METHOD FOR APPLYING A COATING ONTO A SILICONE HYDROGEL LENS

摘要

The present invention generally relates to a method for applying a coating of hydrophilic polymers onto silicone hydrogel contact lenses to improve hydrophilicity and lubricity. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for forming a coating on a contact lens, preferably a silicone hydrogel contact lens, directly in the primary package and maintaining the coated contact lens within said primary package until insertion of the coated contact lens in the eye of the contact lens user. The resultant silicone hydrogel contact lens has a coating with good hydrophilicity, improved lubricity and good durability and also can be used directly from the lens package by a patient without washing and/or rising.

主权项

1. A method for applying an ophthalmic product having a lubricous and wettable surface, comprising the steps of:
(1) obtaining a silicone hydrogel contact lens, (2) placing the silicone hydrogel contact lens in a lens package containing an polyanionic polymer solution for more than 10 seconds to form a layer of the polyanionic polymer coating on the hydrogel contact lens, wherein the polyanionic polymer having carboxyl groups and the solution having a pH of 1.0 to 4.0, and then (3) adding a water-soluble and thermal-crosslinkable polymeric material comprising azetidinium groups to the lens package of the step (2) containing the polyanionic polymer solution to form an in-package-coating solution, provided that the molar charge ratio of the polyanionic polymer and the water-soluble and thermal-crosslinkable polymeric material comprising azetidinium groups is from 1:100 to 100:1 and no precipitation is formed after mixing, wherein the in-package-coating solution having a pH higher than 6, (4) sealing the lens package with the contact lens and the in-package-coating solution, (6) autoclaving said package with the contact lens and the in-package-coating solution therein, thereby inducing crosslinking reaction between azetidinium groups of the water-soluble and thermal-crosslinkable polymeric material and the carboxyl groups of the polyanionic polymer to form an in-package crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein the silicone hydrogel contact lens with the crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon has a surface wettability characterized by having an averaged water contact angle of about 80 degrees or less and having improved lubricity as compared to uncoated lenses.