Contact lens packages and lens supports for use therein

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and lens supports for use therein. A contact lens package has a lid (106), a base (110) having a well (136) comprising a convex dome (184) fixedly elevated above the well bottom and a rear wall (116) extending up from the dome bottom edge to maintain the contact lens in the desired position over the dome (184) and submerged in the packaging solution regardless of the position of the contact lens package. The package may also have a lens support (140) configured lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution in a position on the lens support capable of single-touch transfer by a user. The package may include a locking mechanism (159a, 159b) configured to lock the lever (118) in place when the lens support is lifted to a predetermined lift angle.

Description

CONTACT LENS PACKAGES AND LENS SUPPORTS FOR USE THEREIN

[0001] RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 677,613, filed July 31 , 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In a conventional contact lens package, the contact lens typically sits in a molded plastic base having a well (or “bowl”) that houses the contact lens in a concave-side-up orientation. As a result, the user experience for transferring a contact lens from the package to an eye generally involves the user “fishing” the contact lens out of the bowl with a finger and then flipping the lens so that it is in the correct orientation on the finger for placement on the eye. This process requires touching the lens multiple times, which can transfer contaminants or pathogens from the hand to the lens and ultimately to the eye. Not only is this handling experience unsanitary, but it is also unduly cumbersome, messy, and mechanically stressful to the lens, which can tear, rip, or distort when overly manipulated. While some packages have been designed to present the lens in a convex-side-up orientation to obviate the need for flipping the lens, they often still require the lens to be “fished” from the packaging solution or otherwise necessitate manipulation of the lens and / or multiple touches of the lens to achieve transfer of the lens to the eye.

[0005] In view of the growing awareness around ocular health and the customer demand for a more convenient experience, a need hasarisen for contact lens packaging that enables a less messy and more sanitary contact lens handling process. In one respect, it would be ideal to provide wearers of contact lenses with a “single touch” package — that is, a package whereby the wearer of contact lenses can take the lens from the lens storage package with a single touch of one of a finger, and then, with this single touch, position the lens correctly on the eye. In such a design, there would be no need for transfer and manipulation of the lens from one finger to another before placing the lens on the eye. Providing such a single touch package would not only streamline the lens preparation and insertion process; it would also diminish the possibility of dropping the lens or exposing the lens to additional bacteria on a wearer’s other fingers as the lens is being prepared for orientation and insertion onto the eye, and it also reduces the possibility of touching the side of the lens which is intended to contact the eye.

[0006] Design of a single touch lens package faces some distinct challenges. The wearer ideally should be able to consistently position the lens to adhere to the finger during removal from the package, and then the lens needs to consistently release from the finger onto the eye.Contact lenses (of both the reusable and daily disposable variety) each has its own unique surface, bulk, and geometric properties. Finger size and the force a contact lens wearer imparts on the lens during transfer can also vary. These factors can impact the process for taking the lens from the package onto the finger and then onto the surface of the eye.Among other considerations: it would be desirable for wearers to beable to drain away any packaging solution which might impact the ability of adhering the lens to the finger, as variation in the amount of packaging solution adhering to the lens and package can impact the process of placing the lens on the finger. It would also be desirable for package solution to drain away in a controlled fashion that avoids spillage. It would also be beneficial for the packaging solution to remain sterile and accessible to the wearer after opening to permit rewetting or cleansing of the lens. Also, the wearer may be concerned about the potential of transferring bacteria or external products such as make up to the contact lens; and of course, manufacture of the package itself should conform to expected industry standards recognized by the medical and commercial provider communities.

[0007] Further, the single touch package ideally should not result in an inordinate increase in the cost of goods over current contact lens packages, as this could result in increased costs to the wearer community. The package should not make it difficult to hold the lens when removed from the package. Additionally, if the configuration of the package were to maintain, or even reduce the volume of solution needed to package the lens, this would reduce the ecological impact of the lens package. Similarly, it would be beneficial if all or part of the package could be made of recycled materials, and / or recyclable in whole or part.

[0008] In addition, it would be advantageous if the package were composed of materials that are already approved by the various regulatory bodies and ideally did not require a change in solution chemistry or lenscomposition. Optimally, as well, the functionality of the package preferably does not incorporate any electronics or other electrical components if such components could adversely affect performance of either the package or the lens.

[0009] There are several desirable attributes that have made achieving the function of a single touch package challenging and that are often lacking in known attempts to create a single touch package. These attributes include, for example, the following: i) the package ideally should protect the lens, i.e. , it should ensure the lens’s integrity (e.g., lens shape and optical integrity), while at the same time prevent crushing or damage to the lens; ii) the lens package should maintain the hydration of the lens when stored to maintain the lens’s properties; and iii) the lens in its package preferably should be configured so that when desired, it is fully submerged in the packaging solution, yet be cleared of such solution when ready to be transferred from the packaging; iv) the package generally should have a retortable seal and contain both the lens and solution; v) the package preferably should maintain the lens in the desired convex orientation to the wearer; vi) the lens should be positioned so that it can be easily removed by the wearer; and vii) the package ideally should allow the packaging solution to be effectively drained away from the lens upon opening of the packaging and prior to lens removal to enable easier transferred to the wearer’s finger and then onto the eye.

[0010] Known packages that have sought to provide reduced-touch or single- touch orientations fail to provide one or more of the above-noteddesired attributes for a single-touch package. For example, WO201 4 / 195588, W02009 / 069265, and JP6339322 disclose packages that present the lens in a convex, bowl down configuration.Similarly, US20200229560 discloses packages with lens supports that support the concave (anterior or front) surface of the contact lens, or grates that support the contact lens peripheral edge and allows packaging solution to drain through a grate to a bottom chamber upon opening the lens package. However, these package designs produce excess wetted contact area between the lens and lens support.Likewise, U.S. Patent No. 7,540,376, discloses lens carriers having rigid members under the apex of the contact lens, which impede the ability of the user to dab the lens. Known packages thus may not support the desired, convenient user experience, for example they may not support consistent single-touch transfer of the lens. The foregoing noted deficiencies of the prior art are merely exemplary and not exhaustive.

[0011] Thus, there remains a need for contact lens packages which provide a consistent single-touch lens removal experience, effective solution management, or addresses one or a combination of the aforementioned challenges or deficiencies.

[0012] II. SUMMARY

[0013] It has now been found that some or all the foregoing and related objects may be attained in a contact lens package having one or more aspects described herein.

[0014] The present invention relates to contact lens package having a well for housing a contact lens and packaging solution in a sterile condition which is sealed with a lid free of features protruding into the well. The well comprises a dome disposed above the well bottom, and a rear wall positioned to prevent the contact lens from sliding off the dome during storage. The well may also contain one or more cavities extending below the base of the dome.

[0015] The containers of the present invention may also comprise a lens supports for removing the lens from the packaging solution and presenting the lens to the wearer in a convex orientation.

[0016] III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a contact lens package in an opened state.

[0019] FIG. 1 B is a rear view of contact lens package in a closed state.

[0020] FIG. 1C a top view of a contact lens package in an opened state.

[0021] FIG. 1 D is a projection view of an unopened contact lens package.

[0022] FIGS. 1 E-G illustrate steps of opening a contact lens package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 a top perspective view of a contact lens package utilizing the container shown in FIG. 10 where the lid has been partially removed and the container has been bent along the pivot line so that the contact lens is extended above the top surface of the package base.

[0024] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1 A, shown without the contact lens and without the lens support.

[0025] FIG. 3B is a top projection view of an exemplary lens support.

[0026] FIG.4A is a top projection view of a contact lens package indicating the location of section line A-A.

[0027] FIG. 4B is a side view taken along section line A-A.

[0028] FIGS. 5A and B are perspective section views taken along section line A- A shown in FIG. 4, shown without the contact lens.

[0029] FIG. 5C is a rear projection view of a contact lens package utilizing the container shown in FIG. 5B.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a contact lens package in an opened state.

[0031] FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of a base of a contact lens package with locking mechanisms in an unlocked and locked state respectively.

[0032] FIGS. 8A and 8B are top and side views of a lens support, respectively.

[0033] FIG. 80 is a top projection view of the container base 110 shown in FIG. 8A, shown without the contact lens 120 and without the lens support 140.

[0034] Figures 9A through 9Q are top views of alternate lens supports.

[0035] IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein reference numerals indicate certain elements. The following descriptions are not intended to limit the myriad embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

[0037] References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, aspect, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, aspect, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0038] As used herein, the following terms have the following meaning. A benefit of the certain embodiments the present invention is that they facilitate consistent single-touch lens transfer from the package to a wearer’s finger, and then from the finger to the wearer’s eye without thelens inverting, falling off the finger or further manipulation. Consistent single-touch lens transfer includes a transfer rate of at least about 70%, at least about 80% or at least about 90% transfer on the first touch of the finger (or “dab”). The lens also desirably “sits up” on the finger without collapsing or inverting and then transfers to the eye when placed there. Packages of certain embodiments may provide the desired single-touch lens transfer across a range of finger sizes, and dab pressures.Environmental conditions such as the temperature and whether the finger is wet or dry may also impact transfer rate, with higher temperatures generally improving lens transfer.

[0039] Lens(es) or contact lens(es) refer to ophthalmic devices that reside on the eye. They have a generally hemispheric shape and can provide optical correction, cosmetic enhancement, UV blocking and visible light or glare reduction, therapeutic effect, including wound healing, delivery of drugs or neutraceuticals, diagnostic evaluation or monitoring, or any combination thereof. The term lens includes soft hydrogel contact lenses, which are generally provided to the consumer in a package in the hydrated state, and have a relatively low moduli, which allows them to conform to the cornea. Contact lenses suitable for use with the packages of the present invention include all hydrated contact lenses, including conventional and silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

[0040] A hydrogel is a hydrated crosslinked polymeric system that contains water in an equilibrium state, and may contain at least about 25%, or at least 35% water in the hydrated state. Hydrogels typically are oxygenpermeable and biocompatible, making them excellent materials for producing contact lenses.

[0041] Conventional hydrogel contact lenses do not contain silicone containing components, and generally have higher water content, lower oxygen permeability, moduli, and shape memories than silicone hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels are prepared from monomeric mixtures predominantly containing hydrophilic monomers, such as 2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”), N-vinyl pyrrolidone (“NVP”) or polyvinyl alcohols. United States Patents Nos. 4,495,313, 4,889,664 and 5,039,459 disclose the formation of conventional hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels may be ionic or non-ionic and include polymacon, etafilcon, nelfilcon, ocufilcon lenefilcon and the like. The oxygen permeability of these conventional hydrogel materials is typically below 20-30 barrers.

[0042] Silicon hydrogel formulations include balafilcon samfilcon, lotrafilcon A and B, delfilcon, galyfilcon, senofilcon A, B and C, narafilcon, comfilcon, formofilcon, riofilcon, fanfilcon, stenfilcon, somofilcon, kalifilcon and the like. "Silicone hydrogels" refer to polymeric networks made from at least one hydrophilic component and at least one silicone-containing component. Silicone hydrogels may have moduli in the range of 60-200, 60-150 or 80 -130 psi, water contents in the range of 20 to 60%. Examples of silicone hydrogels include acquafilcon, asmofilcon, balafilcon, comfilcon, delefilcon, enfilcon, fanfilcon, formofilcon, galyfilcon, lotrafilcon, narafilcon, riofilcon, samfilcon, senofilcon, somofilcon, and stenfilcon, verofilcon, including all of their variants, aswell as silicone hydrogels as prepared in US Patent Nos. 4,659,782,4,659,783, 5,244,981 , 5,314,960, 5,331,067, 5,371,147, 5,998,498,6,087,415, 5,760,100, 5,776,999, 5,789,461, 5,849,811 , 5,965,631,6,367,929, 6,822,016, 6,867,245, 6,943,203, 7,247,692, 7,249,848,7,553,880, 7,666,921 , 7,786,185, 7,956,131, 8,022,158, 8,273,802,8,399,538, 8,470,906, 8,450,387, 8,487,058, 8,507,577, 8,637,621 ,8,703,891, 8,937,110, 8,937,111, 8,940,812, 9,056,878, 9,057,821,9,125,808, 9,140,825, 9156,934, 9,170,349, 9,244,196, 9,244,197, 9,260,544, 9,297,928, 9,297,929 as well as WO 03 / 22321, WO 2008 / 061992, and US 2010 / 0048847. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Silicone hydrogels may have higher shape memory than conventional contact lenses.

[0043] Hydrogel lenses are viscoelastic materials. Contact lenses can form optical distortions if the lens interacts with either the package or any air bubble in the package. The extent of the optical distortions, and the length of time needed for the distortions to relax out will vary depending on the chemistry, and to a lesser extent, geometry of the lens.Conventional lens materials, such as polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate- based lenses like etafilcon A or polymacon have low loss modulus and tan delta compared to silicone hydrogels and may form fewer and less severe optical distortions as a result of contact with packaging. The incorporation of silicones (which generally increase the bulk elastic response), wetting agents such as PVP (which generally increase the viscous response) or coatings of conventional hydrogel materials (which may lower the elastic response at the lens interface) can alter the lensviscoelastic properties. Conventional hydrogel contact lenses and silicone hydrogel contact lenses having short or stiff crosslinking agents and or stiffening agent have short shape memories and may be less susceptible to deformation during storage. As used herein, high or higher shape memory hydrogels display optical distortions from contact with an air bubble or package of at least about 0.18 after 5 weeks of accelerated aging at 55°C. Viscoelastic properties, including loss modulus and tan delta, can be measured using a dynamic mechanical analysis.

[0044] The contact lenses can be of any geometry or power, and have a generally hemispherical shape, with a concave posterior side which rests against the eye when in use and a convex anterior side which faces away from the eye and is contacted by the eyelid during blinking.

[0045] The center or apex of the lens is the center of the lens optic zone. The optic zone provides optical correction and may have a diameter between about 7mm and about 10mm. The lens periphery or lens edge is the edge where the anterior and posterior sides meet.

[0046] The wetted lens is the contact lens and any residual packaging solution attached to it after packaging solution drainage.

[0047] Embodiments may include a lens support surrounded by a sealable well also interchangeably referred to as a chamber. The well may have any convenient form and may comprise a package base and at least a lid, each of which are described in detail below. As used herein, the phrases “the lid”, “a lid”, “the base” and “a base” encompass both thesingular and plural. The lid and package base are sealed to each other to form a well which holds the contact lens, support and packaging solution in a sterile state during shipping and storage prior to use. The contact lens package is made from materials which are compatible with the contact lens and solution, as well as retortable and biologically inert.

[0048] “Film” or “multilayer film” are films used to seal the package and are often referred to as lidstock. Multilayer films used in conventional contact lens packages may be used in the packages of the present invention as the base, a component of the lid, or both. Multilayer films comprise a plurality of layers, including barrier layers, including foil layers, or coatings, seal layers, which seal the film to the rest of the package, and may also comprise additional layers selected from peel initiation layers, lamination layers, and layers that improve other package properties like stiffness, temperature resistance, printability, puncture resistance, barrier resistance to water or oxygen and the like. The multilayer films form a steam sterilizable (retortable) seal. The multilayer film can include PET, BON or OPP films layers to increase stiffness and temperature resistance, or to EVOH or PVDC coatings to improve barrier resistance to oxygen or moisture vapor.

[0049] An “unopened state” or “unopened” as used herein refers to a contact lens package that is closed and houses a contact lens in solution.

[0050] An “opened state” or “opened” as used herein refers to a contact lens package after the sterile seal has been broken. Depending on the context described herein, the open state extends to the state of thepackage when the user has manipulated the package to cause the lens to be lifted out of the packaging solution for transfer by the user.

[0051] A “wearer” or “user” as used herein refers to a person opening a contact lens package. The user is generally referred to as the person who both opens the package and transfers the contact lens contained therein to their eye. However, the user in some contexts may be a person handling the lens package on behalf of the wearer, such an eye care provider (“ECP”) or another individual demonstrating for or assisting the wearer.

[0052] Packaging solution is any physiologically compatible solution, which is compatible with the selected lens material and packaging. Packaging solutions include buffered solutions having a physiological pH, such as buffered saline solutions. The packaging solution may contain known components, including buffers, pH and tonicity adjusting agents, lubricants, wetting agents, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, in package coating components and the like.

[0053] The package base may form the bottom of the package. It can be made from any material suitable for packaging medical devices, including a polymer. The package base material may be any polymer material that can be injection molded, and provide contact lens packages having a shelf-life of at least one, two or five years and are compatible with the chemical and physical properties of the lens, packing solution and any additives which may be included therein. The package base material may be selected from any of the foregoing materials. The package basematerial may preferably be polypropylene having a melt temperature greater than about 145°C, COP, COCs and blends of polypropylene blended with COPs or COCs. Examples of polypropylenes include metallocene catalyzed polypropylene polymer and co-polymer, Zielgler- Natta catalyzed polypropylene polymer and co-polymer. Examples of suitable grades of polypropylene include ACHIEVE 1605 (metallocene catalyzed PP homopolymer) and PP1264E1 (PP homopolymer, MFR =20g / 10min) from ExxonMobil; Braskem CP360H (homopolymer), F350 HC2 (high crystallinity homopolymer, MFR=35), from Braskem; Borealis RF366MO (random copolymer with nucleating and antistatic agents), BJ380MO (heterophasic copolymer, controlled rheology with nucleating and antistatic agents) from Borealis; Moplen HE649T (homopolymer) and HP301 R (homopolymer) from LyondellBasell; SABIC 512A (controlled rheology PP homopolymer); Formolene 4111T and Formelene 4142T from Formosa Plastics; FHR 11T55V, FHR P4C5N- 046, FHR P4C6N-041 from Flint Hills Resources; and Total MR2001 (homopolymer material), Total M3766 (metallocene catalyzed PP homopolymer) and Total PPH 10099 (controlled rheology PP homopolymer) from Total Petrochemicals. The polypropylene may have a melt flow range of about 15 g / 10 minutes to about 44 g / 10 minutes as determined by ASTM D-1238-10 “Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer”, or similar known methods. The polypropylene may be pristine, or may have undergone a controlled rheology process to increase its melt flow rate.

[0054] The packaging lid generally resides at the upper portion the package and hermetically seals with the base to form a well containing at least a portion of the lens support, lens, and packaging solution. The sealed container, including the contact lens and packaging solution contained therein may be sterilized so the packaged lens is received by the user in a sterile condition. The lid may be made from any material suitable for packaging medical devices, including a molded sheet of foil or plastic, laminate films, or plastic. Packages comprising plastic for one structure and foil or laminated films as the other, or packages comprising foil or laminated films as the outer layer for the lid and base are known in the art and are examples of suitable combinations.

[0055] References throughout this description to injection molding processes and the use of materials conventionally applied to injection molding should be understood as exemplary. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other means of manufacture are possible within the scope of the appended claims, including but not limited to alternative molding processes, thermoforming, 3D printing, and the like. Likewise, references to heat seals and heat sealing are exemplary to embodiments described herein. Other means of securing packaging components will be apparent to those skilled in the art, including the use of adhesive, glue, thermal bonding, welding such as heat, ultrasonic or laser welding, or a mechanical trap, and the like.

[0056] Certain aspects of the invention may serve to reduce or prevent significant optical damage to the contact lens due to interactions with air bubbles or the interior of the lens package that may arise during storageor transit due to gravitational or other forces, such as mechanical pressure being applied from outside of the package. As used herein, significant optical damage means a root-mean-squared (RMS) value equal or greater than about 0.08pm.

[0057] Contact lens containers generally comprises a well and a flange surrounding the well. A removable lid is hermetically sealed to the flange. Conventionally the well is bowl shaped and presents the lens in a concave orientation upon package opening. When the package is sealed some air may remain trapped in the headspace of the package. For packages with a convex lens support (which may be the bottom of the well), it can be desirable to limit the contact of the lens surface with the air trapped in the package upon sealing.

[0058] For these convex orientation contact lens packages comprising a rear wall within the well, near the rear portion of the well can help to maintain the contact lens in place and in the desired orientation. One or more cavities positioned in the well proximate to the rear wall may receive and retain trapped air bubbles and prevent them from interacting with and possibly distorting the optics of the contact lens. It has been surprisingly found that the use of a rear wall and one or more adjacent cavity maintains the lens in a submerged orientation without the use of structures on the lid interior.

[0059] If desired, a lens support may be included, and may be stored in a recessed area extending downwardly from the convex lens support.

[0060] With reference to the figures, FIG. 1A illustrates a contact lens package base 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] The contact lens package 100 comprises a base 110 having a flange 115 surrounding a well 136 which holds the lens, packaging solution and optional lens support when sealed. The flange 115 is in a generally horizonal position when opening the contact lens package. The top surface of flange 115 comprises a sealing bead 152 that enables hermetically sealing a lid (not shown) to the base 110. Heat seal bead 152 may extend upwardly from the top surface of flange 115. The heat seal bead 152 may be the same thickness / height all around the perimeter of well 136.

[0062] The well 136 comprises dome 184 which is elevated from the bottom of well 136. The rear portion (designated B in FIG. 1A) of well 136 includes a rear wall 116 which extends upwardly from the bottom of well 136, is positioned behind dome 184 and when the package is sealed helps to keep the lens properly oriented over dome 136 regardless of the position of package 100. One or more rear cavities 139b may be positioned in well 136 proximate to the rear wall 116 and extending downward and away from the lateral surface 182 extending from the bottom of dome 136 in order to receive and retain air bubble(s) and prevent the air bubble(s) from interacting with and possibly distorting the optics of lens 138. The rear wall 116 in Figure 1A has front face 116a (shown in FIG. 4B) disposed toward the dome and back face 116b (shown in FIG. 4B) disposed toward a back interior surface of the well 136, forming a rearcavity 139a in FIG. 1A that extends behind rear wall 116, below the plane of the lateral surface 182 and across the back of well 136.

[0063] FIG. 1 B is a rear projection view of the package of FIG. 1 A sealed with lid 106. The exterior of the well includes feet 125 which house rear cavity 139a and an optional finger dimple 122b to assist the user in grasping the base 110 during package opening. Feet 125 may also act as finger engagement features.

[0064] FIG. 10 is a top view of a contact lens package base 110 having a rear wall which forms at least a portion of the back wall of well 136. The rear wall 116 in this embodiment extends upwardly from the rear edge (117 shown in FIG. 5B) of the dome 184 and may be slanted away from the lens 138 and dome 184. The rear 116 wall should be disposed so that it does not interfere with either the lens support 140 or lens 138 as they are lifted from the well 136 via action of lever 118. The rear wall 116 can be vertical or angled away from the dome. The angle may also be selected to avoid unnecessarily increasing the well size. The top surface of flange 115 may contain a top surface extension 115a which extends forward from the heat seal bead at the rear of base 110 and towards the dome 184 until connecting with the rear wall 116. The top surface extension 115a may optionally be in the same plane as the top surface of flange 115. The top surface extension 115a may optionally be in the same plane as or lower than the heat seal bead 152. In this embodiment, the rear wall is a part of the well exterior wall and forms a bump out from the back portion of the well wall. This bump out creates rear cavities 139b on either side of rear wall 116. The rear cavitiesextend both laterally away from and below (when the package is in the primary, lid up orientation) the lateral surface 182.

[0065] Well 136 may also comprise one or more front cavities 139a, which also contribute to maintaining any trapped air bubbles away from the lens 138 during storage.

[0066] The size of the front and rear cavities is determined by volume of air present in the package when it is sealed. The volume of air includes both the air that is included in the headspace when the package is sealed as well as air the enters the package during storage as a result of evaporation of packaging solution and diffusion of air through the package. The rear and optional front cavities prevent air trapped in the package from interacting with the lens. The cavities 139 and 139b are configured to prevent air lens interaction at any package orientation. The cavities extend below and laterally away from the bottom edge 117 of dome 138. The volume of cavities 139b and optional front cavities 139a which is below lateral surface 182 (in the primary orientation) is sufficient to hold any entrapped air in the package when the package is stored in a lid down orientation.

[0067] When included a lens support 140 may be included beneath contact lens 138 within the well. The lens support may be disposed in a recessed area 198 extending downwardly from the dome 184 so that lens support 140 does not contact the lens 138 while in storage. The recessed area 198 may be placed symmetrically about two opposing sides of the dome 184 and should match the shape and size of the central support sections200 (shown in FIG. 3B) of the lens support 140. Once the container is opened and lever 118 is engaged (FIG. 1 F) lens support extends 140 upwardly raising the lens 138 out of the packaging solution, so that the lens can be removed by the user.

[0068] The lens support may comprise a mounting tab 163 for connecting the lens support to the front portion 135 of base 110, described further below. The distal end of the mounting tab (relative to the lens support) is shown as a mushroom shape in FIG. 1 A and 1 B, but may have any shape, including fanciful shapes.

[0069] The front portion 135 of the base 110 may include finger engagement features 112a and may further include finger grips 130.

[0070] FIGS. 1E-1E illustrate steps of handling a contact lens package 100 containing a contact lens 138 in packaging solution (not shown) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention where a lens support 140 is included. An unopened contact lens package 100 having a lid 106 and a base 110 is shown at FIG. 1D. In this embodiment, the lid 106 is any retortable film, including multilayer film, also referred to herein as the foil, and the base 110 is composed of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene plastic. While in this embodiment the lid 106 takes the form of a relatively flexible material (i.e., multilayer film) and the base 110 a relatively rigid material, it should be appreciated that other embodiments may include substantially rigid components for both the lid and the base. For example, in some embodiments, the base and lid both could be composed of apolypropylene plastic or other relatively rigid material. Base 110 includes a pivot line 114 along which a portion of the base that forms a lever 118 that can hinge when force is applied to the lever 118. The force applied to activate the lever 118 in this embodiment may comprise simultaneous downward and lateral moments.

[0071] Base 110 further includes several optional finger engagement features 122a and 122b to assist the user with handling the contact lens package during the opening process. A finger dimple 122a may be sized to accommodate a finger or thumb of the user is disposed at the end of the base 110 proximal to the user and a foot 122b at the distal end of the base 110. Finger dimple 122a in this embodiment is also angled downward such that a force, e.g., pressure having one or both of a downward and lateral moment applied by a thumb of the user, causes the lever 118 to hinge downward at the pivot line 114. Foot 122b provides a large area to rest the finger or thumb and facilitates the application of the counter force necessary to cause the lever to hinge. Foot 122b may also contain a finger contour (not shown) to facilitate opening.

[0072] Package 100 may also be further configured with a profile that slopes from proximal to distal end to further encourage a downward moment at the lever, for example when the lever is pressed down or the when the package is squeezed by the user, i.e. , when the user applies pressure by hand at opposing ends of the package, i.e., via a finger at one end and a thumb at the other. In this embodiment, package 100 is configured such that the squeezing forces are applied at the distal andproximal ends. This design also permits the package to be pressed against a solid surface, e.g., a countertop to activate the lever 118. However, alternative embodiments are possible whereby the opposing forces involved in squeezing are applied at one or multiple opposing ends of the package, such as but not limited to the sides, left and right, of the package or portions thereof.

[0073] In a first step shown in FIG. 1E, a user holds an unopened contact lens package 100 by its base 110. A user’s grip upon the package 100 may be improved by one or more finger engagement features 122a and b positioned and configured to provide a more secure grasp upon the package and / or to aid in the application of force that, in a later step, causes a contact lens contained in the package to be lifted for presentation to the user and transfer to the user’s eye. Finger dimple 122a (visible in Figure 1D) is positioned on lever 118 of base 110 and is sized for a thumb 126 of the user to grip the package. At the opposite end of package 100, the user may grasp the package as shown by positioning a finger securely at a second finger engagement means 122b (visible in FIG 1B) at the rear end of the base 110. In the case of a foot feature such as 122b, the surface region forming the foot may be curved or may be flattened to provide an increased area across which an opposing force can be supplied when the package is squeezed. Next, the user may open the package by opening the lid 106, which in this embodiment involves the user peeling open the foil 106 from the proximal end of the base 110 to the distal end in the direction shown by arrow 134, thus breaking a sterile seal between the foil (lid) 106 andbase 110. Although not required, in this preferred embodiment the package is optimized for the user to grasp the base with one hand and peel open the lid 106 with the other hand.

[0074] As illustrated at the step shown in FIG. 1 F, the package lid 106 has been opened, either by complete removal of the lid as shown in the illustration or, alternatively, by partial removal sufficient to substantially expose lens well 136, which houses a contact lens 138 in packaging solution (not illustrated) above a lens support 140. With the package 100 open, the user then applies a force 142 to lever 118. In this embodiment, the package is configured to be squeezed by the user whereby the user’s hand or hands supply opposing forces 142 and 146 at the proximal and distal ends of the package, respectfully, thereby generating a more significant moment upon lever 118. Optionally, the lever 118 may lock into place when the lens support 140 has been raised to a predetermined lift angle, also referred to as a “lift angle” i.e. , an angle at which the package is configured to present the lens to the user on the lens support relative to the horizontal plane defined by the lid. As described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2, 6, 7A and 7B, the action of locking lever and / or lens support at a particular lift angle may be accomplished by way of one or more locking mechanisms imparted into the base of the package. The act of “locking” via a lock mechanism means that the lens support is capable of retaining its position in place once it has reached a predetermined lift angle without the need for the user to continue applying force.

[0075] Turning to FIG. 1G, at this stage the force applied to the lever by the user has caused the lens support 140 to lift the contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution (not illustrated). Ideally, a lens support is configured to lift a contact lens high enough above the package well that the lens is clear of the packaging solution, facing the user, and is thus visible and transferable from the support, but not so high that the lens slides off the support under the force of gravity. This may be accomplished by a lift angle 150 of between about 15° to 60° relative to the horizontal plane that defines the top of the base. A lens support preferably is configured so that, when lifted in this manner, packaging solution drains away from the contact lens sufficiently to enable singletouch lens transfer by the user, as in the exemplary the embodiment illustrated where the user transfers the contact lens 138 from the lens support 140 by tapping (also referred interchangeably as “dabbing”) a convex surface of the contact lens 138 such that the tapping causes the contact lens to release from the lens support 138 and adhere to a finger 154 of the user.

[0076] In this embodiment, contact lens 138 conveniently is presented to the wearer in a convex orientation, meaning that convex side of the lens 138 is accessible to the wearer without the need to reorient the lens before placing the concave side of the lens onto the wearer’s eye surface. It will be appreciated however that other orientations, such as the concave orientation of traditional blister packages, are possible within the scope of invention. Transfer of the contact lens 138 from the lens support 140 may be performed by a wearer’s finger 154, either directly touching thelens or indirectly by way of an applicator film (e.g., as described in LIS20190046353) or other covering applied to the finger, or may be performed by another transfer means, such as a manual or automatic applicator device or tool. Upon transfer of the contact lens 138 from the package 100, the lens rests on the finger 154 (or other transfer means), as shown in the step illustrated, with the convex side of contact lens 138 against the finger 154 and the concave side of the lens 138 oriented for direct application to the user’s eye surface. While single-touch / dabbing of the lens is the preferred mode of lens transfer, it is noted that the traditional “pinching” of the lens from the lens support is possible.

[0077] Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3A and 3B, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of contact lens package 100 in an opened state in which lens support 140 has lifted contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution (not illustrated). FIG. 3A illustrates package base 110 with the lens support 140 removed. FIG. 3B illustrates is a perspective view of lens support 140 for the package base of FIG. 3A.

[0078] Contact lens package 100 includes base 110 that has a proximal end (A) and distal end (B). Base 110 includes a well 136 that houses a contact lens 138 in packaging solution and a lever 118 configured to hinge along a pivot line 114 in the base when a force is applied to lever 118. In this embodiment, lever 118 is formed as a portion of a unitary component that composes the base 110. More specifically, base 110, including lever 118, is formed as a unitary injection-molded polypropylene plastic part. Alternative materials and processes for forming the base will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, including thermoforming and 3Dprinting (using materials such ABS, PLA, HIPS, PETG, Nylon, or others). Preferably, the material used for the base is relatively rigid, having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 125°C as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238-10 (Standard Test method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer). In this embodiment, pivot line 114 is defined by a thin, folded region in the base in a linear configuration along a horizontal axis along which lever 118 hinges. This thinned region provides sufficient relief along a line in the base material to cause lever 118 to hinge at the desired position when force is applied to the lever by a user. The use of one or more thinned regions is merely one of myriad ways that a pivot line may be defined within the scope of the invention. For example, in other embodiments in which the lever is formed in the same material as the remainder of the base, the pivot line may be created by creasing the plastic laterally at the desired location, by molding the material to be thinner along the pivot line, and / or by cutting, etching or otherwise imparting a pivot line into the base material. Alternatively or additionally, one or more voids may be imparted in the base material along the intended pivot line to encourage the plastic material to bend along the intended axis. Furthermore, in embodiments in which the lever takes the form of a discrete component, the pivot line may merely represent the horizontal interface between the lever and the remainder of the base. In such embodiments, hinging along the pivot line may be effected by a hinge component, a rotatable interlocking attachment, or the like. It should be appreciated that alternative embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention in which thelever is a discrete component coupled to the remainder of the base by an attachment means. For example, a lever may be formed as a separate injection molded part and then attached to a separately molded (or printed, etc.) part that forms the rest of the base via an array of attachment means, including laser welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, mechanical attachment, heat staking, or the like.

[0079] The underside of the base may be sloped, as in the embodiment illustrated, to enable the packages to “nest” thereby allowing more compact secondary packaging during storage and transport in addition to reducing the amount of primary packaging material and packaging solution necessary to keep the contact lens hydrated. In this example, base 110 slopes from the proximal end (A) to distal end (B) at an angle of between about 0-30°, 0 to 20 °, 20-300or about 10°. The footprint of base 110 is governed by lens diameter and volume of air to be sealed in the package. For a base 110 for a contact lens having a 14mm diameter, base dimensions may include a width of about 25-35mm about 30mm in width; a length of about 40-50mm, or about 45mm; and a height up to about 15mm, about 10-15mm or about 12mm. The base includes a well, 136, formed in the tapered area in which the contact lens 138 and lens support 140 are housed when package 100 is unopened. The well has a volume sufficient to hold lens support 140, contact lens 138 and a volume of packaging solution sufficient to fully submerge the contact lens 138 within the well 136. For example, the well may have a volume of approximately 2240pl, which may be dosed with approximately2080pL of packaging solution. The foil lid 106 is secured to the base110 via a retortable seal formed between bead 152 on the upper surface of the base around the perimeter of the well 136. This seal may be formed by well-known heat-sealing techniques and associated apparatuses.

[0080] Finger engagement feature (finger dimple) 122a is sized to accommodate a finger or thumb of the user is disposed at the end of the base 110 proximal to the user. Finger dimple 122a in this embodiment is also angled downward such that a force, e.g., pressure applied by a thumb of the user, causes the lever 118 to hinge downward at the pivot line 114. The position of the finger dimple 122a and the finger of the user relative to the pivot line affects the amount of squeeze force necessary to cause the lever to hinge along the pivot line. In one example, the finger dimple depth below the pivot line may be about 5mm when measured from the seal level to the base of the finger dimple. The horizontal distance between the finger dimple and the hinge line affects the lever force required to bend the hinge. In one example the end of the lever 118 may be about 13 to about 15mm, or about 14.5mm from the pivot line 114.

[0081] Finger engagement feature 122a may also include any other features to assist in gripping the finger dimple, including finger grips 130, shown as raised projections, open rings and the like.

[0082] A lens support 140 (shown in top view in FIG. 3B) is coupled to the lever 118 so that force applied to the lever 118 causes the lens support 140 to lift the contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution. In theembodiment illustrated, lens support 140 is a separately molded (or printed) component that is fixedly attached to the lever 118 portion of base 110 at tab recess 164. Attachment may be made by laser weld; ii) heat; iii) an ultrasonic weld; iv) mechanical clipping and v) an adhesive. Attachment may be made via laser welding, whereby mounting tab 163 is welded to tab recess 164 in base 110. The tab recess 164 may generally match the shape of the mounting tab 163, and when using an interference fit would be slightly smaller than the mounting tab. The tab recess 164 may extend downwardly from the top surface of flange 115 and should be located inside of the heat seal bead 152 which surrounds the well 136.

[0083] The mounting tab 163 may optionally contain a post aperture 166 (shown in Figure 5B) which may be positioned and sized to accept a post 168 which extends upwardly from tab recess 164 to engage with the post aperture 166. There may be an interference fit between the post 168 and the post aperture 166 which holds the mounting tab 163 within the top surface of the flange 115 or in tab recess 164. The post may have any shape which can be molded in the space available, including circular, ovoid, triangular, square, rectangular or fanciful shapes. Sharp corners may be replaced with rounded corners. Numerous other means of attachment other than laser welding are possible within the scope of the claims, including e.g., ultrasonic or RF welding, adhesion, mechanical clipping, heat staking and the like. Further, it should be noted that in alternative embodiments the lens support may be formed as part of the same unitary molded or printedcomponent as the lever and / or the entire base. In many embodiments, such as the one illustrated in which the pivot line is formed by a fold in plastic or other substantially rigid material, the pivot line may have a thickness, i.e. , it may not be perfectly sharp. In these cases, such separation may be needed between the point of attachment and the pivot line in order to maximize the lifting angle for a given squeeze force. As discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 6 and 7A and 7B below), package 100 also includes a locking mechanism (in this example, 159a and 159b) that causes lever 118 to lock into place when the lens support 140 reaches a lift angle that has been predetermined to be high enough to permit sufficient drainage of packaging solution away from lens 138 but not so high that lens 138 slides off of the lens support.

[0084] FIG. 4A is a top projection view of a sealed contact lens package 100 shown in FIG. 1 A and indicating the location of section line A-A. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a contact lens package 100 taken along section line A-A shown in FIG. 4A.

[0085] As shown, package 100 is configured such that when in an unopened state, contact lens 138 is housed between lens support 140 and lid 106. Packages of the invention preferably minimize contact with the contact lens when the package is closed, and the lens is substantially suspended in packaging solution. Ideally, the optical zone of the lens is free floating and contact with the lens support during storage is transitory or non-existent. Depending on the buoyancy of the lens in the package solution and the orientation, the lens may rest on its peripheral edge on the floor of the well in the base of the package. As illustrated, contactlens package 100 is in a lid-up orientation in which the peripheral edge of the contact lens rests on the floor of the well 136 in the base 110.

[0086] Well 136 preferably is substantially filled with packaging solution, provided however that manufacturing processes may not permit sealing the packaging under vacuum pressure. In such cases, it is anticipated that some amount of air will become entrapped in the well 136. If these air bubbles are not managed, they may interact with the lens and cause optical damage to the lens. Accordingly, peripheral volumes (cavities 139a and 139b) in the well 136, i.e. , volumes in the well that are peripheral to the location of the lens over the lens support, may be provided. Such volumes may be provided at either or both of the distal and proximal ends of the package, such as 139a and 139b of well 136, so that the air bubbles have a place to reside regardless of the orientation of the package during transport or storage.

[0087] The base 110 of package 100 also includes a dome 184 imparted beneath the lens 138. The dome 184 is in this example is dome shaped to generally track the concave side of the lens 138 in order to provide additional support beneath the lens 138. The dome 184 also serves to reduce the amount of packaging solution required in the package and to reduce the amount of headspace, i.e., the amount of space in which air bubbles can situate themselves and exert forces on lens 138 that could produce optical damage.

[0088] The contact lens 138 rests atop a combination of the dome 184 of the base 110 and portions of the lens support 140. A rear wall 116 extendsupwardly from a lateral surface 182 extending laterally from rear edge 117 of the dome 184 to a location just beneath the bottom surface of lid 106. The rear wall 116 extends high enough to prevent the lens from sliding off dome 184. The rear wall may extend up from the lateral surface from about 2 mm to about 7mm, or from about 2.5 mm to about 6.5 mm. The rear wall may have a width wide enough to prevent lens deformation at the lens edge but still allow air bubble movement along the back of the well when there is a cavity 139b behind the rear wall, or around the sides and front of the well when the rear wall is integral with the well. The rear wall width may be about 4mm to about 50% of the width of well at the distal end. The front edges of the rear wall may be sharp angles as shown for the back rear wall edges shown in FIG. 1 A, angled and shown for the front edges of the rear wall in FIG. 1 A or rounded as shown in FIG. 10, or a combination of rounded and angled. When rear wall 116 is not integral with well 136, rear wall may have a front face 116a disposed toward the dome and back face disposed toward a back interior surface of the well 136 and rear wall 116 may be solid or hollow. The front face 116a of rear wall 116 may be smooth or have a stacked profile as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0089] Surface 182 may be planar to provide a shelf for the contact lens edge to rest on or abut when the lens is stored and the lever is not engaged. This may help to minimize contact between the bowl and the lens, and particularly the optic zone of the lens. Planar surface 182 is long enough to prevent the lens from becoming pinched between rear wall116 and bowl 184 but not so long that lens 138 can slide off dome 184 when package 100 is stored on its side or rear edge.

[0090] There may be a gap between the top of the rear wall 116 and lid 106 and if used the maximum for this gap should be about 3.8 mm with some embodiments having a gap between 2 mm and zero (i.e. where the top of the rear wall 116 is level with and / or in contact with the lid 106). A rear cavity 139b is positioned in well 136 between the rear face of rear wall 116 and the back wall of well 136. In FIG. 4B the rear cavity 139b spans across the entire width of the back of well 136. The rear cavity 139b may be sized to accept and hold an air bubble produced during packaging of the lens. Entrapped air may be kept away from the lens 138 to minimize damage and transitory changes to the lens 138 during storage and shipping. The use of a rear wall and one or more adjacent cavities maintains the lens in a submerged orientation without the use of structures on the lid interior.

[0091] In FIG. 4B the rear wall 116 includes a rear wall front face 116a which extends upwardly from the lateral surface 182 and away from the dome 184 at a slight angle, and a rear face 116b which extends upwardly from a point in the well 136 bottom lower than the rear edge 117 of dome 184 in a substantially vertical position until joining with the rear wall front face 116a at an apex which is below the flange 115. The rear cavity 139b may span across the entire width of the well 136 and is positioned both directly behind the rear wall 116 as well as on both sides of the rear wall 116. Multiple cavities 139b, 139a, and combinations thereof may be included in well 136.

[0092] In this view, the rectangular void 208 can be seen which may be positioned near the front area of the flange 115, between the optional front cavity 139a and the optional finger engagement feature 112a which may be the location of the finger grips 132.

[0093] The rectangular void 208 may provide available space for the lever 118 to rotate downwardly and lock into position with locking tabs (described further below). Additionally, the rectangular void 208 may permit the nesting of rows or arrays of packages to conserve packaging space and reducing shipping costs.

[0094] FIG. 5B is a side perspective view of the package base shown in FIG.1C. Rear wall 116 extends upwardly from the floor of well 136 from the bottom of the back of dome 184 until becoming level with and adjoining with the top surface of flange 115, forming the back wall of well 136. The junction of flange extension 115a and rear wall 116 may be a sharp junction as shown in FIG. 5B or may form a slope or an arc. The rear wall 116 extends upwardly from a surface 182 extending laterally from rear edge 117 of the dome 184 to a location just beneath the bottom surface of lid 106. Surface 182 may be planar to provide a shelf for the contact lens edge to rest on or abut when the lens is stored and the lever is not engaged. This may help to minimize contact between the bowl and the lens, and particularly the optic zone of the lens. Including a planar surface 182 instead of a “V” shape may also prevent the lens from becoming pinched between rear wall 116 and bowl 184.

[0095] The rear wall is configured such that hinder removal of the lens from the well or interfere with the operation of the lens support (if included) is not hindered. The slope of rear wall 116 from the rear wall junction 184 to flange extension 115a may form a plane, a curve or may transition for between planar and curved.

[0096] Instead of a rear cavity as shown in FIG. 5A, a pair of side cavities 139b flank rear wall 116 with one cavity on each side, where the cavities are shaped to accept the air bubble mentioned above during production and storage to avoid damaging the lens 138.

[0097] It is a benefit of the present invention that there is nothing placed between the lens and the lid 106 when the package is sealed. This simplifies the manufacture of the package by enabling the use of conventional retortable lidstock materials for the lid. The lid 106 may be in close proximity to the lens 136 in order to constrain the lens 136 from any substantial vertical movement, but it should not be touching the lens 136. Ideally the bottom of the lid 136 is smooth with no elements placed in between the lens 136 and the lid 106 in some embodiments.

[0098] FIG. 5C is a rear projection view of a contact lens package 100 utilizing the base 110 shown in FIG. 1B and 5B. In this embodiment, dual rear feet 125 are disposed along the back of well 136 on each side of the base 110. The rear feet may each house a side cavity 120. The feet may flank the rear wall 116, particularly when the rear wall is a sloped portion integral with and extending from the back portion of well 116 as is shown in FIG 1B. A finger dimple 122b may be located between thetwo feet 125 so that the user can grasp the base 116 by placing their finger in between the rear feet 125.

[0099] While FIG. 1 through 5 show package 100 with a lever and lens support, the packages of the present invention may omit the lens support and include a well comprising a dome, rear wall and at least one front or rear cavity or a combination of front and rear cavities. Packages of this configuration will still protect the lens from unwanted contact with air when packaged in a convex (bowl down) orientation.

[0100] Referring to Figure 6, contact lens package 100 is illustrated in an open state in which the lens 138 is lifted from the packaging solution in a position for transfer by the user. It is observed that it is advantageous to configure the lens support 138 relative to the base 110 and lever 118 such that upper side of the lens (i.e. , upper side when the lens is in a lifted position) the 138’ of lens 138 emerges from the package solution before the lower side 138” when the user actuates lever 118 to lift the lens. Ideally, the package should be configured so that this sequence (i.e., the upper side emerging first) remains true whether the user tilts the package toward or away from themselves within an expected range (10 degrees forward or backward) when opening. As the lens emerges from the packaging solution, it is observed that a film of packaging solution remains intact on the lens support throughout the lifting motion. By causing the upper side 138’ to emerge first, there is a bulk flow of fluid from the distal end of the lens 138’ to proximal end of the lens 138”. This encourages the packaging solution to continually drain along a path that is maintained along the lens support 138 and, in someembodiments, through a drainage channel of the lens support (as discussed in more detail with respect to Figures 8A and 8B below). Conversely, were the lower side instead to emerge before the upper side, the film of packaging solution would be more prone to breakage before the fluid has had a chance to drain and, consequently, packaging solution would be more likely to become stranded between the lens and lens support, thus impeding consistent single-touch transfer.

[0101] Package 100 is also configured with a locking mechanism (described in more detail in reference to Figures 7A and 7B) that locks the lens support 140 at a lift angle (a) (i.e. , an angle at which the package is configured to present the 138 lens to the user on the lens support 140 relative to the horizontal plane 190) of about 60 degrees. The lift angle is preferably between about 45 to 75 degrees and ideally selected to be high enough to allow sufficient drainage of the packaging solution away from the lens but not so high that the lens slides off of the support, appreciating that the maximum angle possible before the lens slides off of the support will depend on the specific design of the lens support. The minimum for a is also determined by the clearance required between the base of the lens and the surface of the packaging solution. At least around 3-5mm of clearance will allow the packaging solution film the between the lens and the solution surface to break.

[0102] Referring now to Figures 7A and 7B, illustrated is the base 110 of a contact lens package with locking mechanisms 159a and 159b in an unlocked and locked state respectively. In this example, two locking mechanisms 159a and 159b are employed on either side of the base110 where the lever 118 portion of base 110 is configured to hinge along pivot line 114. As shown in the zoomed in view in Figure 7B, in this example the locking mechanism takes the form of a snap-fit latch 159b having an upper tooth 192 and a lower tooth 194. The teeth 192 and 194 are shaped so that tooth 194 slides over the side of tooth 192 when lever 118 is depressed before becoming pinned under upper tooth 192 when the lever 118 and lens support 140 affixed thereto reach the predetermined lift angle. The pinning of tooth 194 under tooth 192 allows the lens support 140 to retain its position in place once it has reached a predetermined lift angle without the need for the user to continue applying force.

[0103] FIG. 1 B and 2 show another suitable locking mechanism comprising a slanted surface 188 which interacts with a drag surface 189 positioned on the bottom side of the flange 115. As shown and described further below, as the lever 118 is bent along the pivot line, the drag surface 189 may slide or drag along the slanted surface 188 with enough friction so that the drag surface 189 generally does not slide back down the slanted surface 188 once it has slid up the slanted surface 188 to a hold open position. Thus, there should be enough friction between the drag surface 189 and the slanted surface 188 to hold the lens 138 above the packaging solution (not shown) and the top surface of flange 115 (i.e. hold the bend in the container) but not so much friction that it would be difficult to slide the drag surface 189 along the slanted surface 188 to actuate the lever. Either the drag surface slanted surface or both mayinclude roughened surfaces, teeth or any other features to provide the desired friction.

[0104] It will be appreciated that other embodiments could use just one or alternatively more than two locking mechanisms to achieve the same locking functionality and that any number of alternative types of locking mechanisms could be substituted, such as but not limited to a latch, peg, ratchet, an adhesive, and / or a pair of male and female friction-fit features. The inclusion of a locking mechanism may benefit the handling experience in numerous ways, including at least that it 1) ensures that the lens support presents the lens to the user at an angle calculated to provide sufficient drainage without the lens sliding off the support; a locking mechanism also 2) allows the user to remove their thumb or finger from the lever after the lifting the lens so that the same hand that lifted the lens may then be used to transfer the lens from the lens support, e.g., preferably by dabbing but also by pinching or by a lens insertion tool or other means; or allow the user to set the package down on surface if desired.

[0105] In another aspect, base 110 includes a secondary support 196. Secondary support 196 in this example represents the upper side of the dome 184 formed in the underside of base 110, as discussed above with respect to Figure 5. Secondary support 196 has a convex, partial domed profile that partially mirrors the contact lens’s profile. Recessed areas 198a and 198b may be imparted into dome 184 in a shape and position that allows the lens support (i.e. the primary lens support) to nest together with the secondary support to form a dome shape thatmirrors the concave side of the lens 138 when the package 100 is in its unopened state. This may be referred to as a split-support arrangement, whereby the lens support 140 lifts the lens 138 upon opening, such that the secondary support provides support to the lens only when the package is unopened (i.e. , during storage, shipment, and handling) but not the lens when the package is opened, and the lens is presented for transfer when the lens 138 is supported only by (primary) lens support 140. This arrangement reduces the excess wetted area that may otherwise exist between the lens and lens support were the entire support system lifted with the lens. Split-lens support arrangements may provide multiple benefits, including the secondary support 196 filling more volume within the well 136 thereby reducing the amount of solution required to hydrate the lens and reducing lens damage, restricting air bubble movement, and discouraging lens inversion. In achieving some or all of these benefits, it is preferable but optional that the lens support, whether singular or split among secondary and primary and potentially other components, fills the space under the contact lens and under the lens’s peripheral edge as much as possible.

[0106] Lens supports of the present invention may take myriad shapes and forms capable of lifting the lens out of the packaging solution when the user applies force(s) to the package, such as squeezing the package as described with respect to embodiments herein. However, as mentioned it is preferable that the lens support keeps the lens in the desired convex orientation (bowl down relative to the base) and position (centered over the support) during shipping and storage. Ideally, the lens support mayprovide an open structure under the lens to allow, upon opening, the packaging solution to drain from the lens and support without trapping water between the support and the underside of the lens. It is also preferable that the lens support provides sufficient support to the lens to prevent the lens from collapsing onto, rotating off or translating across the support. This allows the apex of the lens to be supported by the lens’s own elastic stiffness, or to minimize sinking of the lens apex while limiting the contact area between the support and lens. Too much contact between the support and the lens after solution draining, and water trapped between the support and the lens can create surface tension between the lens and water on and around the lens support that is greater than the surface tension between a wearer’s finger and the lens, interfering with efficient lens transfer. The sum of the contact between the lens and the lens support when the package is open, and the solution drained from the lens and lens support is the total wetted contact area, which may be less than about 30 mm2, less than 25mm2or less than 20mm2and is distributed at least around the lens periphery, as described herein. “Wetted contact area” as used herein refers to the direct solid contact area between the lens support and the lens added to the area of any menisci, reservoirs, or solution bridges that form between the lens and lens after the lens is lifted and packaging solution is allowed to drain two seconds.

[0107] For lenses made from polymers with longer shape memory, the lens support may be designed to limit contact between the lens and support during storage. Such contact may be distributed around the lensperipheral edge. Contact between the lens optic zone, lens support and lid interior (including any air entry guides) may be transitory or there may be no contact between the optic zone and support, lid or air entry guides. Lenses, such as conventional hydrogels, having shorter shape memory, are less prone to distortion from packaging contact, and can have the contact points distributed around the periphery and throughout the lens profile, including the lens center zone (about 9mm, or about 5mm diameter).

[0108] The lens supports of the present invention preferably allow, upon dabbing, both the fingertip and lens to deform to match each other’s shape, without causing lens inversion or damage to lens during removal from too much pressure during dabbing. Thus, an aspect of the removal of the lens from the present packages may be to control the ratio of the contact area between the finger and lens as compared to the area between the lens and the lens support so that the contact area between the finger and lens exceeds the contact surface area of the lens support on the lens underside. This will ensure that surface tension between finger and lens exceeds surface tension between lens and lens support. Thus, the lens will adhere to the finger for lens transfer and placement onto the eye.

[0109] The lens support preferably provides at least 2, at least 3, 3 to 14, 4 to 14, 3 to 8 or 4 to 8, 4 to 6 or 6 points of contact with the contact lens edge along the peripheral supports and may take the form of a continuous, also referred to as a “closed-circuit,” design in which the lens support has no ends or breaks and contact with the lens occurs atvarious points along a continuous support structure. When two peripheral supports are used, they may be wider to provide stability, without exceeding the area of contact desired for consistent single-touch lens transfer. The peripheral points of contact prevent the lens from rotating off the lens and can be distributed in a number of configurations, in which the space between the furthest adjacent contacts is less than the diameter of the lens. As the number of peripheral supports is increased the likelihood of residual packaging solution forming films between adjacent peripheral supports and solution bridging between the support and lens may be increased during drainage. Peripheral supports with less than 50% open space such as those in the form of a screen or strainer, generally provide insufficient drainage to insure single-touch lens transfer. Likewise, too much contact between the support and the lens after solution draining, and water trapped between the support and the lens, can create surface tension between the lens and water on and around the lens support that is greater than the surface tension between a wearer’s finger and the lens, interfering with efficient lens transfer. The width of the constituent support members of the lens support vary between the limits of the selected molding process and widths necessary for efficient packaging solution drainage upon opening. Suitable widths include about 0.5 to about 1.5mm, about 0.5 to about 1 , or about 0.5 to about 0.7 mm, and it will be appreciated that lens support designs having fewer contact points may have thicker arms.

[0110] Lens supports may achieve sufficient drainage of packaging solution from the lens to enable single-touch transfer through one or acombination of drainage techniques referred to herein as channel drainage and back drainage. Channel drainage involves the formation of films on the lens support of channel members along which packaging solution is channeled away from the lens under the force of gravity when the lens support is lifted. Back drainage, on the other hand, refers to enhanced drainage from the underside of the lens directly into the packaging solution reservoir where the lens rests on the lens support. This area underneath the apex of the lens tends to trap packaging solution due to the hydrophilicity of modern contact lens materials. Enhanced back drainage may be achieved in some embodiments by designing the lens support with a central opening beneath the apex of the lens of at least about 12mm3.

[0111] Referring then to Figures 8A and 8B, illustrated is exemplary lens support 140 in a side and a top view, respectively.

[0112] Lens support 140 represents an example of a lens support that leverages a hybrid of back drainage and channel drainage to clear packaging solution from the lens sufficiently to enable single-touch transfer. Lens support 140 includes a closed-circuit design including a central support portion comprised of central support sections 200a and 200b having a partially circular configuration having an inner diameter which may be larger than the optical zone of the contact lens (not shown), or between about 1 to 2 mm larger than the contact lens optical zone. The inner diameter may be about 6mm. Central support sections 200a and 200b are elevated relative to the lens base so that contact lens retains its hemispherical shape when resting on lens support 140. Theheight of the central support sections will depend on the base curve of the contact lens and the diameter of the central support section. The height of the central support section may be determined by the height of the lens at the point supported by the central support and is desirably slightly less to insure the lens is free floating during storage. The height of the central support may be about 1mm or less.

[0113] The design of lens support 140 creates central opening 212 having diameter to allow the packaging solution to back drain from the lens and lens support 140 when the package is opened, and the lens support lifted from the packaging solution and an unsupported region sufficient to allow the lens apex to deform slightly under dabbing pressure and thus achieve sufficient contact area with the finger (or other lens transfer means) to effectuate single-touch transfer. The sizing of central opening 212 also permits the apex of the lens to be supported by the lens’s own elastic stiffness, and to minimize sinking of the lens apex while limiting the contact area between the support 140 and lens. The central opening may be about 6mm for a 14 mm diameter lens. The design also provides sufficient support to the edge of the contact lens at points A, B, C, and D along the peripheral support sections 201 a-d. The design of lens support 140 prevents the lens from collapsing laterally in part by the peripheral support sections 201 a-d causing packaging solution drainage of films 206, which form initially on side support 205a and 205b, more stable as well as by holding the sides of the lens in tension until the lens is substantially drained.

[0114] The distal end 208 of lens support 140 is open to reduce the incidence of the lens catapulting from the lens support during lifting. The lens support also includes a drainage channel 202 to assist with lens drainage. The drainage channel 202 is formed by channel members 204a and 204b, which extend from the mounting tab 163 of the lens support 140, and it has a width of about 2mm and a length of 2.3mm.

[0115] When the lens is lifted film(s) of packaging solution form along the lens support members (central and peripheral). A drainage channel, when present, cooperates with the lens support to create a temporary film of packaging solution flowing off the lens, and a path, working with gravity to drain that film away. In this way the drainage channel helps to minimize pooling of packaging solution between the back of the lens and lens support structures when the package is opened, and the lens support is raised or tilted out of the packaging solution. Drainage channels comprise at least one channel member. The drainage channel comprises a gap between two adjacent members or a when a single member is used, a split in the single member. For lens supports without a full peripheral ring, the drainage channel gap may begin at any point inside the lens periphery. The drainage channel can extend at least 2mm, about 2 to about 4mm or about 2.5 to about 3.5mm in length beyond the lens periphery. The drainage channel gap may provide a space outside the periphery of the contact lens for airflow, ensuring that air and packaging solution from the concave surface of the lens can, upon opening, drain without sucking the lens down onto the lens support. As can be seen in Figure 8C, lens support 140 is alsoconfigured with an offset from the horizontal plane of tab 163 so that the side supports 205a and 205b of the lens support 140 slant downward at the primary angle (0) of 10 degrees. Lens support 140 has a lever length (L) of 13mm.

[0116] FIG. 8C is a top projection view of the container base 110 shown in FIG. 8A, shown without the contact lens 120 and without the lens support 140. The base of FIG. 8C may be used with the lens support of FIG. 8A. The well 136 and lateral surface 182 outside the central dimple 198 may be sized and shaped similar to the side supports 205a and 205b of the lens support 140 so that when the lens support 140 is fully inserted into the container, the side supports 205a and 205b rest in well 136 outside of the central dimple 184 on or recessed below lateral surface 182. The side supports may surround the central dimple along at least a portion of the front, side or a combination thereof. The side supports 205a and 205b generally do not extend between rear wall 116 and contact lens 138. Once lens support 140 is fully inserted, central support sections 200a and 200b and peripheral support sections 201a and 201b should be recessed in the respective recessed area 198.

[0117] It must be emphasized that the lens support embodiments illustrated and described herein are among myriad embodiments of a lens support within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.For example, the side supports 205 may form a full or partial loop which may be a circle, oval or rectangle, where in FIG. 8A it is shown as a horseshoe shape or “II”. Rounded edges for the side support may be desirable to provide good drainage of solution from the contact lenswhen lifting lever 118 and contact lens 138 from the packaging solution.A number of additional illustrative but non-limiting exemplary lens supports are depicted in Figures 9A-Q.

[0118] Embodiments1. A contact lens package 100 comprising: a lid 106; a base 110 comprising a front and a rear base portion, the base 110 comprising: a well 136 that houses a contact lens 138 and packaging solution in a sterile condition, the well 136 having a bottom and a top lip, the well 136 disposed between the front and the back base portion, the well 136 comprising a dome 184 having a bottom edge, wherein the dome bottom edge is fixedly disposed above the well bottom, and a rear wall 116 extending up from a lateral surface extending from the dome bottom edge to a height below the top lip of the well 136; and a lid 106 removable sealed to the contact lens package base 110, wherein a well facing surface of the lid is free of features protruding into the well 136.2. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein the rear wall extends up from the lateral surface toa height from about 2 mm to about 7mm, or from about 2.5 mm to about6.5 mm. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein the rear wall has front face disposed toward the dome and back face disposed toward a back interior surface of the well 136. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein the rear wall 136 narrows from base to apex. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein the rear wall 136 is solid or hollow. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments further comprising at least one rear cavity 139b proximate to the rear wall 136, at least a portion of at least one of the rear cavities 139b extending below the lateral surface 182. The contact lens package 100 of embodiment 6 wherein the rear cavity 119b extends behind the rear wall 136, flanks the rear wall 136 or both extends behind and flanks the rear wall 136. The contact lens package 100 of embodiment 6 wherein the at least one rear cavity 119b extends behind and flanks the rear wall 136, and the at least one rear cavities 119b that flank the rear wall extend below the lateral surface 182. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein well 136 further comprises at least one front cavity 139a extending below the lateral surface 182 and disposed opposite the at least one rear cavity 139b across dome 136.10. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein rear wall 116 has a width along the lateral surface 182 wide enough to prevent lens deformation of the contact lens and allow air bubble movement away from the lens.11. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein rear wall 116 has a width of about 4mm to about 50% of the width of well along the rear base portion.12. The contact lens package 100 of embodiment 5 wherein the at least one rear cavity 139a has a volume sufficient to trap air sealed in the package 100 away from the contact lens 138.13. The contact lens package of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments wherein a concave surface of the contact lens 138 rests above a convex surface of the dome 136 when the package 100 is unopened.14. The contact lens package 100 of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments further comprising a flange surrounding the well and planar with the top lip of the well 136, the flange comprising a lever 118 and a lens support 140 coupled to a lever 118 and configured to lift the contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution in a convex orientation when a user applies force to the lever.15. The contact lens package of embodiment 13, wherein at least one of the lever 118 and the lens support 140 is a discrete component that is coupled to the base 110 by an attachment means.The contact lens package of embodiment 13, wherein a pivot line 114 is defined by at least one void under the base 110. The contact lens package of embodiment 13, wherein a pivot line 114 is imparted into the base by one or more of: a crease, a cut, a thinned line, and an etch. The contact lens package of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments, wherein the base 110 is composed of a relatively rigid material. The contact lens package of any of the preceding or foregoing embodiments, wherein the lid 106 comprises a film and the base 110 comprises a plastic material. The contact lens package of embodiment 14, wherein the base 110 and the lens support 140 are a single unitary component. The contact lens package of embodiment 14, wherein the lever 118 and the lens support 140 are a single unitary component. The contact lens package of embodiment 14, wherein the lens support 140 is coupled to the base 110 by at least one of: i) a laser weld; ii) heat; iii) an ultrasonic weld; iv) mechanical clipping and v) an adhesive. The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14 to 22, wherein the base 110 comprises at least one finger engagement feature 122a configured to i) aid a user in grasping the package or i) direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward.The contact lens package of embodiment 23, wherein the at least one finger engagement feature 122a comprises a dimple sized to accommodate a finger or thumb of the user, wherein the dimple 122a is positioned at an end of the base 110 proximal to the user. The contact lens package of embodiment 14 further comprising a locking mechanism 159 configured to lock the lever 118 in place when the lens support 140 is lifted to a predetermined lift angle. The contact lens package of embodiment 25, wherein the locking mechanism 159 comprises at least one of a latch, ratchet, peg, a pair of male and female friction-fit features and an adhesive. The contact lens package of embodiment 25, wherein the predetermined lift angle is at least about 45 degrees. The contact lens package of any of the embodiments 14-27, wherein the lens support 140 is configured such that the contact lens’s 138 upper side emerges from the packaging solution before the contact lens’ 138 lower side when lifted. The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14-28, wherein the dome 184 comprises at least one recessed area in a shape and position that allows the lens support 140 to nest together with the dome 184 to form a shape that mirrors the concave side of the lens 138 when the package 110 is in an unopened state.The contact lens package of any of embodiments 1-21 , wherein the well136 houses the contact lens 138 in a convex position when the package110 is in an unopened or opened state. The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14-30, wherein the package 110 is configured such that the force being applied to the lever 118 causes the lens support 140 to lift the contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution in a position on the lens support 140 capable of single-touch transfer by the user. The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14-31 , wherein at least one of the lever 118 and the lens support 140 is a discrete component that is coupled to the base 110 by an attachment means. The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14-32, wherein the lens support 140 is configured such that the contact lens’s 138 upper side emerges from the packaging solution before the contact lens’s lower side when lifted. The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14-33, wherein the lens support 140 has an emergence angle of at least 0° or at least about 5° The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14-34, wherein the lens support 140 has a primary lens angle of between -4° and 20° and a lever length L between about 11mm and 16mm. The contact lens package of any of embodiments 14-35, wherein when the package 110 is in an opened state, wetted contact area between thelens support 140 and the contact lens 138 is less than about 30mm2, less than about 25mm2, or less than about 20mm2.37. A contact lens package comprising: a well comprising a dome positioned within the within and shaped such that the contact lens rests in a convex position above the dome; and a rear wall positioned behind the dome and extending upwardly; and a cavity positioned adjacent to the rear wall for accepting an air bubble and preventing said air bubble from touching the contact lens.38. The contact lens package of any of the preceding embodiments wherein the volume of the rear and optional front cavities which is below lateral surface when in the primary orientation is sufficient to hold any entrapped air in the package when the package is stored in a lid down orientation.

[0119] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many of the specific details are not required to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for the purposes of illustration and description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Not all the features described herein need to be incorporated into every package. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings without undue experimentation, and without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein.

[0120] The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.

[0121] The packages of the present invention may be manufactured using known materials and processes. The packaging materials may be virgin, recycled or a combination thereof. The volume within the package well can vary depending on the design selected.

[0122] In summary, the contact lens packages of the present invention incorporate several novel functionalities which may be combined in a wide variety of combinations as described herein to provide the desired improved and / or single touch packaging. The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A contact lens package comprising: a lid; a base comprising a front and a rear base portion, the base comprising: a well that houses a contact lens and packaging solution in a sterile condition, the well having a bottom and a top lip, the well disposed between the front and the back base portion, the well comprising a dome having a bottom edge, wherein the dome bottom edge is fixedly disposed above the well bottom, and a rear wall extending up from a lateral surface extending from the dome bottom edge to a height below the top lip of the well; and a lid removable sealed to the contact lens package base, wherein a well facing surface of the lid is free of features protruding into the well.

2. The contact lens package of claim 1 wherein the rear wall extends up from the lateral surface to a height from about 2 mm to about 7mm, or from about 2.5 mm to about 6.5 mm.

3. The contact lens package of claim 1 wherein the rear wall has front face disposed toward the dome and back face disposed toward a back interior surface of the well.

4. The contact lens package of claim 3 wherein the rear wall narrows from base to apex.

5. The contact lens package 100 of claim 3 wherein the rear wall is solid or hollow.

6. The contact lens package of claim 1 further comprising at least one rear cavity proximate to the rear wall, at least a portion of at least one of the rear cavities extending below the lateral surface.

7. The contact lens package of claim 6 wherein the rear cavity extends behind the rear wall, flanks the rear wall or both extends behind and flanks the rear wall.

8. The contact lens package of claim 6 wherein the at least one rear cavity extends behind and flanks the rear wall, and the at least one rear cavities that flank the rear wall extend below the lateral surface.

9. The contact lens package of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein well further comprises at least one front cavity extending below the lateral surface and disposed opposite the at least one rear cavity across dome.

10. The contact lens package of claim 1 wherein rear wall has a width along the lateral surface wide enough to prevent lens deformation of the contact lens and allow air bubble movement away from the lens.

11. The contact lens package of claim 1 wherein rear wall has a width of about 4mm to about 50% of the width of well along the rear base portion.

12. The contact lens package of claim 3 wherein the at least one rear cavity 139a has a volume sufficient to trap air sealed in the package away from the contact lens.

13. The contact lens package of claim 1 wherein a concave surface of the contact lens rests above a convex surface of the dome when the package is unopened.

14. The contact lens package of claim 1 further comprisinga flange surrounding the well and planar with the top lip of the well, the flange comprising a lever and a lens support coupled to a lever and configured to lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution in a convex orientation when a user applies force to the lever.

15. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein at least one of the lever and the lens support is a discrete component that is coupled to the base by an attachment means.

16. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein a pivot line is defined by at least one void under the base.

17. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein a pivot line is imparted into the base by one or more of: a crease, a cut, a thinned line, and an etch.

18. The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the base is composed of a relatively rigid material.

19. The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a film and the base comprises a plastic material.

20. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein the base and the lens support are a single unitary component.

21. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein the lever and the lens support are a single unitary component.

22. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein the lens support is coupled to the base by at least one of: i) a laser weld; ii) heat; iii) an ultrasonic weld; iv) mechanical clipping and v) an adhesive.

23. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein the base comprises at least one finger engagement feature configured to i) aid a user in grasping the package or i) direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward.

24. The contact lens package of claim 23, wherein the at least one finger engagement feature comprises a dimple sized to accommodate a finger or thumb of the user, wherein the dimple is positioned at an end of the base proximal to the user.

25. The contact lens package of claim 14 further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the lever in place when the lens support is lifted to a predetermined lift angle.

26. The contact lens package of claim 25, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one of a latch, ratchet, peg, a pair of male and female friction-fit features and an adhesive.

27. The contact lens package of claim 25, wherein the predetermined lift angle is at least about 45°.

28. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein the lens support is configured such that the contact lens’s upper side emerges from the packaging solution before the contact lens’ lower side when lifted.

29. The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein the dome comprises at least one recessed area in a shape and position that allows the lens support to nest together with the dome to form a shape that mirrors the concave side of the lens when the package is in an unopened state.

30. The contact lens package of any of claims 1-21 , wherein the well houses the contact lens in a convex position when the package is in an unopened or opened state.31 .The contact lens package of claim 14, wherein the package is configured such that the force being applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution in a position on the lens support capable of single-touch transfer by the user.

32. The contact lens package of claim 29, wherein at least one of the lever and the lens support is a discrete component that is coupled to the base by an attachment means.

33. The contact lens package of claim 28, wherein the base and at least one of the lever and the lens support are a single unitary component.

34. The contact lens package of claim 29, wherein the lever and the lens support are a single unitary component.

35. The contact lens package of claim 29, wherein the base comprises at least one finger engagement feature configured to i) aid a user in grasping the package 110 or i) direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward.

36. The contact lens package of claim 28 further comprising at least one finger engagement feature having a dimple sized to accommodate a finger or thumb of the user, wherein the dimple is positioned at an end of the base proximal to the user.

37. The contact lens package of claim 28, wherein the lens support is configured such that the contact lens’s upper side emerges from the packaging solution before the contact lens’s lower side when lifted.

38. The contact lens package of claim 28, wherein the lens support has an emergence angle of at least zero degrees or at least 5°.

39. The contact lens package of claim 28, wherein the lens support has a primary lens angle of between -4° and 20°and a lever length L between about 11 mm and 16mm.

40. The contact lens package of any of claims 28-45, wherein when the package is in an opened state, wetted contact area between the lens support and the contact lens is less than about 30mm2, less than about 25mm2, or less than about 20mm2.

Images