JP2020154321A - Contact lens with element protection function - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow for supporting and protecting a functional element provided on a contact lens surface through an appropriate design of a protective layer with particular compositions.SOLUTION: A contact lens L with an element protection function is provided, comprising a light-transmissive body 1, a functional element 2, and a protective layer 3, the functional element 2 being provided on the light-transmissive body 1, and the protective layer 3 being provided on the light-transmissive body 1 to cover the functional element 2. The functional element 2 is enclosed by the light transmitting body 1 and the protection layer 3 to be isolated from outside. The protective layer 3 contains a film-forming polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and a solvent.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a contact lens, and more particularly to a contact lens having an element protection function.

In addition to providing functions such as vision correction, ophthalmic disease treatment, and makeup, conventional contact lenses can be further combined with electric elements to form multifunctional contact lens products. Specifically, by using a lens having a designed refraction characteristic, the wearer's visual acuity (for example, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc.) can be effectively corrected, and by adding a drug to the lens, ophthalmology The disease can be treated. By providing a color material pattern on the lens of a contact lens in order to achieve the demand for aesthetics, it is possible to change the color of the pupil or display characters or patterns on the pupil. Even now, contact lens lenses are being combined with electrical elements such as electrodes, sensors, light emitting elements, etc. to provide different visual effects to the wearer. In other words, various functionalities can be imparted to the contact lens by adding a functional element such as a coloring material or an electric element to the contact lens body.

However, in the prior art, for functional contact lens products, it is still necessary to use an auxiliary support or inserter as a carrier of the functional element, and there is still room for improvement in the structure and material of these carriers. is there.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide support and protection for functional elements by providing a protective layer having a predetermined composition against the shortage of the prior art, and also contributes to the improvement of efficiency in the manufacturing process. It is to provide a contact lens having an element protection function.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical plan used in the present invention provides a contact lens having an element protection function including a translucent main body, a functional element, and a protective layer. The functional element is provided in the translucent main body. The protective layer is provided on the translucent main body and covers the functional element. The functional element is covered with the translucent main body and the protective layer and isolated from the outside, and the protective layer includes a film-forming polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and a solvent.

Contact lenses having an element protection function provided by the present invention include "the functional element is covered with the translucent main body and the protective layer and isolated from the outside" and "the protective layer has high film forming property. The effect of supporting and protecting the functional element can be achieved through the technical method of "providing a molecule, a hydrophilic polymer, and a solvent".

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact lens having an element protection function provided by an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the II portion in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a first step of a method for manufacturing a contact lens having an element protection function provided by an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second step of a method for manufacturing a contact lens having an element protection function provided by an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a third step of a method for manufacturing a contact lens having an element protection function provided by an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a fourth step of a method for manufacturing a contact lens having an element protection function provided by an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a fifth step of a method for manufacturing a contact lens having an element protection function provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to further understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, the detailed description and the accompanying drawings relating to the present invention will be referred to below, but the attached drawings provided are merely for reference and explanation, and the present invention. It is not intended to limit.

Hereinafter, embodiments relating to the "contact lens having an element protection function" disclosed in the present invention will be described by a predetermined specific embodiment, and those skilled in the art will describe the present invention based on the contents disclosed in the present specification. You can see the benefits and effects. The present invention may be implemented or applied according to other different specific examples, and each detail in the present specification is based on different viewpoints and applications, and various modifications and modifications are made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. May be done. In addition, it should be clarified first that the accompanying drawings of the present invention are merely a brief schematic description and are not shown according to actual dimensions. The following embodiments describe in more detail the relevant technical content of the invention, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention.

See FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact lens having an element protection function provided by an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion II in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the contact lens L having the element protection function provided by the present invention includes at least a translucent main body 1, a functional element 2, and a protective layer 3. The functional element 2 and the protective layer 3 are all provided on the translucent main body 1. In the present invention, "provided on (above) ..." is not limited to being provided directly above the article, but may mean being provided inside the article. In other words, the functional element 2 and the protective layer 3 may all be provided inside the translucent main body 1.

Specifically, the translucent main body 1 constitutes the main body of the contact lens L, and may be formed of an ordinary hydrogel material (hydrogel material mainly composed of hydroxyethyl methacrylate) or a silicone hydrogel material. The silicone hydrogel material can also be said to be a silicone hydrogel. The translucent body 1 may have a semi-permeable property and may contain additives other than the hydrogel material or the silicone hydrogel material. The material of the translucent body 1 is not limited in the present invention.

In addition to this, the translucent main body 1 has an outer surface 11 and an inner surface 12 facing the outer surface 11. For example, the inner surface 12 of the translucent body 1 contacts the surface of the user's eyeball when the contact lens L is worn by the user, and the outer surface of the translucent body 1 faces the outer surface of the user's eyeball. ..

In the contact lens L having the element protection function provided by the present invention, the outer surface 11 of the translucent main body 1 has a recessed space, and the protective layer 3 and the functional element 2 are all housed in the recessed space.

Next, the functional element 2 is provided in the translucent main body 1. The functional element 2 includes at least one of a pattern layer or an electric element. For example, the functional element 2 may be a pattern layer for changing the color of the wearer's iris. The pattern layer may be provided in a portion of the translucent main body 1 corresponding to a portion covering the wearer's pupil and iris. In other words, when the functional element 2 is a pattern layer, it may be surrounded and provided in the contact lens. In this way, the pattern layer can cover the wearer's pupil and iris to completely or partially block the natural color of the wearer's pupil and iris. As a result, the contact lens L is given a cosmetic effect.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the functional element 2 is an electrical element. The electric element may be an electrode, a signal transmitter / receiver, a light emitting element, a sensor, or the like. In the present invention, the type of electric element is not limited. For example, the electrical element is a distance sensor including a transmitter and a receiver for measuring the distance from the wearer's eyes to the observed article.

The contact lens L having the element protection function provided by the present invention further includes a protective layer 3. The protective layer 3 may have a thickness between 2 μm and 30 μm. As described above, the protective layer 3 is also provided inside the translucent main body 1 like the functional element 2. In the present invention, the protective layer 3 can cover the functional element 2. Specifically, the functional element 2 is a pattern layer, the pattern layer is surrounded and provided in the translucent main body 1 of the contact lens L, and the protective layer 3 covering the functional element 2 is similarly surrounded and translucent. It may be provided in the sex body 1. In one embodiment of the present invention, the width of the protective layer 3 is provided larger than the width of the functional element 2 (pattern layer) for the purpose of ensuring the protective effect on the functional element 2.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the functional element 2 is supported by the protective layer 3 by being fixed or connected to the protective layer 3. For example, the functional element 2 contains a colloidal form of an adhesive and a coloring material, the coloring material is dispersed in the adhesive, and the molecules of the adhesive and the molecules of the protective layer 3 are mediated by van der Waals forces or bonds. The functional element 2 is fixed to the protective layer 3.

The functional element 2 and the protective layer 3 are provided at positions close to the outer surface 11 of the translucent main body 1. In other words, when the contact lens L is worn by the user, the functional element 2 and the protective layer 3 are located close to the outside of the translucent main body 1. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the functional element 2 is provided between the outer surface 11 and the protective layer 3. In this way, when the functional element 2 is a pattern layer containing a coloring material, the protective layer 3 has the coloring material (or ink) molecules of the functional element 2 diffused to the outside of the contact lens L to be in contact with the external environment. It is possible to avoid contact.

In other words, when the functional element 2 is a pattern layer, the protective layer 3 can not only support the functional element 2, but also the material molecules (for example, coloring material or ink) in the functional element 2 go out. It can also prevent problems caused by spreading. For example, when the material molecules are diffused to the outside, the pattern or color originally shown in the pattern layer may be affected and the predetermined cosmetic effect may not be achieved, and the material molecules are diffused to the outside of the translucent main body 1 of the contact lens L. Material molecules can come into contact with the wearer's eye and affect eye health.

The composition of the protective layer 3 and their proportions are appropriately selected so that the protective layer 3 can support the functional element 2 and have good compatibility with the translucent main body 1 and the functional element 2. It must be. In addition to this, in the manufacturing process of the contact lens L, it is necessary to move different materials of the contact lens L by different carriers, and the protective layer 3 also needs to be selected according to the machine and the tool or the mold in the manufacturing process. There is. As a result, the protective layer 3 can be smoothly formed inside the translucent main body 1 of the contact lens L.

Specifically, the protective layer 3 must have an appropriate viscosity and affinity, and the viscosity and affinity of the protective layer 3 is controlled by selecting different components with appropriate proportions of content. .. For example, when the protective layer 3 has a desired viscosity, it is possible to prevent the material of the protective layer from slipping off when moving between the machine and the tool and not being able to adhere smoothly.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the protective layer 3 includes a film-forming polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and a solvent. The film-forming polymer is a polyether polyol, a polyether, a polyester polyol, a polyacrylic acid and a derivative thereof, a polymethylmethacrylate and a derivative thereof, and a combination of styrene and acrylic acid. It is selected from the group consisting of a polymer (styrene-acrylic acid copolymer) and a combination thereof.

For example, a polyether polyol may have a molecular weight between 5,000 and 500,000 and may be polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, glycerin, caprolactone or any combination thereof. You may. The polyether may have a molecular weight between 5000 and 500,000 and may be ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycerin or any combination thereof. The polyester polyol may be oxalic acid, malonic acid, glycerin or any combination thereof. Polyacrylic acid may have a molecular weight between 5000 and 1.5 million. The polyacrylic acid derivative may be a polyacrylic acid salt, for example, a potassium salt and a sodium salt of acrylic acid. Polymethylmethacrylate may have a molecular weight between 5000 and 500,000. The copolymer of styrene and acrylic acid may be formed of 10% to 90% styrene monomer and 90% to 10% acrylic acid.

The content of the film-forming polymer as described above is between 1% and 60% with respect to the total weight of the protective layer 3. Specifically, if the content of the film-forming polymer is less than 1%, the viscosity characteristics of the protective layer 3 are adversely affected and cannot be fixed at a predetermined position on the translucent main body 1. If the content of the film-forming polymer is larger than 60%, the viscosity of the protective layer 3 is too high, which is disadvantageous in the manufacturing process of the contact lens L. In one embodiment of the present invention, the content of the film-forming polymer is between 15% and 50% with respect to the total weight of the protective layer 3.

Next, the hydrophilic polymers are polyvinyl alcohol (polyvinyl alcohol), cellulose and its derivatives (cellulose and it's derivatives), polyethylene glycol (polyethylene alcohol), polyethylene pyrrolidone and its copolymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone), and their copolymers. Selected from a group of combinations. For example, polyvinyl alcohol may be a polymer having a degree of polymerization between 500 and 10000. Cellulose may have a molecular weight between 5000 and 500,000. Polyethylene glycol may have a molecular weight between 500 and 500,000. Polyethylenepyrrolidone may have a molecular weight between 5000 and 1.5 million.

The content of the hydrophilic polymer as described above is between 0.1% and 45% with respect to the total weight of the protective layer 3. In one embodiment of the present invention, the content of the hydrophilic polymer is between 5% and 40% with respect to the total weight of the protective layer 3. Specifically, if the content of the hydrophilic polymer is less than 1%, the viscosity characteristics of the protective layer 3 are adversely affected and cannot be fixed at a predetermined position on the translucent main body 1. If the content of the hydrophilic polymer is larger than 45%, the viscosity of the protective layer 3 is too high, which is disadvantageous in the manufacturing process of the contact lens L. In addition to this, the content of the hydrophilic polymer also affects the comfort when wearing the contact lens L.

In the protective layer 3 of the contact lens L of the embodiment of the present invention, the solvent is selected from the group of water, alcohols, amides and combinations thereof. For example, the solvent may be ethanol, propanol, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, or the like. The solvent content is between 30% and 90% of the total weight of the protective layer 3.

Table 1 below lists examples of forming the protective layer 3 with different film-forming polymers, hydrophilic polymers and solvents having different contents with respect to the component composition of the protective layer 3 and its related ratios. are doing. The evaluation results of evaluating different examples and comparative examples are also summarized in the table. Regarding the evaluation results, ⊚ indicates that the effect of film formation / phase transition is good, Δ indicates that the effect of film formation / phase transition is generally good, and × indicates that the effect of film formation / phase transition is not good. As can be seen from Table 1, an acceptable film formation / phase transition effect can be obtained by using the protective layer 3 having a predetermined component composition and its related ratio provided by the present invention.

Specifically, in Comparative Example 1, the content of the solvent is less than 30%, the content of the film-forming polymer of Comparative Example 2 is larger than 60%, and the content of the hydrophilic polymer of Comparative Example 3 is contained. The amount is greater than 45%. In all of such Comparative Examples 1 to 3, a good film forming / phase transition effect cannot be obtained.

Next, reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. 3 to 7 are schematic views of the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, and the fifth step of the method for manufacturing a contact lens having an element protection function provided by the embodiment of the present invention, respectively. .. Specifically, the contact lens L having the element protection function provided by the present invention must be manufactured by a set of molding dies including at least a lower mold M1 and an upper mold M2.

First, refer to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the first step, the lower mold M1 is provided. The lower mold may be manufactured from a metallic or non-metallic material. For example, the lower mold M1 may be molded from a steel plate and has a recessed surface that surrounds and forms a groove for accommodating the material. The lower mold M1 is for placing a material for forming the contact lens L.

Next, refer to FIG. In the second step, the lower mold M1 is provided with the protective layer 3 and the functional element 2. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the functional element 2 includes a pattern layer of a coloring material. As shown in FIG. 4, the protective layer 3 and the pattern layer may be provided on the lower mold M1 by a pad printing method. Specifically, the protective layer 3 may be first provided on the inner surface of the lower mold M1, and the functional element 2 is directly provided on the protective layer 3. For example, after the material of the protective layer 3 is attached by the pad, the material of the protective layer 3 can be moved to the surface of the groove of the lower mold M1 to form the protective layer. The functional element 2 may be formed on the protective layer 3 in the same manner.

Next, refer to FIG. In the third step shown in FIG. 5, the gel material 1'of the translucent main body 1 is injected into the groove of the lower mold M1 and the upper mold M2 is crimped to the lower mold M1 to obtain the material of the translucent main body 1. The accommodation space between the lower mold M1 and the upper mold M2 is filled. The shape of the accommodation space corresponds to the shape of the contact lens L. For example, in the third step, the protective layer 3 and the functional element 2 are covered with the gel material 1'mainly silicone hydrogel by injecting the gel material 1'mainly silicone hydrogel into the accommodation space.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, in the fourth step, the upper mold M2 and the lower mold M1 are photocured or heat-cured. Photo-curing or heat-curing can cure and mold the material of the translucent main body 1 (material mainly composed of silicone hydrogel) provided in the accommodation space formed by the upper mold M2 and the lower mold M1. For example, the curing step may be performed by ultraviolet light (UV light). Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, in the fifth step, the upper die M2 and the lower die M1 are removed to obtain a contact lens L having an element protection function.
[Effect of Examples]

A beneficial effect of the present invention is that the contact lens L having the element protection function provided by the present invention is described as "the functional element 2 is covered with the translucent main body 1 and the protective layer 3 and isolated from the outside" and ". The protective layer 3 is provided with a film-forming polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and a solvent. ”It is possible to achieve the effect of supporting and protecting the functional element 2 through the technical plan.

Specifically, the protective layer 3 provided in the contact lens L provided by the present invention has a predetermined composition, and this composition is a hydrogel material or a silicone hydrogel material of another material (for example, a translucent main body 1) in the contact lens L. ) And good compatibility, and due to the characteristics of this composition, it is possible to efficiently move between machines and tools made of different materials in the process of manufacturing contact lenses L. As a result, the manufacturing efficiency is greatly improved.

In addition to this, the predetermined composition of the protective layer 3 can not only achieve the effect of supporting the functional element 2 (eg, pattern layer or electrical element), but also the material of the functional element 2 having fluidity (eg, pattern layer). The adhesive and pigment molecules inside) flow through the contact lens L and effectively prevent it from diffusing into a preset position. Further, the contact lens L can prevent the preset cosmetic effect from being lost or the wearer's health from being impaired.

The contents disclosed above are merely preferable practicable examples of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of claims of the present invention. Therefore, based on the contents of the specification and the attached drawings of the present invention. All of the equivalent technical modifications made are within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

L Contact lens 1 Translucent body 1'Gel material 11 Outer surface 12 Inner surface 2 Functional element 3 Protective layer M1 Lower type M2 Upper type

Claims (10)

With a translucent body,
The functional element provided in the translucent main body and
A contact lens provided on the translucent main body and having an element protection function provided with a protective layer covering the functional element.
The functional element is covered with the translucent main body and the protective layer and separated from the outside, and the material of the protective layer includes a film-forming polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and a solvent.
The film-forming polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyether polyols, polyethers, polyester polyols, polyacrylic acid and derivatives thereof, copolymers of styrene and acrylic acid, and combinations thereof.
A contact lens having an element protection function, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose and its derivatives, polyethylenepyrrolidone and its copolymers, and combinations thereof. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the content of the hydrophilic polymer is 5% to 40% and the content of the solvent is 30% to 90% with respect to the total weight of the protective layer. A contact lens having the described element protection function. The contact lens having the element protection function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, amides and combinations thereof. The contact lens having the element protection function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propanol, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide and dimethylformamide. The contact lens having the element protection function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the thickness of the protective layer is 2 μm to 30 μm. The contact lens having the element protection function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the functional element includes at least one of both a pattern layer and an electric element. The functional element includes at least a pattern layer.
The pattern layer contains a colloidal form of an adhesive and a coloring material, the coloring material is dispersed in the adhesive, and a van der Waals force or bond acting between the molecules of the adhesive and the molecules of the protective layer. The contact lens having the element protection function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the functional element is fixed to the protective layer via the above. The functional element includes at least an electric element.
Any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electric element is a distance sensor including a transmitter and a receiver for measuring the distance from the wearer's eyes to the observed article. A contact lens having the element protection function described in 1. The contact lens having the element protection function according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the width of the protective layer is provided larger than the width of the functional element. The film-forming polymer is a polyether polyol,
The contact lens having the element protection function according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is polyethylene pyrrolidone and a copolymer thereof.

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