Patent ID: 7213918
Filing Date: 2007-05-08
Classification: B29D,C09D,G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of making colored silicone-hydrogel contact lenses, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a mold for molding a bonnet, wherein the mold includes a molding surface with optical quality, wherein the molding surface defines one of the posterior and anterior surface of a silicone hydrogel contact lens; (b) applying a color coat to at least a portion of the molding surface of the mold with an ink, wherein the ink comprises at least one colorant and a silicone-containing polymer binder; (c) curing the colored coat to form a colored film which is in contact with the molding surface but is not covalently attached to the molding surface; (d) filling the mold with a lens-forming fluid material comprising at least one silicone-containing vinylic monomer or macromer and at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer; (e) letting the lens-forming material soak the colored film for a period of time sufficient so that a portion of the lens-forming material penetrates into space between the colored film and the molding surface while detaching partially or completely the colored film from the molding surface; (f) curing the lens-forming material in the mold to form a bonnet having a molded surface corresponding to one of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the contact lens, wherein the bonnet includes the colored film immobilized therein and/or thereon; (g) removing the bonnet from the mold; post-curing and/or drying the bonnet for a time sufficiently long to increase the lathability at room temperature of the bonnet; and (h) directly lathing the bonnet on the side opposite to the molded surface to form the anterior or posterior surface.