Contact lens and mold for preparing the same

Abstract

The contact lens of this embodiment comprises: a vision correction lens unit located in the central part of the contact lens to refract light; and a plurality of tear storage structures radially located from the center of the contact lens to store tear liquid, the tear storage structure comprising a concave structure formed to a first depth in the contact lens to store the tear liquid flowing in. The contact lens of this embodiment comprises: a vision correction lens unit located in the central part of the contact lens to refract light; and a drug storage structure separated from the central part to store a drug, and the drug is provided to the eyeball of the contact lens user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a contact lens and a mold for molding the contact lens. Background Art

[0002] A contact lens is a lens that refracts light incident on the eye to correct vision. Unlike glasses, it is placed in front of the eye, mainly on the cornea. Most contact lenses can correct refractive errors such as myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia, so they are used to correct vision and are usually used when you don't want to wear glasses for cosmetic reasons, but when glasses cannot provide sufficient vision correction, they can bring superior vision improvement effects than glasses in cases of high myopia, severe astigmatism, binocular parallax (commonly known as "asymmetric vision of the two eyes", with a large difference in refractive power between the left and right eyes), severe hyperopia (especially due to surgery or trauma when the lens is removed), irregular astigmatism (irregular corneal surface), keratoconus (protrusion of the corneal surface), etc.

[0003] Contact lenses are installed through the tears secreted from the cornea. People with normal tear secretion have no problem wearing contact lenses, but people with dry eyes have a severe foreign body sensation and find it difficult to wear contact lenses. Summary of the invention

[0004] Technical issues

[0005] Dry eye syndrome refers to the phenomenon that the tear film cannot fully lubricate the ocular surface due to insufficient tears or one of the components of tears or excessive evaporation of the tear film, resulting in symptoms of dry ocular surface. Therefore, due to severe irritation to the eyes, it may be impossible to wear contact lenses.

[0006] Furthermore, patients suffering from various diseases including eye diseases usually provide drugs to the eyeball through eye drops. However, eye drops must be put in regularly, and even if eye drops are put in, they are discharged again through tears after application, reducing the efficacy of the drug.

[0007] In order to solve these problems, this embodiment provides a contact lens on the one hand, which improves dry eye syndrome by setting a tear storage structure on the surface of the contact lens in contact with the eyeball, and on the other hand, provides a contact lens that can continuously provide medicine to the user.

[0008] Technical Solution

[0009] The contact lens of this embodiment includes: a vision correction lens unit located in the central part of the contact lens to refract light; and a plurality of tear storage structures radially positioned from the center of the contact lens to store tears, the tear storage structure including a recessed structure formed in the contact lens to a first depth to store the tears that flow in.

[0010] The contact lens of this embodiment includes: a vision correction lens unit located in the central part of the contact lens to refract light; and a drug storage structure separated from the central part to store drugs, and provide the drugs to the eyeballs of the contact lens user.

[0011] The contact lens molding mold of this embodiment includes: a first mold; and a second mold, which is used to cure the liquid porous polymer so that the contact lens has a recessed structure relative to the first mold. In the first mold and the second mold, the surface in contact with the liquid porous polymer is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0012] Beneficial Effects

[0013] The contact lens according to this embodiment can provide a contact lens that even dry eye patients can wear without a foreign body sensation. Further, the contact lens according to this embodiment provides a contact lens that can provide medicine to the user's eyeball. The contact lens mold according to this embodiment can provide a mold that can produce contact lenses more economically.

[0014] Brief description of the attached figure

[0015] Figure 1 is a top view of a contact lens according to this embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 For along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' schematically shows the tear storage structure.

[0017] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a top view schematically showing an implementation example of a contact lens according to the second embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4 For along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A'.

[0019] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a top view schematically showing another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment.

[0021] Figure 7 For example, Figure 6 A cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A'.

[0022] Figure 8(a) shows the Figure 6 FIG. 8( b ) is a schematic diagram of an example of the drug outlet 148 when the cross section of the contact lens is viewed in the B direction, and FIG. 8( b ) is a schematic diagram of another example of the drug outlet 148 .

[0023] Fig. 9 FIG. 1 is a top view schematically showing another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment.

[0024] 10( a ) and 10 ( b ) are schematic diagrams of a mold for preparing a contact lens according to this embodiment.

[0025] Fig.11 This is a photograph in which the structure of the contact lens according to the present embodiment is magnified by a three-dimensional digital microscope (HI-ROX, KH-7700) to measure the size of each structure.

[0026] Fig.12 The prepared contact lens is mounted on the pupil of an artificial eyeball to test the tear storage effect of the prepared contact lens.

[0027] Fig.13 This is a photograph of the results of a tear storage test using an artificial eyeball, in which fluid is stored inside the tear storage structure.

[0028] Fig.14 Schematic diagram of drug release pattern according to chitosan content.

[0029] Fig.15 Schematic diagram of the drug release pattern according to the ratio of HPMC100000 1% + chitosan 0.2% in this experiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] First embodiment

[0031] A contact lens according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 FIG. 4 is a top view of a contact lens according to this embodiment. Figure 1 The contact lens of this embodiment includes: a vision correction lens portion located in the central portion of the contact lens and refracting light to correct vision; and a plurality of tear storage structures radially positioned from the center of the contact lens to store tears, the tear storage structure including: a concave structure formed in the contact lens to a first depth to store the tears that flow in.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the tear storage structure 110 may include a plurality of tear storage structures 110 radially disposed from the center of the contact lens 10. The contact lens 10 may include eight tear storage structures 110 as shown, but may include fewer or more tear storage structures.

[0033] The contact lens 10 may be formed of a microporous polymer material. Therefore, the tears stored in the tear storage structure 110 through the micropores may be provided to the user's eyeball, or may diffuse into the inside of the contact lens 10. Thus, the user's foreign body sensation of the contact lens caused by the tears provided to the user's eyeball and the tears diffused into the contact lens 10 may be reduced. As an embodiment, the microporous polymer may be 2-HEMA (2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), methacrylate glyceride, silicone hydrogel, phosphorylcholine, etc. Although not limited thereto, specifically, the microporous polymer may be used by appropriately mixing 98% or more of 2-HEMA with less than 2% of a crosslinking agent (EGDMA, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate), an initiator (AIBN, 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionitrile), 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionitrile)) and an organic compound (MAA, methacrylic acid, methacrylic acid).

[0034] The central portion of the contact lens includes a vision correction lens unit 200, which is located on the cornea to refract light incident to the pupil. As described later, the vision correction lens unit 200 can adjust the diopter through the first mold and / or the second mold, and can be made of a predetermined diopter to correct myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc. According to one embodiment, the tear storage structure 110 can be radially arranged on the outside of the vision correction lens unit 200.

[0035] Figure 2 For along Figure 1 The sectional view taken along the line AA' schematically shows the tear storage structure 110. Figure 2 The tear storage structure 110 includes a concave structure 112 formed to a first depth d1 in the contact lens to store the tears flowing in. The tear storage structure 110 may further include an exhaust structure 114 formed to a second depth d2 to exhaust the air remaining in the concave structure 112 to the outside of the contact lens 10.

[0036] Figure 2The dotted line represents the surface of the contact lens 10 in contact with the user's eyeball. Generally, the eyeball secretes 0.6 ml of tears on average every day to prevent the eyeball from drying out. The secreted tears are stored in the recessed structure 112 of the contact lens 10 through the surface in contact with the user's eyeball. The recessed structure 112 can reduce the contact area between the eyeball and the contact lens 10, and the tears stored in the recessed structure 112 can be discharged into the user's eyeball or diffused into the inside of the contact lens 10. As a result, the user's foreign body sensation in the contact lens can be reduced.

[0037] As an embodiment, the tear storage structure 110 may further include a venting structure 114. In the recessed structure 112, gas such as air may be trapped together with tear. The venting structure 114 is formed to a second depth d2 to discharge the gas to the outside, and the second depth d2 has a value greater than the depth d1 at which the recessed structure 112 is formed. As described above, the contact lens 10 is formed of a porous polymer, and the gas trapped in the recessed structure 112 has a second depth and is discharged to the outside through micropores formed in the porous polymer.

[0038] In one embodiment, each tear storage structure 110 storing tear liquid can store 0.1875 mm3 of tear liquid. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the contact lens 10 including eight tear storage structures 110 can store approximately 1.5 mm 3 This structure provides the following advantages: since the tears stored in the concave structure 112 are discharged to the cornea, when a dry eye patient wears a contact lens, the tear evaporation phenomenon can be minimized by storing the tears and reducing the contact area, thereby improving the lubrication of the tear film, thereby improving the wearing feeling of the user and reducing the foreign body sensation.

[0039] Second embodiment

[0040] The following will refer to Figures 3 to 9 A contact lens according to a second embodiment is described. However, descriptions of elements identical or similar to the above elements may be omitted. The contact lens of this embodiment includes: a vision correction lens portion located in a central portion of the contact lens to refract light; and a drug storage structure separated from the central portion to store a drug, which provides the drug to an eyeball of a contact lens user.

[0041] Figure 3 1 is a top view schematically showing an implementation example of a contact lens 11 according to the second embodiment. Figure 4 For along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A'. Figure 3 and Figure 4The contact lens 11 includes a drug storage structure 120. The drug storage structure 120 includes: a drug chamber 122, which is formed in a concave structure in the contact lens 11 and stores the drug D in the concave structure; and a cover 124, which covers at least the drug chamber 122, and the cover 124 is made of a microporous polymer material formed with micropores, and the drug D is provided to the eyeball through the micropores.

[0042] The drug chamber 122 may be formed in a recessed structure inside the contact lens 11. In one embodiment, a plurality of drug chambers 122 may be formed in a single contact lens 11, and the plurality of drug chambers 122 may store a plurality of different drugs. In another embodiment, the plurality of drug chambers 122 may store the same drug.

[0043] The drug chamber 122 may be formed to have a predetermined volume. As an example, the drug chamber 122 may be formed to store a drug having a volume of 1 μl to 2 μl. As another example, the drug chamber 122 may be formed to correspond to a volume of a single dose of the stored drug. As an embodiment of the drug chamber 122, drugs and tears may be stored. As an example, the drug chamber 122 may be filled with drugs at a predetermined ratio (as an example, 50%) and tears may flow into the remaining space for storage. Therefore, drug release may be smoothly performed according to the amount of tears flowing in.

[0044] The cover 124 covers the medicine chamber 122. As an example, Figure 3 As shown, the cover 124 may cover the rear surface of the contact lens 11. As an implementation example not shown, the cover 124 may cover only the drug chamber 122 so that the stored drug D does not leak.

[0045] The cover 124 may be formed of a microporous polymer material having micropores formed therein, and the drug stored in the drug chamber 122 is provided to the user's eyeball through the micropores of the cover 124. The rate and pattern of drug release may be controlled according to the combination, type, and content of the polymer forming the cover 124.

[0046] The cover 124 may be, for example, a water-soluble polymer or a water-insoluble (permeable) polymer. In particular, since the water-insoluble polymer is insoluble in tear fluid, it has the advantage of not causing a foreign body sensation in the eye.

[0047] As one embodiment, the water-soluble polymer that can form the covering 124 may include any one or more of acacia, agar, alginic acid, carbomer, carrageenan, cellulose acetate, carob, chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, dextran, ethyl cellulose, gelatin, guar gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, karaya gum, locust bean gum, methylcellulose, molasses, pectin, polyacrylamide, polycaprolactone, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, polyorthoester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium hyaluronate, tragacanth gum and triethyl citrate, xanthan gum, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0048] As one embodiment, the non-water-soluble polymer that can form the covering 124 may include any one or more of acetyl alcohol, acetyl ester wax, acetyl tributyl citrate, aluminum monostearate, carnauba wax, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate, dibutyl sebacate, ethyl cellulose, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl behenate, glyceryl monooleate, glyceryl palmitostearate, hydrogenated castor oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil type 1, isopropyl palmitate, polycaprolactone, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polylactide, polymethacrylate, polyoxyglycerol, shellac, stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, tributyl citrate, white beeswax, yellow beeswax and corn protein, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0049] As an example, the drug D that can be stored in the drug chamber 122 of the contact lens 11 according to the present embodiment can be any one or more of a dry eye treatment agent, a glaucoma treatment agent, an intraocular pressure lowering agent, a visual impairment treatment agent, an antibacterial agent, an allergic conjunctivitis treatment agent, a blepharoconjunctivitis treatment agent, a night blindness treatment agent, amblyopia treatment agent, an eye inflammation treatment agent, a cataract treatment agent, an antiviral agent, a mydriatic drug, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, and a macular degeneration inhibitor. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0050] As an embodiment, the dry eye therapeutic agent may include any one or more of hyaluronic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, chondroitin, glucose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbomer, lanolin, dextran, trehalose, sorbic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose, taurine, polysorbate 80, polyvinyl alcohol, benzalkonium chloride, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, guar gum, glycerol, cetrimonium bromide, glycine, asparagine, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin E, edetic acid, hydroxymethylcellulose, phosphoric acid, cyclosporin, diquafosol, povidone, and lifalast. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0051] As an embodiment, any one or more of the glaucoma therapeutic agent and the ocular hypotensive agent may include any one or more of timolol, dorzolamide, latanoprost, brimonidine, tafluprost, brinzolamide, travoprost, bimatoprost, betaxolol, carteolol, carbachol, nipradilol, apraclonidine, pilocarpine, levobunolol, isopropyl unoprostone, acetylcholine, benzalkonium chloride, benfuranolol, acetazolamide, methazolamide, diclofenac and unoprostone. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0052] As an example, the visual impairment therapeutic agent may include any one or more of ranibizumab, aflibercept, and verteporfin. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0053] As an embodiment, the antibacterial agent can include any one or more of levofloxacin, ofloxacin, tobramycin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, oxytetracycline, polymyxin B, sulfamethoxazole, taurine, glycyrrhizic acid, tofloxacin, aminocaproic acid, lomefloxacin, chloramphenicol, dexamethasone, tetrahydrozoline, chlorpheniramine, natamycin, ciprofloxacin, glycyrrhetinic acid, fusidic acid, guaiac, aurocin, erythromycin, colistin, gentamicin, benzalkonium chloride, sulfamethoxazole, ceftriaxone, norfloxacin, gnomycin and tetracycline. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0054] As an embodiment, any one or more of the allergic conjunctivitis therapeutic agent and the blepharoconjunctivitis therapeutic agent may include any one or more of olopatadine, ketotifen, alcaftadine, bepotastine, azelastine, chlorpheniramine, neostigmine, pyridoxine, tetrahydrozoline, epinastine, naphazoline, chondroitin, panthenol, glycyrrhizic acid, aminocaproic acid, retinol, vitamin E, pheniramine, allantoin, chlorobutanol, taurine, aspartic acid, cyanocobalamin, glycyrrhetinic acid, benzalkonium chloride, oroglycoside azulene, azalast, cromoglycic acid, tranilast, pemirolast, N-acetylaspartyl, lodoxamide and N-acetylaspartylglutamate. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0055] As an embodiment, any one or more of the night blindness therapeutic agent and the amblyopia therapeutic agent may include any one or more of bilberry dry extract, vitamin E, retinol, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, citrulline, tocopherol, riboflavin, fursultiamine, manganese, selenium, ergocalciferol and cefaclor. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0056] As an embodiment, the ocular inflammation therapeutic agent may include any one or more of fluorometholone, dexamethasone, tetrahydrozoline, prednisolone, loteprednol, rimexolone, triamcinolone, hypromellose, naphazoline, chlorpheniramine, bromfenac, ketorolac, bendazolic acid, diclofenac, pranoprofen, flurbiprofen, tobramycin, neomycin, polymyxin B, gentamicin, fluorometholone, chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0057] As an example, the cataract therapeutic agent may include any one or more of potassium iodide, sodium iodide, pyrenoxine, thiamine, azapentacene, benzalkonium lysine, prednisolone, nepafenamide and diclofenac. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0058] As an example, the antiviral agent may include any one or more of acyclovir, ganciclovir, and trifluridine. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0059] As an example, the mydriatic drug may include any one or more of tropicamide, phenylephrine, aminocaproic acid, atropine, cyclopentolate, and homatropine. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0060] As an example, the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor may include any one or more of acetazolamide, methazolamide, dorzolamide, and brinzolamide. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0061] As an example, the macular degeneration inhibitor may include any one or more of ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and verteporfin. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0062] As described above, the contact lens 11 according to the present embodiment may include a plurality of drug chambers 122 , and each drug chamber 122 may contain a plurality of the above-mentioned different drugs D. As another embodiment, the plurality of drug chambers 122 may include the same drug D.

[0063] In the prior art, a composition in which a drug to be administered and a polymer for controlling drug release are mixed is coated on the surface of a contact lens or filled in a drug storage structure. However, according to the prior art, the polymer is provided to the user's eyes together with the drug, resulting in a foreign body sensation in the eyes. However, according to this embodiment, since the drug is provided to the user's eyeball through the cover, the foreign body sensation caused to the user by the prior art is eliminated.

[0064] The following will refer to Figure 5 Another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment is described. However, description of elements that are the same as or similar to those described above may be omitted. Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment. Figure 5 The contact lens of this embodiment includes a drug storage structure 130. The drug storage structure 130 includes: a drug chamber 132, which is formed in a concave structure in the contact lens and stores the drug in the concave structure; a cover 134, which at least covers the drug chamber 132; and a discharge structure, which is formed on the cover 134 to provide the drug to the eyeball.

[0065] In the illustrated implementation example, the discharge structure includes one or more holes H1, H2. The cross-sectional areas of the one or more holes H1, H2 may be different from each other or the same as each other. In the unillustrated implementation example, the discharge structure includes one hole. Figure 5 In the illustrated implementation example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the hole H1 and the hole H2 on the medicine chamber 132 side is the same as the cross-sectional area of ​​the hole on the side close to the user's eyeball. However, according to an implementation example not shown, the cross-sectional area of ​​any hole on the medicine chamber 132 side and the cross-sectional area of ​​the side hole close to the user's eyeball may be different from each other.

[0066] In addition, the cross-sectional area of ​​the single hole or the plurality of holes H1, H2 may have a cross-sectional area that allows the drug stored in the drug chamber to be discharged through capillary action, thereby making it easy to provide the drug stored in the drug chamber 132 to the user's eyeball. Further, by adjusting the cross-sectional area of ​​the hole, the hourly dose of the drug stored in the drug chamber 132 may be adjusted.

[0067] As one example of the above implementation example, the cover 134 may be made of a silicon material. As another example, the cover 134 is formed of a microporous polymer material, so that the drug can be provided to the user not only through the holes included in the discharge structure but also through the cover 134. The cover 134 may be formed of the same polymer material as the contact lens, any one of the water-soluble polymer material and the water-insoluble polymer material.

[0068] The following will refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 Another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment is described. However, description of elements that are the same as or similar to those described above may be omitted. Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a top view schematically showing another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment. Figure 7 For along Figure 6 A cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A'. Figure 6 and Figure 7, the contact lens 13 includes a drug storage structure 140. The drug storage structure 140 includes: a drug chamber 142, which is formed as a recessed structure and stores the drug in the recessed structure; a drug discharge channel 146, which is formed in the contact lens in a recessed structure and connected to the drug chamber 142 to release the drug; and a cover 144, which covers the drug discharge channel 146 and the drug chamber 142, and the cover 144 forms a drug discharge port 148 by opening the end of the drug discharge channel.

[0069] The medicine discharge passage 146 is connected to the medicine chamber 142 to guide the medicine D included in the medicine chamber 142 to the medicine discharge port 148 . Figure 7 An example is shown in which the medicine discharge channel 146 and the medicine chamber 142 are formed to have the same height, but in an example not shown, the medicine discharge channel 146 may be formed to have a height smaller than that of the medicine chamber 142 .

[0070] like Figure 6 As shown, the cover 144 may be formed to cover the rear surface of the contact lens 13 , and may form a medicine discharge port 148 by opening a lower end portion of the medicine discharge channel 146 .

[0071] Figure 8(a) shows the Figure 6 FIG8( b ) is a schematic diagram of an example of a drug outlet 148 when observing a cross section of a contact lens in the B direction, and FIG8( b ) is a schematic diagram of another example of a drug outlet 148. Figure 6 8( a ), the cover member 144 exposes the lower end of the drug discharge passage 146 to form a drug discharge port 148 . Therefore, according to the example shown in FIG. 8( a ), the drug discharge port 148 discharges the drug D to the lower surface of the contact lens 13 .

[0072] However, according to the example of the drug discharge port shown in Figure 8(b), the covering member 144 can be formed to cover the entire bottom of the drug discharge channel 146, but since the side end of the drug discharge channel 146 is opened, the drug discharge port 148 can be formed at the end of the drug discharge channel 146, as shown in Figure 8(b).

[0073] People blink unconsciously. The user of the illustrated contact lens 13 may blink unconsciously, and the drug D stored in the drug chamber 142 may be discharged through the drug discharge port 148 and provided to the user's eyeball through the pressure exerted by the eyelid when moving the upper part of the contact lens 13.

[0074] The following will refer to Fig. 9 Still another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment is described. However, description of elements that are the same as or similar to the above-described elements may be omitted. Fig. 9FIG. 2 is a top view schematically showing another implementation example of the contact lens according to the second embodiment. Fig. 9 , the contact lens 14 includes a drug storage structure 150. The drug storage structure 150 includes: a drug chamber 152, which is formed as a recessed structure and stores the drug in the recessed structure; a drug discharge channel 156, which is formed in the contact lens in a recessed structure and connected to the drug chamber 152 to release the drug; and a cover 154, which covers the drug discharge channel 156 and the drug chamber 152, and the cover 154 forms a drug discharge port 158 ​​by opening the end of the drug discharge channel.

[0075] According to the illustrated example, the drug chamber 152 may be formed in a circular shape along the center of the contact lens 14. Therefore, a single drug may be stored in a large volume.

[0076] In the illustrated contact lens 14 , as in the above example, a drug outlet 158 ​​may be formed under the contact lens 14 to discharge the drug D, and the drug outlet 158 ​​may be formed on the side of the drug outlet passage 156 to discharge the drug to the end of the contact lens 14 .

[0077] The method for preparing the contact lens according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(b). Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(b) are schematic diagrams of a mold for preparing the contact lens according to the present embodiment. Fig. 10(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first mold 10a, and Fig. 10(b) is a schematic diagram of a second mold 10b. Referring to Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(b), the mold according to the present embodiment includes a first mold 10a and a second mold 10b.

[0078] When preparing a contact lens, a polymer is arranged on the first mold 10a, a second mold 10b is placed, and the polymer is cured to form a contact lens having a desired shape. As an example, the process of curing the polymer can be performed by providing heat.

[0079] In the embodiment shown in Figures 10(a) and 10(b), the second mold 10b includes: a structure 100' for forming a recessed structure on the contact lens; a structure 114' for forming a venting structure; and a structure 200' for forming a vision correction lens portion so that the contact lens has a desired diopter. However, in an embodiment not shown, the structures 100' and 200' may be formed on the first mold.

[0080] In addition, in an embodiment not shown in the figure, a structure for forming a recessed structure may be formed in the second mold 10 , and a structure for forming a venting structure may not be formed.

[0081] The problem with the existing molds for preparing contact lenses is that the contact lens material is adhered during the contact lens molding process. In order to solve this problem, disposable molds are used to prepare contact lenses in the prior art.

[0082] However, as shown in Figs. 10(a) and 10(b), in the molds 10a and 10b for preparing the contact lens according to the present embodiment, plasma treatment using polytetrafluoroethylene gas is performed on the surface in contact with the polymer forming the contact lens. By the plasma treatment, the mold surface is modified to be hydrophobic and coated with thousands of fluorinated polytetrafluoroethylene by plasma polymerization of C4F8. The contact lens formed by curing the polymer can be easily separated by using polytetrafluoroethylene of a thickness of 100%. Therefore, since it can be semi-permanently used by replacing the disposable mold of the prior art, the effect of reducing the mass production cost of the contact lens can be expected.

[0083] Implementation and Experimental Examples

[0084] The following will refer to Figures 11 to 13 The implementation example and experimental example of the contact lens according to the present embodiment are described. The mold is made of 304 grade stainless steel material and processed into a three-dimensional shape by a milling machine (CNC machine 850). After processing, the surface is polished to increase the light transmittance. The curvature radius of the mold 10b and the outer mold 10a for storing tears or medicine in contact with the eyeball are 8.8 mm and 8.6 mm respectively.

[0085] The contact lens is prepared by mixing 98% of 2-HEMA (2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), 2% of a crosslinker (EGDMA, ethylene glycoldimethacrylate) and an initiator (AIBN, 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionitrile), and an organic compound (MAA, methacrylic acid) for increasing the water content of the contact lens.

[0086] Fig.11 The following is a photograph of the contact lens structure according to the present embodiment magnified by a three-dimensional digital microscope (HI-ROX, KH-7700) to measure the size of each structure. It can be confirmed that the tear storage structure 110 and the vent structure 114 have been successfully formed, with a total volume of 1.4 mm 3 .

[0087] Fig.12The prepared contact lens is mounted on the pupil of an artificial eyeball to test the tear storage effect of the prepared contact lens. Fig.13 This is a photo of the results of a tear storage test using an artificial eyeball, with fluid stored inside the tear storage structure. An external syringe pump (KD scientific, KDS-100) was used to secrete the fluid into the artificial eyeball through the tear duct. In order to intuitively grasp the experimental results, a fluid mixed with water and blue ink was selected as virtual tears. After injecting the mixed fluid at a flow rate of 0.6 ml per minute for 20 seconds, water was injected again to check whether tears were stored in the tear storage structure to remove the ink outside the tear storage structure. All processes were observed using a three-dimensional digital microscope (HIROX, KH-7700). As an experimental result, it was confirmed that the fluid was stored inside the proposed contact lens structure.

[0088] The following will refer to Figure 14 to Figure 15 Describe the present embodiment Figure 3 to Figure 4 The results of the drug release experiment of the contact lens shown. As a drug, cyclosporine (Sigma-Aldrich, Munich, Germany) was used. The drug was prepared by weighing 160 mg of cyclosporine in 6 ml of 80% (v / v) ethanol. The cover was formed of a microporous polymer. The porous polymer was prepared by adjusting the content of HPMC100000 (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2208, 90SH-105, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and chitosan in 10 mL of purified water, and PEG300 (BASF Ludwigshafen, Germany) as a plasticizer was added to 2% (w / v).

[0089] A total of 25 μm of the prepared drug was injected into the drug storage structure of the contact lens using a syringe and dried at 45° C. for 1 hour, and 35 μm of the microporous polymer was coated thereon and dried at 45° C. for 1 hour.

[0090] The drug release test was conducted as follows: The contact lens was fixed between a glass plate and a transdermal absorption cell (Franz Diffusion Cell). The transdermal absorption system (Franz Diffusion Cell System, Logan Instruments Corp, VTC 300, New Jersey, USA) was stirred at 35°C using a stirrer.

[0091] When 0.05 M pH 7.4 phosphate buffer was used as the buffer, the sample collection time was set to 0.5 hours, 1.5 hours, 2.5 hours, 3.5 hours, 4.5 hours, 5.5 hours, 6.5 hours, 7.5 hours, 8.5 hours and 9.5 hours. The collected sample solution was filtered with a 0.45 μm filter membrane and used as a sample for quantitative analysis.

[0092] Table 1 shows the material contents of drug D and cover P.

[0093]

Table 1

[0094]

[0095] Fig.14 Schematic diagram of drug release pattern according to chitosan content. D = Distributed drug layer (cyclosporine 16 mg / ml) 25 μl. P = Distributed polymer layer (chitosan + PEG 2% (w / v)) 30 μl

[0096] exist Fig.14 In the figure, the curve indicated by the red circle overlaps with the curve of D+P(chitosan-0.5%(w / v)) indicated by the upward triangle and the curve of D+P(chitosan-0.5%(w / v)) indicated by the downward triangle.

[0097] In the absence of a cover, cumulative drug release was performed as a first-order exponential function by nonlinear curve fitting, and the release rate was analyzed as a time constant τ. The time (time constant) to reach 63% of the maximum drug accumulation value was measured to be 2.54 hours. When chitosan was used as the material for the cover, cumulative drug release was performed as a first-order function by linear curve fitting, and the release characteristics were evaluated with slope α.

[0098] The experimental results showed that when no cover was used, the drug release increased exponentially with time, while when chitosan was used as a cover, the drug release seemed to have no correlation with the chitosan content and increased linearly with time.

[0099] Table 2 shows the material contents of drug D and cover P.

[0100]

Table 2

[0101]

[0102] Fig.15Schematic diagram of drug release pattern according to the ratio of HPMC100000 1% + chitosan 0.2% in this experiment. D = distribution of drug layer (cyclosporine 16mg / ml) 25μl. P = distribution of polymer layer (HPMC 100000 1% (w / v)): C (chitosan 0.2% (w / v)) + PEG 2% (w / v)) 30μl. (H:C) = H (HPMC 100000 1% (w / v)): C (chitosan 0.2% (w / v)) ratio

[0103] The experimental results showed that in the absence of a cover, the cumulative drug release increased exponentially over time. When HPMC100000 was mixed with chitosan at a ratio of 9:1 and used as a cover, the drug release also increased exponentially, but as the ratio of chitosan increased, the drug release increased linearly and the cumulative drug release gradually decreased.

[0104] Therefore, it can be seen from the experiment that the drug release can be controlled by filling the contact lens with drugs and using a cover made of a microporous polymer material. In addition, by controlling the type and concentration of the various polymers constituting the cover, the drug release time can be controlled to maximize the drug efficacy.

[0105] As described above, although the disclosed technology has been described in detail with reference to various embodiments, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosed technology can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed technology defined in the appended claims. Therefore, the modifications in the embodiments of the disclosed technology should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the disclosed technology.

Claims

1. A contact lens comprising: A vision correction lens portion located in the central portion of the contact lens for refracting light; and a drug storage structure spaced apart from the central portion for storing a drug, and providing the drug to the eyeball of the contact lens user. The drug storage structure comprises: a drug chamber formed in a recessed structure at the rear of the contact lens and storing the drug in the recessed structure; a drug discharge channel formed in a recessed structure at the rear of the contact lens and connected to the drug chamber to release the drug; and a cover member that covers the rear surface of the contact lens to simultaneously cover the drug discharge passage and the drug chamber, The drug discharge channel extends along the radial direction of the contact lens and provides a linear connection between the drug chamber and the drug discharge port. The end of the drug discharge passage is located radially inward of the contact lens relative to the outer peripheral portion of the contact lens. The outer peripheral portion of the cover is located radially inward of the contact lens relative to the end of the drug discharge passage, so the end of the drug discharge passage opened toward the rear of the contact lens forms the drug discharge port.

2. The contact lens according to claim 1, wherein: The contact lens is made of a microporous polymer material having micropores.

3. The contact lens according to claim 1, wherein: The drug storage structure comprises: A plurality of drug chambers that are separated and not connected to each other; and a plurality of drug discharge channels respectively connected to the plurality of drug chambers, The same or different drugs are stored in the plurality of drug chambers.

4. The contact lens according to claim 1, wherein: The drug storage structure comprises: a circular single drug chamber formed in the contact lens; and a plurality of drug discharge channels connected to the single drug chamber, The plurality of drug discharge channels discharge the drug to an end portion of the contact lens.

5. The contact lens according to claim 1, wherein: The drugs include: Any one or more of a therapeutic agent for dry eye, a therapeutic agent for glaucoma, an agent for lowering intraocular pressure, a therapeutic agent for visual impairment, an antibacterial agent, a therapeutic agent for allergic conjunctivitis, a therapeutic agent for blepharoconjunctivitis, a therapeutic agent for night blindness, a therapeutic agent for amblyopia, a therapeutic agent for ocular inflammation, a therapeutic agent for cataracts, an antiviral agent, a mydriatic, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, and a macular degeneration inhibitor.

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