Silicone hydrogel lenses with water-rich surfaces
First Claim
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1. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens, comprising:
- an anterior surface and an opposite posterior surface; and
a layered structural configuration from the anterior surface to the posterior surface,wherein the layered structural configuration includes an anterior outer hydrogel layer, an inner layer of a silicone hydrogel material, and a posterior outer hydrogel layer,wherein the silicone hydrogel material has an oxygen permeability (Dk) of at least about 50 Barrers, and a first water content (designated as WCSiHy) of from about 10% to about 70% by weight,wherein the anterior and posterior outer hydrogel layers are substantially uniform in thickness and merge at the peripheral edge of the contact lens to completely enclose the inner layer of the silicone hydrogel material,wherein the anterior and posterior outer hydrogel layers independent of each other have a second water content higher than WCSiHy, as characterized either (a) by having a water-swelling ratio (WSR) of at least about 100% if WCSiHy≦
45% or (b) by having a water-swelling ratio of at least about
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Abstract
The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
537 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens, comprising:
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an anterior surface and an opposite posterior surface; and a layered structural configuration from the anterior surface to the posterior surface, wherein the layered structural configuration includes an anterior outer hydrogel layer, an inner layer of a silicone hydrogel material, and a posterior outer hydrogel layer, wherein the silicone hydrogel material has an oxygen permeability (Dk) of at least about 50 Barrers, and a first water content (designated as WCSiHy) of from about 10% to about 70% by weight, wherein the anterior and posterior outer hydrogel layers are substantially uniform in thickness and merge at the peripheral edge of the contact lens to completely enclose the inner layer of the silicone hydrogel material, wherein the anterior and posterior outer hydrogel layers independent of each other have a second water content higher than WCSiHy, as characterized either (a) by having a water-swelling ratio (WSR) of at least about 100% if WCSiHy≦
45% or (b) by having a water-swelling ratio of at least about - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens, comprises:
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a silicone hydrogel material as bulk material, an anterior surface and an opposite posterior surface, wherein the contact lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 40 barrers/mm, and a cross-sectional surface-modulus profile, wherein the cross-sectional surface-modulus profile comprises, along a shortest line between the anterior and posterior surfaces on the surface of a cross section of the contact lens, an anterior outer zone including and near the anterior surface, an inner zone including and around the center of the shortest line, and a posterior outer zone including and near the posterior surface, wherein the anterior outer zone has an average anterior surface modulus (designated as SMAnt ) while the posterior outer zone has an average posterior surface modulus (designated asSMPost ),wherein the inner zone has an average inner surface modulus ( SMInner ),wherein at least one of - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens, comprises:
- a silicone hydrogel material as bulk material, an anterior surface and an opposite posterior surface;
wherein the contact lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 40 barrers/mm, and a good surface lubricity as characterized by having a critical coefficient of friction designated as CCOF of about 0.046 or less, wherein the anterior and posterior surfaces have a low surface concentration of negatively-charged groups such as carboxylic acid groups as characterized by attracting at most about 200 positively-charged particles in positively-charged-particles-adhesion test. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
- a silicone hydrogel material as bulk material, an anterior surface and an opposite posterior surface;
Specification