Methods and compositions for manufacturing tinted ophthalmic lenses

US6149842A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Novartis AG · CH

Inventors

• John Martin Lally · Lilburn, US
• Friedrich Stockinger · Hölstein, CH
• Charlotte Lynn Cooper · Chamblee, US
• Achim Müller · Aschaffenburg, DE
• Deborah J. Mulcahy · Suwanee, US
• Bernhard Seiferling · Goldbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 12, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 21, 2000
• Expiry date: Nov 12, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29C35/02
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of tinted ophthalmic moldings comprising the steps of PA1 (a) providing a water soluble polymer precursor having crosslinkable or polymerizable groups; PA1 (b) providing a pigment dispersion comprising an inorganic or organic pigment and a dispersing agent; PA1 (c) mixing the metal phthalocyanine dye or pigment with the polymer precursor to form a tinted prepolymerization mixture, PA1 (d) dispensing the tinted prepolymerization mixture into a mold, PA1 (e) applying radiation to the tinted prepolymerization mixture in the mold, thereby crosslinking or polymerizing the polymer precursor and entrapping the dye or pigment within the polymeric network of the resultant ophthalmic molding, and PA1 (f) opening the mold so that the ophthalmic molding can be removed from the mold. According to the process, tinted ophthalmic moldings, particularly full-body tinted soft contact lenses having improved properties, are prepared with an improved efficiency.