USE OF SURFACTANTS IN EXTRACTION PROCEDURES FOR SILICONE HYDROGEL OPHTHALMIC LENSES

• US 20080258322A1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coopervision International Limited (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coopervision International Holding Company LP (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Tim, Chen, Charlie, Daulton, Jay Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,968,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/1.32
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/60 Releasing, lubricating or separating agents in general C10M
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0067 Using separating agents during or after moulding; Applying separating agents on preforms or articles, e.g. to prevent sticking to each other separating agents B29C33/60
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00067 Hydrating contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0025 Removing impurities from contact lenses, e.g. leaching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/808 Lens mold

Abstract

Methods of producing silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses include contacting one or more delensed silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens with a liquid composition that contains alcohol, water, and a surfactant. The methods can be steps of an extraction/hydration procedure used in the production of silicone hydrogel contact lenses. In some examples, contacting silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens products with a liquid composition that contains alcohol, water, and a surfactant can significantly reduce or prevent surface distortion of the ophthalmic lens resulting from the extraction procedure. Some methods include subsequently contacting the silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens with a liquid composition consisting essentially of water and a surfactant.

Claims

1. A method of producing a silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens, comprising:

polymerizing a polymerizable silicone hydrogel lens forming composition in an ophthalmic lens mold assembly to produce a polymerized silicone hydrogel lens product;

removing the polymerized silicone hydrogel lens product from the mold assembly to produce a delensed ophthalmic lens product;

contacting the delensed ophthalmic lens product with a liquid composition that comprises alcohol, water, and a surfactant; and

subsequently contacting the delensed ophthalmic lens product with water to produce a hydrated silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrated silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens is produced from contacting the delensed ophthalmic lens product with water that comprises the surfactant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrated silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens is produced from contacting the delensed ophthalmic lens product with a first volume of water that comprises the surfactant, and subsequently contacting the delensed ophthalmic lens product with a second volume of water.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second volume of water comprises the surfactant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid composition comprises about 100 ppm of Tween®

80.

6. A method of preventing surface distortion in a silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens resulting from extraction and hydration procedures during the manufacture of the silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens, comprising:

contacting a delensed polymerized silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens product with a liquid composition including alcohol, water, and a surface distortion preventing amount of a surfactant.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising contacting the delensed ophthalmic lens product with another liquid composition comprising water.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the another liquid composition further comprises a surfactant.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid composition comprises about 100 ppm of Tween®

80.

10. A method of reducing surface distortion in a batch of silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses resulting from extraction and hydration procedures during the manufacture of the batch of silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses, comprising:

contacting a batch of delensed polymerized silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens products with a liquid composition including alcohol, water, and a surface distortion reducing amount of a surfactant;

wherein the amount of surface distortion present in the batch of lens products is less than the amount of surface distortion present in a batch of substantially identical delensed polymerized silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens products contacted with a liquid composition comprising alcohol, water, and no surfactant.

11. An extraction and hydration method for a silicone hydrogel lens product, the method comprising:

contacting the silicone hydrogel lens product with at least a first liquid composition comprising alcohol, water, and a surfactant; and

contacting the silicone hydrogel lens product with at least a second liquid composition comprising water.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second liquid composition further comprises a surfactant.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising contacting the silicone hydrogel lens product with at least a third liquid composition comprising water.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the third liquid composition further comprises a surfactant.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first liquid composition comprises about 100 ppm of Tween®

80.

16. An extraction and hydration method for a silicone hydrogel lens product, the method comprising:

contacting the silicone hydrogel lens product with a first liquid composition comprising an organic solvent;

contacting the silicone hydrogel lens product with a second liquid composition comprising an organic solvent, water and a surfactant; and

contacting the silicone hydrogel lens product with a third liquid composition comprising water.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third liquid composition further comprises a surfactant.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second liquid composition comprises about 100 ppm of Tween®

80.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the organic solvent comprises ethanol.