Contact lens with inverted indicia

Abstract

A contact lens (10) including a lens body (12) is disclosed. The lens body (12) includes an inverted indicium (15) defined by a plurality of dimples (50) formed in a surface of the lens body (12); the dimples defining a plurality of symbols. Each symbol of the inverted indicium (15) has a symbol height and a symbol width, and for each symbol, the symbol height is greater than twice the symbol width of the symbol.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to contact lenses. More specifically, but not exclusively, this disclosure relates to contact lenses with inverted markings and methods of manufacturing contact lenses with inverted markings. Background Technology

[0002] Inverted markings provide a visual indication to the user whether the contact lens is inverted before insertion into the eye. A series of shallow indentations on the surface of the lens body can be used to define the inverted markings. Generally, such markings are positioned as close as possible to the edge of the lens, which is believed to improve visibility, as the markings are further from the fingertip when the lens is placed on the user's finger. However, the user may still find it difficult to see the current inverted markings. The presence of the shallow indentations defining the markings can also cause discomfort and / or increase the risk of infection for the user. Therefore, compared to inverted markings on existing contact lenses, there is still a need for inverted markings that are easily visible to the user and / or provide improved comfort and / or reduced risk of infection. Furthermore, there is still a need to provide such inverted markings in contact lenses with various design features and / or within manufacturing constraints.

[0003] This disclosure aims to mitigate the aforementioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, this disclosure aims to provide improved contact lenses and / or methods for manufacturing such lenses. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a first aspect, this disclosure provides a contact lens including a lens body, the lens body comprising: an inverted mark defined by a plurality of shallow recesses formed in a surface of the lens body; the shallow recesses defining a plurality of symbols; and wherein each symbol of the inverted mark has a symbol height and a symbol width, and for each symbol, the symbol height is greater than twice the symbol width of the symbol.

[0005] In a second aspect, this disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a contact lens of the first aspect, the method comprising: placing a contact lens preparation onto a concave molding surface of a first contact lens mold component, wherein the concave molding surface includes molded areas corresponding to an optical zone, a peripheral zone, a peripheral junction, and a plurality of raised areas, the plurality of raised areas corresponding to a plurality of shallow recesses defining the inverted mark; placing a second contact lens mold component in contact with the first contact lens mold component to form a contact lens mold assembly; polymerizing the contact lens preparation in the contact lens mold assembly to form a polymerized contact lens; removing the polymerized contact lens from the contact lens mold assembly to produce a separated contact lens; and packaging the separated contact lens in a contact lens package.

[0006] In another aspect, a blister pack for contact lenses, comprising the contact lenses of the first aspect, is provided.

[0007] Preferred but optional features are set forth in the dependent claims. It should be understood, of course, that features described with respect to one aspect of this disclosure may be incorporated into other aspects of this disclosure. For example, the method of this disclosure may be incorporated with any of the features described with respect to the contact lenses of this disclosure, and vice versa. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Embodiments of this disclosure will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams, wherein:

[0009] Figure 1 It is a plan view of a contact lens based on this disclosure.

[0010] Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the AA line of a contact lens.

[0011] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A close-up image of the inverted markings on a contact lens.

[0012] Figure 4A It is formed Figure 1 A shallow concave planar diagram of the inverted markings on a contact lens.

[0013] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A A cross-sectional view of one of the shallow concave parts. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The following describes exemplary embodiments of this disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] In a first aspect of this disclosure, a contact lens is provided comprising a lens body including an inverted mark defined by a plurality of shallow recesses formed in the surface of the lens body. The shallow recesses may define a plurality of symbols. Each symbol of the inverted mark has a symbol height and a symbol width. For each symbol, the symbol height may be greater than twice the symbol width.

[0016] Therefore, the height of each symbol in the marker can be greater than its width. Surprisingly, it has been found that this provides comparable visibility to markers that include symbols with similar heights but similar widths (e.g., for each symbol, the height is approximately equal to the width), while allowing for a reduction in the area occupied by the marker. Reducing the area occupied by the marker reduces the risk of user discomfort and / or the risk of infection. Additionally or alternatively, reducing the width of a symbol relative to its height reduces the number of shallow recesses required to define the symbol compared to symbols with similar heights but approximately equal widths. This further reduces the risk of user discomfort and / or the risk of infection.

[0017] The contact lens body may have a lens edge. The lens body may include an optical zone and optionally a peripheral zone surrounding the optical zone. The lens body may include a ramp region surrounding the peripheral zone (e.g., extending from the peripheral zone to the lens edge). The lens body may include a peripheral junction serving as the junction between the peripheral zone and the ramp region. The peripheral junction may be located at least 0.4 mm radially inward from the lens edge. The radially outermost shallow recess of the inverted mark may be located at least 20 µm radially inward from the peripheral junction.

[0018] Compared to lenses with a more gradual decrease in thickness across the entire peripheral region, contact lenses with a ramp region where the thickness of the lens body decreases relatively rapidly in the region at the lens edge provide improved circumferential strength. Surprisingly, it was also found that inverted markings located radially inward in this ramp region are easier for the user to see than inverted markings in lenses with a more gradual thickness change across the peripheral region.

[0019] Unless otherwise specified, the distance from the lens edge refers to the radial distance from the lens edge when viewed in a plan view with the lens resting uncompressed on a flat surface (with its rear surface facing down). Similarly, the dimensions indicated by symbols and / or inverted markings refer to the distances when the lens is viewed in a plan view with the lens resting uncompressed on a flat surface (with its rear surface facing down).

[0020] The lens body may be a polymer unit formed by the polymerization of contact lens compound. The optical zone may have a diameter from 7.5 mm to 9.0 mm (inclusive). The diameter is understood as the chord diameter. The optical zone corresponds to the portion of the contact lens that covers the pupil of the eye, and the optical zone refracts light to provide the desired visual benefit to the wearer. The optical zone may have a corrective refractive power from +20.00 D to -20.00 D. The distance corrective refractive power corresponds to the refractive power required to correct a person's distance vision. Typically, the boundary can be clearly distinguished at the junction of the optical zone and the peripheral zone. This boundary may be referred to as the optical zone periphery.

[0021] The lens edge can be defined as the junction of the front and back surfaces of the lens body. In the manufacture of contact lenses, it is desirable to control the dimensions of the lens edge. The shape of the lens edge region can affect the comfort of the contact lens. Therefore, in the contact lenses of this disclosure, the lens edge has an edge thickness that contributes to a comfortable wearing experience. To help ensure the desired quality control, the edge thickness is measured at a specified distance from the actual lens edge. Thus, as an example, the contact lenses of this disclosure may have an edge thickness of less than 0.10 mm when measured at a radial distance of 0.10 mm from the lens edge (i.e., from the lens edge towards the geometric center of the contact lens body). The lens edge thickness may be less than 0.08 mm at a radial distance of 0.10 mm from the lens edge. The lens edge thickness may be less than 0.08 mm at a radial distance of 0.07 mm from the lens edge. The lens edge thickness may be less than 0.05 mm at a radial distance of 0.07 mm from the lens edge.

[0022] Typically, the boundary is clearly discernible at the junction of the peripheral area and the ramp area. This may be referred to as the peripheral junction. In an embodiment, the peripheral junction is located radially inward from the lens edge at a distance of 0.4 mm to 0.9 mm (inclusive), for example, from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm (inclusive), or from 0.45 mm to 0.55 mm (inclusive). In the same or further embodiments, the radially outermost shallow recess of the inverted mark is located radially inward from the peripheral junction at least 20 µm, for example, from 20 µm to 80 µm, or from 20 µm to 60 µm, or from 20 µm to 40 µm. Positioning the inverted mark closer to the ramp area rather than the optical area compared to positioning it immediately adjacent to the optical area makes manufacturing easier and / or improves the visibility of the mark.

[0023] The curvature of the front surface in the ramp region deviates from that in the peripheral region, causing the front and rear surfaces of the lens body to converge at the lens edge. In the ramp region, the thickness of the lens body can change with increasing radial distance more rapidly than in the peripheral region. For example, along any given radius, the minimum rate of change of thickness with radial distance in the ramp region can be greater than the maximum rate of change of thickness with radial distance in the peripheral region. For example, the curvature of the front surface can be substantially constant along any given radius across the peripheral region, and the curvature of the front surface along said radius varies continuously in the ramp region. The curvature of the rear surface can vary continuously along any given radius in the ramp region, causing the front and rear surfaces of the lens body to converge at the lens edge. Alternatively, the curvature of the rear surface can be substantially constant along any given radius across a large portion (e.g., at least 90%) of the width of the ramp region.

[0024] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the thickness of the lens body at any given location is the distance from the front surface to the rear surface of the lens body, measured normally to the rear surface at said location. The thickness can be determined using conventional techniques, such as by visually measuring the distance from the front surface to the rear surface across a segmented lens.

[0025] The contact lens disclosed herein has a peripheral joint thickness, which serves as the thickness of the peripheral joint. The peripheral joint thickness and the center thickness can be important features in the optical design of the contact lens. For example, we can set the peripheral joint thickness to a predetermined target value and the center thickness to a predetermined target value, and then adjust the curvature of the anterior surface of the contact lens to provide the desired refractive power using the two fixed points. It should be understood that the center thickness will vary depending on the corrective refractive power of the lens. Embodiments of the contact lens disclosed herein have a center thickness from 0.06 mm to 0.5 mm (inclusive) and / or a peripheral joint thickness from 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm (inclusive). Embodiments may have a center thickness from 0.065 mm to 0.5 mm (inclusive) and a peripheral joint thickness of 0.16 mm. Embodiments may have a center thickness from 0.075 mm to 0.3 mm (inclusive) and a peripheral joint thickness of 0.16 mm. Embodiments may have a center thickness from 0.07 mm to 0.3 mm (inclusive) and a peripheral joint thickness of 0.19 mm. As understood by those skilled in the art, the thickness of a contact lens can be determined using conventional techniques. For example, the thickness of a contact lens can be mechanically measured using a gauge (such as a Rehder gauge), or optically measured using an optical measurement system.

[0026] The central zone may consist of a single effective refractive power to correct a person's distance vision. The refractive power may be substantially constant throughout the entire central zone (including the geometric center of the central zone). In addition, the central zone may have cylindrical correction to correct astigmatism, or it may have varying refractive power to help improve vision in people with presbyopia, or a combination thereof.

[0027] Contact lenses have inverted markings. The form of the inverted markings and their position on the lens are configured to provide different appearances to the user depending on whether the lens is inverted or not (when viewed from the same position). Inverted markings are defined by multiple shallow indentations formed in the surface of the lens body (e.g., the front surface). Inverted markings include multiple symbols defined by said shallow indentations, such as a series of symbols, such as a series of letters or numbers or both. Inverted markings may include three symbols and / or consist of three symbols. For example, inverted markings may be 'ABC' or 'YES'. These may be particularly suitable as inverted markings because each is a familiar alphabetic series with the necessary (lack) symmetry to function as an inverted marking. Each symbol of an inverted marking may be one of E, Z, V, or F. The shape of these letters may be particularly suitable for symbols having a height greater than twice the width. Each symbol of an inverted marking may be a Sloan letter. As those skilled in the art will understand, the letters Sloan are used in the Snellen and logMAR visual acuity charts to test visual acuity, and are C, D, H, K, N, O, R, S, V, and Z. Unless otherwise stated, references in this document to the size and / or location of the concave area are references to the size and / or location of the concave area on the hydrating lens.

[0028] Each shallow recess may be a depression or indentation in the front surface. Therefore, a shallow recess may be a dent or cavity in the surface of the lens body. Each shallow recess may include a recess defined by a recessed portion of the surface. Each shallow recess may include an opening. The edge of the opening may be defined as a position where the curvature of the lens surface defining the recess deviates from the curvature of the lens surface surrounding the shallow recess (e.g., at least 1%, or at least 5%). Each shallow recess may have a generally circular opening.

[0029] Each shallow recess may have a diameter (shallow recess diameter). The diameter can be measured at the opening of the shallow recess. In the case of a non-circular opening, the diameter may be the maximum distance between opposite sides of the opening. The average (mean) diameter of the shallow recesses (hereinafter referred to as shallow recesses) is defined to be from 80 µm to 120 µm, for example from 90 µm to 110 µm, for example 100 µm. The diameter of the shallow recesses may be substantially uniform. For example, the diameter of the shallow recesses may have a narrow distribution such that each diameter is within 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, or 1% of the average (mean) diameter of the shallow recess. For example, each of the shallow recesses may have a diameter within 15 µm of the average (mean) diameter of the shallow recess, for example within 10 µm.

[0030] Each shallow concave may have a depth (shallow concave depth). The depth of a shallow concave may be defined as (i) the maximum vertical distance between an imaginary plane that is a continuation of the curvature of the lens surface surrounding the shallow concave region and (ii) the concave surface of the lens that defines the shallow concave. The average (mean) depth of the shallow concave (hereinafter referred to as shallow concave) defining the inverted mark may range from 17 µm to 10 µm, for example from 17 µm to 12 µm. The depth of the shallow concave may be substantially uniform. For example, the depth of the shallow concave may have a narrow distribution such that each depth is within 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, or 1% of the average (mean) depth of the shallow concave. For example, each of the shallow concaves may have a depth within 2 µm of the average (mean) diameter of the shallow concave, for example within 1 µm.

[0031] The shallow recess defining the inverted mark may be located radially inward from the peripheral joint. The shallow recess defining the inverted mark may be formed on a portion of the lens surface within the peripheral region. In an embodiment, the outermost radial shallow recess of the inverted mark is located at least 20 µm radially inward from the peripheral joint, for example, at least 40 µm. The outermost radial shallow recess of the inverted mark may be located radially inward from the peripheral joint between 20 µm and 120 µm (inclusive), for example, between 40 µm and 60 µm (inclusive).

[0032] The innermost radial recess of the inverted mark can be positioned no more than 260 µm radially inward from the outer joint, for example, no more than 220 µm radially inward from the outer joint. This position on the lens helps to provide a mark that is more easily perceived by the user and therefore requires less recess to achieve the necessary visibility. Because less recess is required, the risk of user discomfort and / or infection is reduced.

[0033] The inverted mark can be positioned in the peripheral area of ​​the lens and / or between the optical area and the peripheral junction of the lens.

[0034] Each symbol of an inverted marker has a height (symbol height). The symbol height can be the maximum range of the symbol in the radial direction (i.e., the radial distance between the innermost and outermost shallow recesses of the symbol). Each symbol of an inverted marker can have a height between 1.2 mm and 2.0 mm (inclusive), for example, between 1.4 mm and 1.8 mm (inclusive). This symbol height helps to provide a mark that is easier for the user to perceive and therefore requires fewer shallow recesses to achieve the necessary visibility.

[0035] Each symbol of an inverted mark has a width (symbol width). The symbol width can be defined as the straight-line distance between the outermost shallow recesses of the symbol in the circumferential direction (in the circumferential sense relative to the radial direction). Each symbol of an inverted mark may have a width between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm (inclusive).

[0036] Each symbol of an inverted marker has an angular range (symbol angle). A symbol angle can be defined as the maximum angular range of the symbol in the circumferential direction (i.e., the angle between the outermost shallow concave areas of the symbol around the geometric center of the lens). Each symbol of an inverted marker can have an angle between 7 and 9 degrees (inclusive). This symbol angle helps to provide markings that are easier for the user to perceive and therefore require less concave area to achieve the necessary visibility.

[0037] Inverted markers have a height (marker height). The marker height can be the maximum range of the marker in the radial direction (i.e., the radial distance between the innermost and outermost shallow recesses of the marker). Inverted markers can have a height between 1.2 mm and 2.0 mm (inclusive), for example, between 1.4 mm and 1.8 mm (inclusive). This marker height helps to provide a marker that is easier for the user to perceive and therefore requires fewer shallow recesses to achieve the necessary visibility.

[0038] The inverted mark has a width (mark width). The mark width can be defined as the straight-line distance between the outermost shallow recesses of the mark in the circumferential direction (in the circumferential sense relative to the radial direction). The mark can have a width between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm (inclusive).

[0039] Inverted markings have an angular range (marking angle). The marking angle is defined as the maximum angular range of the marking in the circumferential direction (i.e., the angle between the outermost shallow concave areas of the marking around the geometric center of the lens). Inverted markings can have angles between 25 degrees and 35 degrees (inclusive), for example, between 29 degrees and 31 degrees (inclusive). This marking angle helps provide markings that are more easily perceived by the user and therefore require less concave area to achieve the necessary visibility.

[0040] The outermost radial recess of each symbol of the inverted mark is located at approximately the same radial distance from the lens edge as the outermost radial recess of each of the other symbols of the mark. The innermost radial recess of each symbol of the inverted mark is located at approximately the same radial distance from the lens edge as the innermost radial recess of each of the other symbols of the mark. Therefore, the inverted mark can have an arcuate shape. Alternatively, when viewed in a planar view, the imaginary line connecting the outermost radial recesses of each symbol forms the circumference of a sector of a first circle. Alternatively, when viewed in a planar view, the imaginary line connecting the innermost radial recesses of each symbol forms the circumference of a second, different circle. The second circle can be concentric with the first circle. This arcuate inverted mark is easier for the user to perceive and therefore requires fewer recesses to achieve the necessary visibility. Because fewer recesses are required, the risk of user discomfort and / or infection is reduced.

[0041] The spacing between the shallow recesses defining the symbol can be irregular, resulting in a curved outline for the shallow recesses defining the symbol, and / or the shallow recesses not forming a regular grid pattern. This irregular spacing allows the symbol to be defined by fewer shallow recesses compared to a mark defined by shallow recesses in a grid arrangement, while maintaining a similar level of readability. Because fewer shallow recesses are required, the risk of user discomfort and / or infection is reduced.

[0042] Each symbol of the inverted marker may be formed by shallow indentations located at the periphery of the symbol. For example, the shallow indentations may exist only at the periphery of the symbol (e.g., around the outer and inner edges (if present)). Thus, each shallow indentation of the marker may follow (and help define) an imaginary line that defines the outline of the symbol. Compared to markers with shallow indentations inside the body of the symbol, this allows the symbol to be defined by fewer shallow indentations, thereby reducing the risk of user discomfort and / or infection.

[0043] The shallow recess pitch is the minimum straight-line distance between the edges of two shallow recesses that are close to each other (adjacent to each other). The average (mean) pitch of the shallow recesses (hereinafter referred to as shallow recesses) in an inverted mark can be defined as at least 30 µm. For example, the shallow recess pitch can range from 30 µm to 60 µm (inclusive), such as from 30 µm to 45 µm (inclusive). This relatively low density of shallow recesses can reduce the risk of discomfort and / or infection, especially when used in marks where the shallow recesses are only present at the periphery of the symbol.

[0044] As used herein, "contact lens" means an ophthalmic lens that can be placed on a person's eye. It should be understood that this contact lens will provide clinically acceptable supraocular movement and will not be integrated into one or both eyes. Contact lenses can be corneal lenses (e.g., lenses that rest on the cornea of ​​the eye) or scleral lenses (e.g., lenses that rest on the sclera of the eye). Contact lenses can be soft contact lenses, such as silicone-free hydrogel contact lenses or silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

[0045] Contact lenses may include hydrogel materials, and are substantially composed of or composed of hydrogel materials. As an example, contact lenses may include silicone hydrogel materials, and are substantially composed of or composed of silicone hydrogel materials. As another example, contact lenses may include silicone-free hydrogel materials, and are substantially composed of or composed of silicone-free hydrogel materials. Examples of suitable lens fittings for contact lenses include lens fittings having the following US Adopted Names (USAN): metafilcon A, ocufilcon A, ocufilcon B, ocufilcon C, ocufilcon D, omafilcon A, omafilcon B, comfilcon A, enfilcon A, stenfilcon A, fanfilcon A, etafilcon A, senofilcon A, senofilcon B, senofilcon C, narafilcon A, narafilcon B, balafilcon A, samfilcon A, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, somofilcon A, riofilcon A, delefilcon A, verofilcon A, and similar.

[0046] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing the contact lens of the first aspect is provided. Such a method includes the steps of: placing a contact lens preparation onto a concave molding surface of a first contact lens mold component, wherein the concave molding surface includes molding regions corresponding to optical zones, peripheral zones, peripheral junctions, and ramp zones, and includes a plurality of raised areas, the plurality of raised areas corresponding to a plurality of shallow recesses defining inverted marks; placing a second contact lens mold component in contact with the first contact lens mold component to form a contact lens mold assembly; polymerizing the contact lens preparation in the contact lens mold assembly to form a polymerized contact lens; removing the polymerized contact lens from the contact lens mold assembly to produce a separated contact lens; and packaging the separated contact lens in a contact lens package. The contact lens may have any of the features described above with respect to the first aspect, and the molding surface may have features corresponding to any of the features described. The polymerized lens may also optionally be cleaned with solvents and / or water to remove unreacted chemical compounds. For example, this cleaning step may be performed simultaneously with the step of removing the polymerized contact lens from the mold assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning step may be performed on the separated lens after the removal step.

[0047] Figure 1Description of contact lens 10. Contact lens 10 includes lens body 12. Lens body has an optical zone 14 defined by an optical zone periphery 16. A peripheral zone 18 circumferentially borders the optical zone 14 at the optical zone periphery 16. Lens edge 20 is formed at the junction of the front and rear surfaces of the lens body. Peripheral junction 22 is described as defining the outer periphery of peripheral zone 18 and the inner periphery of ramp zone 23. Ramp zone 23 circumferentially borders the peripheral zone and extends between peripheral junction 22 and lens edge 20. An inverted mark 15 in the form of 'ABC' is positioned in peripheral zone 18. Reference Figure 3 The inverted mark 15 is formed by a plurality of shallow recesses 50 formed in the front surface of the lens body 12 and defining the periphery of each letter constituting the mark. The inverted mark is arc-shaped, wherein the innermost shallow recess of each letter is at a substantially constant distance from the lens edge 20, and the outermost shallow recess of each letter is at a substantially constant distance from the lens edge 20. The peripheral junction 22 is located at... Figure 3 The letter is shown as a dashed line. In one embodiment, the height h of each letter is 1.6 mm and the width w of each letter is 0.4 mm or 0.7 mm. In the same or further embodiments, the height h of each letter is 1.6 mm, and each letter has a sign angle between 7 and 9 degrees. 1. And the inverted mark has a marking angle of 30 degrees. 2. In the same or further embodiments, the lens diameter is 14.2 mm, the radial inward distance r1 from the outermost junction 22 to the lens edge 20 is 470 µm, and the radially outermost shallow recess of each symbol is radially inward distance r2 from the outermost junction 22 to 40 µm. In another embodiment, the lens diameter is 14.1 mm, r1 is 500 µm, and r2 is 30 µm. Within the region of each letter (e.g., region 52 of 'B'), the spacing between the shallow recesses is irregular, such that the shallow recesses define a curve. Reference Figure 4A and Figure 4B Each shallow recess 50 includes an opening 54 having an edge 56 at which the curvature of the lens surface defining the shallow recess 50 deviates from the curvature of the lens surface surrounding the shallow recess. Each shallow recess 50 has a shallow recess diameter. In the same or further embodiments, the average shallow recess diameter is 100 µm. Each shallow recess 50 has a shallow recess depth d1, which is (i) the imaginary plane 58 (in Figure 4B (i) is shown as a dashed line and represents the continuation of the curvature of the lens surface in the region surrounding the shallow concavity, and (ii) defines the maximum vertical distance between the concave surfaces of the shallow concavity lens. In the same or further embodiments, the average shallow concavity depth is 12 µm. The shallow concavity pitch p is the minimum distance between the openings of two shallow concavities that are close to each other. In the same or further embodiments, the shallow concavity pitch is at least 30 µm.

[0048] Figure 2 Illustrated with a cross-sectional view along line AA Figure 1 10 contact lenses Figure 2 The inverted markings are not shown, but the thickness at the center is 32 and the thickness at the outer joint is 34.

[0049] Contact lenses 10 are manufactured by forming a contact lens mold assembly by placing a certain volume of contact lens preparation material onto the concave molded surface of a female mold half and positioning the convex surface of a male mold half to contact the exposed volume of contact lens preparation material. The female mold half has shallow concave convex ridges corresponding to inverted markings. The contact lens mold assembly is then subjected to heating and / or irradiation, for example, in an oven, and the contact lens preparation material is polymerized using heat and / or ultraviolet light. The polymerized lens is then removed from the mold assembly and cleaned with solvent and water to remove unreacted chemical compounds. The cleaned contact lenses are then placed in a contact lens package containing a packaging solution and sealed and sterilized using an autoclave.

[0050] The resulting contact lenses advantageously have a balanced water content of 50% to 60%, and are therefore understood as soft hydrogel contact lenses. They advantageously have a Young's modulus of about 0.3 MPa to about 0.9 MPa. The contact lenses advantageously have an oxygen permeability (Dk) of at least 80 barrers.

[0051] Although this disclosure has been described and illustrated with respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that this disclosure is applicable to many different variations not expressly described herein.

[0052] Where, in the foregoing description, a whole or element having a known, obvious, or foreseeable equivalent is mentioned, such equivalents are incorporated herein as individually stated. Reference should be made to the claims to determine the true scope of this disclosure to be interpreted as covering any such equivalents. The reader should also understand that wholes or features of this disclosure described as preferred, advantageous, convenient, or similar are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that such optional wholes or features, while potentially beneficial in some embodiments of this disclosure, may not be desirable and therefore may not be present in other embodiments.

Claims

1. A contact lens comprising a lens body, the lens body comprising: An inverted mark is defined by a plurality of shallow recesses formed in the surface of the lens body; The shallow concave shape defines multiple symbols; and Each of the inverted markers has a height and a width, and for each marker, the height is greater than twice the width.

2. The contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the lens body has a lens edge, and the lens body comprises: optical zone; The peripheral region, which is adjacent to the optical region; A ramp area that is adjacent to the peripheral area and extends from the peripheral area to the edge of the lens; The outer junction is the junction between the outer area and the slope area; and The peripheral joint is positioned at least 0.4 mm radially inward from the edge of the lens; and The outermost shallow recess of the inverted mark is positioned at least 20 µm radially inward from the peripheral joint.

3. The contact lens of claim 2, wherein the curvature of the front surface of the lens body in the ramp region deviates from the curvature of the front surface in the peripheral region, such that the front and rear surfaces of the lens body converge at the edge of the lens.

4. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral junction extends radially inward from the edge of the lens from 0.4 mm to 0.9 mm, including 0.4 mm and 0.9 mm, for example, from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, including 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm, radially inward from the edge of the lens.

5. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral junction has a thickness of 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm, including 0.15 mm and 0.2 mm, and / or wherein the contact lens has a center thickness of 0.06 mm to 0.5 mm, including 0.06 mm and 0.5 mm.

6. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lens edge has an edge thickness of less than 0.10 mm measured at a radial distance of 0.10 mm from the lens edge.

7. The contact lens of claim 6, wherein the edge thickness of the lens is less than 0.08 mm at a radial distance of 0.10 mm from the edge of the lens.

8. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the edge thickness of the lens is less than 0.08 mm at a radial distance of 0.07 mm from the edge of the lens.

9. The contact lens of claim 8, wherein the edge thickness of the lens is less than 0.05 mm at a radial distance of 0.07 mm from the edge of the lens.

10. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the average diameter of the shallow concave area of ​​the inverted mark is defined to be from 80 µm to 120 µm, for example from 90 µm to 110 µm, for example 100 µm.

11. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the average depth of the shallow recess of the inverted mark is defined as being from 17 µm to 10 µm, for example from 17 µm to 12 µm.

12. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the average pitch of the shallow concave area defining the inverted mark is at least 30 µm.

13. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radially outermost shallow recess of each symbol is located at substantially the same distance from the edge of the lens in the radial direction as the radially outermost shallow recess of each of the other symbols.

14. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radially innermost shallow recess of each symbol is located at substantially the same distance from the edge of the lens in the radial direction as the radially innermost shallow recess of each of the other symbols.

15. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing between the shallow recesses of the defining symbol is irregular, such that the shallow recess defining symbol has a curved profile, and / or the shallow recesses do not form a regular grid pattern.

16. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each symbol of the inverted mark is formed by a shallow recess located at the periphery of the symbol.

17. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shallow concave is formed in the front surface of the lens body.

18. The contact lens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inverted mark comprises three symbols, each symbol being one of E, Z, V or F, or wherein the inverted mark is 'ABC' or 'YES'.

19. A contact lens blister pack containing a contact lens according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A method of manufacturing a contact lens according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: The contact lens preparation is placed on the concave molding surface of the first contact lens mold component, wherein the concave molding surface includes molding areas corresponding to the optical zone, peripheral zone, peripheral junction and a plurality of raised areas, the plurality of raised areas corresponding to a plurality of shallow recesses defining the inverted mark; The second contact lens mold component is placed in contact with the first contact lens mold component to form a contact lens mold assembly; The contact lens formulation is polymerized in the contact lens mold assembly to form a polymerized contact lens; The polymerized contact lens is removed from the contact lens mold assembly to produce a separated contact lens; and The separated contact lenses are packaged in a contact lens package.

Images