Abstract:
A method of tinting an unhydrated contact lens (26) involves the steps of providing an unhydrated contact lens (26); providing a dyestuff solution; providing a printing block (14) comprising a hydrophilic polymer material containing a dye complexing agent capable of noncovalently bonding the dyestuff; placing the dyestuff solution onto the printing block; contacting the unhydrated contact lens and the printing block for a time sufficient to allow the dyestuff solution to diffuse to the lens; and removing the lens from the printing block.
Abstract:
A highly purified monomer-dye unit is disclosed. A method for producing a highly purified monomer-dye unit is also disclosed. A hydrophilic monomer is reacted with a dye under conditions that yield highly pure monomer-dye units.
Abstract:
A highly purified monomer-dye unit is disclosed. A method for producing a highly purified monomer-dye unit is also disclosed. A hydrophilic monomer is reacted with a dye under conditions that yield highly pure monomer-dye units.
Abstract:
A contact lens colorant formulation containing a non-ionic polyalkylene oxide surfactant is applied to a dry hydrophilic contact lens by means of a silicon rubber printing pad to provide a cosmetically acceptable, solid, unblemished covering. This process allows for a solid covering to be placed onto the lens in a single printing step using standard transfer printing devices.
Abstract:
An improved method is disclosed for imparting a tint or color to a soft, hydrogel contact lens by uniformly dispersing a dye throughout the lens. The dye is a water-soluble halotriazine dye. The dye is reacted with a hydrophilic monomer to prepare a reactive dye containing predominantly monofunctionality. The monomer is then subjected to polymerization in the presence of a homogeneous solution of the reactive dye in the monomer under conditions to yield the hydrophilic polymer from which the lens is formed. The dye becomes bonded to the polymer during polymerization. The finished lens does not require soaking in an aqueous solution of the dye to impart the desired tint or color to the lens. Additionally, the dye uniformly dispersed throughout the lens according to the improved method does not leach out of the lens or migrate within the lens. Furthermore, the lens does not need to be washed with aqueous base to bond the dye to the lens.
Abstract:
A hydrophilic polymer, e.g., provided as a contact lens, is tinted by a method which incorporates a reactive dye into the polymer during formation of the latter. Following physical entrainment of the reactive dye in the polymer, the polymer is contacted with an aqueous solution of a base which catalyzes the reaction of the dye with the polymer. In this way, the dye becomes permanently covalently bound to the polymer.