The invention relates to a method for producing embedded hydrogel contact lenses involving a set of 3-mold halves consisting essentially of: one female lens mold half having a molding surface defining the anterior surface of a contact lens; one male lens mold half having a molding surface defining the posterior surface of the contact lens; and an insert mold half having a molding surface defining one of the front and back surfaces of an insert. One of the lens mold halves is used twice: first with the insert mold half for molding an insert during first curing process and then with the other lens mold half for molding an embedded hydrogel contact lens with the molded insert embedded partially or fully therein during second curing process. The invention also relates to embedded hydrogel contact lenses produced from a method of the invention.

Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatus for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens component. In one embodiment, a method includes placing at least part of a soluble core component on a first molding surface of a first mold component or a second molding surface of a second mold component, mating the second mold component to the first mold component to form an assembled mold comprising a mold cavity, introducing a lens component material into the mold cavity, curing the lens component material within the assembled mold to form a molded lens component, and immersing the molded lens component in a solvent to dissolve the soluble core component. At least one of the first mold component and the second mold component can also be made of a soluble material.

Described herein is a method for producing a contact lens comprising a central zone that has a diameter of about 13 mm or less, is concentric with the central axis of the contact lens, and possesses at least one photo functionality. The method comprises: applying a first polymerizable fluid composition containing at least one photochemically functional compound on a central portion of the molding surface of a female mold half to form a circular layer; partially curing, in situ, the circular layer in the female mold half; dispensing a second polymerizable fluid composition over the partially-cured circular layer on the molding surface of the female mold half; and a step of curing the second polymerizable fluid composition and the partially-cured circular layer immersed therein in the mold cavity formed between the the molding surfaces of the female mold half and a male mold half.

Described herein is a method for producing a contact lens comprising a central photochromic zone that has a diameter of about 13 mm or less and is concentric with the central axis of the contact lens. The method comprises: applying a first polymerizable fluid composition containing at least one photochromic compound on a central portion of the molding surface of a female mold half to form a circular layer; partially photocuring, in situ, the circular layer in the female mold half by using a visible light; dispensing a second polymerizable fluid composition over the partially-cured circular layer on the molding surface of the female mold half; and a step of thermally curing the second polymerizable fluid composition and the partially-cured circular layer immersed therein in the mold cavity formed between the the molding surfaces of the female mold half and a male mold half.

A contact lens with a sensor region are described. The contact allows for normal vision and a concentric ring around the vision area of the lens includes one or more sensors for detecting changes in the interocular pressure of the eye. The data may be scanned using a camera, or in some embodiments, the data may be transmitted using a micro antenna in the sensing region. The data may be analyzed using a software application on a cell phone or other computing device.

A mold for a front curve of an ophthalmic lens includes an inner region having a non-rotationally symmetric shape, an outer region having a rotationally symmetric shape, and a continuous middle region between the inner region and the outer region. A first portion of the middle region is in contact with the inner region, defining a non-rotationally symmetric rim or edge of a front surface of the ophthalmic lens. A second portion of the middle region is in contact with the outer region and is rotationally symmetrical.

A mold for a front curve of an ophthalmic lens includes an inner region having a non-rotationally symmetric shape, an outer region having a rotationally symmetric shape, and a continuous middle region between the inner region and the outer region. A first portion of the middle region is in contact with the inner region, defining a non-rotationally symmetric rim or edge of a front surface of the ophthalmic lens. A second portion of the middle region is in contact with the outer region and is rotationally symmetrical.

This invention provides for the fabrication of ophthalmic lenses via the utilization of DMD shows and/or DMD files. More specifically, the use of the DMD shows and/or DMD files to generate lens precursor designs comprising described features to form part of a substructure for the fluid reactive media portion of the lens precursor and wherein the lens precursor can generate particular ophthalmic lens designs in a free-form manner using methods described herein.

A casting mold (1) for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular hard and soft contact lenses comprises a male mold half (2) having a generally convexly shaped male mold surface (20) and a female mold half having a generally concavely shaped female mold surface (30). Each of the male and female mold surfaces comprises a lens-forming surface (21, 31) which is encircled by a non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32). The lens-forming surface (21, 31) comprises a central optical zone (210, 310) and a non-optical peripheral zone (211, 311) surrounding the central optical zone. At least one of the male and female mold halves (2, 3) is provided with at least one permanent marking (10; 11; 12; 110, 111) which is arranged on a surface in the peripheral zone (211, 311) of the lens-forming surface (21, 31) and/or on the non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32).

The invention relates to a method of making a contact lens, the method comprising identifying the eccentricity of a lens produced in a mold half, lathing the lens and adjusting the path of the lathe to take account of the eccentricity, and a computer program for controlling the lathe.