Method of Preparing Polymeric Compositions for Oxygen Permeable Contact Lenses

Abstract: Carboxylic acid esters devoid of beta hydrogens are homopolymerized or copolymerized with contact lens organic materials to form desirable contact lens materials and contact lenses. These materials have good contact lens properties, including desirable DK values, hardness, machineability and a desirable refractive index of at least 1.

Description: Siloxane based materials are often prepared by copolymerization of a siloxanyl alkyl ester of methacrylic acid with other acrylate, methacrylate or itaconate monomers in many known formulations. Such compositions can exhibit excellent oxygen permeability, due in large measure to the use of the siloxane material. It is desirable to increase the siloxane content in order to increase oxygen permeability. However, such increase often decreases hardness values, sometimes giving difficulty in machineability, dimensional stability, and other values. The art has recognized that introducing fluorine containing groups into contact lens polymers can also significantly increase oxygen permeability. These materials can range from soft to semi-rigid and often require the use of special wetting agents or surface treatments. Siloxanes, on the other hand, which increase oxygen permeability, sometimes have problems with biocompatibility and protein buildup. Other contact lenses are known which are based on telechelic perfluorinated polyethers. Such lenses can have good oxygen permeability, but are often relatively soft; sometimes causing difficulty in using conventional machine techniques known to the art. Still other contact lenses having good oxygen permeability have resulted from various mixtures and copolymerized materials of organosiloxanes and fluorinated components, as in U.S. Patent No. 4,433,125. Here again, the materials sometimes exhibit low levels of hardness. In many of the above contact lens materials, methacrylates, acrylates and itaconates are used to increase hardness, while still retaining optical properties which are necessary for contact lens use. In general, oxygen permeability has often been increased in hard or rigid gas permeable contact lenses in the past, by the addition of silicone and/or fluorine-containing materials which often require the use of hardening agents in order to maintain hardness values desired. US Patent No. 4508884 discloses the use of a copolymer formed from a silicone ester, a bulky aliphatic non-volatile ester of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and a hydrophilic monomer, as a contact lens material. US Patent No. 4602074 discloses a contact lens material formed from a copolymer of an organo siloxane and an ester of a C₁-C₁₀ alcohol and acrylic, methacrylic or itaconic acid. Published European patent application No. 0277771 discloses the use of the polymerisation product of a fluoroalkyl ester, an organo siloxane and, optionally, a multifunctional diester cross-linking agent, as a contact lens material. US Patent No. 4327203 discloses the use of polysiloxanes end capped with unsaturated groups and, inter alia, the diester cross-linking agent neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate to form contact lens materials. A plastic lens formed from a copolymer which comprises, inter alia, the cross-linking agent neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate is also disclosed in US Patent No. 4536267. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a contact lens material formed from the free radical polymerization of at least two contact lens organic materials selected from the group (a)-(g), consisting of: (a) an ethylenically unsaturated organosilicone having the following formula: wherein, "X", the ethylenically unsaturated group, is vinyl, acryloxy, methacryloxy, vinyloxy, or carbovinyloxy, "Y", the divalent radical, is either no group or methylene, ethylene, propylene, propenylene, butylene, cyclohexylene, phenylene, -CH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂, "a" is an integer from 1 to 4, "n" is an integer from 4 to 20, "b" is an integer from 0 to 3 and is the same or different for each "i" group, "R" is the same or different within each "i" moiety and is selected from among vinyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, 3-acetoxypropyl, 2-(carbomethoxy) ethyl, 3-(carbomethoxy) propyl, 3 - hydroxybutyl, 4 - hydroxybutyl, 3,3,3-trifuloropropyl, 3-(heptafluoroisopropoxy) propyl, and pentafluorophenyl; (b) fluorosilicone acrylates; (c) fluoroacrylates; (d) fluoropolyethers; (e) hema type materials; (f) styrene polymers; and (g) fluoroitaconates; and an amount of a carboxylic acid ester of formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylene malonate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, ethylene tricarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid, n = 1, 2 or 3, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and each are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or ether groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein, when A is derived from a dibasic or tribasic acid, the ester of formula I is a full ester, half ester, partial ester or a mixed ester, to provide the contact lens material with a Shore D hardness of at least 70 and a DK of at least 10. In a second aspect, the invention provides a contact lens formed from a homopolymeric free radical polymerization product of the ester of formula I, as defined above, with a Shore D hardness of at least 70, a DK of at least 10 and a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000. Neopentyl itaconate and neopentyl methacrylates are preferred materials for use as a homopolymer contact lens and for use in copolymerization with the recited contact lens organic monomers. Neopentyl fumarate and neopentyl maleate are new compositions which have been found useful as contact lens materials, as homopolymers or intermixed with other materials in copolymer forms. In a further aspect of the invention a contact lens is formed by a method wherein the hardness and DK value of the contact lens material is modified by copolymerizing the carboxylic acid ester of formula I, as defined above, with at least two of the contact lens organic materials (a) - (g), as defined above, to obtain a desirable hardness and DK, wherein the copolymerization is carried out by intermixing the organic materials and ester and then polymerizing under free radical conditions. It is a feature of this invention that useful hardness can be increased or maintained in mixed organic resins useful as contact lens materials, while avoiding detraction from the DK values of such mixtures. Overall density of contact lenses can be lowered. The esters of formula I used can add to the DK value of materials, including siloxane material, and provide hard, useful contact lenses having useful DK values of at least 10 and, preferably, of at least 15 when homopolymerized to have a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000. Contact lenses made in accordance with this invention can have good contact lens properties, including a refractive index of at least 1, good hardness, stiffness, machineability and other properties. They can be modified by conventional contact lens modifiers to obtain desirable wettability and protein resistance or other desirable contact lens properties known in the art. Generally, the carboxylic acid esters of formula I are bulky, that is, they have a free volume greater than the free volume of the isopropyl group and are branch or ring structures. Such esters, surprisingly, have been found to increase the oxygen permeability of contact lens materials, while providing hardness values where desired. Often, the use of such esters can result in materials having improved comfort in the eye, good surface properties and, in some cases, thinner lenses are possible because of the increased hardness. For example, by using neopentyl methacrylate homopolymerized, harder, thinner lenses can be used, having DK's of preferably at least 15. For contracting state ES, the various aspects of the invention are recited in claims 1, 7, 12-17, 18, 21 and 22, in the set of claims appended hereto and identified for effect in that country, and certain of its preferred embodiments are identified in the remaining claims in that set. Examples of specific carboxylic acid esters of formula I, useful in this invention, include esters having no beta hydrogens and derived from tribasic carboxylic acids such as ethylene tricarboxylate, dibasic carboxylic acids such as mesaconates, citraconates, maleates, fumarates and homobasic carboxylic acids such as acrylates and methacrylates. Such esters include, dineopentyl fumarate dineopentyl itaconate dineopentyl mesaconate dineopentyl citraconate dineopentyl methylene malonate dineopentyl maleate neopentyl methacrylate neopentyl acrylate mono-neopentyl fumaric acid mono-neopentyl methylene malonic acid mono-neopentyl maleic acid mono-neopentyl itaconic acid mono-neopentyl mesaconic acid mono-neopentyl citraconic acid methyl neopentyl itaconate t-butyl, neopentyl itaconate t-butyl, neopentyl fumarate t-butyl, neopentyl mesaconate t-butyl, neopentyl citraconate t-butyl, neopentyl methylene malonate t-butyl, neopentyl maleate trineopentyl ethylene tricarboxylate neopentyl di-t-butyl ethylene tricarboxylate dineopentyl, t-butyl ethylene tricarboxylate neopentyl, t-butyl ethylene tricarboxylate. When contact lenses are formed substantially from homopolymers, in accordance with this invention, homopolymers of methacrylates, itaconates and fumarates have been found particularly useful. When the carboxylic acid esters of formula I are used as homopolymers, or substantial homopolymers, in making contact lenses, they may have incorporated therein, wetting agents, crosslinking agents, permeability enhancers, and physical property modifiers, as known in the art. In most cases, the carboxylic acid esters of formula I are preferably used as modifiers to other contact lens materials. Often they are used as modifiers in places where methylmethacrylate and similar itaconates, acrylates, and methacrylates had been used in the past as hardening agents. However, in this case, they can provide hardening equivalent to that provided by the hardener while increasing the DK values otherwise obtained. In copolymeric materials the carboxylic acid esters of formula I often form less than 50% of the final formulations. Monomer mixtures can be used with free radical polymerization to form copolymeric materials. Preferably, when carboxylic acid esters of formula I are used in copolymeric materials in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, such materials have a DK of at least 20 and, preferably, of 30 or above, along with Shore D values of hardness which can be over 70 and, preferably, are of at least 80. Rockwell hardness values of 100 are preferred when combined with other materials, with all Rockwell hardness values being measured by ASTMD-785. The silicone acrylate can be selected from those described in the following U.S. patents: 3,808,178; 4,120,570; 4,216,303; 4,242,483; 4,248,989; 4,303,772; 4,314,068; 4,139,513; 4,139,692; 4,235,985; 4,153,641; 4,276,402; 4,355,147; 4,152,508; 4,424,328; 4,450,264. Such examples include; isobutylhexamethyltrisiloxanylmethyl acrylate and methacrylate n-Propyloctamethyltetrasiloxanylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate dimethyl [bis(trimethylsiloxy)methyl siloxanyl] silyl methyl acrylate and methacrylate dimethyl [tris(trimethylsiloxy) siloxanyl] silylpropyl acrylate or methacrylate tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylmethyl acrylate and methacrylate tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate tris(phenyldimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate t-Butyldimethylsiloxy[bis(trimethylsiloxy)] silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate tris(pentamethyldisiloxanyl) silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate tris[tris(trimethylsiloxy)siloxanyl] silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate tris[bis(trimethylsiloxy)methylsiloxanyl] silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate methylbis (trimethylsiloxy)-silylpropylglycerol acrylate and methacrylate tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylproplylglycerol acrylate and methacrylate methylbis(trimethylsiloxy)-silylpropylglycerolethyl acrylate and methacrylate tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylglycerolethyl acrylate and methacrylate 1,3-bis(methacryloxypropyl) tetrakis (trimethylsiloxy) disiloxane 1,5-bis(methacryloxymethyl)3,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy) tetramethyl trisiloxane 1,3-bis(4-methacryloxybutyl)tetramethyldisiloxane alpha,omega-bis(4 methacryloxybutyl) polydimethyl siloxane 1,5-bis(methacryloxypropyl) 1,1,5,5 tetrakis (trimethylsiloxy) dimethyltrisiloxane 1,3-bis(methacryloxypropyl)tetrakis[bis (trimethylsiloxy) methylsiloxanyl] disiloxane 1,7-bis(methacryloxypropyl)octa(trimethylsiloxy) tetrasiloxane tris(methacryloxypropyltetramethyldisiloxanyl) trimethylsiloxysilane 8-(3-hydroxy-4-methacryloxycyclohexyl)ethyltris (trimethylsiloxy)silane 2-hydroxy-4-tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylcyclohexyl methacrylate Acrylate and methacrylate functional, substituted alkyl/aryl siloxanes such as those described in U.S. Patent 4,463,149 can be used; Typical examples include: tris(2-acetoxyethyldimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate tris(2-carboxyethyldimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate tris(3-hydroxypropyldimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate acrylate and methacrylate functional, fluorosubstituted alkyl/aryl siloxanes such as: tris(3,3,3 trifluoropropyl dimethylsiloxy) silyl propyl acrylate and methacrylate tris[3-heptafluoroisopropoxy propyl)] dimethylsiloxy silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate tris(pentafluorophenyl dimethylsiloxy)silyl propyl acrylate and methacrylate Other potentially useful ethylenically unsaturated organosiloxanes include: bis(trimethylsiloxy) pyrrolidinonyldimethyl siloxy-silylpropyl acrylate and methacrylate The ethylenically unsaturated organosiloxane used or mixture thereof can be a monofunctional organosiloxane. Preferably, however, the organosiloxanes used are mixtures containing multi-functional as well as monofunctional organosiloxanes as set forth in United States Patent 4,424,328 issued January 3, 1984. The use of the multifunctional component can provide compositions with increased strength, reduced brittleness while retaining desirable properties of contact lenses. Preferably the organosiloxanes used in the monomeric mixtures of this invention for polymerization include one or more monofunctional organosiloxanes in an amount of from 70 to 95% by weight of the total organosiloxane and one or more multifunctional organosiloxanes in an amount of from about 5 to 30 percent. Useful multifunctional components can be dimers, trimers or higher functionality organosiloxanes. The terms dimers and trimers are used in the art as recognized usage for difunctional and trifunctional organosiloxane. Fluorine-containing acrylates or itaconate which have been fluorinated, useful in the practice of this invention, are set forth in U.S. Patent 4,686,267. Other fluorosilicone acrylates useful in the organic materials of this invention include those disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,808,179, prepared by copolymerizing fluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates with alkyl acrylates and methacrylates. The fluoroalkyl ester comonomers used to prepare the copolymers of the invention can have the structural formula wherein X is selected from the class consisting of hydrogen and fluorine, R is selected from the class consisting of hydrogen and methyl groups, and n is an integer from 1 to 17. The comonomers which form the copolymer used in the practice of the invention are esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids with an alkanol having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Representative fluoroalkyl ester comonomers, include both 1,1-dihydro compounds of the structure and 1,1-trihydro compounds of the structure wherein R and n have the meanings previously assigned. Representative fluoroalkyl acrylic esters include acrylic, methacrylic, fumaric and itaconic acid esters of 1,1-dihydrofluoropropanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorobutanol, 1,1-dihydrofluoropentanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorohexanol, 1,1-dihydrofluoroheptanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorooctanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorononanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorodecanol, 1,1-dihydrofluoroundecanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorododecanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorotridecanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorotetradecanol, 1,1-dihydrofluroropentadecanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorohexadecanol, 1,1-dihydrofluorooctadecanol, 1,1,3-trihydrofluoropropanol, 1,1,4-trihydrofluorobutanol, 1,1,5-trihydrofluoropentanol, 1,1,6-trihydrofluorohexanol, 1,1,7-trihydrofluoroheptanol, 1,1,8-trihydrofluorooctanol, 1,1,9-trihydrofluorononanol, 1,1,10-trihydrofluorodecanol, 1,1,11-trihydrofluoroundecanol, 1,1,12-trihydrofluorododecanol, 1,1,13-trihydrofluorotridecanol, 1,1,14-trihydrofluorotetradecanol, 1,1,15-trihydrofluoropentadecanol, 1,1,16-trihydrofluorohexadecanol, 1,1,17-trihydrofluoroheptadecanol, 1,1,18-trihydrofluorooctadecanol, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. hema type material useful in this invention include polymers of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,130,706, having repeating units of the following structure: wherein -R is selected from the class consisting of -H and -CH₃ and -R₁ is a group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms and containing at least one polar group. Generally, it is preferred that -R be -CH₃ because any residual traces of monomer are more irritating when -R is -H. The preferred -R₁ is -CH₂) m OH wherein m is an integer from 2 to 4. The case where -R₁ is -CH₂CH₂OH is especially preferred. Fluoroacrylates useful as copolymers in this invention include copolymers of methyl methacrylate and certain fluoroesters, which are copolymerizable with methyl methacrylate, specifically those fluoroesters selected from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl alkyl methacrylates of the formula, where n is an integer of from 1 to 13, and m is 1 or 2, and telomer alcohol methacrylates of the formula where n is an integer of from 1 to 13 and m is 1 or 2. The following fluoroesters which are copolymerizable with methyl methacrylate have been found to be particularly useful in this context: perfluoroalkyl ethyl methacrylates of the formula preferably perfluoro-n-hexyl ethyl methacrylate which has the formula and perfluoroalkyl methyl methacrylates of the formula preferably perfluoro-n-hexyl methyl methacrylate which has the formula telomer alcohol methacrylates of the formula mixtures thereof where, in each case, n is an integer of from 1 to 5. Styrene type materials useful in this invention include homopolymers or copolymers in which at least one of the comonomers is selected from an alkyl styrene monomer having at least one C₁ or higher alkyl group on the aromatic ring and an oxygen permeability constant of at least 10. The alkyl substituents are selected from C₁ or higher; preferably C₁-C₁₂, alkyl groups which may be the same or different on any of the ring positions from 2 to 6. In brief, the aromatic ring can be mono, di, or tri-substituted on any position in the ring; i.e., with the same or a mixture of the noted groups. While, as noted above, C₁ and higher alkyl substituted polymers form suitable lenses, these lenses made using C₂ and higher alkyl groups are preferred because of their superior gas permeability properties. Nevertheless, lenses made with C₁ substituents, such as methyl styrene and dimethyl styrene, when treated to improve their surface wettability as described herein, are lenses which are substantially superior in terms of gas permeability and patient comfort over many lenses of the prior art. Specific examples of styrenes substituted on the ring are methyl styrene (vinyl toluene), ethyl styrene, propyl styrene, butyl styrene, n-butyl styrene, t-butyl styrene, hexyl styrene, n-octyl styrene, t-octyl styrene, decyl styrene, dodecyl styrene, 2, 5 dimethyl styrene, 2, 6 dimethyl styrene, 2,4,6 trimethyl styrene, and 2,5 diethyl styrene. The foregoing examples are illustrative of suitable substituted styrenes, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Of all the polymers, at the present time, it is believed that the most suitable styrene type polymers for use with the carboxylic acid esters of this invention, with respect to gas permeability and other desirable contact lens properties, are polymers wherein the principal monomers used are t-butyl styrene or isopropyl styrene. Olefinically unsaturated polymerizable monomers may be copolymerized with the alkyl styrene monomers to give copolymers with specific properties. Said olefinically unsaturated monomers may be of the hydrophobic or hydrophilic types. Fluoropolyethers of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,440,918 can be used as a conventional contact lens polymeric material which can be modified by the carboxylic acid esters of this invention. Such materials comprise polymers of compositions containing up to 100 percent of telechelic polyether having a backbone of perfluorooxyalkylene units, a number average molecular weight between about 500 and 15,000, and at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group. Such polymers preferably comprise a telechelic perfluoropolyether that has a backbone having a number average molecular weight between about 500 and 15,000 and has the formula (C κ F 2κ O) p (C q F 2q ) wherein p represents the number of -C κ F 2κ O- subunits in said backbone and is an integer of from 3 to 200; q is an integer of from 1 to 4; and k may be the same or different within each of said -C κ F 2κ O- subunits and is an integer of from 1 to 4. The -C κ F 2κ O- and -C q F 2q - subunits are randomly distributed in the backbone. Wetting agents can be used in amounts from 0.1 to 15 percent by weight of the polymeric mixtures and include: N-vinylpyrrolidone acrylamides methacrylamide N,N-dimethylacrylamide 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate or methacrylate 2- or 3-hydroxypropyl acrylate or methacrylate glyceryl acrylate or methacrylate glycidyl acrylate or methacrylate 3-methoxy-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate or methacrylate ester derivatives of acrylic, methacrylic and itaconic acid with polyethers of the general formula: HO(C n H 2n O) x R Wherein "n" is a number from 1 to about 4 and "x" is a number from 2 to about 10 and "R" is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group. The cationic hydrophilic monomers either can be initially in their charged form or are subsequently converted to their charged form after formation of the contact lens. The classes of these compounds are derived from basic or cationic acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, vinylpyridines, vinylimidazoles, and diallyldialkylammonium polymerizable groups. Such monomers are represented by: N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate and methacrylate 2-methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and methylsulfate 2-,4-, and 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine 2-,4-, and 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridinium chloride and methylsulfate N-(3-methacrylamidopropyl)-N,N-dimethylamine N-(3-methacrylamidopropyl)-N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium chloride diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and methylsulfate The anionic hydrophilic monomers either are in their neutral form initially or are subsequently converted to their anionic form. These classes of compounds include polymerizable monomers which contain carboxy, sulfonate, or phosphate groups. Such monomers are represented by: acrylic acid methacrylic acid sodium acrylate and methacrylate vinylsulfonic acid sodium vinylsulfonate p-styrenesulfonic acid sodium p-styrenesulfonate 2-methacryloyloxyethylsulfonic acid 3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropylsulfonic acid 2-acrylamide--methylpropanesulfonic acid allylsulfonic acid 2-phosphatoethyl methacrylate Crosslinkers can be used in amounts of from 0.1 to 25 percent by weight of the polymeric mixture and can advantageously improve mechanical and dimensional stability properties of the contact lens materials of this invention. Useful crosslinking monomers include polyfunctional derivatives of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and multi-vinyl substituted benzene. Such crosslinking comonomers which modify the mechanical properties and dimensional stability include polyfunctional derivatives of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and multi-vinyl substituted benzene, including but not limited to, the following: neopentyl glycol diacrylate or methacrylate ethylene glycol diacrylate or dimethacrylate diethylene glycol diacrylate or dimethacrylate tetraethylene glycol diacrylate or dimethacrylate polyethylene glycol diacrylate or dimethacrylate polypropylene glycol diacrylate or methacrylate trimethylolpropane triacrylate or trimethacrylate Bisphenol A diacrylate or dimethacrylate ethoxylated Bisphenol A diacrylate or dimethacrylate pentaerythritol tri- and tetraacrylate or methacrylate tetramethylenediacrylate or dimethacrylate methylene bisacrylamide or methacrylamide dimethylene bisacrylamide or methacrylamide diallyl diglycol carbonate and cross linked polymerates of poly (organosiloxanes) alpha, omega, terminally bonded through a divalent hydrocarbon group to a polymerized activated unsaturated group as described in U.S. Patent 4,780,515. Latent crosslinking agents which are useful include: glycidyl acrylate and methacrylate allyl acrylate and methacrylate N-methylolmethacrylamide acrylic and methacrylic anhydride Permeability enhancers, such as siloxanes, silicon-containing ethers, fluorocarbons and the like can be added as known in the art. Free radical initiaters can be those useful in the art; as for example, those chosen from those commonly utilized to polymerize vinyl-type monomers, including the following representative initiators: 2,2′-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile 4,4′-azo-bis-(4-cyanopentanoic acid) t-butyl peroctoate benzoyl peroxide lauroyl peroxide methyl ethyl ketone peroxide diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate 2,2′ azobisisovaleronitrile The free radical initiator is normally used in amounts of from 0.01 to 4 percent by weight of the entire composition. Physical properties of the homopolymers and copolymers of this invention can be further modified by adding fluorine-containing materials for lubricity, aromatic materials to improve refractive index, and surface energy modifiers to obtain deposit resistence, as for example, fluorine materials. Overall, the copolymers of this invention, most preferably, have a Rockwell R hardness of at least 100 (ASTMD-785), with a DK of 10 and, preferably, a DK of at least 20, although DK's of 30 and more are preferred and can be easily obtained using the method of this invention. The hardness value of homopolymers of the carboxylic esters of this invention is preferably Shore D of at least 70 and more preferably at least 80. When the carboxylic acid esters are used substantially as a homopolymer, they make up at least 50% of the overall contact lens material in the preferred embodiments. And the modifiers are added in amounts within the preferred ranges as follows: hardness agent, from 0 to 10% by weight of the total; crosslinking agent, from 0 to 20% by weight of the total; wettability enhancer, from 0 to 10% by weight of the total; permeability enhancer, from 0 to 40% by weight of the total; refractive index modifier, from 0 to 15% by weight of the total. When used as an additive to conventional contact lens materials, the carboxylic acids of this invention which are devoid of beta hydrogens and are preferably used in amounts below 50% by weight of the entire composition. Typical compositions where the esters may be used in ranges of 10 to 80% by weight of the entire compositions may be as follows: Composition 1 - A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of a wetting agent in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight, a silicone methacylate in an amount of from 0 to 60%, a crosslinking agent in an amount of 0 to 30% and dineopentyl itaconate in an amount of 10 to 80%. Composition 2 - A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of a wetting agent 0-10% by weight, a crosslinking agent 0-30% by weight, a fluorinated itaconate 0-60% by weight, a silicone methacrylate 0-60% by weight, and dineopentyl itaconate 10-80% by weight. Composition 3 - A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of a wetting agent 0-10% by weight, dineopentyl itaconate 10-80% by weight, a fluoroalkyl methacrylate 0-60% by weight, a fluoroalkyl itaconate 0-60% by weight, and a crosslinking agent 0-30% by weight. In all cases where the carboxylic esters of this invention are used with other contact lens monomers to form copolymers, the overall objective is to obtain a contact lens material which can be formed by conventional methods, i.e. for example, casting, molding or machining into contact lenses having desirable oxygen permeability, good machineability, dimensional stability, hardness, comfort to the eye, and wettability, with minimized deposit formation. In general, the hardness value of pre-existing contact lens formulations can be increased by adding the carboxylic acid esters of this invention, while maintaining or increasing the oxygen permeability values. The materials of this invention can be thermoplastic or thermosetting, thus providing latitude in the fabrication of contact lenses. Such materials can be polymerized directly in a suitable mold to form contact lenses. The thermoplastics can be converted directly into lenses by heat stamping, vacuum forming, pressure or injection molding and other conventional thermoplastic forming methods. In the case of hard or rigid gas permeable contact lenses, it is preferred to use conventional methods of forming contact lenses from the contact lens material of this invention. For example, the methods used for polymethyl methacrylate (PMA). In this approach, the formulations are polymerized directly into a sheet or rod and the contact lens blanks are cut as buttons, discs, or other pre-formed shapes from which they are then machined to obtain the lens surfaces. The polymeric blanks possess the optical qualities necessary to produce aberation-free, rigid gas permeable or hard contact lenses in accordance with this invention. Soft contact lens materials in accordance with this invention can be cast or formed into contact lenses by conventional methods. Permeability (DK), as used in this specification, refers to a measurement on an instrument designed after ASTM D1434 - wherein one side of the sample was subjected to pure oxygen at a pressure of 30 psi. Standard permeability samples in the form of wafers of a diameter of 12 mm and having a thickness of 0.50 mm - 0.60 mm. The entire apparatus is maintained in a closed system, whereby the temperature is maintained at a constant 35°C. The oxygen that permeates through the wafer is allowed to expand on the other side of the sample against atmospheric pressure in a capillary tube plugged with a droplet of fluorocein solution. The displacement of the droplet is converted into distance of permeate per unit time. The instrument is standardized to known contact lens materials, as measured by Dr. I. Fatt. The following examples are given to illustrate the invention and are not meant to be limiting. EXAMPLE 1 Into a 250 milliliter beaker with a one inch magnetic stirring bar is added 60 grams methyl methacrylate, 20 grams of N-vinylpyrrolidone, 10 grams of neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, 10 grams of dineopentyl fumarate. To this is added 0.06 grams of Vaso 52 initiator, an azo initiator obtained from E.I. DuPont deNemours of Wilmington, Delaware, and 0.91 grams of Vaso 64 initiator, an azo initiator obtained from E.I. DuPont deNemours of Wilmington, Delaware. The sample is stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. During this time, 0.004 grams of green dye Number 6 is added. The solution is stirred for a total of one-half hour. After this time, the solution is filtered into a silylated glass test tube. The solution is then degassed with nitrogen purging through the solution for 15 minutes. The tube is then capped and sealed and put into a water vat at 40°C for 48 hours, followed by 65°C in an oven for 24 hours, followed by 75°C in a convection oven. The sample is cooled to room temperature, removed from the vial, and cut into buttons and/or wafers used to measure DK and hardness. In the following examples, the steps of Example 1 were repeated, except that the temperature cycle was changed in certain examples as indicated below, as were the initiators. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, all dineopentyl itaconate examples were run under polymerization conditions: 65°C, 24h; 3h ramp; 85°C, 24h; 3 h ramp; 115°C, 24h with 0.5% Lupersol 256, a peroxide initiator obtained from Pennwalt, Buffalo, N.Y. and 0.5% tertiary butyl perbenzoate as initiators. Unless otherwise indicated, all methyl methacrylate and neopentyl methacrylate examples were run under these conditions: 40°C, 48h; 65°C, 24h; 75°C, 24h with vaso 52 0.6g and vaso 64 0.19 g as initiators. "h" indicates hours, "d" indicates a 24-hour day and "ramp" indicates even incremented temperature change over a given time. The difference in temperature cycle was minimal and was needed due to the reactivity of the methyl methacrylate at the higher temperatures. EXAMPLE 2 - 3 These examples demonstrate that dineopentyl itaconate enhances permeability while retaining hardness. This also demonstrates that a fumarate may be employed as a comonomer. n vinyl pyrrolidone is used as a wetting agent and neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking agent. EXAMPLES 4 - 5 The temperature cycle in Example 4 is as follows: 65°C, 24h; 3h ramp; 85°C, 24h; 3 hr ramp; 115°C, 24h. These examples demonstrate that dineopentyl itaconate maintains permeability while substantially retaining hardness. This example demonstrates that methyl methacrylate can be copolymerized with the itaconate functionality. Again n vinyl pyrrolidone is used as a wetting agent and neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking agent. EXAMPLES 6-8 These examples demonstrate the dineopentyl itaconate dramatically increases permeability in combination with a silicon methacrylate and a fluoro itaconate and fluoro methacrylate while retaining hardness. EXAMPLES 9-10 These examples demonstrate that dineopentyl itaconate dramatically increases permeability in combination with a fluoro itaconate and a fluoro methacrylate while retaining hardness for machineability. EXAMPLES 11-12 These examples show that dineopentyl itaconate increases permeability in combination with a styrene group. Hardness is essentially unchanged. This is also in combination with fluoromers. EXAMPLES 13-15 These examples show that dineopentyl itaconate increases permeability in combination of a fluoro itaconate, a silicone methacrylate, n vinyl pyrrolidone as a wetting agent in combination with methacrylic acid, and a crosslinking agent, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate. This demonstrates that there is no loss in hardness. EXAMPLE 16 The temperature cycle is changed as follows: 40°C, 72h; 65°C, 48h; 75°C, 24h EXAMPLE 17 The Temperature cycle is as follows: 40 C, 2d; 65 C, 1d; 75 C, 1d This example illustrates preparation of neopentylfumarate (bis-2,2-dimethylpropyl fumarate) Into a 3 necked 1000 mL round-bottomed flask equipped with a Dean-Stark trap and a reflux condenser, was placed 130.4 g (1.26 mol) fumaric acid, 6.0 g p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate, 250 g-neopentyl alcohol (2.8 mol), and 450 mL toluene. The mixture was heated at reflux for 10 h which afforded a clear slightly yellow solution (40 mL water collected). The solution was cooled to room temperature and was transferred into a separatory funnel. The solution was washed with 2 X 200 mL aqueous saturated NaHCO₃ solution, 2 x 200 mL distilled water, 1 x 200 mL aqueous saturated NaCl solution. The organic solution was dried (MgSO₄), vacuum filtered through a course-medium glass frit, and concentrated at reduced pressure [rotary evaporator, water bath 50°C, aspirator pressure followed by vacuum pump (0.5-1.0 mm Hg for 0.5 h or until all volatiles are removed)] (This is determined by constant weight of material in flask) to afford 286 g (98.5%) of a white crystalline material. Mp 55-56°C. EXAMPLE 19 neopentylmethacrylate is homopolymerized using the following temperature cycle and formulation. A usable contact lens material is obtained. While Shore D hardness values of at least 70 have been recited for homopolymers in some cases they need be extrapolated. Vickers hardness values for homopolymers are preferably above 9 at a 200 gram load with polymethyl methacrylates having a hardness of 23.18

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : CH, LI, DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, SE A contact lens material formed from the free radical polymerization of at least two contact lens organic materials selected from the group (a)-(g) consisting of: (a) an ethylenically unsaturated organosilicone having the following formula: wherein, "X", the ethylenically unsaturated group, is vinyl, acryloxy, methacryloxy, vinyloxy, or carbovinyloxy, "Y", the divalent radical, is either no group or methylene, ethylene, propylene, propenylene, butylene, cyclohexylene, phenylene, -CH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂, "a" is an integer from 1 to 4, "n" is an integer from 4 to 20, "b" is an integer from 0 to 3 and is the same or different for each "i" group, "R" is the same or different within each "i" moiety and is selected from among vinyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, 3-acetoxypropyl, 2-(carbomethoxy) ethyl, 3-(carbomethoxy) propyl, 3 - hydroxybutyl, 4 - hydroxybutyl, 3,3,3-trifuloropropyl, 3-(heptafluoroisopropoxy) propyl, and pentafluorophenyl; (b) fluorosilicone acrylates; (c) fluoroacrylates; (d) fluoropolyethers; (e) hema type materials; (f) styrene polymers; and (g) fluoroitaconates; and an amount of a carboxylic acid ester of formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylene malonate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, ethylene tricarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid, n = 1, 2 or 3, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and each are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or ether groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein, when A is derived from a dibasic or tribasic acid, the ester of formula I is a full ester, half ester, partial ester or a mixed ester, to provide the contact lens material with a Shore D hardness of at least 70 and a DK of at least 10. A contact lens material in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ester of formula I is an ester which has a desired hardness and a DK of at least 10 when homopolymerized by free radical polymerization in a polymer having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000. A contact lens material in accordance with claim 2, wherein the ester of formula I is a monocarboxylic acid ester selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates and mixtures thereof. A contact lens material as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein the ester of formula I is neopentyl methacrylate. A contact lens material in accordance with claim 2, wherein the ester of formula I is a dicarboxylic ester selected from the group consisting of mesaconates, itaconates, citraconates, maleates, methylene malonates and fumarates. A contact lens material in accordance with claim 2, wherein the ester of formula I is a tribasic acid ester. A contact lens formed from a homopolymeric free radical polymerization product of a polymerizable carboxylic acid ester of formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylene malonate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, ethylene tricarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid, n = 1, 2 or 3, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and each are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or ether groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein, when A is derived from a dibasic or tribasic acid, the ester of formula I is a full ester, half ester, partial ester or a mixed ester; said polymerization product having a Shore D hardness of at least 70, a DK of at least 10 and a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000. A contact lens in accordance with claim 7, and further comprising at least one modifier selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, crosslinking agents, permeability enhancers, physical property modifiers, and combinations thereof. A contact lens in accordance with claim 7, having a DK of at least 15. A contact lens in accordance with claim 7, wherein the ester of formula I is dineopentyl itaconate, dineopentyl fumarate, neopentyl methacrylate, neopentyl acrylate, dineopentyl maleate, dineopentyl methylenemalonate, dineopentyl citraconate or, dineopentyl mesaconate. A contact lens as claimed in any of claims 7-10, wherein the ester of formula I is neopentyl methacrylate. A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of a wetting agent in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight, a silicone methacurylate in an amount of from 0 to 60%, a crosslinking agent in an amount of 0 to 30% and dineopentyl itaconate in an amount of 10 to 80%. A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of methacrylic acid, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, methacryloyloxyporpyl tris (trimethylsilyl) siloxane, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and dineopentyl itaconate. A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of a wetting agent 0-10% by weight, a crosslinking agent 0-30% by weight, a fluorinated itaconate 0-60% by weight, a fluorinated methacrylate 0-60% by weight, a silicone methacrylate 0-60% by weight, and dineopentyl itaconate 10-80% by weight. A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radial polymerization of methacrylic acid, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, methacryloyloxypropyl tris (trimethsilyl) siloxane, bis-nexafluoro isopropyl itaconate, hexafluoroisopropylmethacrylate and dineopentyl itaconate. A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of a wetting agent 0-10% by weight, dineopentyl itaconate 10-80% by weight, a fluoroalkyl methacrylate 0-60% by weight, a fluoroalkyl itaconate 0-60% by weight, and a crosslinking agent 0-30% by weight. A polymerized contact lens material formed by free radical polymerization of n-vinyl pyrrolidone, dineopentyl itaconate, hexafluoro isopropyl methacrylate, bis-hexa fluoro isopropyl itaconate, and neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate. A method of modifying the hardness and DK value of a contact lens material comprising copolymerizing at least two contact lens organic materials selected from the group (a)-(g), consisting of: (a) an ethylenically unsaturated organosilicone having the following formula: wherein, "X", the ethylenically unsaturated group, is: vinyl, acryloxy, methacryloxy, vinyloxy, or carbovinyloxy, "Y", the divalent radical, is either no group or methylene, ethylene, propylene, propenylene, butylene, cyclohexylene, phenylene, -CH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂, "a" is an integer from 1 to 4, "n" is an integer from 4 to 20, "b" is an integer from 0 to 3 and is the same or different for each "i" group, "R" is the same or different within each "i" moiety and is selected from among vinyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, 3-acetoxypropyl, 2-(carbomethoxy) ethyl, 3-(carbomethoxy) propyl, 3 - hydroxybutyl, 4 - hydroxybutyl, 3,3,3-trifuloropropyl, 3-(heptafluoroisopropoxy) propyl, and pentafluorophenyl; (b) fluorosilicone acrylates; (c) fluoroacrylates; (d) fluoropolyethers; (e) hema type materials; (f) styrene polymers; and (g) fluoroitaconates; and an amount of a carboxylic acid ester of formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylene malonate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, ethylene tricarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid, n = 1, 2 or 3, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and each are alky, cycloalkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or ether groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein, when A is derived from a dibasic or tribasic acid, the ester of formula I is a full ester, half ester, partial ester or a mixed ester; to obtain a Shore D hardness of at least 70 and a DK value of at least 10, said copolymerization being carried out by intermixing said organic materials and ester and then polymerizing under free radical conditions. A method in accordance with the method of claim 18, wherein the ester of formula I is dineopentyl itaconate, neopentyl ester, neopentyl fumarate or, neopentyl maleate. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ester of formula I is neopentyl methacrylate. A contact lens formed from a contact lens material as claimed in any of claims 1-6 and 12-17. Claims for the following Contracting State : ES A method of preparing a contact lens material comprising forming said material by free radical polymerization of at least two contact lens organic materials selected from the group (a)-(g) consisting of: (a) an ethylenically unsaturated organosilicone having the following formula: wherein, "X", the ethylenically unsaturated group, is vinyl, acryloxy, methacryloxy, vinyloxy, or carbovinyloxy, "Y", the divalent radical, is either no group or methylene, ethylene, propylene, propenylene, butylene, cyclohexylene, phenylene, -CH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂, "a" is an integer from 1 to 4, "n" is an integer from 4 to 20, "b" is an integer from 0 to 3 and is the same or different for each "i" group, "R" is the same or different within each "i" moiety and is selected from among vinyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, 3-acetoxypropyl, 2-(carbomethoxy) ethyl, 3-(carbomethoxy) propyl, 3 - hydroxybutyl, 4 - hydroxybutyl, 3,3,3-trifuloropropyl, 3-(heptafluoroisopropoxy) propyl, and pentafluorophenyl; (b) fluorosilicone acrylates; (c) fluoroacrylates; (d) fluoropolyethers; (e) hema type materials; (f) styrene polymers; and (g) fluoroitaconates; and an amount of a carboxylic acid ester of formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylene malonate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, ethylene tricarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid, n = 1, 2 or 3, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and each are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or ether groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein, when A is derived from a dibasic or tribasic acid, the ester of formula I is a full ester, half ester, partial ester or a mixed ester, to provide the contact lens material with a Shore D hardness of at least 70 and a DK of at least 10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ester of formula I is an ester which has a desired hardness and a DK of at least 10 when homopolymerized by free radical polymerization in a polymer having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the ester of formula I is a monocarboxylic acid ester selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates and mixtures thereof. A method as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein the ester of formula I is neopentyl methacrylate. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the ester of formula I is a dicarboxylic ester selected from the group consisting of mesaconates, itaconates, citraconates, maleates, methylene malonates and fumarates. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the ester of formula I is a tribasic acid ester. A method of manufacturing a contact lens, comprising forming a homopolymeric product by free radical polymerization of a polymerizable carboxylic acid ester of formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylene malonate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, ethylene tricarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid, n = 1, 2 or 3, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and each are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or ether groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein, when A is derived from a dibasic or tribasic acid, the ester of formula I is a full ester, half ester, partial ester or a mixed ester; said polymerization product having a Shore D hardness of at least 70, a DK of at least 10 and a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000; and forming a contact lens from said homopolymeric product. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least one modifier selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, crosslinking agents, permeability enhancers, physical property modifiers, and combinations thereof is added to the ester of formula I. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the formed lens has a DK of at least 15. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the ester of formula I is dineopentyl itaconate, dineopentyl fumarate, neopentyl methacrylate, neopentyl acrylate, dineopentyl maleate, dineopentyl methylenemalonate, dineopentyl citraconate or, dineopentyl mesaconate. A method as claimed in any of claims 7-10, wherein the ester of formula I is neopentyl methacrylate. A method of prpearing a polymerized contact lens material comprising free radical polymerization of a wetting agent in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight, a silicone methacurylate in an amount of from 0 to 60%, a crosslinking agent in an amount of 0 to 30% and dineopentyl itaconate in an amount of 10 to 80%. A method of preparing a polymerized contact lens material comprising free radical polymerization of methacrylic acid, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, methacryloyloxyporpyl tris (trimethylsilyl) siloxane, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and dineopentyl itaconate. A method of preparing a polymerized contact lens material comprising free radical polymerization of a wetting agent 0-10% by weight, a crosslinking agent 0-30% by weight, a fluorinated itaconate 0-60% by weight, a fluorinated methacrylate 0-60% by weight, a silicone methacrylate 0-60% by weight, and dineopentyl itaconate 10-80% by weight. A method of preparing a polymerized contact lens material comprising free radial polymerization of methacrylic acid, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, methacryloyloxypropyl tris (trimethsilyl) siloxane, bis-nexafluoro isopropyl itaconate, hexafluoroisopropyl-methacrylate and dineopentyl itaconate. A method of preparing a polymerized contact lens material comprising free radical polymerization of a wetting agent 0-10% by weight, dineopentyl itaconate 10-80% by weight, a fluoroalkyl methacrylate 0-60% by weight, a fluoroalkyl itaconate 0-60% by weight, and a crosslinking agent 0-30% by weight. A method of preparing a polymerized contact lens material by free radical polymerization of n-vinyl pyrrolidone, dineopentyl itaconate, hexafluoro isopropyl methacrylate, bis-hexa fluoro isopropyl itaconate, and neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate. A method of modifying the hardness and DK value of a contact lens material comprising copolymerizing at least two contact lens organic materials selected from the group (a)-(g) consisting of: (a) an ethylenically unsaturated organosilicone having the following formula: wherein, "X", the ethylenically unsaturated group, is: vinyl, acryloxy, methacryloxy, vinyloxy, or carbovinyloxy, "Y", the divalent radical, is either no group or methylene, ethylene, propylene, propenylene, butylene, cyclohexylene, phenylene, -CH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂, "a" is an integer from 1 to 4, "n" is an integer from 4 to 20, "b" is an integer from 0 to 3 and is the same or different for each "i" group, "R" is the same or different within each "i" moiety and is selected from among vinyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, 3-acetoxypropyl, 2-(carbomethoxy) ethyl, 3-(carbomethoxy) propyl, 3 - hydroxybutyl, 4 - hydroxybutyl, 3,3,3-trifuloropropyl, 3-(heptafluoroisopropoxy) propyl, and pentafluorophenyl; (b) fluorosilicone acrylates; (c) fluoroacrylates; (d) fluoropolyethers; (e) hema type materials; (f) styrene polymers; and (g) fluoroitaconates; and an amount of a carboxylic acid ester of formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylene malonate, maleic acid, fumaric acid, ethylene tricarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid, n = 1, 2 or 3, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and each are alky, cycloalkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or ether groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein, when A is derived from a dibasic or tribasic acid, the ester of formula I is a full ester, half ester, partial ester or a mixed ester; to obtain a Shore D hardness of at least 70 and a DK value of at least 10, said copolymerization being carried out by intermixing said organic materials and ester and then polymerizing under free radical conditions. A method in accordance with the method of claim 18, wherein the ester of formula I is dineopentyl itaconate, neopentyl ester, neopentyl fumarate or, neopentyl maleate. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ester of formula I is neopentyl methacrylate. A contact lens formed from a contact lens material as claimed in any of claims 1-6 and 12-17. A contact lens formed by a process as claimed in any of claims 7-11.

Inventors: BARON RICHARD C, ROTHENBERGER SCOTT D, BARON, RICHARD C., ROTHENBERGER, SCOTT D.
Applicants: POLYMER TECHNOLOGY CORP, POLYMER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G02B1
IPC codes: C08L33, G02C7, G02B1, C08L35