Abstract: Benzotriazole UV/Visible light-absorbing monomers are disclosed. The UV/Vis absorbers are particularly suitable for use in intraocular lens materials.

Abstract: A method for making an article comprising a core material and a coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing the core material; (b) applying one or more layers of a crosslinkable polycationic material, wherein the polycationic material is a reaction product of: (i) an epoxide of formula (I) wherein X equals bromo, chloro, iodo, or cyano, and R1, R2, R3, R4, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C6-alkyl, and linear or branched C1-C6-alkyl which is substituted with halogen, and (ii) a polymer having repeating units comprising one or more secondary or tertiary amine group(s); (c) applying one or more layers of a polyanionic material; and (d) cross-linking the layers of polyelectrolytes formed by steps (b) and (c).

Abstract: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic device materials. The materials contain a multi-arm PEG macromer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogel contact lens which has improved and long-lasting wettability in the surface and inner structures, while exhibiting excellent contamination resistance, shape stability and mechanical strength. Also disclosed is a method for producing the hydrogel contact lens. The wettable hydrogel contact lens is characterized by containing an ionic hydrophilic polymer which is a compound having a hydroxy group and an anionic group. The method for producing a hydrogel contact lens is characterized in that a constituent component of the hydrogel contact lens is a copolymer containing at least a cationic monomer and an anionic monomer, and in that the method comprises a step wherein counter ions of the monomers form ionic bonds and a step wherein an ionic hydrophilic polymer, which is a compound having a hydroxy group and an anionic group, is contained.

Abstract: An ophthalmic device is disclosed that is a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture comprising (a) a major amount of a non-silicone-containing hydrophilic monomer; (b) a hydrophobic monomer; and (c) a crosslinking agent, wherein the ophthalmic device has an equilibrium water content of at least about 70 weight percent and further wherein the ophthalmic device has an evaporative dehydration barrier layer on the surface thereof. A method for the mitigation of evaporative corneal dehydration employing the high water content ophthalmic device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Selective fractionation and separation of melanin and use of fractionated or separated melanin in connection with light filters is disclosed. Further, light filters that use yellow melanin or melanin like materials prepared to have a yellow color and a melanin transmission spectrum in combination with a photochromic dye are disclosed. The yellow form of melanin has minimal impact on the perception of light intensity with transmission values greater than 80%. The combination allows for a single light filter suitable for both night driving and sunglass applications and which also preserve color perception.

Abstract: Matrix controlled diffusion drug delivery systems are described herein which are based on one or more silicon-containing monomers of the general formula: wherein L, X?, n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and V are as set forth herein.

Abstract: Matrix controlled diffusion drug delivery systems based on one or more silicon-containing monomers of the general formula: wherein L, X?, n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and V are as set forth herein.

Abstract: A hydrophilic polysiloxane macromonomer containing polyoxyethylene as a hydrophilic side chains pendant to a polysiloxane main chain for imparting transparency, oxygen permeability, and hydrophilic properties to a contact lens is disclosed. The properties of the material are controlled by regulating the length of the polysiloxane main chain, the length of the hydrophilic polyoxyethylene side chains, and the number of the side chains.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a safe ocular lens material having high oxygen permeability, excellent surface wettability, the excellent lubricity/easy lubricating property of surface, little in surface adhesive and superior flexibility and stress relaxation, in addition, suppressing elution of a monomer from the final product. [Means for Solving the Problem] An ocular lens comprising a compound (A) having an ethylenically unsaturated group and polydimethylsiloxane structure through a urethane bond and an 1-alkyl-3-methylene-2-pyrrolidone (B).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a UV absorbing optical element comprising a polymer optical element substrate, and a UV light absorbing amount of a tris-aryltriazine-based UV absorber incorporated in said substrate. The present invention also provides a method for forming a UV absorbing optical element.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer material having superior water wettability and lubricity, and enabling persistence of the same by allowing the surfactant to be retained by the polymer material so as not to be gradually released. The present invention is directed to a polymer material including: [I] a polymer having a constitutional unit derived from (A) a polymerizable compound having an acryloyloxy group and not having a silicon atom; and [II] a surfactant. The content of the surfactant [II] is preferably 0.05% by mass or greater and 1% by mass or less. The surfactant [II] is preferably a nonionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene group.

Abstract: Biomedical devices are provided herein which are formed from a polymerization product of a mixture comprising (a) a copolymer which is the reaction product of one or more polymerizable polyhydric alcohols and one or more polymerizable fluorine-containing monomers; and (b) a biomedical device-forming comonomer.

Abstract: Contact lenses, such as hydrogel contact lenses, are described. The present contact lenses include a lens body that is the reaction product of a polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition includes one or more monomers and a crosslinker that crosslinks the one or more monomers during polymerization. The polymerization of the one or more monomers occurs in the presence of a hydrophilic polymer that is present in the polymerizable composition, which comprises a polymer of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine. The present lenses are capable of releasing the hydrophilic polymer from the contact lens for prolonged periods of time and also have a reduced surface friction compared to similar lenses without the hydrophilic polymer. The present invention also relates to packaging systems for use with such lenses and methods of producing such lenses.

Abstract: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic materials. These materials, especially useful as intraocular lens materials, contain one or more aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomers as principal device-forming monomers and a tack-reducing macromer additive. In addition to their use as intraocular lens materials, the present materials are also suitable for use in other ophthalmic or otorhinolaryngological devices, such as contact lenses, keratoprostheses, corneal inlays or rings; otological ventilation tubes and nasal implants.

Abstract: Crosslink agents used to copolymerize at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare polymeric materials for ophthalmic lenses. The crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer. Accordingly, the invention is also directed to a hydrophilic crosslinked polymer that comprises at least two monomeric units and at least two different crosslink units. The use of the dual crosslink system provides an improved means to control the final chemical, physical and structural characteristics of the resulting polymer.

Abstract: Light filters that use yellow melanin or melanin like materials prepared to have a yellow color and a melanin transmission spectrum in combination with a photochromic dye are disclosed. The yellow form of melanin has minimal impact on the perception of light intensity with transmission values greater than 80%. The combination allows for a single light filter suitable for both night driving and sunglass applications and which also preserve color perception.

Abstract: The invention provides a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having an LbL coating thereon that is not covalently attached to the lens and has good hydrophilicity, intactness and durability. The method comprises LbL coating at high temperature.

Abstract: Polymerizable liquid compositions of the polyurethane type, consisting of two components (A) and (B), wherein component (A) contains at least one cyclo-aliphatic diisocyanate monomer or a mixture of one cyclo-aliphatic diisocyanate monomer and a pre-polymer obtained by reaction, in the presence of an acid phosphate ester catalyst, between said cyclo-aliphatic diisocyanate monomer and one or more polyols having two or more hydroxy 1 groups per molecule and a molecular weight ranging from 50 to 2,000 g/mole; the second component (B) contains one or more polyols having a molecular weight ranging from 50 to 2,000 g/mole and a functionality between 2 and 5; in the absence of polyalkoxylated tertiary diamines and organometallic catalysts, said components (A) and (B) being present in a weight ratio which varies from 1:1 to 2:1 and the process for the production of organic glass starting from polymerizable liquid compositions of the polyurethane type.

Abstract: An optical element comprising: a first monomer polymerized while in the presence of a second monomer to form a first polymer intermixed with the second monomer, the first polymer having a spatially varying degree of cure that provides a predetermined refractive index profile; and the second monomer polymerized in the presence of the first polymer to form a second polymer intermixed with the first polymer, the second polymer stabilizing the refractive index profile.

Abstract: A curable coating composition includes: a) at least one monomer chosen from polyol poly(meth)acrylate monomers having from 3 to 6 (meth)acrylate functions, b) at least one monomer chosen from polyol polyglycidyl ethers having at least three epoxy functions, c) at least one difunctional monomer, d) at least one free-radical photo-initiator, and e) at least one cationic photo-initiator, wherein the molar ratio of acrylate equivalents to epoxy equivalents in the composition ranges from 3:1 to 4:1, and wherein the composition is free of silica and of monomers bearing a silane function. A method for coating a substrate, such as an ophthalmic lens, with this composition, and the coating substrate thus obtained are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biomedical molding, in particular a contact lens, which is obtainable by crosslinking, in a mold, an aqueous solution of a crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) prepolymer comprising at least 0.5 weight-%, based on the entire formulation, of a non-reactive PVA, wherein the number-average molecular weight of the non-reactive PVA is higher than that of the crosslinkable PVA. A contact lens of the invention has an improved wearing comfort.

Abstract: [Problems to be Solved] To provide highly hydrous contact lenses having a cellulose derivative as an essential component. [Means to Solve the Problems] The highly hydrous contact lens formed by exposing a pasty mixture containing a cellulose derivative, a polymerizable compound couplable to the foregoing cellulose derivative, and water to radiation.

Abstract: The instant invention pertains to a method and a fluid composition for producing contact lenses with relatively high edge quality and with relatively high precision and fidelity in reproducing a desired lens design. The method of the invention involves: a mold which has a first mold half with a first molding surface and a second mold half with a second molding surface, wherein the first and second mold halves are configured to receive each other such that the cavity is formed between the first and second molding surfaces which define the opposite two surfaces of a contact lens to be produced; a spatial limitation of actinic radiation to define the edge of the contact lens to be produced; and addition of a radical scavenger in a fluid composition comprising a lens-forming material to reduce substantially the crosslinking/polymerizing, caused by diffused, scattered and/or reflected incident actinic radiation, of the fluid composition outside of and around the spatial limitation of actinic radiation.

Abstract: Contact lenses, such as hydrogel contact lenses, are described. The present contact lenses include a lens body that is the reaction product of a polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition includes one or more monomers and a crosslinker that crosslinks the one or more monomers during polymerization. The polymerization of the one or more monomers occurs in the presence of a hydrophilic polymer that is present in the polymerizable composition, which comprises a polymer of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine. The present lenses are capable of releasing the hydrophilic polymer from the contact lens for prolonged periods of time and also have a reduced surface friction compared to similar lenses without the hydrophilic polymer. The present invention also relates to packaging systems for use with such lenses and methods of producing such lenses.

Abstract: The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: Azo compounds that block visible light are disclosed. These light absorbers are particularly suitable for use in intraocular lens materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to solutions for packaging ophthalmic devices comprising at least one antimicrobial metal salt which prevent the loss of said antimicrobial metal salt during autoclaving and storage.

Abstract: The present invention provides interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels that have high oxygen permeability, strength, water content, and resistance to protein adsorption. The hydrogels include two interpenetrating polymer networks. The first polymer network is based on a hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer. The second polymer network is based on a hydrophilic monomer. The hydrophilic monomer is polymerized and cross-linked to form the second polymer network in the presence of the first polymer network. The telechelic macromonomer preferably has a molecular weight of between about 575 Da and about 20,000 Da. Mixtures of molecular weights may also be used. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer is PEG-diacrylamide and the hydrophilic monomer is an acrylic-based monomer. The material is designed to serve as a contact lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous solution for sterilizing and storing ophthalmic devices, preferably a contact lens, made of a hydrogel material, preferably a poly(oxyalkylene)-containing hydrogel material. The solution comprises one or more organic buffer agents, such as a Good buffer or a bis-aminopolyols; an organic tonicity-adjusting agent with multiple hydroxyl groups in an amount sufficient to provide an osmolarity of from about 200 to about 450 mosm/l, wherein the aqueous solution has a pH of from about 5.5 to about 8.5, provided that the aqueous solution include phosphate buffer at a concentration of about 15 mM or less and about 5000 ppm sodium chloride. The present invention also provides a method for sterilizing and storing an ophthalmic device using an aqueous solution of the invention.

Abstract: A surface modified biomedical device is provided comprising a biomedical device having a coating on at least a portion thereof, the coating comprising a polymer or copolymer having one or more repeating units of the formula: wherein R independently is a C2-C20 hydrocarbon radical and n is an integer of 2 to 5000.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reversible hydrogel systems. Particularly, the hydrogel of the present invention is made up of copolymers that can be a hydrogel when in an oxidized state and can be a solution when in a reduced state. A solution of the copolymer can be oxidized to form a hydrogel; and the hydrogel can be reduced to form a solution of the copolymer. Reversible nanogels can also be formed from a dilute solution of the copolymers. The hydrogel is formed with nanoparticles embedded therein to form a nanocomposite whose refractive index and modulus can be controlled by varying the amounts of nanoparticles and the polymer concentration of the hydrogel, respectively.

Abstract: An intraocular lens comprising: (a) monomeric units derived from at least one cationically polymerizable branched alkene monomer; (b) monomeric units derived from at least one cationically polymerizable monomer having a pendant benzocyclobutene group; and (c) a UV-absorbing benzotriazole component having the formula I.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrophilic dicationic siloxane prepolymers with one polymerizable vinyl moiety instead of two polymerizable vinyl moieties, resulting in contact lenses and/or biomedical devices with reduced cross-link density and modulus without detracting from other properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye composition for an ophthalmic lens, which is a dye composition used for dyeing an ophthalmic lens with an ink-jet coating equipment, characterized by the composition including: (A) a dye having at least one group having a carbon-carbon double bond selected from an ?,?-unsaturated carbonyl group, a styryl group, a vinylbenzyl group and an allyl group per molecule; (B) a radical polymerization initiator; and (C) a solvent capable of dissolving at least a part of the component (A) and the component (B), and/or (D) a monomer having at least one radical polymerizable group per molecule.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward surface treatment of a device. The surface treatment comprises the attachment of reactive segmented block copolymers to the surface of the substrate by means of reactive functionalities of the terminal functionalized surfactant material reacting with complementary surface reactive functionalities in monomeric units along the polymer substrate. The present invention is also directed to a surface modified medical device, examples of which include contact lenses, intraocular lenses, vascular stents, phakic intraocular lenses, aphakic intraocular lenses, corneal implants, catheters, implants, and the like, comprising a surface made by such a method.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogels formed from a hydrated polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising (a) a major amount of a non-silicone-containing hydrophilic monomer; and (b) a minor amount of a silicone-containing monomer, wherein the hydrogel has a water content of greater than 50 weight percent are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable water-soluble or alcohol-soluble ultraviolet absorber, which is represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1 is H or C1˜5 alkyl; R2 is H, Cl, Br or I; R3 is H or methyl; and m each is an integer in the range from 3 to 12. The above-mentioned compounds are suitable for copolymerizing with one or more monomers to form copolymers so that the UV-light resistance of the copolymer can be efficiently promoted. For example, the polymer made by copolymerizing the above-mentioned compound with acrylate monomers can be applied to the production of optical medical materials, especially contact lenses or intraocular lenses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric compositions useful in the manufacture of biocompatible medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to certain monoethylenically unsaturated polycarbosiloxane monomers capable of polymerization to form polymeric compositions having desirable physical characteristics useful in the manufacture of ophthalmic devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials that have high glucose and oxygen permeability, strength, water content, and resistance to protein adsorption. The materials include an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel that is coated with biomolecules. The IPN hydrogels include two interpenetrating polymer networks. The first polymer network is based on a hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer. The second polymer network is based on a hydrophilic monomer. The hydrophilic monomer is polymerized and cross-linked to form the second polymer network in the presence of the first polymer network. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer is PEG-diacrylate or PEG-dimethacrylate and the hydrophilic monomer is an acrylic-based monomer. Any biomolecules may be linked to the IPN hydrogels, but are preferably biomolecules that support the growth of cornea-derived cells. The material is designed to serve as a corneal prosthesis.

Abstract: A synthetic route to polymers comprised of at least two monomers each with a very different reactivity ratio by using a corresponding crosslink agent for each monomer. Novel crosslink agents are described that provide for the copolymerization of at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare materials for ophthalmic lenses. The new crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer.

Abstract: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic device materials. The materials contain a copolymeric additive for glistening resistance.

Abstract: UV absorbing monomers that are particularly useful in ophthalmic devices are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymerizable material for making a polymeric article, the polymerizable material comprising: a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol having crosslinkable groups; and a modifier in an amount sufficient to improve one or more physical properties of a polymeric article made from the polymerizable material, wherein the one or more physical properties are selected from the group consisting of stress at break (N/mm2), percentage of elongation at break, toughness or energy to break (N·mm), and susceptibility to fracture. The modifier is selected from the group consisting of nanoparticles having a hydrophilic surface, a copolymer having hydrophobic groups or units for imparting at least one desired physical property to said ophthalmic device and hydrophilic groups or units in an amount sufficient to render the copolymer miscible with the polyvinyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic device materials. The materials comprise di-block or tri-block macromers containing hydrophilic side-chains. The materials have improved glistening resistance.

Abstract: Biomedical devices are provided herein which are formed from a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture comprising (a) one or more esterified aminoalcohol monomers; and (b) one or more biomedical device-forming monomers.

Abstract: This invention relates to comfortable ophthalmic devices and methods of producing such devices.

Abstract: An intraocular lens with an ordered polymer system contained within a lens capsule or a membrane in the lens capsule. The ordered polymer system includes at least one negatively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, anionic groups and hydrophobic groups, and at least one positively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, cationic groups and hydrophobic groups. The at least one negatively charged copolymer and the at least one positively charged copolymer are associatively arranged through non-covalent interactions in the lens capsule or the membrane.

Abstract: Azo compounds that block visible light are disclosed. These light absorbers are particularly suitable for use in intraocular lens materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an ophthalmic device. In particular, the present invention provides a method for production of a contact lens by means of stereolithography. A preferred stereolithography technique is based on polymerization and solidification of a contact lens forming liquid material by actinic irradiation one layer at a time. In addition, the present invention provides systems and methods for making a contact lens for a specific patient based on the prescription.