Plasma surface treatment of silicone hydrogel contact lenses
AssigneeBausch & Lomb Incorporated
InventorsPaul L. Valint, Jr., George L. Grobe, Daniel M. Ammon, Jr., Michael J. Moorehead
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Abstract
The present invention provides an optically clear, hydrophilic coating upon the surface of a silicone hydrogel lens by subjecting the surface of the lens to a process comprising plasma treatment, hydration, and heat sterilization that is controlled to result in a silicate-containing film having a mosaic pattern of projecting plates surrounded by fissures when viewing a 50×50 micron square AFM image, wherein the peak-to-valley distances of the fissures are on average between about 100 and 500 angströms and the plate coverage is on average between about 40% to 99%.
Claims9
A silicone hydrogel contact lens including a hydrophilic surface having a silicate-containing surface coating characterized by a mosaic pattern of projecting plates surrounded by receding fissures when viewing a 50×50 micron square AFM image, wherein, as a result of a controlled manufacturing process, the average fissure depth is on average between about 100 and 500 angströms and the plate coverage is on average between about 40 and 99 percent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.