Ophthalmic compositions comprising polyether substituted polymers

A ophthalmic device comprising a polymer matrix and entrapped therein at least one water soluble polymer having a molecular weight of about 500,000 Daltons or greater and comprising linear or branched polyether pendant groups having a molecular weight of about 300 or greater and wherein said polyether pendant groups result from polymerizing monomers of the Formula I

• A-[(CZpHq)y—O]n—CHm—X3-m
• wherein n is 7 or greater;
• Z is a C1-C6 alkyl group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with hydroxyl, carboxylic acids, esters, acyl halides, amines, amides, ketones, aldehydes, halides, sulfides, mercaptans, quartenary ammonium salts and combinations thereof, q is 0, 1 or 2 and p is 2-q, y is 2 to 4, m is 1 or 2;
• A is any free radical polymerizable group and X is selected from straight or branched C1-16 alkyl groups which may be unsubstituted or substituted with a substituent independently selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, esters, acyl halides, amines, amides, ketones, aldehydes, halides, sulfides, mercaptans, quartenary ammonium salts and combinations thereof.