Hydrophilic Contact Lens Surface Layers That Prevent Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact lens surface modification processes often lead to deformation, compromising comfort and functionality due to inadequate consideration of lens deformation during enhancement of hydrophilicity, oxygen permeability, and surface wettability.
Innovation Solution
A surface-modified contact lens with a first modification layer inside the lens body and a second modification layer on the surface, both composed of hydrophilic polymers, where the layers are connected and have specific thickness ranges to avoid deformation, enhancing hydrophilicity and lubricity without affecting oxygen permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface modification methods are applied to improve hydrophilicity and surface wettability, then lens comfort and clinical factors are enhanced, but lens deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating modification layers with specific thickness ranges (first modification layer: 1-100 nm, second modification layer: 1-100 μm) only at the surface region of the contact lens. This localized modification enhances hydrophilicity and surface wettability where needed while preserving the bulk lens structure and avoiding deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the modification into two distinct layers: a first modification layer inside the lens body and a second modification layer on the surface. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's properties and thickness, enabling improved surface characteristics while maintaining overall lens integrity.
2Ease of operation
If surface modification is performed to enhance hydrophilicity, then lens lubricity is improved, but lens integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thickness parameters of the modification layers to specific ranges (first layer: 1-100 nm, second layer: 1-100 μm) to achieve optimal lubricity while maintaining lens integrity. These parameter optimizations ensure sufficient hydrophilic polymer presence for comfort without compromising structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining the base lens material with hydrophilic polymer modification layers. This composite approach integrates the lubricity benefits of hydrophilic polymers while maintaining the mechanical properties of the original lens material.
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 solution maintains lens integrity while significantly improving hydrophilicity and lubricity, with static contact angles ranging from 0° to 40° and dynamic contact angles from 0° to 25°, and maintaining oxygen permeability comparable to unmodified lenses.
Implementation Method 1
immersing a lens body in a first solution comprising an organic free radical initiator having a charged structure or a hydrogen-bond donor, in which the organic free radical initiator is absorbed by the lens body
Implementation Method 2
reacting the organic free radical initiator with the hydrophilic monomer to form a first modification layer inside the lens body and a second modification layer on a surface of the lens body
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a surface-modified contact lens including a lens body, a first modification layer inside the lens body, and a second modification layer on a surface of the lens body, in which the first modification layer and the second modification layer are connected through the surface, the first modification layer and the second modification layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer, and a thickness of the first modification layer from the surface of the lens body is in a range of 1 nm to 100 nm.