MXPA00008890A - Colored contactlenses with a more natural appearance - Google Patents

Abstract

A colored contact lens (10) having a non-opaque pupil section (20), an iris section (22) surrounding said pupil section, and a colored, opaque, intermittent pattern over the iris section which is indiscernible to the ordinary viewer. The pattern is made up of a first portion having a first shade, a second portion having a second shade different from the first shade, and a third portion having a shade different from the second portion and either the same or different from the first portion. A first uneven border differentiates the first and second portions, and a second uneven border differentiates the second and third portions, however, said portions may overlap. The lens is capable of changing the appearance of the iris of the person wearing the lens.

Description

COLOR CONTACT LENSES WITH A MORE NATURAL APPEARANCE DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY This application is based on the previous provisional request pending number 60 / 077,829, filed on March 12, 1998. The priority is based on it.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to color contact lenses and in particular to such lenses having opaque color portions that are capable of changing the apparent color of the wearer's iris while imparting a very natural appearance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Initial attempts to modify or improve the color of someone's eyes used colored contact lenses with a single, solidly colored area that covers the iris of the user's eyes. However, contact lenses with this type of opaque coloring impart a very unnatural appearance. Other types of color contact lenses were developed, such as Wichterle, of U.S. Patent No. 3,679,504, which describes an opaque lens having an iris of more than one color drawn in an artistic manner or reproduced in a photographic manner. However, these lenses never achieved commercial success. Other attempts to produce an opaque lens with a natural appearance are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,536,386 (Spivak); 3,712,718 (LeGrand), 4,460,523 (Neefe), 4,719,657 (Bawa), 4,744,647 (Meshel et al.), 4,634,449 (Jenkins); European Patent Publication No. 0 309 154 (Allergan) and UK Patent Application No. 2 202 540 A (IGEL). The commercial success was achieved by the color contact lenses described in Knapp (in U.S. Patent No. 4,582,402) which describes a contact lens having, in its preferred embodiment, opaque, color dots. The Knapp lens provides a natural look with a lens that is simple and inexpensive to produce, using a single pattern of printed dots of a single color. Although the intermittent pattern of dots does not completely cover the iris, it provides sufficient dot density for a masking effect to give the appearance of a continuous color when viewed with the naked eye. Knapp also describes that the printing step can be repeated one or more times using different patterns in different colors, because with close examination the iris of many people is discovered to contain more than one color. The printed pattern does not need to be absolutely uniform, allowing the improvement of the fine structure of the iris. Knapp lenses of one color, which are currently commercially successful, have their points arranged in an irregular pattern to improve the structure of the iris. However, neither the Knapp commercial lens nor the Knapp patent describe or suggest how a dot pattern that has more than one color could be arranged to achieve a more natural appearance. Several efforts have been made to improve Knapp's lenses. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,414,477 to Jahnke describes the application of the intermittent ink pattern in two or more portions of different shades of dye to provide a more natural appearance. Other attempts to create a more natural-looking lens include the U.S. patent. No. 5,120,121 to Rawlings, which describes a group of interconnecting lines radiating from the periphery of the pupil portion to the periphery of the iris portion. Additionally, European Patent No. 0 472 496 A2 shows a contact lens having a line pattern that attempts to duplicate the lines discovered in the iris. Despite these efforts, the contact lens industry continues to look for a low-cost color lens that can improve or modify eye color while providing the depth and texture that are inherent in the human iris.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based on the surprise discovery that multi-color opaque patterns can achieve a more natural-looking iris if they are configured appropriately. The improvement in appearance over Knapp's color lenses and Jahnke's two-color lenses is amazing. Same as one and two color lenses, the lenses of this invention are capable of causing a fundamental change in the apparent color of the user's iris, for example from dark brown to light blue or green. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention is a three-color lens in which different colors overlap, more than three colors are contemplated, and the lenses in which all three (or more) of the different colors overlap are also contemplated . An object of the invention is to provide a color contact lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil section, and an intermittent, opaque, color pattern on the iris section. The elements of the pattern are imperceptible to the naked eye and are formed from a first portion of the pattern elements, or the outermost star design, which is a first hue, and a second portion of the pattern elements, or the design of outer star, which is a second key different from said first key, and a third portion of the elements of the pattern, or the interior star design, which is a third key different from said second key and either different or same as the first tonality. The outermost star design is generally located on the outer side of the iris section and generally outside of the outer star design, and the outer star design is generally located on the outer side of the inner star design. A first non-uniform boundary differentiates the outermost and outer star designs, although there is overlap of the outermost and outermost star designs. A second non-uniform boundary differentiates the outer and inner star designs although there is an overlap between the outer and inner star designs. In this way, a lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person who uses the lenses and imparts a very natural appearance is provided. Another object of the invention is to provide a color contact lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil section, and an intermittent, opaque, color pattern, over the iris section, which leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the non-opaque pattern. The pattern covers at least approximately 25% of the area of the iris section. The elements of the pattern are imperceptible to the naked eye. A first portion of the pattern elements, or the outermost star design, is of a first hue, and a second portion of the pattern elements, or the outer star pattern, is of a second hue different from said first hue , and a third portion of the pattern elements, or the interior star design, is of a third hue different from said second hue and either different or the same as the first hue. The outermost star design is generally located on the outside of the iris section and generally on the outside of the outer star design, and the outer star design is generally located on the outer side of the inner star design. A first non-uniform boundary differentiates the outermost and outermost star designs although the outermost and outermost star designs overlap, and a second non-uniform boundary differentiates the outer and inner star designs although the outer and inner star designs overlap . The minimum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of said iris section is from about 5% to 60% of the radial width of said iris section. The maximum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of said iris section is from 25% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section. The minimum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is approximately 15% to 75% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of said second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is from 50% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section. In this way, a contact lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person using the lenses and imparting a very natural appearance is provided. Another object of the invention is to provide a color contact lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil section, and an intermittent, opaque, color pattern, over the iris section, which leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the non-opaque pattern. The pattern covers at least about 25 percent of the area of the iris section. The elements of the pattern are imperceptible to the naked eye. A first portion of the pattern elements, or the outermost star design, is of a first hue, and a second portion of the pattern elements, or the outer star pattern, is of a second hue different from said first hue , and a third portion of the pattern elements, or the interior star design, is of a third hue different from said first hue and either different or the same as the second hue. The outermost star design is generally located on the outside of the iris section and generally on the outer side of the outer star design, and the outer star design is generally located on the outer side of the inner star design. A first non-uniform boundary differentiates the outermost and outermost star designs although the outermost and outermost star designs overlap, and a second non-uniform boundary differentiates the outer and inner star designs although the outer and inner star designs overlap . The minimum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of said iris section is from 15% to about 50% of the radial width of said iris section. The maximum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of said iris section is from 45% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section. The minimum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 15% to about 65% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of said second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris. iris section is from 60% to approximately 95% of the radial width of the iris section. In this way, a contact lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person using the lenses and imparting a very natural appearance is provided. The term "non-opaque" as used herein is designed to describe a part of the lens that is colorless or colored with translucent color. The term "second tonality different from said first tonality" (or some similar language) as used herein is designed to mean that both tones are of totally different colors, such as blue and hazelnut; or that both tonalities are of the same basic color, but have different intensities such as light blue and dark blue. The term "at a glance" is designed to mean a person having normal vision 20-20 who remains at approximately 1.52 meters from a person using the lenses of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a contact lens pattern according to the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates a contact lens pattern indicating an outermost star design according to the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a contact lens pattern indicating an outer star pattern according to the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a contact lens pattern indicating an interior star design according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Figure 1 shows a contact lens 10 according to the present invention. It has a non-opaque pupil section 20 in the center of the lens, and an annular iris section 22 surrounding the pupil section. For hydrophilic lenses a peripheral section (not shown) surrounds the iris section 22. An intermittent, opaque, color pattern is located on the iris section 22, as shown in Figure 1. The pattern leaves a substantial portion of the iris section within the interstices of the non-opaque pattern. The non-opaque areas of iris section 22 appear in white in Figure 1. The pattern elements are preferably dots, and especially preferred are dots, some of which run together, as shown in Figure 1. Certain portions of the iris section 22 are covered less densely with points than other portions. The less densely covered portions form approximately radial rays. This arrangement improves the iris structure of a person who uses lenses. Of course, the opaque pattern can comprise points that have any shape, regular or irregular, such as round, square, hexagonal, elongated, etc. In addition, the pattern elements may have a different dot shape, as long as the elements are imperceptible to the naked eye, cover at least about 25 percent of the iris, and leave a substantial portion of the iris section within the interstices of the iris. non-opaque pattern. The improvement of this invention is a multiple color pattern that greatly improves the natural appearance of the wearer's iris, even on those one and two-color lenses. To produce this pattern of three (or more) colors, the dots (or some other element) are printed in three or more portions or zones of color. A first portion of the elements are of a first hue and are generally located on the outer side of the iris section, that is, on or near the outer perimeter of the annular iris section, and can be referred to as the star design outermost. A first preferred outer portion pattern or outermost star design is shown in Figure 2. Black is most often used as the color of the outermost star design. A second portion of the elements are of a second hue different from the first hue and are generally located on the inside of the outermost star design, and generally surrounded by the outermost star design portion. A second preferred inner portion pattern or outer star design is shown in Figure 3. The outer star design may be many colors, for example, blue, gray, brown or green. A third portion of the elements are of a third hue different from the second hue and either the same or different from the first hue are generally located on the inside of the outer star design, and generally surrounded by the outer star design portion. . A third preferable inner portion pattern or inner star design a appears in Figure 4. The preferred color for the interior star design is hazel. Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shows a combination of Figures 2, 3 and 4. A first non-uniform boundary differentiates the outermost star design portions and the outer star design of the pattern elements., however, the outermost and outer star designs overlap. A second non-uniform boundary differentiates the portions of the outer star design pattern and inner star design, however, the outer and inner star designs overlap. If the patterns of Figures 2, 3 and 4 are amalgamated to form a three-color lens, the non-uniform edge of the pattern shown in Figure 2 will join and overlap with the pattern shown in Figure 3 to form the first non-uniform border. uniform between the most exterior and exterior star designs. In addition, the non-uniform edge of the pattern shown in Figure 4 will join and overlap with the pattern shown in Figure 3 to form the second non-uniform boundary between the outer and inner star designs. In certain cases, the outer star design may contain patterns that extend more toward the periphery of the lens than the pattern of the outermost star design. In certain cases, the outer star design may contain a pattern that extends more toward the pupil section of the lens than the pattern of the inner star design. The alternate embodiments of the present invention include minimum and maximum distances of non-uniform boundaries from the outer perimeter of the iris section. For example, in an alternate embodiment, the minimum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is from 5% to 60% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance from the non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 25% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section, and the minimum distance of the second non-uniform border from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 15% to 75% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 50% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section. In another embodiment, the minimum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 15% to 50% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section. the iris section is 45% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section, and the minimum distance of the second non-uniform border from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 15% to 65% of the radial width of the iris iris section, and the maximum distance of the non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 60% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section.

In yet another alternate mode, the outer star design pattern is stretched closer to the periphery of the contact lens than the outermost star design pattern, and / or the outer star design pattern is stretched closer to the outer star pattern. pupil section make the interior star design pattern. In yet another alternate mode, the inner star design pattern creates an interdigitation pattern with either the outermost star design pattern or the outer star design pattern or both patterns. In addition, the outermost star design pattern can create an interdigitation pattern with the outer star design pattern. In an interdigitation configuration, one pattern passes through another, similar to the fingers of one hand placed between the fingers of the other hand in a flat mode. In addition, a fourth zone may be used in which the fourth zone is the same or different color as the second zone. The fourth zone is interdigitated with the third zone. The production of the opaque portions of the iris section is preferably achieved by printing the lens three times using the known Knapp printing process of the U.S. patent. No. 4,582,402, incorporated herein by reference, and the known printing method of Rawling of the U.S.A. Nos. 5,034,166 and 5,116,112, incorporated herein by reference. In general, a plate or engraving having depressions in the desired pattern is smeared with ink of the desired shade. Excess ink is removed by carving the surface of the plate with a spatula leaving the depression filled with ink. A silicone rubber pad is pressed against the plate to collect ink from the depressions and then pressed against a lens surface to transfer the pattern to the lens. The printed pattern is then cured to convert it non-removable from the lens. Of course, either the anterior or posterior surface of the lens can be printed, but the printing of the anterior surface is currently preferred. Preferred lenses and ink ingredients used to practice this invention are known and are described in Loshaek in the U.S. Patent. No. 4,668,240, incorporated herein by reference. The specific ingredients and objective weights are described in detail below. Very briefly, a lens constructed of polymer having -COOH, -OH or -NH2 groups is printed with ink containing binder polymer having the same functional groups, opaque substance, and a diisocyanate compound. First a mixture of pigments and solvent is ground, and the binder polymer (s) is mixed with it to form a paste. A mixture of monomers and hexamethylene diisocyanate is added to form an ink. Preferred binder polymer solutions have a viscosity of 35,000 CPS for blue, gray, brown and black, and 50,000 CPS for green. The opaque ink is printed and cured on the surface of the lens. The ink pastes and pigments which can be used in the present invention can be manufactured in a number of different ways using the ingredients and percentages (by weight) as described below in the ink color tables. For example, a hazelnut paste can be made using 63.49% binder solution (by weight), 30.00 percent ethyl lactate, 0.61 percent titanium dioxide, 0.06 percent PCN blue, 4.30 percent yellow iron oxide, and 1.54 percent red iron oxide. Although those colors are used for the preferred embodiments, other colors or variations of the weight percentage of the ingredients may be used. The pictures below are simply an illustrative example of the possible pigments and pigment levels, and it is not a complete list. Someone of ordinary skill in the art could develop other levels of pastes and pigments that would provide an improving effect to the iris of a person using contact lenses.

Of course, alternate shapes can be used to form opaque elements of lens color. For example, selected portions of the iris section of a wet hydrophilic lens may be impregnated with a solution of a first substance, such as barium chloride. The lens can then be immersed in a solution of a second substance, such as sulfuric acid, which forms an opaque precipitate, not soluble in water, with the first substance, for example barium sulfate. In this way an opaque precipitate is formed inside the lens in a predetermined pattern in the iris section. Next, all or at least the opaque pattern of the iris section is colored in an opaque pattern according to the invention. If the entire iris is colored with transparent ink, then the interstices within the pattern will be colored transparently, but not yet opaque and in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, the pupil section of the lens can be colored by a non-opaque ink, because said ink is not visible when the lens is against the dark pupil present in the user's eye. Other alternate opacity methods include the use of a laser (U.S. Patent No. 4,744,647) and finely ground particles of the U.S. Patent. No. 4,460,523. The method of the present invention for making contact lenses of color is as follows. A transparent contact lens comprising at least one pupil section and an iris section surrounding the pupil section is provided. If the lens is constructed of a hydrophilic material, it also has a peripheral section that surrounds the iris section. For the hydrophilic material, the steps described below are performed with the material in a non-hydrated state. Preferred hydrophilic materials are described by Loshaek in the U.S. Patent. No. 4,405,773, incorporated herein by reference. The color pattern can be deposited on the iris section of the lens in any way. The currently preferred method is by pad transfer printing, described in some detail below. A plate (not shown) is prepared having a flat surface and circular depressions corresponding to the desired point pattern.

The depressions are arranged to cover an annular shape corresponding to the iris section of the lens. The plate can be manufactured by a technique that is well known for making analog or digital circuits. First a pattern about 20 times larger than the desired pattern is prepared.

The pattern is then reduced using well-known photographic techniques to a pattern of the exact desired size that has the portion to be colored darker than the remaining area. A flat surface is covered by a photo-resistant material which becomes insoluble in water when exposed to light. The photo-resistant material is covered with the pattern and exposed to light. The portion of the photo-resistant pattern is removed by washing with water and the resulting plate is etched to the required depth.

Then the rest of the photo-resistant material is removed mechanically.

The dye, which comprises a pigment and binder or carrier for the pigment and an adhesion promoter, is deposited on a flat surface of the plate and carved through the pattern with a spatula. This causes the depressions to be filled with ink while removing excess ink from the flat surface. The colorant can be more or less opaque depending on the degree of color change desired. Opacity can be varied by modifying the ratio of pigment to binder in the dye. It will be recognized that a desired effect can be obtained by using a highly opaque colorant or by having a dye somehow less opaque and covering a larger portion of the surface of the iris section. A pad made of silicone rubber, impregnated with silicone oil for easy release, is pressed against the pattern, removing ink from the depressions. The ink is allowed to dry slightly on the pad to improve tack, then pressed against the front surface of the contact lens, depositing the ink in the desired pattern on the iris section. Of course the pad must have sufficient flexibility to deform to fit over the convex front surface of the lens. The printed pattern does not need to be absolutely uniform, allowing the improvement of the fine structure of the iris. Then the deposited pattern is treated to make it resistant to removal of the lens under exposure to eye fluids that the lens will find when placed in the eye. The exact method to avoid removal depends on the construction material of the lens and the pattern. Simple air drying or heating of the lens at, for example, 85 ° C for 45 minutes will suffice. For hydrophilic lenses, the techniques for coating the opaque pattern described in Loshaek, U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,240 (incipient herein by reference), may be used. The method for manufacturing a contact lens in accordance with the present invention generally includes the steps of applying three portions of dye to the surface of a transparent contact lens and rendering the dye resistant to removal by eye fluids. The printed contact lens will have a non-opaque pupil section and an iris section surrounding said pupil section with the three dye portions. The first portion of colorant, or outermost star design, is of a first shade, the second portion of colorant, the exterior star design, is a second shade which is different from the first shade, and the third portion of the colorant , or the interior star design, is a third key which is different from the second key and may or may not be the same as the first key. The outermost star design will generally be located on the outer side of the iris section and generally on the outer side of the outer star design, the outer star design will generally be located on the outer side of the inner star design, and a The first non-uniform boundary difference will differentiate the outermost star design and the outer star design although the outermost star and outer star design portions will overlap, a second non-uniform boundary will differentiate the outer star design and the outermost design. inner star although the outer and inner star designs will overlap. In this way, a lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person using the lens and imparting a very natural appearance will be provided. The steps used in order to deposit the intermittent pattern on the surface of the lens include using a first plate having depressions corresponding to the first portion or outermost star pattern and filling the depressions with dye of the first shade, preferably black. Next, press a first flexible pad against the first plate and subsequently press the first flexible pad against the lens surface (either side) thereby printing the first portion of the elements. Next, using a second plate having depressions corresponding to the second portion or outer star design and filling the depressions with dye of the second shade which is different from the first shade, preferably blue, green, gray or brown. Next, press the second flexible pad against a second plate and press the second flexible pad against the surface of the lens (either the same or the opposite surface) thereby printing the second portion of the elements. Finally, using a third plate having depressions corresponding to the third portion or interior star design and filling the depressions with dye of the third hue which is different from the second hue and is either the same or different from the first hue, preferably hazelnut. Press a third flexible pad against the third plate and press the third flexible pad against said lens surface (either side) thereby printing the third portion of the elements. Although the steps listed above place an order to the printing of the portions on the lens, the order of printing is not important to the present invention and any other printing order would be covered by the present invention. In addition, the procedure described above may include the maximum and minimum distances, creating the non-uniform boundaries, previously listed in the alternate modalities. It can be seen that the present invention provides lenses capable of changing the appearance of the user's iris, while allowing the visualization of the fine structure of the same. Several changes can be made in the function and disposition of the parts: equivalent means can be replaced by those illustrated and described; and certain features may be used independently of others without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (29)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A color contact lens comprising a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding said pupil section and an intermittent, opaque, color pattern on said entire iris section, which leaves a substantial portion within of the interstices of the non-opaque pattern, said pattern covers at least 25% of the area of the iris section, the elements of the pattern being imperceptible to the naked eye, in which a first portion of the elements of said pattern is a first hue, a second portion of the elements of said pattern is a second tonality different from said first tonality, and a third portion of the elements of said pattern is a third tonality different from said second tonality and either the same or different from the first tonality, wherein said first portion is located on the outermost part of the iris section, and the second portion is located on the inside of the first portion and within the iris section, and said third portion is located on the inside of the second portion and within the iris section, and a first non-uniform boundary differentiates the first and second portions, in which the minimum distance of said first non-uniform boundary, from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 5% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 25% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section, and a second non-uniform limit differentiates the second and third portions, in which the minimum distance of the second non-uniform border, from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 15% to about 75% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 50% to approximately 95% of the radial width of the iris section, so that the first portion overlaps the second portion in a plurality of locations, and said second portion overlaps the third portion in a plurality of locations, thereby providing a lens able to change the apparent color of the iris of a person who uses the lenses and impart a very natural appearance.

2. The color contact lens according to claim 1, further characterized in that the minimum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is from 15% to about 50% of the radial width of said iris , and the maximum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 45% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section, and the minimum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section. the iris section is 15% to about 65% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section is 60% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section.

3. - The color contact lens according to claim 1 or claim 2, further characterized in that the pattern elements are points.

4. The color contact lens according to claim 1 or claim 2, further characterized in that the pattern elements are non-uniform, thus allowing the improvement of the fine structure of the iris.

5. The color contact lens according to claim 4, further characterized in that said first hue is black, the second hue is a color selected from the group consisting of blue, green, gray or brown, and said third hue is hazelnut .

6. The color contact lens according to claim 4, further characterized in that the non-opaque interstices are uncolored.

7. A color contact lens according to claim 1 or claim 2, further characterized in that the first tonality is the same tonality as the third tonality.

8. A color contact lens according to claim 4, further characterized in that the non-opaque interstices are colored translucently.

9. A color contact lens according to claim 1, further characterized in that the pattern elements are transparent.

10. - A color contact lens according to claim 1, further characterized in that said contact lens is hydrophilic. 1.

A method for manufacturing a color contact lens comprising providing a transparent contact lens, applying three portions of dye to the surface of said contact lens, and converting the dye resistant to removal by eye fluids, characterized in that the contact lens has a non-opaque pupil section and an iris section surrounding said pupil section, the improvement comprises applying the three dye portions, in which a first portion of the dye is of a first hue, and a second portion of the colorant is of a second hue which is different from the first tonality, and the third portion of the colorant is of a third hue which is different from the second tonality and may or may not be the same as said first tonality, wherein said first portion is located on the outermost part of the iris section, and said second portion is located on the inside of the first a portion and within the iris section, and said third portion is located on the inside of the second portion and within the iris section, and a first non-uniform boundary differentiates the first and second portions, and a second limit does not uniform difference to the second and third portions, in which the minimum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 5% to about 60% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 25% to about 95% of the radial width of said iris section, and the minimum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 15% to about 75% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 50% to approximately 95% of the radial width of said iris section, thus providing a lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person using the lenses and imparting a very natural appearance, in which the intermittent pattern is deposited on the lens surface through the steps of: a) providing a first plate having pressures corresponding to the first portion; b) filling the depressions with dye of the first shade; c) pressing a first flexible pad against the first plate; d) pressing the first flexible pad against a lens surface thereby printing the first portion of the elements; e) providing a second plate having depressions corresponding to the second portion; f) filling the depressions with dye of the second hue; g) pressing a second flexible pad against a second plate; h) pressing the second flexible pad against the surface of the lens thereby printing the second portion of the elements; i) providing a third plate having depressions corresponding to the third portion; j) filling the depressions with dye of the third hue; k) pressing a third flexible pad against a third plate; I) pressing the third flexible pad against the lens surface thereby printing the third portion of the elements.

12. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 1 1 further characterized in that the three dye portions cover at least 50% of the surface of the iris section of the lens.

13. The method for manufacturing a contact lens according to claim 1 further characterized in that the three dye portions cover at least 60% of the surface of the iris section of the lens.

14.- The method to manufacture a color contact lens according to claim 1 1 further characterized in that the dye portions cover up to 80% of the surface of the iris section of the lens.

15. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 1 further characterized in that the color contact lens is hydrophilic.

16. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 1 1 further characterized in that one or more of the dye portions are transparent.

17. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 1 further characterized in that said first hue is blacksaid second tonality is a color selected from the group consisting of blue, green, gray or brown, and said second tonality is hazelnut.

18. A method for manufacturing a color contact lens comprising providing a transparent contact lens, applying three portions of dye to the surface of said contact lens, and converting the dye resistant to removal by eye fluids in which the contact lens has a non-opaque pupil section and an iris section surrounding the pupil section, the improvement comprises applying the three dye portions, in which a first portion of the dye is a first hue, and a second portion of the colorant is of a second hue which is different from the first tonality, and the third portion of the colorant is of a third hue which is different from the second tonality and may or may not be the same as the first tonality, in wherein said first portion is located on the outermost part of the iris section, the second portion is located within the first portion and within the section of iris, and said third portion is located within the second portion and within the iris section, and a first non-uniform boundary differentiates the first and second portions, and a second non-uniform boundary differentiates the second and third portions , in which the minimum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 15% to 50% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 45% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section, and the minimum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 15% to 65% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 60% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section, thereby providing a lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person using the lenses and imparting a very natural appearance, in which the intermittent pattern is deposited on the surface of the lens by the steps of: a) providing a first plate having depressions corresponding to the first portion; b) filling the depressions with dye of the first shade; c) pressing a first flexible pad against the first plate; d) pressing the first flexible pad against a lens surface thereby printing the first portion of the elements; e) providing a second plate having depressions corresponding to the second portion; f) filling the depressions with dye of the second hue; g) pressing a second flexible pad against a second plate; h) pressing the second flexible pad against the surface of the lens thereby printing the second portion of the elements; i) providing a third plate having depressions corresponding to the third portion; j) filling the depressions with dye of the third hue; k) pressing a third flexible pad against a third plate, I) pressing the third flexible pad against the lens surface thereby printing the third portion of the elements

19. - The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 18 further characterized in that the three dye portions cover at least 50% of the surface of the iris section of the lens.

20. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 18 further characterized in that the three dye portions cover at least 60% of the surface of the iris section of the lens.

21. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 18 further characterized in that the dye portions cover up to 80% of the surface of the iris section of the lens.

22. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 18 further characterized in that the color contact lens is hydrophilic.

23. The method for manufacturing a color contact lens according to claim 18, further characterized in that one or more of the dye portions are transparent.

24. The method for manufacturing a contact lens color according to claim 18 further characterized in that said first hue is black, the second hue is a color selected from the group consisting of blue, green, gray or brown, and said third tonality is hazel.

25. - A color contact lens comprising a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding said pupil section, and an intermittent, opaque, color pattern, over the entire iris section leaving a substantial portion within of the interstices of the non-opaque pattern, said pattern covers at least 25% of the area of the iris section, the elements of the pattern being imperceptible to the naked eye, in which a first portion of the elements of said pattern is a first hue, a second portion of the elements of said pattern is a second tonality different from said first tonality, and a third portion of the elements of said pattern is a third tonality different from the second tonality and either the same or different from said first tonality, wherein the first portion is located on the outermost part of the iris section, and the second portion is located on the inside of the first portion and within of the iris section, and said third portion is located on the inside of the second portion and within the iris section, and a first non-uniform boundary differentiates the first and second portions, in which the minimum distance of the first boundary non-uniform from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 5% to 50% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the first non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 50% to 85% of the radial width of the iris section, and a second non-uniform border difference to the second and third portions, in which the minimum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 15% to 50% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the second non-uniform boundary from the outer perimeter of the iris section varies from 50% to 95% of the radial width of the iris section, so that the first portion overlaps the second portion in a plurality of locations, and the second portion overlaps the third portion in a plurality of locations, thereby providing a lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person using the lenses and impart a very natural appearance.

26.- A color contact lens having three substantially annular concentric color zones, a first color zone, a second color zone and a third color zone, comprising: a) said first color zone located inside a the second color zone and the third color zone, said first color zone has a star pattern pattern so that a plurality of digits extend radially outward, so that the first color zone shares a radial area with the second color zone, in which the digits of the first color zone and the second color zone are interdigitated, and do not overlap; b) said second color zone located between the first color zone and the third color zone, has an annular pattern so that a plurality of digits extend radially inward in the direction of the first color zone, and radially outside in the direction of the third color zone, so that the second color zone shares a radial area with the first color zone and with the third color zone, in which the colors of the first color zone and the second color zone are interdigitated, and do not overlap, and the digits of the second color zone and the third color zone are interdigitated, and do not overlap; c) said third color zone located substantially outside the second color zone and the first color zone, has an annular pattern so that a plurality of digits extend radially inward in the direction of the second color zone, so that the third color zone shares a radial area with the second color zone, in which the digits of the third color zone and the second color zone are interdigitated, and do not overlap.

27. The contact lens according to claim 26, further characterized in that the digits of the first color zone share a radial area with the digits of the third color zone.

28. The contact lens according to claim 27 further characterized in that the digits of the third color zone share a radial area with the digits of the first color zone.

29. The contact lens according to claim 28 further characterized in that it additionally comprises a fourth zone that has substantially the same color as the second color zone, said fourth zone extends radially outward from the third color zone, in which the fourth zone shares a jagged boundary with the third zone of color. 30- The contact lens according to claim 29 further characterized in that the dye of the third color zone becomes lighter as the digits extend radially inward.