Blue Light-Blocking Soft Contact Lens via Specific Monomer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blue light-blocking contact lenses suffer from reduced transmittance in visible light wavelengths, leading to visibility issues, and existing methods are inefficient in blocking blue light without compromising ultraviolet protection.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating specific compounds, such as 4-[(E)-phenyldiazenyl]phenyl-2-methacrylate or 2-{4-[(E)-phenyldiazenyl]phenoxy}ethyl-2-acrylate, into the monomer composition of soft contact lenses to absorb blue light without affecting visible light transmittance, using a process involving mixing with hydrophilic acrylate monomers, crosslinking agents, and initiators, followed by heat treatment and sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a coloring agent is added to the monomer composition to block blue light, then the blue light-blocking effect is improved, but the transmittance in visible light wavelength range is reduced, deteriorating visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the coloring agent by introducing specific substituents (such as -N=N-Ph-O-CH2-CH2- groups) at controlled positions and concentrations (0.01-5 wt%). This modifies the light absorption characteristics to selectively block blue light while preserving visible light transmittance, resolving the contradiction between blue light-blocking effect and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite monomer composition by combining the base monomer with a specifically designed coloring agent compound. This composite material achieves both blue light-blocking functionality and maintained visible light transmittance through the synergistic interaction between the base monomer and the functionalized coloring agent with optimized molecular structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a photochromic dye is used to block blue light, then the blue light-blocking effect is improved, but the transmittance of visible light is reduced and the photochromic property is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular parameters of photochromic compounds by introducing specific substituents and controlling their concentration (0.01-5 wt%). This optimization ensures that the photochromic transition occurs at appropriate wavelengths while maintaining high visible light transmittance in the relaxed state, thereby preserving photochromic efficiency while achieving effective blue light blocking.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a general coloring agent is simply dispersed in the monomer composition, then the blue light-blocking effect is achieved, but chemical bonds are not induced causing the coloring agent to be removed over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces functional groups (such as -N=N-Ph-O-CH2-CH2-) as intermediary structures that can form chemical bonds between the coloring agent and the monomer matrix. This intermediary linkage ensures stable integration of the coloring agent within the contact lens material, preventing removal over time while maintaining the blue light-blocking effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a chemically bonded composite material where the coloring agent is covalently integrated with the monomer composition through specific functional groups. This composite structure ensures long-term stability and prevents leaching of the coloring agent, resolving the issue of composition instability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively blocks blue light and ultraviolet light while maintaining clear visibility by achieving a high blue light-blocking ratio without significantly reducing transmittance in visible light wavelengths, thus preventing glare, fatigue, and eye diseases.
Implementation Method 1
adding a specific compound having the following Chemical Formula to a generally known soft contact composition... capable of allowing the blue light to be absorbed
Implementation Method 2
mixing a contact lens composition containing a hydrophilic acrylate monomer, a crosslinking agent, and an initiator
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a blue light-blocking soft contact lens, and to a method for reducing the transmittance of blue light passing through a contact lens by adding a specific compound capable of allowing blue light (blue-based light having a wavelength in the range of 380 to 500 nm) to be absorbed in a monomer composition capable of manufacturing a soft contact lens. According to the present invention, a blue light-blocking soft contact lens, which is expected to have an effect of preventing glare, fatigue, eye diseases and the like, can be manufactured.