophthalmic lenses, particularly contact lenses. The method and the device are suitable for integration into an automated production of ophthalmic lenses, particularly contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem that with known plastic casting molds, especially those of polypropylene, the lenses produced with these molds have a slippery surface. The invention solves this problem through the use of polymers which are notable for their very low oxygen permeability.

Abstract: An apparatus for the plasma treatment of molds (2), in particular for contact lens molds, comprises a treatment chamber (50), in which a first electrode (51) is arranged facing a carrier (1;4) for carrying the molds (2) to be treated. The carrier (1;4) forms the second electrode (52) and comprises a first metal plate (10;40) having holes (100;400) therein and a second metal plate (11;41) which is arranged spaced apart from the first metal plate (10;40), and which is connected to the first metal plate (10;40) in an electrically conductive manner (12,13;43). The molds (2) are arranged on the second metal plate (11;41) with their molding surfaces (210) facing towards the first electrode (51) and are exposable to plasma through the holes (100;400) in the first metal plate (10;40).

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a nano-textured surface which mimics the surface texture of cornea of human eye. A method of the invention comprises creating a prime coating having nano-textures through controlled imbibition and/or depositions of a reactive polymeric coating material and fixing the nano-textures by crosslinking a hydrophilic polymeric material onto the prime coating to form a crosslinked polymeric coating that perserves the nano-textures of the prime coating and provides a nano-textured surface to the contact lens.

Abstract: A measured amount of a material that is crosslinkable by impingement of a suitable form of energy, especially UV light, is introduced into a two-part mould of which the cavity determines the shape of a moulding to be produced. The two mould halves are held a small distance from one another so that a thin annular gap is formed between them, which gap is in communication with the mould cavity and through which gap excess material can escape. The crosslinking is triggered by impingement of the selected form of energy, the impingement being spatially restricted to the cavity by suitable masking so that material disposed outside the mould cavity is not crosslinked. In that manner mouldings are obtained that do not require subsequent mechanical processing, and the mould is reusable. The process is especially, but not, however, exclusively, suitable for the manufacture of contact lenses.

Abstract: There is described a method of separating excess lens forming material from a molded ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens. After polymerization and/or cross-linking of a lens forming material (P) within a mold cavity (4) of a mold (1) comprising female and male mold halves (2, 3) to form an ophthalmic lens non-polymerized and/or non-cross-linked lens forming material is flushed away from the mold halves (2, 3) with a jet of a fluid flushing medium, such as, e.g., water or a solvent or an inert gas. Subsequently the molded lens is dried. In accordance with the invention the flushing is accomplished with the mold halves (2, 3) still in the closed position. There is also described an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: There is described a method of dosing a lens forming material into a mold (1;21), which comprises dosing a metered amount of a lens forming material (P) including a volatile solvent into a mold cavity (4) enclosed by a female mold half (2) and a male mold half of a mold (1;21). The lens forming material (P) is subsequently polymerized and/or cross-linked to form an ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens. Dosing of the lens forming material (P) into the mold cavity (4) is accomplished while the mold halves (2, 3) are associated with each other substantially gas-tight. There is also described an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A process for dispensing a flowable material including a volatile solvent into a mold, in particular a material for forming an ophthalmic lens, e.g. a contact lens, is disclosed. The process includes the steps of providing a mold; providing a dispenser; arranging the mold underneath the dispenser; dispensing the flowable material including the volatile solvent into the mold, the step of dispensing being performed in a local gas atmosphere substantially preventing the solvent from evaporating from the flowable material.

Abstract: There is described a method for the simultaneous manufacture of contact lenses having different lens parameters on the same production line, where a number of molds, each comprising male and female mold halves, are transported in sequential rows of and in each row in side by side configuration through a series of treatment stations, which are arranged sequentially along a production line, in which lenses of specific parameters are manufactured from a lens forming material. During manufacture each lens is associated with a lens identification code. There is also described a closed cycle production line for carrying out the method.

Abstract: There is described a process for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens and an apparatus for forming an ophthalmic lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein in a mold assembly a first and a second mold half (101, 102) are first arranged in an intermediate closed position in which the mold surfaces of the two mold halves are spaced apart from each other at a distance increase (d1) of preferably 1 to 100 ?m relative to a final distance (d0) in a final closed position, and wherein, during curing of the lens forming material (202), the mold surfaces (105, 106) of the mold halves (101, 102) are actively or passively moved or moving from the intermediate closed position to the final closed position, where the distance increase (d1) is 0.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem that with known plastic casting moulds, especially those of polypropylene, the lenses produced with these moulds have a slippery surface. The invention solves this problem through the use of polymers which are notable for their very low oxygen permeability.

Abstract: The invention provides a contact lens gripper comprising a tweezers gripper having first and second gripper arms hingedly connected to an actuation support for moving the free ends of the arms towards and away from each other so as to grasp and release a soft contact lens. The invention also provides a contact lens gripping unit comprising a mounting bar to which a plurality of individual contact lens grippers are mounted at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein each of the individual grippers is a contact lens gripper according to any one of the preceding claims.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for singulating ophthalmic lenses, particularly contact lenses. The method and the device are suitable for integration into an automated production of ophthalmic lenses, particularly contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem that with known plastic casting moulds, especially those of polypropylene, the lenses produced with these moulds have a slippery surface. The invention solves this problem through the use of polymers which are notable for their very low oxygen permeability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for singulating ophthalmic lenses, particularly contact lenses. The method and the device are suitable for integration into an automated production of ophthalmic lenses, particularly contact lenses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold half for making an ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens, wherein the mold half comprises a release sheet removably arranged on the mold surface of said mold half to separate a lens forming material from the mold surface, as well as to a method for applying a removable mold release sheet to said mold half. The mold half of the invention comprises a vacuum means to removably attach said release sheet to said mold surface, and preferably the mold half further comprises a pinch-off rim for forming the edge of said ophthalmic lens.