US-12619104-B2 - Method of manufacturing a contact lens

US12619104B2US 12619104 B2US12619104 B2US 12619104B2US-12619104-B2

Abstract

A contact lens and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The contact lens includes a contact lens body and a blue light blocking material. The blue light blocking material covers the contact lens body. The blue light blocking material includes a plurality of metal particles dispersed on the contact lens body. The contact lens has good blue light blocking efficacy and surface properties.

Inventors

Hsien-Ting CHIU
Yi-Hung Lin
Ying-Jhen HUANG

Assignees

PEGAVISION CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231121

Claims (14)

1 . A method of manufacturing a contact lens, comprising: providing a contact lens body; immersing the contact lens body with a reaction solution to form a contact lens having a blue light blocking material covering the contact lens body, wherein the reaction solution comprises: a first solvent; at least one compound comprising a metal ion; and at least one reducing agent for reducing the metal ion into a metal particle, preparing a thermal responsive solution, wherein the thermal responsive solution comprises a polymer dissolved in a second solvent; immersing the contact lens with the thermal responsive solution; and heating the thermal responsive solution at a temperature equal to or higher than a lower critical solution temperature to form at least one hydrophobic moiety on the contact lens body.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent comprises water soluble solvent.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal ion comprises silver ion, gold ion, cobalt ion, manganese ion, nickel ion, copper ion, zinc ion, platinum ion, palladium ion, cadmium ion, indium ion, potassium ion, calcium ion, iron ion, or combinations thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent comprises at least one functional group comprising carboxyl group, amine group, thiol group, sulfide group, aldehyde group, hydroxyl group, alkoxide group, N-heterocycle group, pyrrolidone group, borohydride group, or combinations thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction solution further comprises at least one hydrophilic-enhanced molecule functionalized with carboxyl group, amine group, thiol group, sulfide group, aldehyde group, hydroxyl group, acrylamide, alkoxide group, N-heterocycle group, pyrrolidone group, ethylene glycol group, or combinations thereof.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: packaging the contact lens with a package solution, wherein the package solution comprises at least one hydrophilic-enhanced molecule; and performing a sterilization process.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing a heating process at a temperature ranged from 25° C. to 135° C. when immersing the contact lens body with the reaction solution.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the heating process comprises heating a container accommodating the contact lens body and the reaction solution in an incubator for about 20 minutes to about 24 hours.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the incubator comprises an oven, an autoclave sterilizer, or a water bath incubator.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermal responsive solution is prepared at a temperature below a lower critical solution temperature.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer is functionalized with carboxyl group, amine group, thiol group, sulfide group, aldehyde group, hydroxyl group, acrylamide, alkoxide group, N-heterocycle group, pyrrolidone group, ethylene glycol group, or combinations thereof.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic moiety consisting of carbon chain with alkane, alkene, or alkyne bonds.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the carbon chain is a polymer presented in linear or non-linear form comprising branched or cyclic form.
14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: extracting the contact lens with an extraction solution; performing a hydration process with a hydration solution; and performing a sterilization process with a package solution, wherein at least one of the extraction solution, the hydration solution and the package solution comprises at least one hydrophilic-enhanced molecule.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a Divisional Application of the U.S. application Ser. No. 17/445,313, filed Aug. 18, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/068,383, filed Aug. 21, 2020, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND Field of Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a contact lens. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a contact lens with an ability of blue light blocking. Description of Related Art In a recent decade, digital eye strain (DES), also known as computer vision syndrome, is a critical public health challenge. It indicates a serial syndrome of visual disturbance, dryness, or discomfort associated with the prolonged use of digital devices with other directly or indirectly environmental stress on eye. For general contact lens users under such conditions, it is suggested that contact lens with specific wavelength of blue light blocking and enhanced wettability is a promising strategy to alleviate the syndromes. Especially for elderly people, short wavelength of blue light ranged approximately 400 nm-450 nm result in the higher possibility to photochemical damage due to accumulated lipofuscin constituent A2E pigment, or light-responsive proteins, such as cytochrome oxidase and porphyrin, resulting in age related macular degeneration. Traditional blue light blocking eye wears are applied through addition of chemical pigment or dye. However, for the higher efficiency of blue light blocking, strong yellow or amber color is usually not desirable in aspect of appearance. Although additionally mixing with the other dyes showing different colors offset the appearance, the efficiency of blue light blocking is therefore decreased. Moreover, the absorption of dyes covering over 500 nm interferes normal color perception and attenuates the overall light transmission and visual efficacy, especially for scotopic vision. These undesired disadvantages in turn may lead to negative influence on the preference of contact lens for general users. Accordingly, there remains a need to fabricate an ophthalmic device, such as contact lenses, which not only exhibits efficient blue-light blocking with relatively less yellowish appearance, but also enhances surficial hydrophilicity, water retention property along with lubricity of the device. SUMMARY In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a contact lens is provided. The contact lens includes a contact lens body and a blue light blocking material. The blue light blocking material covers the contact lens body. The blue light blocking material includes a plurality of metal particles dispersed on the contact lens body. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of metal particles include silver, gold, cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, platinum, palladium, cadmium, indium, potassium, calcium, iron, or combinations thereof. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact lens includes about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of blue light blocking material based on a total weight of the contact lens. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of metal particles have a diameter of about 1-10000 nm. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact lens exhibits tunable plasmonic resonances at visible light ranged from 380-800 nm. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact lens inhibits about 5% to about 99% of blue light at wavelength ranged within 380 nm to about 480 nm. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact lens has an averaged water contact angle of about 30-70 degrees. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact lens has an averaged hysteresis of about 0.1-35 degrees. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact lens body includes a hydrogel contact lens or a silicone hydrogel contact lens. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the contact lens body includes carboxyl, amine, hydroxyl, or pyrrolidone structure. In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing a contact lens is provided. A contact lens body is provided. The contact lens body is then immersed with a reaction solution to form a contact lens having a blue light blocking material covering the contact lens body. The reaction solution includes a solvent, at least one compound, and at least one reducing agent. The compound includes a metal ion. The reducing agent reduces the metal ion into a metal particle. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the solvent includes water soluble solvent. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the metal ion includes silver ion, gold ion, cobalt ion, manganese ion, nickel ion, copper ion, zinc ion, platinum ion, palladium ion, cadm