JPWO2014125742A1 - Colored contact lenses - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention proposes a design that can objectively change the original color and texture while giving a natural appearance to the eyes of a contact lens wearer. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a colored contact lens having an information display section for the lens designed so that the lens faces a predetermined direction. A colored contact lens whose rotation on the cornea is controlled, the contact lens having an iris pattern, and showing at least one information of a contact lens standard, product number, front / back identification, position identification, and axis identification The display is integrated with the iris pattern.

Description

  The present invention relates to a colored contact lens having an iris pattern that can change the color of the iris of the contact lens wearer without impairing its natural appearance, and in particular, any information is included in the iris pattern. The present invention relates to a colored contact lens.

  A colored lens with an iris pattern on a contact lens (hereinafter simply referred to as “lens”) emphasizes the natural beauty of the eye and improves the eye color or texture of the wearer, rather than correcting vision. It is offered as a change.

  For this reason, there are many proposals in terms of design that take the visual effect into the colored area. As a thing which emphasizes the natural beauty of eyes, for example, it has a corneal rim ring and a fibrous dot pattern, and has a user's iris larger (Patent Document 1) and a crescent-shaped pattern And those that emphasize the iris of a contact lens wearer (Patent Document 2).

  In addition, in an example aimed at presenting a more natural appearance, at least two different designs are provided on the mold surface, and transferred to the surface of the lens that contacts the mold surface during molding and curing of the contact lens (Patent Document) 3) Two colored regions having different hues and having a pattern in contact with a jagged boundary region (Patent Document 4), two sub-patterns having different shadow ratios, and subjective sub-patterns having a series of radial patterns A pattern having an intermittent line pattern (Patent Document 5), an iris section having three parts, and by appropriately setting the range of each section, an overlapping region is generated in a plurality of locations. That has a natural appearance (Patent Document 6), and the colored region is composed of a combination having a shape such as a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, and a line. , Those having a color that changes gradually in a radial direction (Patent Document 7), and the like.

  Furthermore, there are those that incorporate a mark that distinguishes the left and right lenses in the iris pattern (Patent Document 8), and those that incorporate a mark that indicates that it is a diagnostic lens in the iris pattern (Patent Document 9). These are displays for clearly identifying the lens, and are display methods that are recognized independently from the iris pattern.

  On the other hand, lenses for the purpose of correcting visual acuity include lenses for astigmatism correction and bifocal lenses as well as for myopia and hyperopia. For example, a toric lens for correcting astigmatism is designed to prevent free rotation on the cornea when worn, so that the cylindrical axis of the toric surface of the lens substantially coincides with the axis of astigmatism of the patient. Has ballast. In the ballast, one section of the lens periphery is thicker (or thinner) than the other sections, and a lens suitable for the patient is prescribed from the positional relationship between the cylindrical axis and the ballast axis. Therefore, this positional relationship is clearly indicated by marking a predetermined position of the lens (Patent Document 10).

  In addition, in order to make the visual axis and the optical axis of the lens coincide with each other, the optical center is decentered with respect to the geometric center, and an index mark (position identification) is provided for enabling the orientation of the lens to be identified (Patent Document 11). It is disclosed.

  However, so far, no examples have been found regarding the display of the directional characteristics given to a lens that controls free rotation on the cornea, such as a toric lens, in connection with the iris pattern of the colored lens.

Special table 2007-537492 gazette Special table 2011-527029 gazette JP-A-4-265710 Japanese National Patent Publication No. 4-505972 JP 2000-66147 A Special table 2002-507001 gazette JP-T-2004-533629 International Publication WO2011 / 097133 JP 2005-529359 A JP-T-2001-519048 International Publication WO2009 / 093286

  An object of the present invention is to propose a novel design that displays information related to a lens that is designed so that the lens faces a predetermined direction on the cornea when a contact lens is worn. It is.

  According to the present invention, in a lens whose rotation on the cornea is controlled, the lens has an iris pattern, and a display showing at least one information among the lens standard, product number, front / back identification, position identification, and axis identification is provided. The iris pattern is displayed integrally with the iris pattern. The term “integrated” refers to a state in which the portion where the information is displayed constitutes a part of the iris pattern, and means that there is no information display section other than the iris pattern region. Conventional iris patterns are designed to look more natural or have an aesthetic sensation. In the present invention, a part of the pattern is used to display information such as lens standards. For example, if the iris pattern is applied to the lens and the information can be added at the same time, the lens can be provided at a low cost without adding a new process. In addition, since the display of the information is part of an iris pattern, the characteristic of the colored lens that objectively changes the color and texture of the pupil while giving the lens wearer's pupil a natural appearance remains the same. Thus, the lens information necessary as a new function can be expressed.

  Examples of the information include various information such as lens standards, product numbers, front / back identification, eccentric positions of multifocal surfaces, and cylindrical axes of toric surfaces. Information includes the eccentric position of the multifocal surface and the cylindrical axis of the toric lens surface. The lens standard and product number can be replaced by placing them on the container, and the front and back sides can be identified from the shape of the lens when it is placed on the fingertip. This is because the cylindrical axis of the toric lens surface is preferably displayed for so-called fitting observation in a state where the patient has tried the lens.

  The information display is preferably a camouflage pattern integrated with the iris pattern. The “camouflage” of the present invention is a state in which the information display portion expressed in the iris pattern region of the lens and other portions of the iris pattern cannot be easily distinguished at first glance, or are uniform to some extent without bias. The state that has been applied. This is because the user may not want the information to be displayed directly on the lens, and in order to give an objective natural appearance, it is more preferable to fuse it with an iris pattern. .

Therefore, it is preferable that the shape of the display portion for displaying the information is as small as possible. Specifically, it is desirable that the minimum area is 0.1 mm ² or more and the maximum area is 2 mm ² or less. If it is smaller than the above range, it is difficult to distinguish from the iris pattern, and there is a possibility that the displayed information cannot be read even if it is enlarged. Also, if it is larger than the above range, it will be displayed deviating from the area of the iris pattern, and the natural appearance may be impaired when the lens is worn.

  Also, depending on the information displayed, there is information that can be understood only by a specific person such as a doctor prescribing the lens. For example, information such as the cylindrical axis of the toric surface is important only at the stage of prescribing the patient, and does not need to be displayed when the patient actually uses the lens. Therefore, it is preferable that the information is encrypted so that it can be understood only by a specific person.

  The colored contact lens of the present invention can include various kinds of information related to the lens in the iris pattern when the iris pattern is added. Equipment can be used as it is. In addition, since it is included in the iris pattern and displayed integrally, the effect of providing an objective natural appearance as a colored lens can be maintained as it is.

  In addition, by selecting a display method, it is possible to express a limited number of persons who need the information, so that the confidentiality of information to a third party is excellent from the viewpoint of personal information protection. Furthermore, in order to make use of the so-called iris pattern, a large amount of information can be dramatically increased and displayed.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view showing an example of an iris pattern of the colored contact lens of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing another example of the iris pattern of the colored contact lens of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing another example of the iris pattern of the colored contact lens of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing another example of the iris pattern of the colored contact lens of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing another example of the iris pattern of the colored contact lens of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing another example of the iris pattern of the colored contact lens of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a method for producing a colored contact lens of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the method for producing a colored contact lens of the present invention.

  The colored lens of the present invention uses an iris pattern to display information about the lens so that it is included in the pattern, so that it does not impair the natural appearance as seen by the observer and uses the conventional manufacturing process as it is. It has the feature that it can. Hereinafter, specific description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A general spherical lens can freely rotate on the cornea. The wearing state is maintained by the surface tension of the tear film between the lens and the cornea, but the lens is moved by blinking or the like, and rotates randomly when returning to a stable position. This is because the change in curvature from the center of the spherical lens toward the periphery shows substantially the same change in curvature over the 360 ° direction on both the inner and outer surfaces. Therefore, the lens at the stable position on the cornea does not necessarily have the same positional relationship as the lens at the previous stable position. This is because when a part of the periphery of the lens is observed, a portion that was above in the previous stable position may be located below or on the side in the next stable position.

  The iris pattern design including information related to the lens in the present invention is more suitable for a lens of the type in which rotation on the cornea is suppressed than a lens having a spherical inner and outer surface as described above. This type of lens maintains a predetermined direction when worn and is in a stable position. The lens is manufactured so as to have directionality at a stable position, and it is desirable that the fitting state can be confirmed at the time of trial use. Therefore, it is preferable that the information is displayed so that the characteristic of the lens can be identified.

  For lenses that are stable in a certain direction on the cornea in this way, it is necessary to display which direction is stable, so there is an example in which only that information is shown alone in the past. (For example, patent document 10). The present invention is characterized in that the information is integrally displayed in an iris pattern. There is no particular difference in manufacturing process between simply displaying the information on the lens and giving it as an iris pattern including the information. This is because both are common in that a coloring component is applied to the lens. Therefore, even if the cost is the same, the present invention enjoys the merit that a lens with higher added value can be provided.

  An example of the colored lens of the present invention is a toric lens. This lens is used for astigmatism correction and is prescribed by aligning the axis of a cylindrical lens with the astigmatism axis. To stabilize the cylinder axis in alignment with the astigmatism axis, for example, thicken part of the periphery so that the center of gravity of the lens is biased (prism ballast), thin both upper and lower ends (dynamic stabilization), or It has a structure in which the lower end of the lens is cut off in the horizontal direction (truncation).

  Since the angle between the patient's cylindrical axis and the ballast axis of the lens differs depending on the patient, the toric lens is usually manufactured at an interval of 5 ° or 10 ° in the range of 0 ° to 180 °. ) Is important information, and it is necessary to make it possible for the examiner to know the fitting while the patient is wearing it. Since the lens material is transparent, the index is required for the lens on the cornea.

  In addition to the toric lens, the multifocal lens can also be controlled to rotate on the cornea. The multifocal lens has a near vision correction area and a distance vision correction area, which can be used separately as needed, and the near vision correction area and the distance vision correction area are simultaneously observed, There is a type of selecting and observing a distance desired by the wearer's brain. Some near vision and far vision correction areas are designed so that the correction area distribution is not uniform from the center of the lens in the circumferential direction, and is stable in a preferable arrangement on the cornea. (See Kaihei 7-239459, JP-A 2009-169104, etc.). By displaying these lenses including information on the lenses in the iris pattern of the present invention, it is possible to provide lenses with higher added value.

  The colored lens of the present invention is designed so that the rotation of the lens on the cornea is controlled for the purpose of simply improving the feeling of wearing and easily distinguishing the front and back of the lens in addition to the toric and multi-focal points. Lens is also included.

  The material of the colored lens may be any of a water-containing soft lens containing water, a silicone hydrogel soft lens, a non-water-containing soft lens, and an oxygen-permeable hard lens. The mainstream of the colored lens market in recent years is a hydrous soft lens or a silicone hydrogel soft lens, which is more suitable for these. The material of each lens is a polymer of a known monomer. For example, as a hydrous soft lens, hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylate, alkylene glycol mono (meth) acrylate, alkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylate, dimethyl (meth) Polymers such as acrylamide, glycerol (meth) acrylate, glycidyl (meth) acrylate, vinyl pyrrolidone, (meth) acrylic acid, etc., and non-hydrous soft lens materials give a polymer with a low glass transition point. Examples of monomers include polymers such as n-butyl (meth) acrylate, decyl (meth) acrylate, and lauryl (meth) acrylate. Examples of materials for silicone hydrogel soft lenses and oxygen-permeable hard lenses include silicone-containing alkyl (meth) ) Such as a monomer or a silicone-containing macromer, such as acrylate polymers with monomers of the above water-containing soft lenses and the like.

  When selecting the material of the coloring component constituting the iris pattern of the present invention, a monomer component may be blended in addition to the coloring component. As the monomer component to be blended, it is preferable to selectively use a monomer having a high affinity with the constituent monomer component of the lens to be colored or the same as the constituent monomer. More specifically, if a high molecular weight polymer having hydroxyethyl methacrylate as a main component is selected as the material for the colored lens, it is desirable to add hydroxyethyl methacrylate as the material for the colored component. . As a result, the coloring component is more firmly bonded to the lens body, so that the elution of the coloring agent can be effectively prevented and the deformation of the lens after molding can be prevented. In particular, in the case of a hydrous soft lens, since it swells with water, depending on the combination of monomers, if there is a large gap in the swelling ratio between the colored portion and the lens body, it can be a factor of deformation. Therefore, it is desirable to consider the compatibility between the lens material and the coloring component material.

  The information displayed in the iris pattern includes the lens standard (center thickness, size, base curve, spherical lens power, cylindrical lens power, etc.), product number (in addition to the ballast axis and cylindrical axis of the lens as described above). Lot number, serial number, manufacturer, date of manufacture, etc.), and a display that can determine the front and back of the lens. These are integrally displayed on the iris pattern of the lens, and depending on the information, they can be clearly identified in the iris pattern or may be a camouflage pattern.

  For example, since it is necessary for the lens user to be able to identify the front and back of the lens, the information constitutes the iris pattern of the lens and can be recognized separately from other areas of the iris pattern. Preferably there is.

  On the other hand, it is important for a lens wearer to mask his own iris, which is the greatest purpose of wearing a colored lens, and to make a third person more naturally see an iris color or an iris pattern. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable that the lens information is integrated with the iris pattern to form a camouflage.

  The display unit indicating the information has a fixed shape such as a triangle, a quadrangle, a circle, and an ellipse, an indeterminate shape, or a shape formed by combining them, and is not composed of letters, numbers, or the like. This is because the information display unit itself constitutes a part of the iris pattern, so that notation (letters, numbers, etc.) that is not considered an iris pattern is not appropriate. A preferable shape of the display portion is a rod shape having a width of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and a length of 0.2 to 2.0 mm, and is arranged along the lens radial line with the length direction directed toward the center of the lens. Yes. It is also possible to distinguish between the display portion and other portions of the iris pattern by brightness or color. Specific shapes and the like are illustrated in the drawings and will be described later.

The information display of the present invention can be a small display that can be identified only by a specific person such as a person inspecting a lens or a clinician inspecting through a slit lamp microscope. This is because if the information is not necessary for a person other than a specific person (for example, a lens user), it is not necessary to explicitly indicate it. Such a size is difficult to recognize with the naked eye, but is a size that can be identified by magnifying from 3 to 50 times. More specifically, when expressed as an area, the minimum area is 0.1 mm. ^The size is ² or more and a maximum area of 2 mm ² or less, preferably a minimum area of 0.2 mm ² or more and a maximum area of 1 mm ² or less. In terms of size, the minimum width is 0.1 mm or more and the maximum width is 2 mm or less. The “minimum width” and “maximum width” are the “short side” of a rectangle when the shape of the display unit is enclosed by a rectangle or a square so that all four sides of the display unit are in contact with each other. This refers to the length of the “long side” (but of course the same length in the case of a square). In this specification, the minimum width is simply expressed as “width” and the maximum width is simply expressed as “length”. ing.

  In addition to reducing the size of the display unit as described above, for example, information can be set to be transmitted only to a specific person by encrypting the display of information. If the display is too small, it is considered that information cannot be acquired because it is buried in the iris pattern, or it is difficult to give a small display to the lens.

  “Encryption” is an expression format that cannot be easily understood by an unauthenticated person, and is different from expressing as a camouflage pattern. When expressed in a camouflage pattern, the information display unit in the iris area and the part not displaying the information are integrally displayed to such an extent that it is difficult to identify, but encryption is performed in the information display unit. Even if it can be identified, the meaning of the display is information that cannot be understood by the general public. Therefore, in the case of encryption, it is assumed that information that is a key for decrypting the cipher is separately transmitted in advance so that the information is transmitted only to a specific person. It should be noted that although it is not possible for ordinary people to determine whether it is a cipher or an iris pattern, it is also possible to make the cipher a cipher pattern and a cipher integrated so that only those who are familiar with the cipher information can discriminate.

  In any case, the information display unit of the present invention is integrally expressed in the iris pattern, and the area of the information display unit in the iris pattern region is 0% of the entire iris pattern in area ratio. 0.1-30%, preferably 0.2-15%, more preferably 0.3-10%, most preferably 0.5-5%. This is because a small occupation ratio may be used depending on the information to be presented, and when it exceeds 30%, the original effect of the colored lens that expresses the iris pattern is impaired. The area of the entire iris pattern refers to the area of the entire region formed in an annular shape in the peripheral area of the lens including the transparent portion when there is a transparent portion between the colored portions as well as the colored portion. .

  It is preferable that the information display unit is displayed in a dispersed manner in at least two places in the ring area of the iris pattern. This is because in the case of a lens whose rotation is controlled, particularly a toric lens, it is necessary to identify the angle between the cylinder axis and the ballast axis. For the same reason, the information display unit is preferably arranged so as to cross the annular iris region in the radial direction from the inner circle side toward the outer circle side. This is because the arrangement is optimal for displaying the angle. In this case, the display portion does not need to extend to the outer circle side, but the inner circle side preferably extends to the inner outer edge portion in the annular region of the iris pattern. This is because the position of the information display unit is most easily identified because it is formed integrally with the iris pattern.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the information display unit of the present invention is expressed in a certain shade from the outer circle side to the inner circle side in the iris-shaped annular region. In general, the iris pattern is dark on the outer circle side of the annular region and lightly colored on the inner circle side. Therefore, even if it is a small information display part, it is easy to detect that the information display part is in a thin color scheme of the iris pattern.

In FIG. 1, a colored lens (1) which is an example of the present invention is enlarged and displayed. The iris pattern (2) includes a region (3) having a pattern in which the outer periphery is divided into rhombuses by a line, a region (4) in which the inner periphery is dispersed so as to become smaller toward the center of the rhombus points, and Annular part (5) existing so as to separate the two regions, a bar-shaped display part (6) in two upper and lower positions having a width of 0.4 mm, a length of 2 mm, and an area of about 0.8 mm ² indicating the cylindrical axis of the lens, left and right 2 It consists of marks (7) in which four rhombuses are neatly assembled. The display unit (6) displays lens information such as a cylindrical axis. When the lens is actually observed with the naked eye, it can be seen that the display unit is integrally displayed in the iris pattern. In this example, the area occupied by the information display unit is about 1.8% of the entire area of the iris region.

FIG. 2 shows a colored lens (11) which is another example of the present invention. The iris pattern (12) is extended so that a line (15) imitating a tree branch of an annular colored surface region is divided into an inner peripheral side (14) and an outer peripheral side (13), and a circular dot (17) Are dispersed throughout the colored region. Further, a pattern (18) shaped like a clay figure is scattered on the inner side of the inner circumference side so as to support the inner circumference. A display portion (16) having a width of 0.6 mm, a length of 2 mm, and an area of about 1.2 mm ² that shows the upper part from the root of the tree is shown in two places above and below the iris pattern. In this example, the area occupied by the information display unit is about 2.8% of the area of the entire iris region. This iris pattern is drawn so that branches extending left and right from two trees surround the periphery of the lens, and for the user, it appears as a simple pattern. Lens information is displayed, which is an example of encryption. When the full-size lens is observed, it can be seen that the display unit is displayed integrally with the iris pattern.

FIG. 3 shows a colored lens (21) which is another example of the present invention. The iris pattern (22) includes a region (23) having a pattern in which the outer periphery is divided into rhombuses with lines, and a region (24) in which the inner periphery is dispersed so that the circular point decreases toward the lens center. and an annular portion present so as to separate the two regions (25), width 0.4mm showing the cylindrical axis of the lens, length 1.5 mm, the display portion of the bar-shaped area of about 0.6 mm ² (26), the ballast axis It consists of a bar-shaped display part (27) shown and six heart-shaped marks (28). The display units (26, 27) display lens information. However, the arrangement of the heart-shaped mark embeds the lens in the iris pattern even when the lens is observed with the naked eye, and the heart-shaped mark and the display unit Differences cannot be clearly identified. The size of the display unit is 0.4 mm in width and 1.5 mm in length, and the area occupied by the information display unit is about 1.3% of the total area of the iris region. In this example, the display unit can be confirmed by using a slit lamp microscope.

FIG. 4 shows a colored lens (31) which is another example of the present invention. When compared in an enlarged display state, it approximates the iris pattern of the lens shown in FIG. The difference is that the display part (36) having a width of 0.4 mm, a length of 2 mm, and an area of about 0.8 mm ² representing the upper tree from the root is provided in a total of four locations, up and down, left and right, and its thickness. Is thin and also has an uncolored part (38). Due to these effects, the display unit cannot be clearly identified even with the naked eye. Similar to the example of FIG. 3, it can be recognized by enlarging with a slit lamp microscope or the like. In this example, the area occupied by the information display unit is about 3.5% of the area of the entire iris region.

FIG. 5 shows a colored lens (41) which is another example of the present invention. The iris pattern (42) is sparsely arranged as the scale-shaped points (44) move toward the center of the lens, and is displayed smaller, with a width of 0.4 mm, a length of 1.5 mm, and an area of about 0.6 mm. ^{It has two} bar-shaped display parts (46). Since the size of the display unit is small with a minimum width of 0.4 mm and a maximum width of 1.5 mm, it is difficult to identify by observing with the naked eye because it is integrated in an iris pattern. In this example, the area occupied by the information display unit is about 1.4% of the area of the entire iris region. This example is also a design that can be recognized by magnifying observation as in the example of FIGS.

  FIG. 6 shows a colored lens (51) which is another example of the present invention. The iris pattern (52) is similar to the lens shown in FIG. 5, but the difference is that the display unit (56) is provided at four locations, top, bottom, left and right. In this example, the area occupied by the information display unit is about 2.8% of the area of the entire iris region. In this example, as in the example shown in FIG. 5, it is difficult to recognize the display unit with the naked eye, but the design is such that it can be identified by magnified observation.

  The colored lens of the present invention has a transparent central visual region and a colored region surrounding it, like the existing color lens. Basically, a colored region is formed so as to color a portion that does not enter the wearer's field of view and mask the iris color of the patient. As shown in the figure, the colored region is composed of any one of a plane, a line, a point, or a combination thereof.

  The transparent central visual region has a visible light (380 nm to 750 nm) transmittance of 80% to 100%, and is colorless and transparent or colored and transparent. The colored area forms an iris pattern, and the transmittance is 0% to 80%. The subject who changes the color of the iris (for example, Japanese, Westerners, men and women), or the color of the iris (for example, green, blue) ) And the degree to be expressed. For example, if the target is a dark brown pupil whose iris color is dark, it is preferable that the transmittance of the colored region is approximately 0 to 30% so that the iris color to be expressed becomes clearer.

  The iris pattern of the present invention is preferably formed from a dot-like pattern as shown in FIGS. It is possible to make spatial variations when placing the dot-like one (for example, arranging the dots so that the number of points gradually decreases toward the center of the lens, reducing the size of the dots, etc.) This is because it is easy to change the texture of the image, and the boundary at the transition part leading to the central visual area can be blurred, so that the natural appearance is not impaired.

  The central visual area that is transparent (including the one that is transparent and lightly colored as a whole) allows light to enter the pupil and has a diameter of 5 to 11 mm, preferably 7 to 10 mm. . This is to ensure a sufficient field of view. The colored region surrounding the central visual region is formed in an annular shape with a radial width in the range of 1.0 to 3.5 mm, preferably in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 mm. In order to make the pupil appear larger, the colored region is formed to extend from the pupil in the lens outer peripheral direction.

  Furthermore, you may have a transparent peripheral area | region so that the said colored area may be surrounded. It is appropriately formed in relation to the lens size. The visible light transmittance of the transparent peripheral region is equivalent to that of the central visual region, and is colorless or colored and transparent.

Next, the manufacturing method of the colored lens of this invention is demonstrated. For example, in the case of a sandwich structure in which coloring components are sandwiched between lens materials, a manufacturing method using a double-sided mold includes the following steps (A) to (D) as shown in FIG.
(A) A lens-forming monomer composition (65) is filled between a mold (60) that forms one surface of the lens and a mold (62) that can form a semi-finished product that is thinner than the lens product. The process of polymerizing.
(B) A step of removing the mold (62), applying the coloring component (68) so as to form a colored region on the exposed surface of the lens semi-finished product (63), and fixing to the lens semi-finished product (63).
(C) The monomer composition for lens formation (65) between a mold (64) that forms the other surface of the lens and a mold (60) that has a lens semi-finished product (63) coated with a coloring component. Is further charged and polymerized.
(D) A step of opening the mold (60) and the mold (64) and taking out the colored lens (61) after polymerization.

  In the step (A) shown in FIG. 7, the mold (60) is a mold that forms the inner surface side of the lens, but may be a mold that forms the outer surface side of the lens. Note that the space formed in combination with the mold (62) must be thinner than the actual lens product. This is to make a sandwich structure in which the coloring component is sandwiched between lens materials.

  The size of the lens semi-finished product (63) in the step (A) is preferably smaller than the size of the lens product (61). That is, the edge portion is formed in the step (C). More specifically, the outer diameter of the lens semi-finished product is set to be 10 to 2000 μm smaller than the outer diameter of the lens product, and preferably 15 to 1000 μm smaller. This is because by reducing the outer diameter in this way, a monomer composition that is polymerized later is used for forming the edge of the lens, and deformation of the lens, loss of the edge portion, generation of burrs, and the like are effectively suppressed. The effect at this time can be explained as follows.

  When the monomer composition to be polymerized later is brought into contact with the lens semi-finished product, the monomer component penetrates into the semi-finished product, so that the polymer of the previously polymerized semi-finished product and the monomer composition to be polymerized later are strongly bonded. To do. If the diameter formed by the monomer composition to be polymerized later is smaller than the lens product (the edge of the lens semi-product becomes the edge of the lens product), the lens semi-product (63) A monomer composition to be polymerized later is filled between the mold (64). At that time, if the monomer composition leaks from between the lens semi-finished product and the mold, the monomer composition comes into contact with the periphery of the semi-finished product, and the polymerization proceeds there. As described above, since this bond is strong, when removing the leaked polymer of the monomer composition from the lens semi-finished product, defects such as defects in the edge portion of the semi-finished product (that is, the edge portion of the lens product). Will occur. Therefore, it is preferable that the size of the lens semi-finished product (63) in the step (A) is smaller than the size of the lens product (61). The “lens product” in the description of the mold manufacturing method refers to a lens when the mold is opened and taken out, and means a state before performing a process such as a hydration treatment.

  The mold (62) is removed in the step (B), and the lens semi-product after polymerization is selectively left in the mold (60). In order to ensure this selectivity, the mold (60) and the mold (62) are molded with different resins, or the lens semi-finished product is easily attracted to or peeled off from either the mold (60) or the mold (62). (For example, applying a surfactant or plasma treatment) is preferable. Alternatively, an apparatus such as Japanese Patent No. 46579797 may be used, or heat may be applied to one mold and the mold (60) may be selectively left on the mold (60).

  In the step (B), a coloring component is applied, and various methods can be appropriately employed as this method, and examples thereof include screen printing, pad printing, and ink jet printing. Which application method is selected is determined in consideration of the physical properties of the coloring component and the physical properties of the lens material. There are various methods (heating, drying, electron beam irradiation, etc.) for fixing to the lens semi-finished product.

  In the step (C), the lens-forming monomer composition is filled between a mold (60) having a lens semi-finished product to which a coloring component is fixed and the mold (64), and the coloring component is sandwiched therebetween. The lens is polymerized.

  Instead of using the mold (64), there is a method of manufacturing a semi-finished lens product that is thicker than the target colored lens. (A) Since the mold (60) in the process forms the inner surface of the lens, the outer surface side of the lens is manufactured by cutting. Such a single-sided mold manufacturing method has the advantage that the types of molds can be reduced.

  In the step (D), the mold (60) and the mold (64) are opened, the lens product (61) is taken out, and hydration treatment, surface hydrophilization treatment, and the like are performed as necessary. The polymerization temperature and time in each step, the type and composition ratio of monomers in each composition, the type of colorant, and the like are appropriately determined.

As described above, there is a method of manufacturing a colored lens having a sandwich structure by combining a spin cast manufacturing method and a mold manufacturing method. This manufacturing method includes, for example, the following steps (E) to (H) as shown in FIG.
(E) The mold (70) that forms the outer surface of the lens is filled with a lens-forming monomer composition (75) so that a semi-finished product having a thickness smaller than that of the lens product can be formed. The process of polymerizing while rotating as (spin cast manufacturing method).
(F) The process of apply | coating the coloring component (78) so that a coloring area | region may be formed in the exposed surface of a lens semi-finished product (73), and fixing to a lens semi-finished product (73).
(G) The lens-forming monomer composition (75) is further placed between a mold (74) for forming the inner surface of the lens and a mold (70) having a lens semi-finished product (73) coated with a coloring component. The process of filling and polymerizing (mold manufacturing method).
(H) A step of opening the mold (70) and the mold (74) and taking out the colored lens (71) after polymerization.

  In the step (E), the outer surface side of the lens is molded by a spin cast manufacturing method. The amount of the monomer composition to be filled at this time is adjusted so as to be a thickness obtained by subtracting the thickness of the coloring component applied in the step (F) and the monomer composition for lens formation on the inner surface side to be polymerized in the step (G). To do. As employed in the step (A), the lens product (71) may be set to have a smaller size than the diameter.

  In general, the polymerization in the spin casting process is performed in an inert gas (nitrogen, argon, etc.) atmosphere, but the polymerization in the step (E) is performed in a gas atmosphere containing an oxygen concentration of 0.1 to 3%. As a result, the yield rate of the obtained lens can be improved. The reason is considered as follows.

  In general, oxygen that is excluded in the polymerization atmosphere as a polymerization inhibitor is positively contained, and the monomer composition on the exposed surface that comes into contact with oxygen in the step (E) is made into a gel with delayed polymerization. In particular, since the edge portion of the lens is very thin, it is difficult to determine the shape. Next, when polymerized in the step (G), the portion that was delayed in the step (E) is polymerized and cured together with the monomer composition in the step (G) to form the layer formed earlier and later. The bond strength with the layer is increased, and a uniform, high quality integrated edge is formed. Therefore, it is thought that it contributes to the improvement of the non-defective product rate when it is a finished product. In addition, the number of molds may be less than the double-sided mold manufacturing method described above for each male and female in all processes, and the operation of opening the mold in the process (B) is unnecessary in the process (F), so that the manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing In terms of time and the like, there is an advantage that the cost can be reduced.

  The application of the coloring component in the step (F) is the same as in the step (B). In addition, the steps (G) and (H) are basically the same as the steps (C) and (D), and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The lens manufactured by the various methods described above has a structure in which a coloring component is confined inside the lens material. Although it is an excellent method in that it can effectively prevent the coloring component from eluting or coming into direct contact with the cornea or wrinkles, if the safety of the coloring component has been confirmed, simply use the lens It is also possible to manufacture by printing on the outer surface or the inner surface, and is not necessarily limited to the production method exemplified above.

In order to clarify the present invention more specifically, some examples will be shown below.
A colored lens was produced using a double-sided mold manufacturing method as shown in FIG. The first female mold has a lens composition monomer composition with a polymerization shrinkage of 6% (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (hereinafter referred to as 2-HEMA) 59 w / w%, glycerol methacrylate 30 w / w%, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate 0.5 w / w%, photopolymerization initiator (2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one) 0.5 w / w%, glycerin 10 w / w%) 23 μl was added, and plasma treatment was performed. The monomer composition was cured by irradiation with light (wavelength: 365 nm, 1 mW / cm ² ) for 5 minutes from the female mold side in a nitrogen atmosphere (step A).

  When the mold is opened, the obtained lens semi-finished product is attached to the male mold side and is designed to have a front curvature of 6.6 mm, a rear curvature of 6.6 mm, a thickness of 0.024 mm, and an outer diameter of 10.88 mm. Yes. The colored components (2-HEMA 30 w / w%, iron oxide 30 w / w%, titanium oxide 30 w / w%, thickener 10 w / w%) appearing in FIG. 2 on the exposed surface of the lens semi-finished product Then, it was printed at a thickness of 10 μm and left at about 25 ° C. for 10 minutes in a blower (Step B).

For forming a lens having the same composition as the above in the second female mold designed so that the outer surface of the completed lens has a cylindrical power + 1.0D and the thickness of both ends of the cylindrical lens in the axial direction is reduced (dynamic stabilization). 35 μl of the monomer composition was placed, and the male mold with the lens semi-finished product in which the coloring component was fixed in the blower was fitted so that the axis of the cylindrical power coincided with the display section (16). The monomer composition was cured by irradiating light (365 nm, 3 mW / cm ² ) from the female mold side for 5 minutes. The composition polymerized at this time is designed to have an outer diameter of 10.92 mm (step C).

  When both molds were separated, the lens product was attached to the male mold (step D). When 8 lens products adhering to the male mold were each put in 5 ml of purified water and immersed, the lens product was hydrated and swollen and detached from the male mold. The water-containing lens was immersed in 5 ml of fresh purified water for 10 minutes at room temperature, and the operation of replacing the purified water was repeated 5 times to remove the eluting components in the lens. Next, it is placed in a depression in a PP container containing 1 ml of an aqueous solution containing 0.9% sodium chloride and 0.03% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and the depression of the container is sealed with a multilayer film. Autoclaved for minutes.

After cooling, the multilayer film was peeled off and the lens was inspected. As designed, the center thickness was 0.11 mm, the diameter was 14.2 mm, the spherical power was -3.0 D, the cylindrical power was +1.0 D, and the axis of the cylindrical power and the display unit (16) Eight non-defective lenses printed with the pink pattern shown in FIG. The outer diameter of the pattern is 12.8 mm, the inner diameter is 8.5 mm, the width of the display section (16) is 0.6 mm, the length is 2.0 mm, and the area is about 1.2 mm ^2. Was about 2.8% of the total area of the iris region.

  This lens was worn by a person with brown eyes and a black eye size of 11.5 mm so that the display unit (16) was directed vertically, and the eyes of the person wearing the naked eye were observed. The eyes changed to pink, but there was no sense of incongruity, and it was observed that the eyes were larger than before wearing. When the display unit (16) stared for a few seconds, it could be confirmed in the vertical direction, but it was not found immediately, so it was a camouflage pattern integrated with the iris pattern. In addition, when observing with a magnifying glass (3 times), the display unit (16) can be easily confirmed as compared with the naked eye, and through a slit lamp microscope (10 times), a desired eye direction axis and on the lens. The angle formed with the bar-shaped display part (16) could also be measured.

(Comparative Example 1)
In the same manner as in Example 1, five new lenses were produced. However, the width of the display part (16) in FIG. 2 is about twice as large as 1.2 mm, the area is about 2.4 mm ^2, and the iris pattern at both ends of the width is deleted by 0.3 mm to be integrated with the iris pattern. The display unit (16) is more conspicuous (not shown).

  This lens was worn by a person with brown eyes and a black eye size of 12 mm wearing the pink display part (16) in the vertical direction, and the eyes of the person wearing the naked eye were observed. The pupil color and the like were observed in the same manner as in Example 1. However, since the display unit (16) was conspicuous, a natural iris pattern could not be provided.

(Comparative Example 2)
In the same manner as in Example 1, five new lenses were produced. However, the color component of the display part (16) in FIG. 2 is pink (2-HEMA 30 w / w%, iron oxide 30 w / w%, titanium oxide 30 w / w%, thickener 10 w / w%), After drying, the iris pattern excluding the display part (16) in FIG. 2 is colored with green (2-HEMA 30w / w%, chromium oxide 60w / w%, thickener 10w / w%), and within the area of the iris pattern The integration of the display part was obstructed.

  This lens was worn by a person with brown eyes and a black eye size of 12 mm wearing the pink display part (16) in the vertical direction, and the eyes of the person wearing the naked eye were observed. There was a sense of incongruity because pink and green were mixed on the eyes. The pink bar-shaped display portion (16) was observed immediately because of a large color difference from the green iris pattern, and could not exhibit a natural appearance.

In the same manner as in Example 1, five new lenses were produced. However, the pattern used was FIG. 3 and the coloring component was brown (2-HEMA 30 w / w%, iron oxide 55 w / w%, carbon black 5 w / w%, thickener 10 w / w%). The outer diameter of the pattern is 12.8 mm, the inner diameter is 8.0 mm, the width of the display portion (26) is 0.40 mm, the length is 1.5 mm, and the area is about 0.6 mm ^2. Was about 1.3% of the total area of the iris region.

  This lens was worn by a person with brown eyes and a black eye size of 12 mm without worrying about the direction of the display section (26), and the eyes of the person wearing the naked eye were observed. Although there was no change or discomfort in the color of the eyes, it was observed that the eyes were larger than before wearing. The rod-shaped display part (26) was not obvious even when staring for several seconds, and was a pattern integrated with the iris pattern. Moreover, when observing using a magnifying glass (3 times), the bar-shaped display part (26) was confirmed in the vertical direction. This seems to be because the lens rotates in the eye and is stable at a desired position regardless of the initial wearing direction because the thickness of both ends of the lens is reduced (dynamic stabilization). Furthermore, the angle formed between the desired eye direction axis and the rod-shaped display part (26) on the lens could be measured through a slit lamp microscope (10 times).

  In the same manner as in Example 2, five new lenses were produced. However, the two heart-shaped marks perpendicular to the bar-shaped display part (26) of the pattern of FIG. 3 are the same as the logo mark (not shown, trademark number) of the same size (diameter 0.6 mm). No. 1382216).

  This lens was worn by a person with brown eyes and a black eye size of 12 mm, and the eyes of the person wearing the naked eye were observed. Although there was no change or discomfort in the color of the eyes, it was observed that the eyes were larger than before wearing. Menicon's logo was unclear even after a few seconds of staring, and was a camouflage pattern integrated with an iris pattern. However, the lens can be placed on the palm and observed under a normal fluorescent lamp, which is useful as information that informs the user that the product is of the desired company.

In the same manner as in Example 1, 10 new lenses (hereinafter referred to as “lens A”) were produced. However, the pattern was as shown in FIG. 5 and the color component was brown (2-HEMA 30 w / w%, iron oxide 55 w / w%, carbon black 5 w / w%, thickener 10 w / w%). The outer diameter of the iris pattern is 12.8 mm, the inner diameter is 8.0 mm, the width of the display section (46) is 0.4 mm, the length is 1.5 mm, and the area is about 0.6 mm ^2. The area was about 1.4% of the total area of the iris region.

  On the other hand, 10 lenses (hereinafter referred to as “lens B”) with an iris pattern similar to the above (however, the display portion (46) is deleted and the portion is made the same pattern as the other iris region (42)). Was made.

  10 volunteers (21-35 years old) were asked to wear lenses A and B alternately on both eyes, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to see if there was any sense of discomfort by comparing both eyes while wearing them. . As a result, none of the subjects claimed any differences between the two lenses. Therefore, the integrity of the display unit of the present invention with the iris pattern was confirmed.

(Comparative Example 3)
In the same manner as in Example 4, 10 new lenses (hereinafter referred to as “lens C”) were produced. However, the width of the display portion (46) in FIG. 5 was 1.4 mm, the length was 1.5 mm, and the area was about 2.1 mm ^{2 so} that the display portion was more conspicuous.

In the same manner as in Example 4, 10 volunteer subjects wear lenses B and C alternately on both eyes, and conduct a questionnaire survey to see if there is any sense of incompatibility by comparing both eyes while wearing them. did. As a result, 5 subjects insisted on the difference between the two lenses. Therefore, it was shown that when the area of the display part exceeds 2 mm ² , the integrity with the iris pattern is hindered, thereby impairing the effect of presenting a natural appearance.

In the same manner as in Example 1, 10 new lenses (hereinafter referred to as “lens D”) were produced. However, the pattern was as shown in FIG. 6, and the coloring component was brown (2-HEMA 30 w / w%, iron oxide 55 w / w%, carbon black 5 w / w%, thickener 10 w / w%). The outer diameter of the iris pattern is 12.8 mm, the inner diameter is 8.0 mm, the width of the display section (56) is 0.4 mm, the length is 1.5 mm, and the area is about 0.6 mm ^2. The area was about 2.8% of the total area of the iris region.

  On the other hand, 10 lenses (hereinafter referred to as “lens E”) with an iris pattern similar to the above (however, the display portion (56) is deleted and the same pattern as that of the other iris region (52) is removed). Was made.

  In the same manner as in Example 4, 10 volunteer subjects wear lenses D and E alternately on both eyes, and conduct a questionnaire survey to see if there is a sense of incompatibility by comparing both eyes while wearing them. did. As a result, none of the subjects claimed any differences between the two lenses. Therefore, the integrity of the display unit of the present invention with the iris pattern was confirmed.

(Comparative Example 4)
In the same manner as in Example 4, ten new lenses (hereinafter referred to as “lens F”) were produced. However, the display part (56) of FIG. 6 was arranged 0.2 mm away from the inner circle of the iris area (52) and formed so that the display part was located away from the iris area.

  In the same manner as in Example 4, 10 volunteer subjects wear lenses E and F alternately on both eyes, and conduct a questionnaire survey to see if there is any sense of incompatibility by comparing both eyes while wearing them. did. As a result, although there were some names (2 people), they claimed the difference between the two lenses. Therefore, it has been shown that if the display portion is formed away from the iris region, the effect of presenting a natural appearance may be impaired.

  The present invention provides a very natural appearance and a colored contact lens having a pattern that can change the apparent color of the wearer's pupil contains lens information in its iris pattern, which is an extension of the prior art. This makes it possible to meet a wide range of consumer needs without introducing new equipment or suppressing cost increases.

1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71 ... colored contact lenses 2, 12, 22, 42, 52 ... iris pattern 6, 16, 26, 27, 36, 46, 56 ... Display units 60, 62, 64, 70, 74 ... molds 68, 78 ... colored components

According to the present invention, in a lens whose rotation on the cornea is controlled, the lens has an iris pattern and displays at least one information of an eccentric position of a multifocal surface of a contact lens or a cylindrical axis of a toric lens surface Is integrally displayed on the iris pattern. The term “integrated” refers to a state in which the portion where the information is displayed constitutes a part of the iris pattern, and means that there is no information display section other than the iris pattern region. Conventional iris patterns are designed to look more natural or have an aesthetic sensation. However, the present invention is characterized in that the information is displayed using a part of the pattern, for example, iris. If the information can be added at the same time that the pattern is applied to the lens, the lens can be provided at a low cost without adding a new process. In addition, since the display of the information is part of an iris pattern, the characteristic of the colored lens that objectively changes the color and texture of the pupil while giving the lens wearer's pupil a natural appearance remains the same. Thus, the lens information necessary as a new function can be expressed.

The lens information includes various information such as standards, product numbers, front / back identification, multifocal surface eccentric position, toric surface cylindrical axis, etc. Among them, information that is preferably described on the lens itself As the eccentric position of the multifocal surface and the cylindrical axis of the toric lens surface. The lens standard and product number can be replaced by placing them on the container, and the front and back sides can be identified from the shape of the lens when it is placed on the fingertip. This is because the cylindrical axis of the toric lens surface is preferably displayed for so-called fitting observation in a state where the patient has tried the lens.

Further, the information displayed in the present invention only needs to be understood by a specific person such as a doctor prescribing the lens. For example, information on the cylindrical axis of the toric surface is important only at the stage of prescribing the patient, and does not need to be displayed when the patient actually continues to use the lens. Therefore, it is preferable that the information is encrypted so that it can be understood only by a specific person.

The colored contact lens of the present invention can include information relating to the lens in the iris pattern when the iris pattern is added. Can be used as they are. In addition, since it is included in the iris pattern and displayed integrally, the effect of providing an objective natural appearance as a colored lens can be maintained as it is.

Claims (5)

A contact lens with controlled rotation on the cornea,
The contact lens has an iris pattern, and a display showing at least one of the contact lens standard, product number, front / back identification, position identification, and axis identification is integrated with the iris pattern. Colored contact lenses. 2. The colored contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the display indicating the information is a camouflage pattern integrated with an iris pattern. The colored contact lens according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information is a display indicating a cylindrical axis of a toric surface. The colored contact lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an area of the display portion indicating the information is a minimum area of 0.1 mm ² or more and a maximum area of 2 mm ² or less. The colored contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the information is encrypted.

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