Silicone hydrogel ophthalmic devices molded in vinyl alcohol copolymer molds and related methods
AssigneeCooperVision International Holding Company, LP
InventorsNeil Goodenough, David Robert Morsley, Ian Bruce, Edyta S. Bialek, Lee Darren Norris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Silicone hydrogel ophthalmic devices, such as ocular inserts and contact lenses, formed in direct contact with molds comprising at least one vinyl alcohol copolymer and related methods are described. The at least one vinyl alcohol copolymer of the molds is a vinyl alcohol copolymer other than an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. The methods of manufacturing ophthalmic devices can use dry or wet demolding processes, or dry or wet delensing processes.
Claims19
A method of manufacturing a silicone hydrogel ophthalmic device, comprising:
- providing a polymerizable composition, the polymerizable composition comprising
- (a) at least one siloxane monomer,
- (b) at least one hydrophilic monomer, and
- (c) at least one crosslinking agent;
- polymerizing the polymerizable composition in an ophthalmic device mold assembly to form a polymeric ophthalmic device body, wherein at least one mold member of the ophthalmic device mold assembly comprises at least one vinyl alcohol copolymer which is not an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer;
- contacting the polymeric ophthalmic device body with a washing liquid to remove extractable material from the polymeric ophthalmic device body;
- and
- packaging the polymeric ophthalmic device body in an ophthalmic device packaging solution in an ophthalmic device package.
A packaged silicone hydrogel contact lens product, comprising:
- a polymeric contact lens body that is a reaction product of a polymerizable composition, the polymerizable composition comprising
- (a) at least one siloxane monomer,
- (b) at least one hydrophilic monomer, and
- (c) at least one crosslinking agent;
- a portion of contact lens packaging solution comprising at least one water-soluble vinyl alcohol copolymer;
- and
- a contact lens package configured to contain a contact lens body in the portion of contact lens packaging solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.