Contact lenses containing hydrophilic silicone polymers

• US 4,261,875 A
• Filed: 01/31/1979
• Issued: 04/14/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: American Optical Corporation
• Inventors: LeBoeuf, Albert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schofer, Joseph L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lilling, Herbert J.
• Application Number:
  US06/008,301
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 526/264, 526/279, 260/29.7 H, 260/29.1 SB, 260/29.6 TA, 260/29.6 H, 260/29.6 HN, 260/29.2 M
• US Class Current: 523/107
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 77/14 containing silicon bound to oxygen-containing groups C08G77/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 77/20 containing silicon bound to unsaturated aliphatic groups C08G77/045 takes precedence

Abstract

Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds according to the formula; ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons, a+b+c+d=e, b=0 to e, c=0 to e, b+c>1, d=0 to 5, e=1 to 100, and Y is an organic group containing at least one >C=C< are hydrophilic as well as exhibiting properties similar to silicone compounds. The polymers are particularly useful in contact lenses having enhanced oxygen permeability.

Claims

1. A solid polymer comprising a polymerization product of a hydrophilic siloxane having the formula:

##STR21## wherein R is an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons, a+b+c+d=e, b=0 to e, c=0 to e, b+c>

1, d=0 to 5, e=1 to 100, and Y is an organic group containing at least one >

C=C<

.

2. A polymer comprising a free radical polymerization product of the hydrophilic siloxane of claim 1, wherein d is 1 to 5, and a monomer selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, 3-methoxy-2-hydroxypropylmethacrylate, methylmethacrylate, methylacrylate, N-vinylpyrrolidone and mixtures thereof.

3. A polymer of claim 2 wherein the monomer is 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate.

4. A polymer of claim 2 wherein the monomer is 3-methoxy-hydroxypropylmethacrylate.

5. A soft contact lens having a water content of at least 20% by weight comprising a polymer of claim 1.

6. A soft contact lens having a water content of at least 20% by weight comprising a polymer of claim 2.

7. The soft contact lens of claim 6 wherein the monomer is 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate.

8. The soft contact lens of claim 6 wherein the monomer is 3-methoxy-2-hydroxypropylmethacrylate.