Colored contact lens and method of making same

• US 6,733,126 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• 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:
  US09/897,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 351/162, 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/161, 351/177
• US Class Current: 351/162
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern

Abstract

A colored contact lens comprises a generally uncolored pupil region, a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearer'"'"'s iris, a multicolored pattern on the iris region, and at least one generally uncolored region. The multicolored pattern is sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens and comprises a plurality of color elements. The generally uncolored region is defined by one or more of the colored elements. The generally uncolored region comprises at least one generally uncolored segment. The segment has a length of at least 30 microns and a width of no greater than 60 microns.

Claims

1. A colored contact lens comprising:

a generally uncolored pupil region;

a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearer'"'"'s iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

a multicolored pattern on the iris region, the multicolored pattern being sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens, the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of color elements, the color elements being sufficiently colored to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the color elements when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

at least one generally uncolored region defined by one or more of the colored elements, the at least one generally uncolored region comprising at least one generally uncolored segment, the at least one segment having a length of at least 30 microns and a width of no greater than 60 microns, the at least one generally uncolored region being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored region when the wearer is wearing the contact lens, the at least one generally uncolored segment being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored segment when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements each having the appearance of a crypts of Fuchs, each of the plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements being comprised of at least some of the color elements, each of the plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements contrasting in color with the color elements adjacent the crypts of Fuchs elements and having a generally oblong shape.

2. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one segment has a width of no greater than 40 microns.

3. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one segment has a width of no greater than 30 microns.

4. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one segment has a length of at least 100 microns.

5. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein the uncolored region is completely encircled by one color element.

6. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one segment comprises a plurality of generally uncolored segments, each segment having a length of at least 30 microns and a width of no greater than 60 microns, the generally uncolored segments being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the generally uncolored segments when the wearer is wearing the contact lens.

7. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one generally uncolored region comprises a plurality of uncolored regions, each of the plurality of uncolored regions being defined by one or more of the colored elements, each of the plurality of uncolored regions comprising at least one of the plurality of segments.

8. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one segment comprises at least 1000 generally uncolored segments, each segment having a length of at least 30 microns and a width of no greater than 60 microns, the generally uncolored segments being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the generally uncolored segments when the wearer is wearing the contact lens.

9. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 8 wherein said at least one generally uncolored region comprises at least 1000 generally uncolored regions, each of the plurality of uncolored regions being defined by one or more of the colored elements, each of the plurality of uncolored regions comprising at least one of the at least 1000 segments.

10. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the crypts of Fuchs elements extends generally radially away from the pupil region.

11. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pupil region has a center and wherein the multicolor pattern comprises a pupillary margin region including a generally annular-shaped band and a plurality of fingers, the pupillary margin region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the band surrounding the pupil region, at least 90% of the band being within a radius of 4 mm from the center, the plurality of fingers extending generally radially outwardly from the band and away from the center, at least 90% of the plurality of fingers in aggregate being within a radius of 5 mm from the center.

12. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 11 wherein the band is of at least one generally dark, light-absorbing color.

29. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 1 wherein the multicolored pattern comprises a collarette region, the collarette region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the collarette region comprising a collarette band at least substantially surrounding the pupil region, the collarette band having a generally jagged outer periphery and a generally jagged inner periphery, the inner periphery comprising at least a first plurality of inner edge portions and a second plurality of inner edge portions, the outer periphery comprising at least a first plurality of outer edge portions and a second plurality of outer edge portions, the first plurality of inner edge portions being closer to the center than is the first plurality of outer edge portions, the second plurality of inner edge portions being farther from the center than is the second plurality of outer edge portions.

13. A colored contact lens comprising:

a generally uncolored pupil region, the pupil region having a center;

a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearer'"'"'s iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

a multicolored pattern on the iris region, the multicolored pattern being sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens, the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of elements, the color elements being sufficiently colored to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the color elements when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

at least one generally uncolored region defined by one or more of the colored elements, the at least one generally uncolored region comprising at least one generally uncolored segment, the at least one segment having a length of at least 30 microns and a width of no greater than 60 microns, the at least one generally uncolored region being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored region when the wearer is wearing the contact lens, the at least one generally uncolored segment being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored segment when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

the multicolor pattern comprising a pupillary margin region including generally annular-shaped band and a plurality of fingers, the pupillary margin region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the band surrounding the pupil region, at least 90% of the band being within a radius of 4 mm from the center, the plurality of fingers extending generally radially outwardly from the band and away from the center, at least 90% of the plurality of fingers in aggregate being within a radius of 5 mm from the center, the band is of a predominately first color and the fingers are of a predominately second color, the predominately first color being darker than the predominately second color.

14. A colored contact lens comprising:

a generally uncolored pupil region;

a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearer'"'"'s iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

a multicolored pattern on the iris region, the multicolored pattern being sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens, the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of color elements;

the multicolored pattern comprises a plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements each having the appearance of a crypts of Fuchs, each of the crypts of Fuchs elements being comprised of at least some of the color elements, each of the plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements contrasting in color with the color elements adjacent the crypts of Fuchs elements and having a generally oblong shape.

15. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of the crypts of Fuchs elements extends generally radially away from the pupil region.

16. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 14 wherein the pupil region has a center and wherein the multicolor pattern comprises a pupillary margin region including a generally annular-shaped band and a plurality of fingers, the pupillary margin region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the band surrounding the pupil region, at least 90% of the band being within a radius of 4 mm from the center, the plurality of fingers extending generally radially outwardly from the band and away from the center, at least 90% of the plurality of fingers in aggregate band within a radius of 5 mm from the center.

17. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 16 further comprising at least one generally uncolored region defined by one or more of the colored elements, the at least one generally uncolored region comprising at least one generally uncolored segment, the at least one segment having a length of at least 30 microns and a width of no greater than 60 microns, the at least one generally uncolored region being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored region when the wearer is wearing the contact lens, the at least one generally uncolored segment being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored segment when the wearer is wearing the contact lens, the color elements being sufficiently colored to mask regions of the wearers iris which underlie the color elements when the wearer is wearing the contact lens.

18. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 14 which is hydrophilic and hydrated.

19. A colored contact lens comprising:

a generally uncolored pupil region, the pupil region having a center;

a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearer'"'"'s iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

a multicolored pattern on the iris region, the multicolored pattern being sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens, the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of color elements;

the multicolor pattern comprising a pupillary margin region including a generally annular-shaped band and a plurality of fingers, the pupillary margin region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the band surrounding the pupil region, at least 90% of the band being within a radius of 4 mm from the center, the plurality of fingers extending generally radially outwardly from the band and away from the center, at least 90% of the plurality of fingers in aggregate being within a radius of 5 mm from the center, the band being of a predominately first color and the fingers being of a predominately second color, the predominately first color being darker than the predominately second color.

20. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 19 wherein the band is of at least one generally dark, light-absorbing color.

21. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 19 which is hydrophilic and hydrated.

22. A colored contact lens comprising;

a generally uncolored pupil region, the pupil region having a center;

a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearers iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

a multicolored pattern on the iris region, the multicolored pattern being sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens, the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of color elements;

the multicolor pattern comprising a collarette region, the collarette region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the collarette region comprising a collarette band at least substantially surrounding the pupil region, the collarette band having a generally jagged outer periphery and a generally jagged inner periphery, the collarette band having a width, the width of the collarette band at any point along the inner periphery being the shortest distance from such point to the outer periphery, the width of the band at any point of at least 50% of the inner periphery being no greater than approximately 1 mm, the collarette band including at least a first portion spaced less than 4 mm from the center of the pupil region and a second portion spaced at least 6.5 mm from the center of the pupil region.

23. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 22 wherein the width of the band at any point of at least 80% of the inner periphery being no greater than approximately 1.5 mm.

25. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 22 wherein the pupil region has a center and wherein the multicolor pattern comprises a pupillary margin region including a generally annular-shaped pupillary band and a plurality of fingers, the pupillary margin region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the pupillary band surrounding the pupil region, at least 90% of the pupillary band being within a radius of 4 mm from the center, the plurality of fingers extending generally radially outwardly from the pupillary band and away from the center, at least 90% of the plurality of fingers in aggregate being within a radius of 5 mm from the center.

26. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 22 further comprising at least one generally uncolored region defined by one or more of the colored elements, the at least one generally uncolored region comprising at least one generally uncolored segment, the at least one segment having a length of at least 30 microns and a width of no greater than 60 microns, the at least one generally uncolored region being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored re ion when the wearer is wearing the contact lens, the at least one generally uncolored segment being sufficiently devoid of colorant so as not to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the at least one generally uncolored segment when the wearer is wearing the contact lens, the color elements being sufficiently colored to mask regions of the wearer'"'"'s iris which underlie the color elements when the wearer is wearing the contact lens.

27. A colored contact lens as set forth in claim 22 which is hydrophilic and hydrated.

24. A colored contact lens comprising:

a generally uncolored pupil region;

a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearers iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

a multicolored pattern on the iris region, the multicolored pattern being sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens, the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of color elements;

the multicolor pattern comprising a collarette region, the collarette region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the collarette region comprising a collarette band at least substantially surrounding the pupil region, the collarette band having a generally jagged outer periphery and a generally lagged inner periphery, the collarette band having a width, the width of the collarette band at any point along the inner periphery being the shortest distance from such point to the outer periphery, the width of the band at any point of at least 50% of the inner periphery being no greater than approximately 1 mm, the multicolored pattern further comprising a plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements each having the appearance of a crypts of Fuchs, each of the plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements being comprised of at least some of the color elements, each of the plurality of crypts of Fuchs elements contrasting in color with the color elements adjacent the crypts of Fuchs elements and having a generally oblong shape.

28. A colored contact lens comprising:

a generally uncolored pupil region, the pupil region having a center;

a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region and adapted to cover at least 80% of a wearer'"'"'s iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;

a multicolored pattern on the iris region, the multicolored pattern being sufficiently colored to change the apparent color of an iris of a person wearing the contact lens, the multicolored pattern comprising a plurality of color elements;

the multicolor pattern comprising a collarette region, the collarette region being comprised of at least some of the color elements, the collarette region comprising a collarette band at least substantially surrounding the pupil region, the collarette band having a generally jagged outer periphery and a generally jagged inner periphery, the inner periphery comprising at least a first plurality of inner edge portions and a second plurality of inner edge portions, the outer periphery comprising at least a first plurality of outer edge portions and a second plurality of edge portions, the first plurality of inner edge portions being closer to the center than is the first plurality of outer edge portions, the second plurality of inner edge portions being farther from the center than is the second plurality of outer edge portions, the collarette band including at least a first portion spaced less than 4 mm from the center of the pupil region and a second portion spaced at least 6.5 mm from the center of the pupil region.