Method for making UV and HEVL-absorbing ophthalmic lenses

A method for producing UV-absorbing silicone hydrogel contact lenses,

• the method comprising the steps of:
• (1) providing a mold for making a soft contact lens, wherein the mold has a first mold half with a first molding surface defining the anterior surface of a contact lens and a second mold half with a second molding surface defining the posterior surface of the contact lens, wherein said first and second mold halves are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between said first and second molding surfaces;
• (2) introducing a lens-forming composition into the cavity, wherein the lens-forming composition comprises
• (i) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer,
• (ii) at least one siloxane-containing vinylic monomer and/or at least one polysiloxane vinylic crosslinker,
• (iii) at least one polymerizable UV-absorbing compound and at least one polymerizable HEVL-absorbing compound in amounts sufficient to provide the lens-forming composition with an average UVB transmittance of about 10% or less between 280 and 315 nanometers, an average UVA transmittance of about 30% or less between 315 and 380 nanometers, and an average Violet transmittance of about 70% or less between 380 nm and 440 nm,
• (iv) from about 0.05% to about 1.5% by weight of at least one acyltin photoinitiator capable of initiating a free-radical polymerization under irradiation with a light source including a light in the region of from 455 nm to 510 nm,
• (v) at least one photochromic compound that is polymerizable and comprises an ethylenicaly-unsaturated group;
• and
• (3) irradiating the lens-forming composition in the mold by using the light source including a light in a region of from 455 nm to 510 nm, so as to form the UV- and HEVL-absorbing silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein the formed UV-absorbing silicone hydrogel contact lens has a UVB transmittance of about 10% or less between 280 and 315 nanometers and a UVA transmittance of about 30% or less between 315 and 380 nanometers and and the Violet transmittance of about 70% or less between 380 nm and 440 nm.