Contact lens

摘要

The invention relates to a soft contact lens. This has a soft, highly oxygen-permeable polymer lens element, to the surface of which an ultrathin, optically clear, impermeable barrier coating has been applied. The barrier coating is not crosslinked and is the reaction product of an electrical glow discharge polymerisation process carried out in a gaseous atmosphere. The coating prevents diffusion of lipids and other large molecules from the tear film of the eye into the lens. The lens comprises silicone or polyurethane. The gas atmosphere essentially comprises compositions or compounds selected from the group including hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and hydrogen, hydrocarbons and a halogen, and a mixture of two or more of these compositions or compounds. The surface of the fully finished lens is highly hydrophilic. This is achieved by the polymerisation process or by an additional process step by means of glow discharge in the presence of oxygen or argon.