Extended wear ophthalmic lens

• US 6,951,894 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Vogt, Jürgen, Liu, Qin, Domschke, Angelika, Terry, Wilson Leonard Jr., Höpken, Jens, Court, John, Winterton, Lynn Cook, Ho, Arthur, Lohmann, Dieter, Chabrecek, Peter, Riffle, Judy Smith, Papaspiliotopoulos, Eric, Meijs, Gordon Francis, Schindhelm, Klaus, Laycock, Bronwyn Glenice, Griesser, Hans Jörg, Nicolson, Paul Clement, Baron, Richard Carlton, Sweeney, Deborah
• Primary Examiner(s): Cain, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US09/640,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 523/106, 523/107
• US Class Current: 523/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/16 for reconstruction of eye parts, e.g. intraocular lens, cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/26 Mixtures of macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/34 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/62 Plasma-deposition of organic layers plasma deposition in general C23C14/00, C23C16/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/42 Casting under special conditions, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/00 After-treatment of articles without altering their shape; Apparatus therefor B29C44/56, B29C73/00 take precedence; surface shaping B29C59/00 ; for joined or sealed parts B29C66/03; after-treatment specially adapted for vulcanising tyres B29D30/0633
• 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: B29L 2011/0041 Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/48 Polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4833 Polyethers containing oxyethylene units
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/5015 having fluorine atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/61 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/63 Block or graft polymers obtained by polymerising compounds having carbon-to-carbon double bonds on to polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/672 Esters of acrylic or alkyl acrylic acid having only one group containing active hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/8116 esters of acrylic or alkylacrylic acid having only one isocyanate or isothiocyanate group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/8175 with esters of acrylic or alkylacrylic acid having only one group containing active hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/00 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and only one being terminated by only one carboxyl radical, or of salts, anhydrides, esters, amides, imides or nitriles thereof; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 39/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of N-vinyl-pyrrolidones
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/08 grafted on to macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/085 : on to polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 : Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 : Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/049 : Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 525/903 : Interpenetrating network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 525/936 : Encapsulated chemical agent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 525/937 : Utility as body contact e.g. implant, contact lens or I.U.D.

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear 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.

Claims

1. A method for producing an extended wear contact lens, said contact lens comprising a core polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high ion or water permeability, which method comprises the steps of:

a) preparing a lens formulation comprising an oxyperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of fluorine-containing macromers and flourine-containing monomers, and an ionoperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, polyalkylene glycols and N-vinyl pyrrolidones, wherein said oxyperm polymerizable material comprises between about 30% to about 70%, based on the total weight, of said lens formulation;

b) placing said lens formulation in a lens mold;

c) polymerizing- said lens formulation in said mold to form a lens core material having inner and outer surfaces such that said oxyperm polymerizable material and said ionoperm polymerizable material of said lens formulation form separate oxyperm and ionoperm phases;

said lens core material having an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 77 barrers;

d) removing said lens core material from said lens mold;

e) subjecting said lens core material to a treatment to modify said surfaces of said lens core material, wherein the surface treatment makes said surfaces more biocompatible with the ocular tissue and ocular fluids than said core material alone; and

f) hydrating the treated lens core material to produce a hydrated extended wear contact lens,

wherein the modified surfaces of said lens in conjunction with the high oxygen and ion permeabilities of said core polymeric material allows said hydrated lens to be worn as extended wear lens that is worn for a continuous period of at least 24 hours with corneal swelling of less than about 8%.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface modification treatment is selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface modification treatment is a plasma treating process.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said oxyperm polymerizable material is a fluorine-containing macromer and said ionoperm polymerizable material is N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

5. An extended wear contact lens comprising a core polymeric material and upper and lower surfaces, said core polymeric material comprising a silicone copolymer which provides a high ion permeability and a high oxygen permeability;

wherein said silicone copolymer comprises an oxyperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of fluorine-containing macromers and fluorine-containing monomers, and an ionoperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, polyalkylene glycols and N-vinyl pyrrolidones;

said core polymeric material having an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 77 barrers;

wherein said surfaces are hydrophilically modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes; and

wherein said extended wear contact lens can be continuously worn for at least four days on a human eye without substantial corneal swelling.

6. The extended contact lens of claim 5 wherein said core polymeric material comprises a fluorine containing macromer, and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

7. The extended contact lens of claim 6 wherein said surfaces are modified by a plasma treating process.

8. The extended contact lens of claim 7 wherein said extended lens can be continuously worn for about 7 days with less than about 8% corneal swelling.

9. The extended contact lens of claim 5 wherein said wended lens is worn for about 30 days.

10. A hydrogel contact lens having modified surfaces, said hydrogel contact lens comprising a core polymeric material having an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 77 barrers, said hydrogel contact lens being suited to make contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids and having a high oxygen permeability and a high ion permeability, said core polymeric material having formed from polymerizable materials comprising:

(a) an oxyperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of fluorine-containing macromers and fluorine-containing monomers, and

(b) an ionoperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, polyalkylene glycols and N-vinyl pyrrolidones,

wherein said lens has a high oxygen permeability and allows ion or water permeation 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 continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 77 barrers and an ion permeability characterized either by an Ionoflux Ion Diffusion Coefficient of grater than about 6.4×

10-6 mm²/sec or an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.4×

10-6 cm²/min,

wherein said modified surfaces are hydrophilically modified surfaces that are modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes,

wherein said hydrogel contact lens is adapted for at least 24 hours of continuous wear on a human eye without substantial corneal swelling.

11. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 10 wherein said core polymeric material comprises a fluorine containing macromer as said oxyperm material and N-vinyl pyrrolidone as said ionoperm material.

12. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 11 wherein said surfaces are modified by a plasma treating process.

13. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 12 wherein said lens can be worn for about 7 days with less than about 8% corneal swelling.

14. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 12 wherein said lens is worn for about 7 days with less than about 4% corneal swelling.

15. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 12 wherein said lens can be continuously worn for about 30 days.

16. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 12 wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 81 barrers.

17. A method of using a contact lens as an extended wear lens, said lens having ophthalmically compatible modified 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 ion or water permeability, and which has an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 77 barrers, said polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials comprising:

(a) an oxyperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of fluorine-containing macromers and fluorine-containing monomers, and

(b) an ionoperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, polyalkylene glycols and N-vinyl pyrrolidones,

wherein said modified surfaces are modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes;

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 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; and

wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 70 barrers and an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.4×

10-6 cm²/sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 6.4×

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 period of at least 24 hours.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 81 barrers.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said intimate contact period is at least 4 days.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said intimate contact period is about 7 days.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said intimate contact period is about 14 days.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said intimate contact period is about 30 days.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 24 hours, including normal steep periods, less than about 8% corneal swelling.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 7 days, including normal sleep periods, less than about 6% corneal swelling.

25. A method for producing an extended wear contact lens, said contact lens comprising a core polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high ion or water permeability, which method comprises the steps of:

a) preparing a lens formulation comprising an oxyperm polymerizable material, and an ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said oxyperm polymerizable material comprises between about 30% to about 70%, based on the total weight, of said lens formulation;

b) placing said lens formulation in a lens mold;

c) polymerizing said lens formulation in said mold to form a lens core material having inner and outer surfaces such that said oxyperm polymerizable material and said ionoperm polymerizable material of said lens formulation form separate oxyperm and ionoperm phases;

said lens core material having an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 69 barrers;

d) removing said lens core material from said lens mold;

e) subjecting said lens core material to a treatment to modify said surfaces of said lens core material, wherein the surface treatment makes said surfaces more hydrophilic or lipophobic and more biocompatible with the ocular tissue than said core material alone; and

f) hydrating the treated lens core material to produce a hydrated extended wear contact lens,

wherein the modified surfaces of said lens in conjunction with the high oxygen and ion permeabilities of said core polymeric material allows said hydrated lens to be worn as extended wear lens that is worn for a continuous period of at least 24 hours without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the surface modification treatment is selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the surface modification treatment is a plasma treating process.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said oxyperm polymerizable material is a fluorine macromer and said ionoperm polymerizable material is N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

29. An-extended wear contact lens comprising a core polymeric material and upper and lower surfaces, said core polymeric material comprising a silicone copolymer which provides a high ion permeability and a high oxygen permeability;

said silicone copolymer comprising an oxyperm polymerizable material, and an ionoperm polymerizable material;

said core polymeric material having an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 69 barrers;

wherein said surfaces are hydrophilically modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes; and

wherein said extended wear contact lens can be continuously worn for at least four days on a human eye without substantial corneal swelling and without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption.

30. The extended contact lens of claim 29 wherein said core polymeric material comprises a fluorine macromer, and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

31. The extended contact lens of claim 30 wherein said surfaces are modified by a plasma treating process.

32. The extended contact lens of claim 31 wherein said extended lens can be continuously worn for about 7 days with less than about 7% corneal swelling.

33. The extended contact lens of claim 29 wherein said extended wear lens can be worn for about 30 days.

34. A siloxane hydrogel contact lens having modified surfaces, said hydrogel contact lens comprising a core polymeric material having an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 69 barrers, said hydrogel contact lens being suited to make contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids and having a high oxygen permeability and a high ion permeability, said core polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials comprising:

(a) an oxyperm polymerizable material, and

(b) an ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said lens has a high oxygen permeability and allows ion or water permeation 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 continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 69 barrers and an ion permeability characterized either by an Ionoflux Ion Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 6.4×

10-6 mm²/sec or an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.4×

10-6 cm²/min,

wherein said modified surfaces are hydrophilically modified surfaces that are modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes,

wherein said hydrogel contact lens is adapted for at least 24 hours of continuous wear on a human eye without substantial corneal swelling and without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption.

35. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 34 wherein said core polymeric material comprises a fluorine containing macromer as said oxyperm material and N-vinyl pyrrolidone as said ionoperm material.

36. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 35 wherein said surfaces are modified by a plasma treating process.

37. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 36 wherein said lens can be worn for about 7 days in continuous contact with ocular tissues and fluids with less than about 8% corneal swelling.

38. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 36 wherein said lens is worn for about 7 days with less than about 4% corneal swelling.

39. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 36 wherein said lens can be continuously worn for about 30 days.

40. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 36 wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 77 barrers.

41. A method of using a contact lens as an extended wear lens, said lens having ophthalmically compatible modified 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 ion or water permeability, and which has an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 69 barrers, said polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials comprising:

(a) an oxyperm polymerizable material, and

(b) an ionoperm polymerizable material,

wherein said modified surfaces are modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes;

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 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 without having substantial amounts of lipid absorption; and

wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 70 barrers and an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.4×

10-6 cm²/sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 6.4×

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 continuous intimate contact with the ocular environment for a period of at least 24 hours without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 77 barrers.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein said intimate contact period is at least 4 days.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein said intimate contact period is about 7 days.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein said intimate contact period is about 14 days.

46. The method of claim 41 wherein said intimate contact period is about 30 days.

47. The method of claim 41 wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 24 hours, including normal steep periods, less than about 8% corneal swelling.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 7 days, including normal sleep periods, less than about 6% corneal swelling.

49. A method of forming a biocompatible lens having high oxygen permeability and high water permeability, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a polymeric core formulation comprising an oxyperm polymerizable material, and an ionoperm polymerizable material, said oxyperm polymerizable material comprises between about 30% to about 70%, based on the total weight, of said lens formulation;

(b) polymerizing the core in an atmosphere substantially free from oxygen;

(c) altering the surface of said core material to produce a surface which is more hydrophilic than said core material; and

(d) autoclaving lens at predetermined temperatures;

whereby 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, and

whereby said lens allows ion permeation 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 lens having adequate movement on the eye with blinking to promote adequate tear exchange and without producing significant corneal swelling, without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption, and without causing substantial wearer discomfort during the period of contact for at least 24 hours,

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<sup>−

6</sup> cm²/sec or (2) by an Ionoflux Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 1.5×

10<sup>−

6</sup> mm²/min, wherein said ion permeability is measured with respect to sodium ions.

50. A method of forming a contact lens having high oxygen permeability and high water permeability, said method comprising:

(a) forming a polymeric core material in the shape of a contact lens having an inner and outer surface; and

(b) altering the surfaces of said core material to produce new surfaces that are more hydrophilic than said core material,

wherein said lens having adequate movement on the eye with blinking to promote adequate tear exchange and without producing significant corneal swelling, without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption, and without causing substantial wearer discomfort during the period of contact for at least 24 hours.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein said intimate contact period is about 7 days.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein said intimate contact period is about 30 days.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein said lens is autoclaved at predetermined temperatures.

54. A biocompatible contact lens having high oxygen permeability and high water permeability, said lens comprising:

(a) a polymeric core material in the shape of a contact lens having an inner and outer surface; and

(b) said surfaces of said core material being surface modified to produce new surfaces that are more hydrophilic than said core material,

wherein said lens having adequate movement on the eye with blinking to promote adequate tear exchange and without producing significant corneal swelling, without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption, and without causing substantial wearer discomfort during the period of contact for at least 24 hours.

55. The lens of claim 54 wherein said intimate contact period is at least 4 days.

56. The lens of claim 55 wherein said intimate contact period is about 7 days.

57. The lens of claim 55 wherein said intimate contact period is about 14 days.

58. The lens of claim 55 wherein said intimate contact period is about 30 days.

59. The lens of claim 54 including (c) said said lens being autoclaved at predetermined temperatures.

60. A method for producing an extended wear contact lens, said contact lens comprising a core polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high ion or water permeability, which method comprises the steps of:

a) preparing a lens formulation comprising an oxyperm polymerizable material, and an ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said oxyperm polymerizable material comprises between about 30% to about 70%, based on the total weight, of said lens formulation;

b) placing said lens formulation in a lens mold;

c) polymerizing said lens formulation in said mold to form a lens core material having inner and outer surfaces such that said oxyperm polymerizable material and said ionoperm polymerizable material of said lens formulation form separate oxyperm and ionoperm phases;

said lens core material having an oxygen permeability equal to or greater than 69 barrers;

d) removing said lens core material from said lens mold;

e) subjecting said lens core material to a treatment to modify said surfaces of said lens core material, wherein the surface treatment makes said surfaces more hydrophilic or lipophobic and more biocompatible with the ocular tissue than said core material alone; and

f) hydrating the treated lens core material to produce a hydrated extended wear contact lens,

wherein the modified surfaces of said lens in conjunction with the high oxygen and ion permeabilities of said core polymeric material allows said hydrated lens to be worn as extended wear lens that is worn for a continuous period of at least 24 hours without having substantial amounts of lipid adsorption.

61. A method for producing an extended wear contact lens, said contact lens comprising a core polymeric material which has a high oxygen permeability and a high ion or water permeability, which method comprises the steps of:

a) preparing a lens formulation comprising an oxyperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of siloxane-containing macromers, fluorine-containing macromers and fluorine monomers, and an ionoperm polymerizable material, wherein said oxyperm polymerizable material comprises between about 30% to about 70%, based on the total weight, of said lens formulation;

b) placing said lens formulation in a lens mold;

c) polymerizing said tens formulation in said mold to form a lens core material having inner and outer surfaces such that said oxyperm polymerizable material and said ionoperm polymerizable material of said lens formulation form separate oxyperm and ionoperm phases;

said lens core material having at least one continous pathway from said inner surface to said outer surface for oxygen transmission therethrough;

d) removing said lens core material from said lens mold;

e) subjecting said lens core material to a treatment to modify said surfaces of said lens core material, wherein the surface treatment makes said surfaces more hydrophilic or lipophobic and more biocompatible with the ocular tissue than said core material alone; and

f) hydrating the treated lens core material to produce a hydrated extended wear contact lens,

wherein the modified surfaces of said lens in conjunction with the high oxygen and ion permeabilities of said core polymeric material allows said hydrated lens to be worn as extended wear lens that is worn for a continuous period of at least 24 hours with corneal swelling of less than about 8%.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the surface modification treatment is selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the surface modification treatment is a plasma treating process.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said oxyperm polymerizable material is a siloxane containing macromer or siloxane containing monomer and said ionoperm polymerizable material is N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

65. An extended wear contact lens comprising a core polymeric material and upper and lower surfaces, said core polymeric material comprising a silicone copolymer which provides a high ion permeability and a high oxygen permeability;

wherein said silicone copolymer comprises an oxyperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of siloxane-containing macromers, siloxane-containing monomers, fluorine- containing macromers, siloxane containing monomers and fluorine-containing monomers, and an ionoperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, polyalkylene glycols and N-vinyl pyrrolidones, wherein said core polymeric material has at least one continuous pathway from said upper surface to said lower surface for oxygen transmission;

wherein said surfaces are hydrophilically modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes; and

wherein said extended wear contact lens can be continuously worn for at least four days on a human eye without substantial corneal swelling.

66. The extended contact lens of claim 65 wherein said core polymeric material comprises a siloxane-containing macromer or a siloxane monomer, and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

67. The extended contact lens of claim 66 wherein said surfaces are modified by a plasma treating process.

68. The extended contact lens of claim 67 wherein said extended lens can be continuously worn for about 7 days with less than about 8% corneal swelling.

69. The extended contact lens of claim 66 wherein said extended wear lens can be worn for about 30 days.

70. A hydrogel contact lens having modified surfaces, said hydrogel contact lens comprising a core polymeric material having at least one continuous pathway between said surfaces for oxygen transmission therethrough, said hydrogel contact lens being suited to make contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids and having a high oxygen permeability and a high ion permeability, said core polymeric material having formed from polymerizable materials comprising:

(a) an oxyperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of siloxane-containing macromers, siloxane-containing monomers, fluorine-containing macromers and fluorine-containing monomers, and

(b) an ionoperm polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, polyalkylene glycols and N-vinyl pyrrolidones,

wherein said lens has a high oxygen permeability and allows ion or water permeation 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 continuous contact with ocular tissue and ocular fluids, wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 70 barrers and an ion permeability characterized either by an Ionoflux Ion Diffusion Coefficient of grater than about 6.4×

10-6 mm²/sec or an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.4×

10-6 cm²/min,

wherein said modified surfaces are hydrophilically modified surfaces that are modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes,

wherein said hydrogel contact lens is adapted for at least 24 hours of continuous wear on a human eye without substantial corneal swelling.

71. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 70 wherein said core polymeric material comprises a siloxane-containing macromer or a siloxane containing monomer as said oxyperm material and N-vinyl pyrrolidone as said ionoperm material.

72. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 71 wherein said surfaces are modified by a plasma treating process.

73. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 72 wherein said lens can be worn for about 7 days with less than about 8% corneal swelling.

74. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 72 wherein said lens is worn for about 7 days with less than about 4% corneal swelling.

75. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 72 wherein said lens can be continuously worn for about 30 days.

76. The hydrogel contact lens of claim 72 wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least 75 days.

77. A method of using a contact lens as an extended wear lens, said lens having ophthalmically compatible modified 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 ion or water permeability, and which has at least one continous pathway between said modified surfaces for oxygen surfaces, said polymeric material being formed from polymerizable materials comprising:

(a) an oxyperm polymerizable material, and

(b) an ionoperm polymerizable material,

wherein said modified surfaces are modified by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of coating processes, grafting processes, plasma treating processes, electrical charge treating processes and irradiation processes;

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 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 without having substantial amounts of lipid absorption; and

wherein said ophthalmic lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 70 barrers and an ion permeability characterized either by (1) an Ionoton Ion Permeability Coefficient of greater than about 0.4×

10-6 cm²/sec or (2) an Ionoflux Diffusion Coefficient of greater than about 6.4×

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 continous intimate contact with the ocular environment for a period of at least 24 hours.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein said lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 77 barrers.

79. The method of claim 77 wherein said intimate contact period is at least 4 days.

80. The method of claim 77 wherein said intimate contact period is about 7 days.

81. The method of claim 77 wherein said intimate contact period is about 14 days.

82. The method of claim 77 wherein said intimate contact period is about 30 days.

83. The method of claim 77, wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 24 hours, including normal steep periods, less than about 8% corneal swelling.

84. The method of claim 77, wherein said lens produces, after wear of about 7 days, including normal sleep periods, less that about 6% corneal swelling.