Claims
- 1. A method of treating the surface of an optical component having a defined geometry and desirable bulk material properties, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating radiation by means of a laser, said radiation having a preselected wavelength and a preselected energy density;
- (b) applying said radiation to the surface of an optical component for a period of time sufficient to simultaneously photoablatively remove impurities adhering to said surface of said optical component and sterilize said surface;
- wherein said wavelength, energy density, and period of time of application of said radiation are selected such that said radiation does not substantially alter either the desirable bulk material properties of said optical article or the geometry of said optical component.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of detecting impurities on said surface of said optical component and selectively removing said impurities.
- 3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising concentrating said radiation on said impurities by means of a mask.
- 4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of detecting contaminants on said optical component and selectively removing said contaminants.
- 5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising applying said radiation to substantially the entire face of each surface of said optical component.
- 6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising removing said impurities together with a surface layer of said optical component.
- 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said surface layer has a thickness no more than one micrometer (.mu.m).
- 8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said application of radiation occurs in a sterile environment.
- 9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising arranging said optical component inside a transparent housing, and subsequent to irradiating a first surface, rearranging said optical component automatically in order to irradiate a second surface.
- 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said radiation has a wavelength of about 100 nm to about 350 nm and an energy density of about 0.1 J/cm.sup.2 to about 10 J/cm.sup.2.
- 11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising pulsing said laser radiation.
- 12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said laser is an excimer laser.
- 13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said optical component is a contact lens.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
3208/90 |
Oct 1990 |
CHX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/005,922, filed Jan. 19, 1993, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/765,604 filed Sep. 25, 1991, abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3722384 |
Jan 1989 |
DEX |
9110455 |
Jul 1991 |
WOX |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
5922 |
Jan 1993 |
|
Parent |
765604 |
Sep 1991 |
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