Methods of using and screening extended wear ophthalmic lenses
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of using a contact lens as an extended wear lens, said lens having ophthalmically compatible inner and outer surfaces, said lens being suited to extended periods of wear in continuous, intimate contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, said lens comprising a polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high water permeability, said polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials including:
- (a) at least one oxyperm polymerizable material; and
(b) at least one ionoperm polymerizable material,wherein said lens allows oxygen permeation in an amount sufficient to maintain corneal health and wearer comfort during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids,wherein said lens allows ion or water permeation via ion or water pathways in an amount sufficient to enable the lens to move on the eye such that corneal health is not substantially harmed and wearer comfort is acceptable during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids,wherein said ionoperm polymerizable material, if polymerized alone, would form a hydrophilic polymer having a water content of at least 10 weight percent upon full hydration, andwherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 70 barrers/mm and an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.2×
10-6 cm2 /sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 1.5×
10-6 mm2 /min, wherein said ion permeability is measured with respect to sodium ions,said method comprising the steps of;
(a) applying said lens to the ocular environment; and
(b) allowing said lens to remain in intimate contact with the ocular environment for a first period of at least 24 hours.
4 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An ophthalmic lens screening method suited for extended-wear for periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.
283 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method of using a contact lens as an extended wear lens, said lens having ophthalmically compatible inner and outer surfaces, said lens being suited to extended periods of wear in continuous, intimate contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, said lens comprising a polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high water permeability, said polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials including:
-
(a) at least one oxyperm polymerizable material; and (b) at least one ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said lens allows oxygen permeation in an amount sufficient to maintain corneal health and wearer comfort during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said lens allows ion or water permeation via ion or water pathways in an amount sufficient to enable the lens to move on the eye such that corneal health is not substantially harmed and wearer comfort is acceptable during a period of extended, continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said ionoperm polymerizable material, if polymerized alone, would form a hydrophilic polymer having a water content of at least 10 weight percent upon full hydration, and wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen transmissibility of at least about 70 barrers/mm and an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.2×
10-6 cm2 /sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 1.5×
10-6 mm2 /min, wherein said ion permeability is measured with respect to sodium ions,said method comprising the steps of; (a) applying said lens to the ocular environment; and (b) allowing said lens to remain in intimate contact with the ocular environment for a first period of at least 24 hours. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of screening an ophthalmic lens for utility as an extended-wear lens, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) allowing said lens to be fully hydrated by allowing said lens to equilibrate in a saline solution; (b) testing the lens to determine a factor which is a function of the oxygen transmissibility of said lens; (c) testing the lens to determine a factor which is a function of the ion or water permeability of said lens; and (d) selecting said lens as an extended-wear lens if said oxygen transmissibility factor and said water or ion permeability factor are both above predetermined limits which are established to ensure good corneal health and wearer comfort when said lens is in intimate contact with a human eye for a period of continuous, extended wear of at least 24 hours, said ion or water permeability limits being at least either (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.2×
10-6 cm2 /sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 1.5×
10-6 mm2 /min, as measured with respect to sodium ions,thereby ensuring said lens allows ion or water permeation via ion or water pathways in an amount sufficient to enable the lens to move on the eye such that corneal health is not substantially harmed and wearer comfort is acceptable during a said extended wear. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification