Hybrid contact lenses prepared with expansion controlled polymeric materials

A xerogel polymer composition, comprising:

• a vinyl amide recurring unit;
• a polysiloxanylalkyl acrylate or methacrylate recurring unit
• a fluorine containing recurring unit;
• a styrene containing recurring unit;
• a crosslinking unit;
• and
• a diluent comprising at least one selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactide, glycolide, a polyacetal, a cyclic acetal, a polyketal, a cyclic ketal, a polyorthoester, a cyclic orthoester, di-t-butyl-dicarbonate, tris(trimethylsilyl)amine, and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide.

A xerogel polymer composition, comprising:

• a polymer;
• and
• a diluent dispersed within the polymer, wherein the diluent comprises at least one selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactide, glycolide, a polyacetal, a cyclic acetal, a polyketal, a cyclic ketal, a polyorthoester, a cyclic orthoester, di-t-butyl-dicarbonate, tris(trimethylsilyl)amine, and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide,
• wherein the amount of diluent is selected so that upon substantially full hydration, the xerogel composition undergoes a linear expansion of less than approximately 8%.

A hybrid contact lens, comprising:

• a rigid center portion, comprising:
• an acrylate recurring unit;
• a styrene containing recurring unit;
• a silicon containing recurring unit;
• a fluorine containing recurring unit;
• a cross-linking unit;
• and
• an annular skirt portion coupled to the center portion at a junction between an outer peripheral edge of the center portion and an inner edge of the annular skirt portion, wherein the skirt portion comprises:
• a vinyl amide recurring unit;
• a polysiloxanylalkyl acrylate or methacrylate recurring unit
• a fluorine containing recurring unit;
• a styrene containing recurring unit;
• a cross-linking unit;
• and
• a diluent dispersed within the skirt portion, wherein the diluent comprises at least one selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactide, glycolide, a polyacetal, a cyclic acetal, a polyketal, a cyclic ketal, a polyorthoester, a cyclic orthoester, di-t-butyl-dicarbonate, tris(trimethylsilyl)amine, and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide.

A method for preparing a hybrid contact lens, the method comprising:

• providing a substantially rigid center portion;
• forming a peripheral skirt portion in the presence of the center portion, the skirt portion comprising a xerogel polymer and a diluent comprising at least one selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactide, glycolide, a polyacetal, a cyclic acetal, a polyketal, a cyclic ketal, a polyorthoester, a cyclic orthoester, di-t-butyl-dicarbonate, tris(trimethylsilyl)amine, and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide;
• and
• machining at least the skirt portion to a selected shape while the diluent is present in the skirt portion.