The present invention generally relates to a method for applying a coating of hydrophilic polymers onto polyvinylalcohol-based hydrogel contact lenses to improve lubricity. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for forming a coating on a contact lens, preferably a polyvinylalcohol-based hydrogel contact lens, directly in the primary package and maintaining the coated contact lens within said primary package until insertion of the coated contact lens in the eye of the contact lens user. The resultant polyvinylalcohol-based hydrogel contact lens has a coating with improved lubricity and good durability and also can be used directly from the lens package by a patient without washing and/or rinsing.

A dosing system and method for delivery of contact lens formulation(s) to a contact lens forming mold. The system includes a carrier portion configured for holding a contact lens mold, and an alignment mandrel configured for retaining a lens formulation delivery device. The lens formulation delivery device is retained in a specified position relative to the contact lens mold for precise location of delivery of the lens formulation within the contact lens mold. A first lens formulation can be dosed to a center location in the mold, and a different second lens formulation can be dosed to a ring-shaped pattern around the center location, to form a contact lens having different center and edge characteristics.

A method for producing a contact lens having a water contact angle below about 90° involves preparing a molding resin comprising a polyether modified polyolefin; forming the molding resin into a mold; preparing a contact lens composition; filling the contact lens composition into the mold; and polymerizing the contact lens composition to form a contact lens. A method of inducing water contact angle below 90° and improved surface wettability of a contact lens involves cast polymerizing a mixture of monomers in a mold formed from a molding resin containing a polyether modified polyolefin to form a contact lens having a water contact angle of less than about 90°. Single-use molds for contact lens manufacture are also provided.

A lens comprises an internal cavity structure formed by dissolution of a soluble insert material. The internal soluble material may dissolve through a body of a lens such as a contact lens in order to form the cavity within the contact lens. The cavity within the lens can be shaped in many ways, and corresponds to the shape of the dissolved material, such that many internal cavity shapes can be readily fabricated within the contact lens. The insert can be placed in a mold with a pre-polymer material, and the pre-polymer material cured with the insert placed in the mold to form the lens body. The polymerized polymer may comprise a low expansion polymer in order to inhibit expansion of the lens when hydrated. The polymer may comprise a hydrogel when hydrated. The soft contact lens material comprises a sufficient amount of cross-linking to provide structure to the lens and shape the cavity.

A method for avoiding the entrapment of air bubbles (5) in a lens forming material, in particular in a low viscosity lens forming material, in an ophthalmic lens manufacturing process using mold halves (2; 3) each having a lens forming surface (21; 31) comprises electrostatically charging a predetermined portion of the lens forming surface (21; 31) of the mold half (2; 3) prior to the predetermined portion of the lens forming surface (21; 31) coming into contact with the lens forming material (4).

There is described an apparatus and method for transporting contact lenses through dipping baths (2, 3, 4) for e.g. rinsing, extraction, coating or loading purposes. The lenses are individually accommodated in respective containers (5) which are capable of enabling a flow of treatment fluid (S) into and out of the container (5). During their automatic transport through the dipping baths (2, 3, 4) the containers (5) are held in carriers (6). Lifters (9) are provided for automatically lowering and raising the carriers (6) in a reciprocating manner along their travel through the dipping bath (2, 3, 4). The reciprocating lowering and raising of the containers (5) is accomplished such, that a portion of each container which accommodates a contact lens remains immersed in the treatment fluid (S) which is contained in the dipping bath (2, 3, 4) while the container (5) suspended from the carrier (6) is advanced through the dipping bath (2, 3, 4) from a starting end to a leaving end thereof.

A silicone elastomer-hydrogel hybrid contact lens includes a silicone elastomer layer and a hydrogel layer adhered to the silicone elastomer layer by a delamination-resistant bond that is formed by an elastomer-swellable monomer that is included in the polymerizable composition used to form the hydrogel layer.

A silicone elastomer-silicone hydrogel hybrid contact lens comprises a silicone elastomer layer adhered to silicone hydrogel layer by a delamination-resistant bond. The silicone hydrogel layer has a percent swell of about −5% up to about 20%. The silicone elastomer layer may have one or more objects embedded within it or adhered to its surface. Such objects may include variable-focus lenses and/or electronic components.

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.

A method of providing a male mold half (1) for molding a toric contact lens at a predetermined target rotational orientation is disclosed. The male mold half comprises a front face (10) having a toric convex lens-forming surface (100) and a rear face (11) The method comprises the steps of: providing the male mold half (1) at a predetermined rotational orientation (PROM), picking the male mold half (1) up with a gripper (5) having a central axis (55), rotating the gripper (5) with the male mold half (1) about the central axis (55) of the gripper (5) by a predetermined rotational angle (α) towards the predetermined target rotational orientation (TROM), and releasing the rotated male mold half (1) from the gripper (5).

Prior to picking the male mold half (1) up, the method comprises centering the gripper (5) and the male mold half (1) relative to each other such that the central axis (55) of the gripper and a central axis (113) of the male mold (1) half coincide.