The present invention relates to aqueous processes for the production of silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an ophthalmic lens and mold parts used to form the ophthalmic lens.
Claims
1. A method comprising
(a) curing a reactive mixture comprising at least one silicone containing component and at least one shrinkage agent in a mold to form a cured article;(b) contacting the cured article in the mold with an aqueous solution under conditions which shrink the cured article; and(c) optionally removing the cured article from the mold.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said shrinkage agent comprises at least one monofunctional low molecular weight linear silicone.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said linear silicone has a molecular weight less than about 1000.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein said linear silicone has a molecular weight less than about 800.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein said linear silicone has a molecular weight less than about 700.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein said linear silicone comprises at least one siloxane group.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein said linear silicone comprises at least one polydimethylsiloxane.
8. The method of claim 2 wherein said linear silicone is selected from the group consisting of monomethacryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxanes, 2-methyl-,2-hydroxy-3-[3-[1,3,3,3-tetramethyl-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]disiloxanyl]propoxy]propyl ester, 2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyloxypropyl-tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, 3-methacryloxypropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, 3-methacryloxypropylbis(trimethylsiloxy)methylsilane and 3-methacryloxypropylpentamethyl disiloxane, mono-(3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxypropyloxy)propyl terminated, mono-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane, silicone containing methacrylamides, and combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 2 wherein at least about 10 weight % of said at least one silicone containing component is replaced with said at least one monofunctional low molecular weight silicone.
10. The method of claim 2 wherein between about 20 and 100 weight % of said at least one silicone containing component is replaced with said at least one monofunctional low molecular weight silicone.
11. The method of claim 2 wherein between about 40 and 100 weight % of of said at least one silicone containing component is replaced with said at least one monofunctional low molecular weight silicone.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein said shrinkage agent comprises at least one crosslinking compound in an amount of at least about 2 mole %.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said shrinkage agent comprises at least one crosslinking compound in an amount of at least about 2.5 mole %.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said crosslinking compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic crosslinkers and hydrophobic crosslinkers.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein said shrink agent comprises a hydrophilic crosslinking compound selected from the group consisting of tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, ethyleneglycol dimethacylate, ethylenediamine dimethyacrylamide, glycerol dimethacrylate and combinations thereof.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein said shrink agent comprises a hydrophobic crosslinking compound selected from the group consisting of acryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (n=10 or 20), hydroxylacrylate functionalized siloxane macromer, methacryloxypropyl terminated PDMS, butanediol dimethacrylate, divinyl benzene, 1,3-bis(3-methacryloxypropyl)tetrakis(trimethylsiloxy) disiloxane and mixtures thereof.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein said shrink agent comprises a crosslinking compound selected from the group consisting of tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, ethyleneglycol dimethacylate, acryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (n=10 or 20), and combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein said reactive mixture further comprises at least one diluent in an amount from about 40 to about 60 weight % based upon the weight of the diluent and components in the reactive mixture.
19. The method of any of claim 18 wherein said diluent is present in an amount from about 50 to about 60 weight % based upon the weight of the diluent and components in the reactive mixture.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein said contacting conditions include a temperature of at least about 80° C.
21. The method of claim 1 wherein said contacting conditions include a temperature of at least about 90° C.
22. The method of claim 1 wherein said shrinkage agent comprises at least one water content decreasing compound.
23. The method of claims 1 wherein said reaction mixture further comprises at least one hydrophilic monomer.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein said hydrophilic monomer is present in an amount between about 5 and 50 weight %.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein said hydrophilic monomer is present in an amount between about 20 and 50 weight %.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein said aqueous solution comprises at least about 70 wt % water.
27. The method of claim 23 wherein said aqueous solution comprises at least about 90 wt % water.
28. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact lens shrinks at least about 3% in contacting step (b).
29. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact lens shrinks at least about 5% in contacting step (b).
30. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact lens shrinks at least about 7% in contacting step (b).
31. A method comprising
(a) curing in a mold to form a silicone hydrogel contact lens, a reaction mixture comprising at least one reactive silicone component and at least about 40 weight % diluent based upon all components in the reaction mixture;(b) contacting the contact lens with an aqueous solution in the mold under conditions which shrink the contact lens; and(c) optionally removing the contact lens from the mold.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein said reaction mixture further comprises at least one shrink agent.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein said shrinkage agent comprises at least one monofunctional low molecular weight linear silicone.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein said linear silicone has a molecular weight less than about 1000.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein said linear silicone comprises at least one siloxane group.
36. The method of claim 33 wherein said linear silicone comprises at least one polydimethylsiloxane.
37. The method of claim 33 wherein said linear silicone is selected from the group consisting of monomethacryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxanes, 2-methyl-,2-hydroxy-3-[3-[1,3,3,3-tetramethyl-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]disiloxanyl]propoxy]propyl ester, 2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyloxypropyl-tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, 3-methacryloxypropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, 3-methacryloxypropylbis(trimethylsiloxy)methylsilane and 3-methacryloxypropylpentamethyl disiloxane, mono-(3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxypropyloxy)propyl terminated, mono-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane, silicone containing methacrylamides, and combinations thereof.
38. The method of claim 32 wherein said shrinkage agent comprises at least one crosslinking compound in an amount of at least about 2 mole %.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein said crosslinking compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic crosslinkers and hydrophobic crosslinkers.
40. The method of claim 38 wherein said crosslinking compound is selected from the group consisting of tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, ethyleneglycol dimethacylate, acryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (n=10 or 20), and combinations thereof.
41. The method of claim 31 wherein said diluent is present in an amount from about 40 to about 60 weight % based upon the weight of the diluent and components in the reactive mixture.
42. The method of claim 31 wherein said diluent is present in an amount from about 45 to about 60 weight % based upon the weight of the diluent and components in the reactive mixture.
43. The method of claim 31 wherein said diluent is present in an amount from about 50 to about 60 weight % based upon the weight of the diluent and components in the reactive mixture
44. The method of claim 31 wherein said contacting conditions include a temperature of at least about 80° C.
45. The method of claim 32 wherein said shrinkage agent comprises at least one water content decreasing compound.
46. The method of claims 31 wherein said reaction mixture further comprises at least one hydrophilic monomer.
47. The method of claim 31 wherein said aqueous solution comprises at least about 70 wt % water.
48. The method of claim 31 wherein said contact lens shrinks at least about 3% in contacting step (b).
49. The method of claim 31 wherein said contact lens shrinks at least about 3% in contacting step (b).
50. The method of claim 31 wherein said contact lens shrinks at least about 7% in contacting step (b).
Patent Application
20070222095
