Annular Clear Layer in Cosmetic Contact Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cosmetic contact lenses face challenges in maintaining uncompromised optical quality while providing full pigment encapsulation and comfort, particularly due to the need for a clear coat that covers the entire front curve surface, which can affect visual performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of an annular shaped clear coat layer with a thickness gradient transition section that encapsulates effect and pigmented printed layers, creating an opening in the optical zone to ensure high optical quality and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clear coat covers the entire front curve surface to encapsulate pigmented layers, then pigment encapsulation and comfort are improved, but optical quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clear coat is segmented into two distinct regions: an annular clear coat in the peripheral zone for pigment encapsulation, and a central clear zone in the optical zone for optimal light transmission. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between encapsulation and optical quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the contact lens are assigned different optical properties: the peripheral zone has a clear coat with higher refractive index for encapsulation, while the central optical zone maintains the base curve material properties for optimal vision. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of encapsulation reliability and optical precision.
2Ease of operation
If a full clear coat is applied to encapsulate pigments, then comfort is improved, but visual performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clear coat coverage is segmented to provide comfort-enhancing encapsulation only in the peripheral zone where pigments are located, while leaving the central optical zone free of additional coating. This ensures visual performance is maintained while still providing comfort benefits from the clear coat in the non-optical region.
3Manufacturing precision
If the clear coat refractive index matches the base curve, then optical quality is improved, but encapsulation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clear coat in the annular region has a refractive index specifically optimized for encapsulation effectiveness (different from the base curve), while the central optical zone maintains the base curve material properties. This local differentiation allows the clear coat to serve its encapsulation function effectively without compromising optical quality in the visual zone.
Data Source
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AI summary
Contact lenses comprising designs/colorants may be utilized to enhance and/or highlight the appearance of the eyes upon which the contact lenses are positioned. These contact lenses comprise a substantially annular shaped clear layer on the front curve surface to completely encapsulate the designs/colorants within the contact lens. The annular shape provides no clear coat over the optic region thereby ensuring high optical quality.