Ophthalmic filter materials

A photochromic plastic ophthalmic filter lens having a polymer matrix with an effective amount of at least one photochromic agent distributed therein, applied thereto or associated therewith and at least one ophthalmic filtering dye applied thereto, associated therewith or distributed therein, said filter lens exhibiting substantially reduced transmittance of radiations having a wavelength shorter than about 550 nm, a photopic transmittance no greater than about 25% in the faded state and no greater than about 10% in the darkened state, and a scotopic transmittance no greater than about 3% in the faded state and no greater than 1% in the darkened state at a wavelength between about 450-550 nm.

A method of producing a photochromic plastic filter lens which comprises treating a photochromic plastic article in at least one solution of at least one filtering dye for a time sufficient to impart to the lens the filtering properties of (i) having a dominant wavelength between 570 and 605 nm and a color purity between 50% and 75%, or (ii) exhibiting substantially reduced transmittance of radiations having a wavelength shorter than about 550 nm, a photopic transmittance no greater than about 25% in the faded state and no greater than about 10% in the darkened state, and a scotopic transmittance no greater than about 3% in the faded state and no greater than 1% in the darkened state at a wavelength between about 450-550 nm.

A method of producing a photochromic plastic filter lens which comprises adding and dispersing an effective amount of at least one photochromic agent and an effective amount of at least one ophthalmic filtering dye to a monomer or a mixture of monomers, and thereafter polymerzing the resultant mixture into a photochromic filtering polymer to produce the lens.