UV-blocking Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Composition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manufacturing silicone hydrogel contact lenses with both high UV-blocking efficiency and hydrophilicity is challenging due to the difficulty in combining hydrophobic silicon-based materials with hydrophilic surfaces and UV-blocking monomers.

Innovation Solution

A UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition comprising a hydrophilic silicone macromer, UV-blocking monomer, hydrophilic monomer, crosslinker, and polymerization initiator, with specific chemical structures and weight percentages, is used to create a contact lens that balances moisture retention and UV protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If hydrophobic UV-blocking monomer is incorporated into silicone hydrogel contact lens, then UV-blocking efficiency is improved, but hydrophilicity and wettability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUV-blocking efficiencyVSAvoidhydrophilicity and wettability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hydrophilic monomer as an intermediary component that mediates between the hydrophobic UV-blocking monomer and the aqueous environment. This hydrophilic monomer forms a hydrophilic matrix that accommodates the hydrophobic UV-blocking monomer, allowing UV protection while maintaining surface wettability and comfort during wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact lens employs a composite material system combining hydrophobic UV-blocking monomer, hydrophilic monomer, and crosslinking agent. This composite formulation integrates materials with opposing properties (hydrophobic and hydrophilic) to achieve simultaneous UV blocking efficiency and hydrophilic surface characteristics, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If hydrophilic surface is created on hydrophobic silicon-based material, then wettability is improved, but UV-blocking efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewettabilityVSAvoidUV-blocking efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single contact lens material system: UV blocking, hydrophilicity, and structural stability. By combining UV-blocking monomer, hydrophilic monomer, and crosslinking agent in one formulation, the lens achieves all three functions simultaneously without requiring separate layers or coatings, thus maintaining both wettability and UV protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact lens material is designed as a multi-functional polymer system where the hydrophilic monomer provides wettability, the UV-blocking monomer provides UV protection, and the crosslinking agent provides structural integrity. This universal material system performs multiple functions concurrently, eliminating the need to choose between wettability and UV blocking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If crosslinking density is increased to improve mechanical strength, then structural stability is improved, but oxygen permeability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidoxygen permeability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the crosslinking density parameter within a specific range (0.5-5 wt% crosslinking agent) to achieve the desired balance. By carefully controlling this parameter, the formulation attains sufficient mechanical strength for lens durability while maintaining adequate oxygen permeability for corneal health, resolving the contradiction between strength and oxygen transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition achieves high UV-blocking efficiency with UVA transmittance less than 10% and UVB transmittance less than 1%, while maintaining excellent hydrophilicity and wettability, reducing lipid and protein deposits and enhancing comfort during wear.

Implementation Method 1

a polymerization initiator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

an UV-blocking monomer... UVA transmittance less than 10% and UVB transmittance less than 1%

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption of electromagnetic radiation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

a hydrophilic silicone macromer... maintaining excellent hydrophilicity and wettability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilicity: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentEP3029081A1Uv-blocking silicone hydrogel composition and silicone hydrogel contact lens containing thereof

Publication Date: 2016.06.08 PEGAVISION CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition including a hydrophilic silicone macromer, a UV-blocking monomer, a first hydrophilic monomer, a crosslinker and a polymerization initiator. The hydrophilic silicone macromer has a general formula: V-L-S-(L'-V')x, wherein V and V' are independently ethylenically-based polymerizable groups, L and L' are independently a covalent bond or a linkage group, S is a siloxane group having a chemical structure such as or and x is 0 or 1. A silicone contact lens containing the UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition is also provided herein.