Disclosed in this specification is a process for manufacturing a thermochromic contact lens. The process includes (1) selecting a photoinitiator that absorbs at a first wavelength and at least one thermochromic dye that displays substantial absorption at the first wavelength when the dye is at a first temperature and exhibits at least an 80% reduction in absorbance at the first wavelength at a second temperature, (2) maintaining the reaction mixture at the second temperature and (3) providing cure light that includes the first wavelength.

Designs, apparatus and methods to form contact lenses with aesthetic elements on demand are described. In some examples, the method of defining the aesthetic aspect includes printing patterns. Other examples include photochromic or thermochromic elements which may provide patterning on exposure to electromagnetic irradiation. In some further examples, energized components in contact lenses may provide aesthetic characteristics.

Multilayer contact lenses and methods of making the same are described. A contact lens (100) includes a lens assembly (103). The lens assembly (103) includes a plurality of flexible lens layers. A first layer (101) has a uniform or smooth anterior surface (106), and a second layer (102) has a structured posterior surface that includes one or more recesses (105). The anterior surface (106) of the first layer (101) and the structured posterior surface of the second layer (102) define a first cavity (107) for containing one or more components.

An eye-mountable device is provided that includes a battery or other local power source and that can wirelessly power one or more intraocular devices using power from the battery. The eye-mountable device could be provided as a contact lens. The eye-mountable device could provide power to an intraocular device by emitting radio frequency energy, time-varying electrical fields through the conductive medium of the eye, or optical energy. The intraocular device could include an electronic lens configured to provide a controllable optical power to the eye. The intraocular device could include sensors configured to detect accommodation forces exerted by muscles of the eye; such detected forces could be used to control an electronic lens of the intraocular device or an electronic lens of the eye-mountable device. The battery could be rechargeable and the eye-mountable device could be configured to receive power to recharge the battery.

A method of manufacturing of an astigmatic contact lens having a toric portion and a ballast portion such that said ballast portion causes the toric portion of the contact lens to properly orient in the eye of the wearer. The toric lenses are manufactured by an effective process control method for cylinder axis angle in toric lens production by modifying the target cylinder angle for mold rotation by eliminating the accumulative cylinder axis error from all previous steps including tool making, tool assembly, and molding. The amount modifying the target angle is determined by accurately determine the true cylinder axis on the corresponding mold by using a high-resolution interferometer, such as FISBA FS10M or equivalent models from Trioptics μShape® vertical series.

Methods and apparatus for making lens assemblies that can be placed on an eye of a person and that include at least one component are described. Generally, a first lens member (100) and a second lens member (200) are formed. The second lens member (200) is transferred to a compliant stage (210). At least one component is placed in contact with one of the lens members (100, 200). The second lens member (200) is placed in contact with the first lens member (100) such that the compliant stage (210) can provide compression to the first and second lens members (100, 200). The second lens member (200) and the first lens member (100) are coupled together to form a lens assembly (10) with the at least one component located between the two lens members (100, 200).

A method of removing a lens forming material deposited on a lens forming surface (1) of a reusable glass mold for forming ophthalmic lenses, in particular contact lenses or intraocular lenses, comprises the steps of providing a plasma (2), exposing the lens forming surface (1) of the reusable glass mold to the plasma (2) for removing the lens forming material deposited on the lens forming surface (1). The plasma (2) is generated under atmospheric pressure and potential-free, or is generated under reduced pressure.

The invention is related to a contact lens, especially a SiHy contact lens, which comprises a lens bulk material covered with an outer surface hydrogel layer thereon and has a posterior surface and an opposite anterior surface. The outer surface hydrogel layer consists of an anterior outer hydrogel layer and a posterior outer hydrogel layer. A contact lens of the invention is characterized by having a difference in surface softness between its posterior (BC) and anterior (FC) surfaces.

The invention provides a method for imaging and thickness determination of coatings on coated contact lenses. The method comprises selectively staining a negatively-charged-groups-containing coating over the lens body of a coated contact lens by immersing the coated contact lens in an aqueous solution comprising a fluorescently-labeled polycationic polymer and having a pH of from about 6.5 to 8.0; orthogonally cutting the selectively-stained coated contact lens; and determining the thickness of the coating on the coated contact lens. In addition, the invention provides a method for selecting a candidate coating material comprising negatively charged groups for applying a coating with a desired thickness onto silicone hydrogel contact lenses and for optimizing a coating process for producing coated silicone hydrogel contact lenses with a desired thickness coating thereon.

Apparatuses and methods for multistage molding of contact lenses containing low oxygen permeable components or oxygen impermeable components. Components may be embedded within a contact lens by forming a device on a polymer substrate, molding a spacer onto a male mold, bonding the device to the spacer, removing the polymer substrate, and molding the remainder of the contact lens.