Colored contact lens and method of making same

• US 6,655,804 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Daniel G. Streibig
• Inventors: Streibig, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US09/934,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 351/162, 351/177, 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/161
• US Class Current: 351/177
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern

Abstract

A method for coloring contact lenses comprises storing a generally annular-shaped initial iris image in a computer. The initial iris image comprises a plurality of color elements. The method further comprises applying a filtering process to the initial iris image in a manner to replace at least portions of at least some of the color elements with generally uncolored regions to form a filtered iris image, and using a printer apparatus, in communication with the computer, in a manner to print the filtered iris image on a contact lens substrate.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a generally annular-shaped initial iris image in a computer, the initial iris image comprising a plurality of color elements;

applying a filtering process to the initial iris image in a manner to replace at least portions of at least some of the color elements with generally uncolored regions to form a filtered iris image;

using a printer apparatus, in communication with the computer, in a manner to print the filtered iris image on a contact lens substrate.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of storing the initial iris image in the computer comprises storing an intricate, multi-color iris image in the computer.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of storing the initial iris image in the computer comprises storing in the computer a digital iris image of an actual human iris.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the initial iris image has an aggregate color element area comprising the combined area of all of the color elements of the initial iris image, and wherein at least about 20% of the aggregate color element area is replaced with the generally uncolored regions during the step of applying the filtering process to the initial iris image.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the generally uncolored regions comprise a plurality of discrete generally uncolored regions.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the initial iris image comprises a generally annular-shaped outer region and a generally annular-shaped inner region, the outer region circumscribing the inner region, the initial iris image having an outer aggregate color element area and an inner aggregate color element area, the outer aggregate color element area comprising the combined area of all of the color elements of the initial iris image within the outer region, the inner aggregate color element area comprising the combined area of all of the color elements of the initial iris image within the inner region;

a percentage P_o of the outer aggregate color element area is replaced with the generally uncolored regions during the step of applying the filtering process to the initial iris image, the percentage P_o being at least 20%; and

a percentage P_i of the inner aggregate color element area is replaced with the generally uncolored regions during the step of applying the filtering process to the initial iris image, the percentage P_i being at least 20%.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the percentage P_i is greater than the percentage P_o.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the percentage P_i is at least 150% greater than the percentage P_o.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the initial iris image comprises a generally annular-shaped mid-region, the mid-region circumscribing the inner region and being circumscribed by the outer region, the initial iris image having a mid-aggregate color element area comprising the combined area of all of the color elements of the initial iris image within the mid-region;

a percentage P_m of the mid-aggregate color element area is replaced with the generally uncolored regions during the step of applying the filtering process to the initial iris image, the percentage P_m being greater than the percentage P_o and less than the percentage P_i.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of using the printer apparatus comprises using an ink-jet printer apparatus in a manner to print the filtered iris image on the contact lens substrate.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of using the ink-jet printer apparatus comprises using the ink-jet printer apparatus to apply a plurality of colorants to the contact lens substrate.