Hydrogel-forming polymers used in intraocular lenses

• US 5,135,965 A
• Filed: 09/15/1988
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T R Developments Limited
• Original Assignee: T R Developments Limited
• Inventors: Tahan, Menashe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nutter, Nathan M.
• Application Number:
  US07/220,995
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 525/54.2, 525/54.21, 525/54.22, 525/54.23, 525/54.3, 525/54.31, 525/54.32, 526/238.2, 526/238.21, 526/238.22, 526/238.23, 523/106, 523/108, 351/160 H
• US Class Current: 523/106
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 251/02 on to cellulose or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 290/08 on to polymers modified by introduction of unsaturated side groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 299/0478 Copolymers from unsaturated polyesters and low molecular monomers characterised by the monomers used
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/00 Compositions of graft polymers in which the grafted component is obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds for ABS polymers C08L55/02; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 Contact lenses

Abstract

Hydrogel-forming polymers for contact lenses and intraocular lenses having increased toughness despite high equilibrium water content comprise a hydrophilic monomer (e.g. an N-vinyl lactam) and a polyunsaturated polymeric cross-linking agent. UV-absorbers are also disclosed which are bound in the polymer structure so as to be inextractable, some undergoing photo-Fries re-arrangement on exposure to UV-radiation so as to become UV-absorbers in the re-arranged form.

Claims

1. An intraocular lens made from a cross-linked hydrogel-forming polymer comprising at least one hydrophillic monomer and at least one polyunsaturated polymeric cross-linking agent.

2. The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is cross-linked by said polymeric cross-linking agent in combination with a non-polymeric cross-linking agent.

9. A moulded lens blank for use as an ocular lens following machining, the blank comprising a body of a hydrogel-forming polymer as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8.

3. A contact lens made from a cross-linked hydrogel-forming polymer comprising at least one hydrophillic monomer and at least one polyunsaturated polymeric cross-linking agent.

4. The intraocular lens of claim 3 wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is cross-linked by said polymeric cross-linking agent in combination with a non-polymeric cross-linking agent.

5. An intraocular lens made of a UV-absorbing hydrogel-forming polymer comprising at least one hydrophillic monomer and at least one polyunsaturated polymeric cross-linking agent, the polymer including units containing a UV-absorbing moiety which in the final polymer network is bound as part of the polymer structure.

6. The intraocular lens of claim 5 wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer further comprises at least one non-hydrophillic monomer.

7. A contact lens made of a UV-absorbing hydrogel-forming polymer comprising at least one hydrophillic monomer and at least one polyunsaturated polymeric cross-linking agent, the polymer including units containing a UV-absorbing moiety which in the final polymer network is bound as part of the polymer structure.

8. The contact lens of claim 7 wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer further comprises at least one non-hydrophillic monomer.