High refractive index ophthalmic lens materials

Abstract

Improved soft, foldable acrylic lens materials which are particularly suited for use as IOLs, but which are also useful as other ophthalmic devices, such as contact lenses, keratoprostheses, and corneal rings or inlays, are disclosed. These materials contain only two principal components: one aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomer and one hydrophilic monomer. The materials of the present invention are copolymers comprising at least about 90% by weight of the two principal monomeric components; provided that the amount of the hydrophilic component is not greater than that of the aryl acrylic hydrophobic component. The remainder of the material comprises up to 10% by weight of one or more additional components, such as cross-linking, UV-light absorbing, and blue-light absorbing components. The aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomers suitable for use in the materials of the present invention have the formula ##STR1## wherein: X is H or CH.sub.3 ; m is 0-6; Y is nothing, O, S, or NR, wherein R is H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 (n=1-10), iso-OC.sub.3 H.sub.7, C.sub.6 H.sub.5, or CH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.5 ; and Ar is any aromatic ring which can be unsubstituted or substituted with H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7, iso-C.sub.3 H.sub.7, OCH.sub.3, C.sub.6 H.sub.11, Cl, Br, C.sub.6 H.sub.5, or CH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.5.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.