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US 4,168,112 AGranted
Contact lens with a hydrophilic, polyelectrolyte complex coating and method for forming same
AssigneePolymer Technology Corporation
InventorsEdward J. Ellis, Joseph C. Salamone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Soft and hard contact lenses with an ionic charge on their surface are treated with a lens solution containing an oppositely charged ionic polymer to form a hydrophilic polyelectrolyte complex on the lens surface, which complex acts as a hydrogel and improves the properties of the lens.
Claims13
A contact lens comprising an optically clear, transparent body having a lens surface,
- said lens surface defining a polymeric material carrying an ionic charge,
- a thin layer of a polyelectrolyte complex coating said lens surface and electrostatically bound thereto,
- said coating comprising an ionic polymer and said polymer forming a hydrogel at the surface which absorbs water, has good water retention and is compatible with the physiological structure of the eye.
A method of forming a polyelectrolyte complex coating on a polymeric contact lens, said method comprising,
- providing said lens with a surface carrying an ionic charge,
- wetting said lens surface with a wetting solution carrying an ionic polymer to form a thin layer of said polyelectrolyte complex electrostatically bound to said surface,
- said coating comprising an ionic polymer and said polymer forming a hydrogel at said surface which absorbs water, has good water retention and is compatible with the physiological structure of the eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.