An ophthalmic lens having ophthalmically compatible inner and outer surfaces, said lens being suited to extended periods of wear in continuous, intimate contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, said lens comprising a polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high ion permeability, said polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials comprising: (a) at least one oxyperm polymerizable material and (b) at least one ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said lens allows oxygen permeation in an amount sufficient to maintain corneal health and wearer comfort during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, and wherein said lens allows ion or water permeation via ion or water pathways in an amount sufficient to enable the lens to move on the eye such that corneal health is not substantially harmed and wearer comfort is acceptable during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said polymeric material has an oxygen permeability of at least about 84 barrers and said ophthalmic lens has an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.2.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.2 /sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 1.5.times.10.sup.-6 mm.sup.2 /min, wherein said ion permeability is measured with respect to sodium ions. view more

An ophthalmic lens having ophthalnically compatible inner and outer surfaces, said lens being suited to extended periods of wear in continuous, intimate contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, said lens comprising a polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high ion permeability, said polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials comprising: (a) at least one oxyperm polymerizable material and (b) at least one ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said lens allows oxygen permeation in an amount sufficient to maintain corneal health and wearer comfort during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said oxyperm polymerizablea material forms a phase or phases substantially seperate from the phase or phases formed by said ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said lens allows ion or water permeation via ion or water pathways in an amount sufficient to enable the lens to move on the eye such that corneal health is not substantially hared and wearer comfort is acceptable during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said ionoperm polyrnerizable material, if polymerized alone would form a hydrophilic polymer having a water content of atleast 10 weight percent upon full hydration, and wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 70 barrers/mm and an ion permeability characteized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.2.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.2 /sec. or(2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 1.5.times.10.sup.31 6 mm.sup.2 /min. wherein said ion permeability is measured with respect to sodium ions. view more

An ophthalmic lens of claim 4, wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 87 barrers/mm.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises a plurality of co-continuous phases, including at least one oxyperm phase which extends continuously from the inner surface of the ophthalmic lens to the outer surface of the ophthalmic lens and at least one ionoperm phase which extends continuously from the inner surface of the ophthalmic lens to the outer surface of the ophthalmic lens. view more

An ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises a plurality of co-continuous pathways, at least one being an ion or water pathway and at least one other being an oxygen pathway, which pathways extend continuously from the inner surface of the lens to the outer surface of the lens. view more

An ophthalmic lens of claim 27, wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 24 hours, including normal sleep periods, less than about 6% corneal swelling.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 31, wherein said period of extended continuous contact is at least 7 days.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 32, wherein said period of extended continuous contact is at least 14 days.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 33, wherein said period of extended continuous contact is at least 30 days.

A method of forming a biocompatible lens having high oxygen permeability and high water permeability, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a polymeric core material including: (1) at least one continuous pathway from front curve to base curve surfaces for oxygen transmission therethrough, and (2) at least one continuous pathway from front curve to base curve surfaces for water transmission therethrough; and (b) altering the surface of said core material to produce a surface which is more hydrophilic than said core material, whereby said lens allows oxygen permeation in an amount sufficient to maintain corneal health and wearer comfort during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, and whereby said lens allows ion permeation in an amount sufficient to enable the lens to move on the eye such that corneal health is not substantially harmed and wearer comfort is acceptable during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 70 barrers/mm and an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.2.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.2 /sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 1.5.times.10.sup.-6 mm.sup.2 /min, wherein said ion permeability is measured with respect to sodium ions. view more

A method of claim 1, wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen permeability of at least 87 barrers/mm.

A method of claim 3, wherein said intimate contact period is at least 7 days.

A method of claim 2, wherein said intimate contact period is at least 7 days.

A method of claim 3, wherein said intimate contact period is at least 14 days.

An ophthalmic lens, comprising an inner and outer surface, wherein said inner surface is adapted to rest immediately adjacent to the human cornea, wherein said lens has the following properties: (a) an oxygen permeability from said inner to said outer surface sufficient to prevent substantial corneal swelling during a period of extended wear; (b) ophthalmic compatibility during a period of extended, continuous, intimate contact with the ocular environment; and (c) ion or water permeability sufficient to allow lens movement on the eye in an amount sufficient to sustain corneal health and wearer comfort, wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 70 barrers/mm and an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.2.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.2 /sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 1.5.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.2 /min, wherein said ion permeability is measured with respect to sodium ions. view more

An ophthalmic lens of claim 3, wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 24 hours, including normal sleep periods, less than about 6% corneal swelling.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 6, wherein said extended period of wear is at least 7 days.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein said period of extended wear is at least 14 days.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 11, wherein said extended period of wear is at least 30 days.

An ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein said oxygen permeability (Dk) is at least 80 barrers/mm.