CONTACT LENS SURFACE MODIFICATION WITH HYALURONIC ACID (HA) BINDING PEPTIDE FOR HA ACCUMULATION AND RETENTION

摘要

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a device and method for providing HA to the ocular environment. A contact lens according to the present invention is treated at its surface with a HA binding peptide. The HA binding peptide can be covalently bonded to a functional group on the surface of the contact lens, such as OH, COOH, or NH2. The lens can then be pretreated with HA for immediate increased wearer comfort upon insertion of the lens. As HA is washed away or degraded from the surface of the lens, the HA binding peptide remains and therefore HA can be replenished from endogenous or exogenous sources.