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.

The invention is related to a coated contact lens, especially a coated silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises an anterior surface, an opposite posterior surface, and a layered structural configuration from the anterior surface to the posterior surface. The layered structural configuration comprises an outer anterior surface hydrogel layer, an inner layer, and an outer posterior surface hydrogel layer. The inner layer is a lens bulk material. The coated contact lens has a superior lens surface softness and a good lens surface hydrophilicity while optionally having a desirably-lower polyquaternium-1 uptake.

A contact lens, including a central portion formed from a flexible or soft oxygen permeable material and a peripheral portion formed from a substantially rigid material. The central portion and the peripheral portion are coupled to each other at a coupling portion.

Techniques and mechanisms for fabrication of an eye mountable device. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes two curved lens portions and a flexible arm structure that extends between, and is anchored to, each of the two curved lens portions. The eye mountable device is formed at least in part by manipulation of the curved lens portions using the arm structure. Flexibility of the arm structure accommodates positioning of one curved lens portion to overlap the other curved lens portion. A lens of the eye mountable device is formed by the curved lens portions. In another embodiment, an enclosure formed by the lens has disposed therein an accommodation actuator.

A method for making an improved contact lens with the steps of providing a mold with a space between the top surface and a bottom surface, and positioning a mat in the space of the mold, providing a bead of liquid polymer of predetermined size at a predetermined location on the surface of the mat, pressing the bead of liquid polymer into the mat between the top surface and the bottom surface of the mold to form an optical zone framed by a mat peripheral zone, exposing the optical zone and the peripheral zone with U-V radiation to harden the optical zone into a composite improved contact lens, removing the cross-linked improved contact lens from the mold, processing the peripheral zone surrounding the optical zone to have a fenestration surface having holes, the holes being through holes with predetermined diameters selected to pass larger proteins, lipids, metabolites.

A meniscus shaped lens module comprises one or more structures that decrease an amount of pressure or force to move one or more surfaces of the lens module and increase a separation distance of anterior and posterior surfaces of the module in order to provide an increase in optical power. A lens structure of the module comprises one or more of a pattern of a surface of a central chamber, a meniscus, a reduced diameter or a soft material in order to provide increased amounts of curvature of an outer contact lens surface with decreased amounts of pressure. The pattern can be formed in one or more of many ways, and may comprise one or more of folds, patterning, bellows or concertinaed surface of an optically transmissive material having a substantially uniform thickness such as a sheet of a membrane material.

The present invention relates to silicone hydrogels exhibiting desired combinations of physical and mechanical properties, formed from a reactive monomer mixture comprising at least one N-alkyl methacrylamide, and at least one silicone-containing component. These silicone hydrogels may also contain hydrophilic components, crosslinking agents and toughening monomers. These silicone hydrogels are useful in preparing biomedical devices, ophthalmic lenses, and contact lenses.

The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.

Described herein is a method for producing photochromic contact lenses, in particular, photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method comprises a step of cast molding of a lens-forming composition including an iniferter to form an unprocessed contact lens having iniferter moieties covalently incorporated into its polymer matrix and a step of iniferter-induced graft-polymerization of a photochromic vinylic monomer to the polymer matrix only in its central region which is circular and concentric with the central axis of the unprocessed contact lens. The obtained photochromic contact lens has a central pupillary region that only can undergo a reversible color change upon exposure to UV/HEVL-radiation.

Described herein is a method for producing photochromic contact lenses, in particular, photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method comprises a step of cast molding of a lens-forming composition including a vinylic monomer having a primary amino or thiolactone group to form an unprocessed contact lens having the polymer matrix of which have pendant primary amino or thiolactone groups, a step of one-pot multistep reactions based on thiolactone chemistry (aminolysis and thiol-induced graft polymerization of a photochromic vinylic monomer to the polymer matrix) which are carried out only in its central region which is circular and concentric with the central axis of the unprocessed contact lens. The obtained photochromic contact lens has a central pupillary region that only can undergo a reversible color change upon exposure to UV/HEVL-radiation.