Hydrating case for moisture-containing lens and hydrating method using it

Abstract

The invention relates to a case for hydrating a moisture-containing contact lens in a dry condition, a hydrating device, and a hydrating method.

A case (2) comprises a plurality of grooves (8) provided in the inside face (6) of a recess (4). A lens is placed in the case, a proper amount of a hydrating liquid is poured along the inside wall face of the recess (4) in the case in a first step. Then in a second step, a hydrating liquid is poured into the recess from above the case to allow the contact lens (3) to absorb water and swell. Accordingly, a wide extent of a lens front surface can come into contact evenly with the hydrating liquid in the first step, and the entire lens can be hydrated in the second step, whereby an efficient hydration is possible with lens curling and bubble entrapping prevented.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a hydrating case for a moisture-containing contact lens and to a hydrating method using the same, and more particular relates to a hydrating case for eluting unreacted monomer from a moisture-containing contact lens in a dry condition, and bringing the moisture-containing contact lens to an equilibrium swelled condition that is as uniform as possible, and to a hydrating method therefor. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Typically, a moisture-containing contact lens is brought to finished product form by first fabricating a lens of the desired shape by various methods, and then subjecting it to a hydrating process and washing process in order to eliminate impurities such as unreacted monomer and the like. Treatment receptacles for carrying out. such hydrating / washing processes are disclosed in JP-A-7-113990 and JP-A-4-227643, for example. [0003] Specifically, the lens treatment receptacles taught in the publications cited hereinabove are fo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0066] According to this mode, it is possible to more effectively bring about extraction of unreacted monomer from the moisture-containing contact lens and elimination of dust etc. adhering to contact lens surfaces, by taking into consideration temporal change in the level of extraction of unreacted monomer.

[0067] Where a hydrating process is carried out according the method of the invention pertaining to any of the first to fourth modes described hereinabove, in the event that using the hydrating case pertaining to the aforementioned thirteenth mode relating to a hydrating case, the hydrating case is to be used as the distribution case, the lens case will typically be manufactured by injection molding. By lacing the finished moisture-containing contact lens in the dry state just after molding, into the containment recess and covering it with a cover or the like as described previously, it is possible to largely eliminate contamination by dust or the like infiltrating into the containment recess. Still more favorably, better effect in improving product quality can be achieved by carrying out the hydration process steps, including the procedure for placing the moisture-containing contact lens in the containment recess, entirely within a clean area.

Problems solved by technology

Once air has been entrapped by a moisture-containing contact lens, it is subsequently very difficult to remove it from the moisture-containing contact lens, and if the moisture-containing contact lens floats, this poses the risk of impairing uniform water absorption and swelling, as well as of poor efficiency in elution of unreacted monomer.

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