A container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2). The mounting element (3) further comprises an access opening (37) arranged at a proximal end of the mounting element (3) remote from the containment element (2). The retaining element (4) is fixedly arranged in between the containment element (2) and the mounting element (3), the retaining element (4) being configured to prevent the ophthalmic lens from being washed out of the containment element (2) and to permit access for a gripper through the access opening (37) of the mounting element (3) into the containment element (2) for insertion and removal of the ophthalmic lens.

A method of removing a liquid from a container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic contact lens, in particular a soft contact lens, during transporting the container (1) from a liquid bath (13) to a subsequent processing station (14), the method including the steps of: transporting the container (1) from the liquid bath to the subsequent processing station, generating suction (20), and applying the suction (20) to a bottom (11) of the container (1) during the step of transporting the container (1) from the liquid bath to the subsequent processing station, thereby removing the liquid from the container (1).

The present invention generally relates to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses having a stable lubricious coating thereon without involving use of organic solvent in post-curing processes.

A method is provided for manufacturing ophthalmically-acceptable, distortion-free silicone hydrogel contact lenses without the use of volatile organic solvents in the manufacturing process. The contact lenses are extract with an extraction liquid comprising an aqueous solution of a non-volatile organic solvent, such as ethyl lactate.

A container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2). The mounting element (3) further comprises an access opening (37) arranged at a proximal end of the mounting element (3) remote from the containment element (2). The retaining element (4) is fixedly arranged in between the containment element (2) and the mounting element (3), the retaining element (4) being configured to prevent the ophthalmic lens from being washed out of the containment element (2) and to permit access for a gripper through the access opening (37) of the mounting element (3) into the containment element (2) for insertion and removal of the ophthalmic lens.

An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end (1) comprising: a first injection-molding machine (10) and a second injection-molding machine (12) a casting module (14) comprising a filling station (144) and a capping station (145); a stacking module (15) and a curing module (16); a destacking module (17) and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end (2) comprising: an inspection module (21);
Wherein the inspection module comprising a rail system in which self-driving shuttles carrying the inspection cuvettes are arranged on a closed-loop rail, wherein the rail system can be adapted to the available space in the production plant/hall using curves and straight portions in the manner known from a model railway.

An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end (1) comprising: a first injection-molding machine (10) and a second injection-molding machine (12) a casting module (14) comprising a filling station (144) and a capping station (145); a stacking module (15) and a curing module (16); a destacking module (17) and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end (2) comprising: an inspection module (21);
Wherein the inspection module comprising a rail system in which self-driving shuttles carrying the inspection cuvettes are arranged on a closed-loop rail, wherein the rail system can be adapted to the available space in the production plant/hall using curves and straight portions in the manner known from a model railway.

An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end comprising: a first and a second injection-molding machine, a casting module, a filling station and a capping station, a stacking module and a curing module, a destacking module and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end comprising: a treatment module, an inspection module,
wherein self-driving shuttles in the inspection module can form a queue and act as a buffer for the primary packaging module if an interruption of the primary packaging module and variations of the cycle time in the primary packaging module are buffered so that the extraction module is able to operate largely independently from the upstream and downstream components of the manufacturing line.

A contact lens assembly includes a cup, a dry contact lens that is not for being worn on an eye, a sealing layer removably connected to the cup, and a wetting liquid supply. The sealing layer and the cup jointly form an enclosed space that receives the dry contact lens therein and that does not accommodate any liquid. After at least one of the sealing layer and the cup produces an opening, the cup can receive a wetting liquid from the wetting liquid supply through the opening, such that the dry contact lens is immersed in the wetting liquid to form a wet contact lens that is suitable for being worn on the eye and that has a water content greater than a water content of the dry contact lens.

An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end comprising: a first and a second injection-molding machine, a casting module, a filling station and a capping station, a stacking module and a curing module, a destacking module and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end comprising: a treatment module, and inspection module,
wherein self-driving shuttles in the inspection module can form a queue and act as a buffer for the primary packaging module if an interruption of the primary packaging module and variations of the cycle time in the primary packaging module are buffered so that the extraction module is able to operate largely independently from the upstream and downstream components of the manufacturing line.