Eye coverings

An eye covering according to any one of the preceding claims comprising polymer fibre of a polymer selected from the group consisting of collagen, polylactide, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, and polyethylene oxide.

An eye covering for covering an exposed surface portion of an eye, the covering comprising a body having front and rear surfaces with at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the body comprising hydrophilic polymer fibre.

An eye covering for covering an exposed surface portion of an eye, the covering comprising a body having front and rear surfaces with the front and rear surfaces of the body comprising layers of different polymer fibre.

An eye covering according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each polymer is at least one of water-soluble, hydrophilic and biodegradable.

An eye covering according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer fibre is formed by electrohydrodynamic comminution.

An eye covering according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer fibre portion carries at least one active ingredient.

A package comprising an eye covering in accordance with any one of the preceding claims within a hermetically sealed container.

A method of modifying an eye covering in the form of a contact lens or contact eye bandage, which method comprises positioning the eye covering adjacent an electrohydrodynamic comminution device comprising a liquid supply with an outlet and an electric field generator and activating the device so that liquid issuing from the outlet is subjected to an electric field causing the liquid to form at least one electrically charged jet which then forms at least one of electrically charged fibre, fibre fragments and droplets which deposit onto the eye covering.

A method of applying an active ingredient to an exposed surface portion of an eye prior to, during or after surgery, which method comprises providing an electrohydrodynamic comminution device comprising an electric field generator and a liquid reservoir having a liquid outlet and containing a biologically compatible liquid carrying at least one active ingredient, directing the outlet towards the eye and activating the device so that liquid issuing from the outlet is subjected to an electric field causing the liquid to form at least one electrically charged jet which then forms at least one of electrically charged fibre, fibre fragments and droplets which deposit onto the exposed surface portion of the eye.

A method of applying an active ingredient to an exposed surface portion of an eye prior to, during and/or after photo refractive keratectomy, which method comprises providing an electrohydrodynamic comminution device comprising an electric field generator and a liquid reservoir having a liquid outlet and containing a biologically compatible liquid carrying at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of an analgesic, a painkiller, an antibiotic, a phospholipid surfactant such as a surfactant protein and a growth factor such as hepatocyte growth factor, directing the outlet towards the eye and activating the device so that liquid issuing from the outlet is subjected to an electric field causing the liquid to form at least one electrically charged jet which then forms at least one of electrically charged fibre, fibre fragments and droplets which deposit onto the exposed surface portion of the eye to supply the active ingredient to the exposed surface portion.