Contact lens with PVA cover layer

• US 20030035083A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles Auxilium Francis, Donald E. Keeley, Richard Charles Turek
• Inventors: Keeley, Donald E., Turek, Richard Charles, Francis, Charles Auxilium
• Granted Patent: US 6,890,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/162
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00038 Production of contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00317 Production of lenses with markings or patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00923 on lens surfaces for colouring or tinting printing or marking in general B41M
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern

Abstract

A contact lens having a cover layer of polyvinyl alcohol and an opaque simulated iris pattern and an associated method of manufacture. The opaque simulated iris pattern obscures the underlying natural iris for superior color transformation, and provides enhanced cosmetic effect.

Claims

1. A contact lens comprising:

a lens body formed of substantially transparent material;

an opaque simulated iris pattern applied to said lens body; and

a cover layer of polyvinyl alcohol overlying said simulated iris pattern to substantially encapsulate said simulated iris pattern between said lens body and said cover layer.

2. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said opaque simulated iris pattern comprises a plurality of discontinuous pattern elements of different colors, said plurality of discontinuous pattern elements interlocking to form a continuous and opaque pattern.

3. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said opaque simulated iris pattern comprises an inner region that is more darkly shaded than adjacent portions of said simulated iris pattern.

4. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said lens body comprises a concave base surface and a convex outer surface, and wherein said opaque simulated iris pattern is applied along the concave base surface.

5. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said opaque simulated iris pattern comprises an ink comprising a monomer base and a pigment.

6. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said cover layer is less than 15 microns in thickness.

7. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol in the cover layer is has an average molecular weight of about 125,000.

8. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol cover layer further comprises a pharmaceutically active agent.

9. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol cover layer is an annular ring.

10. A method of forming a contact lens, said method comprising:

applying an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol to a mold;

applying an opaque simulated iris pattern to the mold substantially over the polyvinyl alcohol;

casting a lens material in the mold to form a lens body; and

transferring the polyvinyl alcohol and opaque simulated iris pattern from the mold into the lens body.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying an opaque simulated iris pattern to a mold comprises sequentially applying at least two pattern elements having different colors to the mold.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying an opaque simulated iris pattern to a mold comprises applying a plurality of discontinuous pattern elements of different colors to the mold, said plurality of discontinuous pattern elements interlocking to form a continuous and opaque pattern.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying an opaque simulated iris pattern to a mold comprises transfer pad printing.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol applied to said mold is less than 15 microns in thickness.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol has an average molecular weight of about 125,000.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol further comprises a pharmaceutically active agent.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol is applied in the shape of an annular ring.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol is substantially dried before applying the opaque simulated iris pattern.

19. A contact lens comprising:

a lens body formed of substantially transparent material having both a concave base surface and a convex outer surface;

a cover layer of polyvinyl alcohol on at least one of said concave surface or convex surface.

20. The contact lens of claim 19, wherein said cover layer is applied along the concave base surface.

21. The contact lens of claim 19, wherein said cover layer is less than 15 microns in thickness.

22. The contact lens of claim 19, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol in the cover layer is has an average molecular weight of about 125,000.

23. The contact lens of claim 19, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol cover layer further comprises a pharmaceutically active agent.

24. A method of forming a contact lens, said method comprising:

applying an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol to a mold;

casting a lens material in the mold to form a lens body; and

transferring the polyvinyl alcohol from the mold into the lens body.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of applying said polyvinyl alcohol to a mold comprises transfer pad printing.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol applied to said mold is less than 15 microns in thickness.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol has an average molecular weight of about 125,000.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol further comprises a pharmaceutically active agent.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol is substantially dried before casting the lens material in the mold.