Hydrogel Contact Lens with Nanosphere Arrays for Blue Light Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial contact lenses are unable to effectively screen out blue light, as they can only absorb up to 20% of it, failing to meet market demands for UV and blue light protection.
Innovation Solution
Hydrogel-based contact lenses with composite hydrogel films containing nanospheres arranged in amorphous arrays, which selectively reflect specific wavelengths of light by varying the diameter and concentration of nanospheres, allowing for high transmittance while blocking hazardous wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If UV absorbers or yellow dyes are introduced to contact lenses to screen out blue light, then the light protection capability is improved, but the transmittance of visible light decreases and the concentration is limited to a certain level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines transparent hydrogel with nanospheres to form a composite material system. The nanospheres are dispersed within the hydrogel matrix to create a composite contact lens that achieves superior blue light screening through the nanosphere component while the hydrogel maintains transparency and comfort, thereby overcoming the concentration limitations of conventional UV absorbers and dyes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the contact lens by incorporating nanospheres with specific size ranges (50-200 nm diameter) and controlling their concentration (5-20 wt%). This parameter optimization enables the lens to achieve high blue light reflectance (up to 40%) while maintaining adequate visible light transmittance, resolving the contradiction between protection capability and substance concentration limits
2Object-affected harmful factors
If nanospheres are added to hydrogel to increase blue light reflectance, then the wavelength-specific reflectance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the functional components by separating the blue light screening function (nanospheres) from the base material function (hydrogel). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the nanospheres for maximum reflectance and the hydrogel for comfort and transparency - while simplifying the overall manufacturing process through a straightforward composite formation approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the hydrogel as an intermediary medium to disperse and stabilize the nanospheres. The hydrogel matrix serves as a compatible medium that prevents nanosphere aggregation and facilitates uniform distribution, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process compared to direct nanosphere application and enabling easier fabrication of the composite contact lens
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional contact lenses use UV absorbers or dyes to protect eyes, then the protection function is provided, but the cost increases and the protection efficiency is limited to only 20% blue light screening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves superior productivity in terms of blue light screening efficiency by optimizing the nanosphere parameters: diameter (50-200 nm for maximum blue light interaction), concentration (5-20 wt% for adequate protection), and material composition (high refractive index materials). These parameter optimizations enable the lens to screen up to 40% of blue light, doubling the efficiency of conventional lenses while maintaining cost-effectiveness through scalable nanosphere production
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 hydrogel-based contact lenses provide enhanced protection from UV and blue light while maintaining transparency, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional lenses with UV absorbers or dyes, effectively filtering out hazardous wavelengths.
Implementation Method 1
nanospheres arranged in amorphous arrays, which selectively reflect light in some wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
nanospheres with a diameter of 10-1000 nm... exhibit high transmittance for visible light but low transmittance for ultraviolet (UV) light
Implementation Method 3
low transmittance for ultraviolet (UV) light if the nanospheres are made in proper diameters and arranged in amorphous arrays. This composite hydrogel film with high reflectance to ultraviolet light can be used to screen out hazardous wavelengths
Implementation Method 4
composite hydrogel films are cured by evaporating solvents in a mixture of a hydrogel precursor and nanospheres dispersed in a colloid
Data Source
AI summary
Composite hydrogel films for contact lenses and the methods of manufacturing are provided. The composite hydrogel films are formed by the following steps of: mixing a hydrogel precursor with nanospheres dispersed in a colloid; evaporating the solvent in the mixture; curing the hydrogel to form a composite hydrogel film having nanospheres arranged in amorphous arrays. The composite hydrogel films selectively reflect light in hazardous wavelengths.