Silicone-containing contact lens polymers, oxygen permeable contact lenses and methods for making these lenses and treating patients with visual impairment

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel copolymers and contact lenses made from these copolymers comprising preformed silicone-containing acrylic star polymers and macromonomers, preparation of these contact lenses and a therapeutic method for treating patients with visual impairment. Described is a copolymer comprising at least about 10% by weight of a preformed silicone-containing acrylic copolymer and no more than about 90% by weight of a matrix formed from the random polymerization of a mixture of monomers. The mixture of monomers comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of silicone acrylates, esters of alpha, beta-unsaturated acids and wetting monomers. The preformed silicone-containing acrylic copolymer is preferably copolymerized throughout the matrix. The copolymer is readily machined into gas permeable contact lenses exhibiting substantially enhanced characteristics of at least one of the characteristic group of oxygen permeability, hardness and machineability relative to contact lenses formed from the random polymerization of monomers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.