Colorants for use in tinted contact lenses and methods for their production
First Claim
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1. A colorant for use in tinting contact lenses, the colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents, and a binding polymer, wherein the binding polymer is capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with a lens material.
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Abstract
The invention provides a colorant for use in tinting contact lenses in which the binding polymer used is capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material. When the colorants of the invention are applied to uncured lens material that is subsequently cured, the binding polymer forms an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material embedding the colorant within the lens material resulting in a stable, tinted lens.
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41 Claims
- 1. A colorant for use in tinting contact lenses, the colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents, and a binding polymer, wherein the binding polymer is capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with a lens material.
- 14. A colorant for use in tinting contact lenses, the colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents, and a binding polymer having a molecular weight of about 7,000 to about 40,000, wherein the binding polymer is capable of forming a interpenetrating polymer network with a lens material comprising a HEMA-based hydrogel or a silicone-based hydrogel.
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19. The colorant of clam 14, wherein the binding polymer comprises a homopolymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
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24. A method for manufacturing a tinted contact lens comprising the steps of:
- a.) applying to a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents and a binding polymer;
b.) dispensing a lens-forming amount of a lens material into the mold;
c.) swelling the colorant in the lens material; and
d.) curing the lens material in the mold to form the tinted contact lens, wherein the binding polymer and the lens material form an interpenetrating polymer network.
- a.) applying to a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents and a binding polymer;
- 31. A mold for use in manufacturing a tinted contact lens comprising a first and second mold half, wherein at least one molding surface of the first and second mold halves comprises one or more pigments, one or more solvents, and a binding polymer, wherein the binding polymer is capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with a lens material.
Specification