Fenestrated lens for increased tear flow and method of making the same

• US 6,726,322 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: McKenney, Curtis Dean, Andino, Rafael Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US09/963,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/161, 351/162, 351/177
• US Class Current: 351/160.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00076 enabling passage of fluids, e.g. oxygen, tears, between the area under the lens and the lens exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0048 Moulds for lenses moulds for plastic articles in general B29C33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

A fenestrated contact lens having increased tear flow is provided. The fenestrated contact lens includes a lens body adapted for placement adjacent a surface of an eye which has an inner surface and an outer surface. The lens body has a first plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough which are biased to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid from a first location between the surface of the wearer'"'"'s eye and the inner surface of said contact lens to a second location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens. The lens body also includes a second plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough, which are biased to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid from a third location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens to a fourth location between the surface of the eye and the inner surface of said contact lens.

Claims

1. A fenestrated contact lens comprising:

a lens body adapted for placement adjacent a surface of an eye, said lens body having an inner surface and an outer surface;

said lens body having a first plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough, wherein each of said first plurality of fenestrations is tapered to have a cross-section which is larger at the inner surface of the lens body and smaller at the outer surface of the lens body, so as to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid outward from a first location between the surface of said eye and the inner surface of said contact lens to a second location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens; and

said lens body also having a second plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough, wherein each of said second plurality of fenestrations is tapered to have a cross-section which is larger at the outer surface of the lens body and smaller at the inner surface of the lens body, so as to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid inward from a third location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens to a fourth location between the surface of the eye and the inner surface of said contact lens.

2. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein said fenestrations are coated with a hydrophilic coating.

3. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein said fenestrations are positioned at a non-perpendicular angle with the surfaces of the contact lens body.

4. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearer'"'"'s eye, said first plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the limbal area of said eye.

5. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearer'"'"'s eye, said second plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the central area of said eye.

6. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearer'"'"'s eye, said first plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the limbal area of said eye and said second plurality of fenestrations are positioned over a pericentral area of said eye outside of the central area of the eye.

7. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein said first and second plurality of fenestrations are arranged in concentric rings.

8. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein said fenestrations have been created via a means selected from the group consisting of laser milling and ion beam milling.

9. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 1, wherein said fenestrations have a size ranging from 0.1 microns to 200 microns.

10. A fenestrated contact lens comprising:

a lens body adapted for placement adjacent a surface of an eye, said lens body having an inner surface and an outer surface;

said lens body having a first plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough, wherein said first plurality of fenestrations are formed so as to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid outward from a first location between the surface of said eve and the inner surface of said contact lens to a second location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens;

said lens body also having a second plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough, wherein said second plurality of fenestrations are formed so as to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid inward from a third location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens to a fourth location between the surface of the eye and the inner surface of said contact lens; and

wherein said fenestrations are coated with a polyelectrolyte coating to increase their hydrophilicity and prevent blockage.

11. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein said fenestrations have tapered cross sections.

12. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein said fenestrations are positioned at a non-perpendicular angle with the surfaces of the contact lens body.

13. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearers eye, said first plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the limbal area of said eye.

14. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearer'"'"'s eye, said second plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the central area of said eye.

15. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearer'"'"'s eye, said first plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the limbal area of said eye and said second plurality of fenestrations are positioned over a pericentral area of said eye outside of the central area of the eye.

16. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein said first and second plurality of fenestrations are arranged in concentric rings.

17. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein said fenestrations have been created via a means selected from the group consisting of laser milling and ion beam milling.

18. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 10, wherein said fenestrations have a size ranging from 0.1 microns to 200 microns.

19. A fenestrated contact lens comprising:

a lens body adapted for placement adjacent a surface of an eye, said lens body having an inner surface and an outer surface;

said lens body having a first plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough, wherein each of said first plurality of fenestrations comprises at least one flexible member acting as a check valve to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid outward from a location between the surface of said eye and the inner surface of said contact lens to a location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens; and

said lens body also having a second plurality of fenestrations extending therethrough, wherein each of said second plurality of fenestrations comprises at least one flexible member acting as a check valve to direct a flow of lachrymal fluid inward from a location adjacent the outer surface of the contact lens to a location between the surface of the eye and the inner surface of said contact lens.

20. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein said fenestrations have tapered cross sections.

21. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein said fenestrations are positioned at a non-perpendicular angle with the surfaces of the contact lens body.

22. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearer'"'"'s eye, said first plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the limbal area of said eye.

23. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearers eye, said second plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the central area of said eye.

24. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein, when said fenestrated contact lens is mounted adjacent a surface of a wearer'"'"'s eye, said first plurality of fenestrations are positioned over the limbal area of said eye and said second plurality of fenestrations are positioned over a pericentral area of said eye outside of the central area of the eye.

25. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein said first and second plurality of fenestrations are arranged in concentric rings.

26. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein said fenestrations have been created via a means selected from the group consisting of laser milling and ion beam milling.

27. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein said fenestrations have a size ranging from 0.1 microns to 200 microns.

28. The fenestrated contact lens of claim 19, wherein said fenestrations are coated with a hydrophilic coating.