WO2021232216A1

WO2021232216A1 - Transparent article, in particular a spectacle lens, with antibacterial and/or antiviral properties and method for manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2021232216A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/090962
Authority: WO
Inventors: Liu OUYANG; Emad Flear AZIZ; Zhiyuan ZHENG; Jingci PENG; Wei Peng
Original assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International Gmbh; Carl Zeiss Vision Technical Services ( Guangzhou) Ltd.; Carl Zeiss Vision (China) Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-05-19
Filing date: 2020-05-19
Publication date: 2021-11-25
Also published as: BR112022023567A2; WO2021234030A1; CN116802550A

Abstract

A transparent article, in particular a spectacle lens, comprising at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. A method for manufacturing the transparent article.

Description

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Transparent article, in particular a spectacle lens, with antibacterial and/or antiviral properties and method for manufacturing thereof

The present invention relates to a spectacle lens comprising at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and a method for manufacturing thereof.

As mentioned S. Galdiero et al., Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents, Molecules 2011, 16, 8894-8918, virus infections pose significant global health challenges, especially because of the emergence of resistant viral strains and the adverse side effects associated with prolonged use continue to slow down the application of effective antiviral therapies. Emerging and re-emerging viruses are to be considered a continuing threat to human health because of their ability to adapt to their current host, to switch to a new host and to evolve strategies to escape antiviral measures. Viruses can emerge because of the changes in the host, the environment, or the vector, and new pathogenic viruses can arise in humans from existing human viruses or from animal viruses. Viral diseases, such as the SARS coronavirus, the West Nile virus, the monkey pox virus, the Hantavirus, the Nipah virus, the Hendravirus, the Chikungunya virus, the influenza viruses, recently of avian or swine origin, have become entered in human populations worldwide.

Organic antibacterial agents, photocatalytic materials and metallic compounds have been widely studied and their antibacterial and/or antiviral effect have been demonstrated.

Organic antibacterial agents are a group of materials that fight against pathogenic bacteria. Manufacturing products containing antibacterial agents, or coatings of the material with antibacterial properties, has become an interesting topic for research. Various types of products like clothes, gloves, masks and sanitizers are being produced with antibacterial properties. However, just like the antibiotics used in clinic, they usually do not show an antiviral effect. Also, it is unlikely to apply these agents on an ophthalmic lens that has an antireflective coating.

P. Haykova et al., Photocatalytic Effect of TiO ₂ Films on Viruses and Bacteria, Plasma Process. Polym. 2007, 4, S397–S401, disclose an evaluation of the photocatalytic effect of TiO ₂ films with respect to the speed of photocatalytic decomposition of the model organic matter acid orange 7, the bacteria Escherichia coli and the virus HSV-1 (Herpes simplex virus) . After illumination by UV-Alight, ambient oxygen and water decompose on the TiO ₂ surface in reactive hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide anions

These substances cause the decomposition of organic and microbial matter resulting in deleterious effect on surrounding bacterial cells due to peroxidation of phospholipid components of the lipid membrane, inducing cell membrane disorder, followed by the loss of essential functions such as respiratory activity and resulting in cell death.

S. Galdiero et al., Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents, Molecules 2011, 16, 8894-8918, disclose the use metal nanoparticles in antiviral therapies. Metal nanoparticles can be effective antiviral agents against HIV-1, hepatitis B virus, respiratory syncytial virus, herpes simplex virus, monkey pox virus, influenza virus and Tacaribe virus. The surface of the metal nanoparticles may be functionalized for optimizing biological interactions. For example, silver’s mode of action is presumed to be dependent on Ag ⁺ions, which strongly inhibit bacterial growth through suppression of respiratory enzymes and electron transport components and through interference with DNA functions. Silver has been found to the non-toxic to humans at very small concentrations.

M. Minoshima et al., “Comparison of the antiviral effect of solid-state copper and silver compounds” , Journal of Hazardous Materials 312 (2016) 1-7, disclose an evaluation of insoluble solid-state and soluble ionic copper and silver compounds against an influenza A virus possessing a viral envelope and bacteriophage Qβ lacking an envelope. Results show that solid-state Cu ₂O has efficient deactivation against both enveloped and nonenveloped types of viruses, solid-state CuO and Ag ₂S had little antiviral activity and copper ions from CuCl ₂ had little effect on the activity of bacteriophage Qβ. Silver ions form AgNO ₃ and Ag ₂O in solution showed strong inactivation of the enveloped influenza A virus and weak inactivation of the non-enveloped bacteriophage Qβ.

B. Moongraksathum et al., “Antiviral and Antibacterial Effects of Silver-Doped TiO ₂ Prepared by the Peroxo Sol–Gel Method” , Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Vol. 19, 7356-7362, 2019 disclose a study on the antiviral and antibacterial activities of Ag/TiO ₂ films with respect to the photocatalytic degradation of an aqueous solution of methylene blue.

E. Sánchez-López et al., , , Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents: An Overview “, Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 292, disclose a discussion of the state of the art on the use of the most relevant types of metal nanoparticles employed as antimicrobial agents.

US 5,454,886 A discloses an anti-microbial coating, deposited as thin metallic film on at least one surface of a medical device by physical vapor deposition techniques under conditions which create atomic disorder in the anti-microbial coatings. The atomic disorder, including point defects in a crystal lattice, vacancies, line defects, interstitial atoms, amorphous regions, grain or sub grain boundaries when compared to normal ordered crystalline state found in bulk metal materials or alloys, is according to US 5,454,884 A responsible for the sustained release of metal species, when in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte including a body fluid or body tissue. To create atomic disorder during the deposition process, for example the temperature of the surface to be coated may be maintained such that the ratio of the substrate temperature to the melting point of the metal in degrees Kelvin is less than about 0, 5. Atomic disorder may also be achieved by preparing composite metal materials, i.e. materials which contain at least one anti-microbial metal in a metal matrix which includes atoms or molecules different from the anti-microbial metals. For preparing the composite metal materials at least one anti-microbial metal is co-deposited or sequentially deposited with at least one other inert, biocompatible metal or with an oxide, a nitride, a carbide, a boride, a sulphide, a hydride or a halide of the at least one anti-microbial metal and/or the inert metal. The metals usable in the anti-microbial coatings should have an anti-microbial effect and should be biocompatible.

Typically, the anti-microbial coatings have a film thickness of less than 1 μm and not greater than 10 μm.

WO 2019/082001 A1 discloses an air filter comprising an air permeable substrate and an antiviral coating. The antiviral coating, having a thickness from 15 nm to 500 nm, comprises a first glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic material or matrix, preferably silica, and a plurality of nanoclusters of a second metallic material, preferably copper, zinc or silver. Further, WO 2019/082001 A1 discloses a method for the application of an antiviral coating to a substrate. This method comprises the co-sputtering of at least a first glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic material or matrix, preferably silica, and at least a plurality of nanoclusters of a second metallic material, preferably silver, copper or zinc, on the substrate.

CN 106772713 A discloses a spectacle lens comprising an antimicrobial coating layer. The coating of the lens substrate comprises the following layer sequence, beginning from the surface of the lens substrate: a hard coat layer, an antireflection layer comprising two to seven layers, an antibacterial layer, a binding layer, and a top layer. According to CN 106772713 A the binding layer should increase the adhesion between the antibacterial layer and the top layer.

US 2015/0044482 A1 discloses a multi-layer optical coating for a display device having a touch screen panel. The coating structure comprises optionally an anti-reflective coating layer covering the substrate, a base coating layer covering the anti-reflection coating layer or the substrate, respectively, an antibacterial coating layer covering the base coating layer, a protective coating layer covering the antibacterial layer and optionally a super-hydrophobic coating layer or an anti-fingerprint layer covering the protective coating layer. When the antibacterial coating layer is directly formed on the anti-reflective layer, according to US 2015/0044482 A1, the adhesion between the layers may decrease. Further, when the antibacterial coating layer is formed on the base coating layer by vacuum vapor deposition, the protective coating layer may increase the adhesion between the base coating layer, the antibacterial coating layer and the protective coating layer. The antibacterial coating layer may include silver based materials or zinc oxide based materials. As the antibacterial coating layer is formed as an interlayer without direct exposure to an external environment, according to US 2015/0044482 A1 a touch screen panel can consistently have an antibacterial effect.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a spectacle lens effective against the remaining and spreading of bacteria and/or viruses on at least one of the spectacle lens surfaces, especially on the front surface and/or the back surface of the spectacle lens. A further objective is to provide an efficient method of manufacturing a spectacle lens being effective against the remaining and spreading of bacteria and/or viruses on at least one of the spectacle lens surfaces.

This problem is solved by the spectacle lens according to claim 1 and the method for producing a spectacle lens according to claim 12.

Preferred embodiments, which might be realized in an isolated fashion or in any arbitrary combination, are listed in the dependent claims.

As spectacle lens substrate an uncoated or precoated blank, the blank being defined in section 3.8.1 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as piece of optical material with one optically finished surface for the making of a lens; an uncoated or precoated single-vision blank, the single-vision blank being defined in section 3.8.2 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as blank with the finished surface having a single nominal surface power; an uncoated or precoated multifocal blank, the multifocal blank being defined in section 3.8.3 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as blank with the finished surface having two or more visibly divided portions of different dioptric powers or focal powers; an uncoated or precoated progressive-power blank, the progressive-power blank being defined in section 3.8.5 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as power-variation blank where the finished surface is a progressive-power surface; an uncoated or precoated degressive-power blank, the degressive-power blank being defined in section 3.8.6 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as power-variation blank where the finished surfaces is a degressive-power surface; an uncoated or precoated finished lens, the finished lens being defined in section 3.8.7 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as lens of which both sides have their final optical surface; an uncoated or precoated uncut lens, the uncut lens being defined in section 3.8.8 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as finished lens prior to edging; or an uncoated or precoated edged lens, the edged lens being defined in section 3.8.9 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as finished lens edged to final size and shape may be used. If one of the before mentioned blanks is precoated, the respective finished surface comprises at least one coating. If one of the before mentioned lenses is precoated, at least one side thereof comprises at least one coating.

Preferably, the spectacle lens substrate is an uncoated or precoated finished lens or an uncoated or precoated uncut lens.

The uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate may be classified as afocal lens with nominally zero dioptric power according to section 3.6.3 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 or as corrective lens, i.e. as a lens with dioptric power according to section 3.5.3 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12.

Further, the uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate may be classified as single-vision lens according to section 3.7.1 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as position-specific single-vision lens according to section 3.7.2 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as multifocal lens according to section 3.7.3 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as bifocal lens according to section 3.7.4 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12;as trifocal lens according to section 3.7.5 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as fused multifocal lens according to section 3.7.6 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as power-variation lens according to section 3.7.7 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as progressive-power lens according to section 3.7.8 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; or as degressive-power lens according to section 3.7.9 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12.

Further, the uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate may be classified as protective lens according to section 3.5.4 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as absorptive lens according to section 3.5.5 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as tinted lens according to section 3.5.6 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as clear lens according to section 3.5.7 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019 12; as uniformly tinted lens according to section 3.5.8 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; agradient-tinted lens according to section 3.5.9 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; as double gradient-tinted lens according to section 3.5.10; as photochromic lens according to section 3.5.11 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; or as polarizing lens according to section 3.5.12 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12.

The uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate is preferably based on an optical material, the optical material being defined according to section 3.3.1 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 as transparent material capable of being manufactured into optical components. The uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate may be made of mineral glass according to section 3.3.1 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12 and/or of an organic hard resin such as a thermosetting hard resin according to section 3.3.3 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; a thermoplastic hard resin according to section 3.3.4 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12; or a photochromic material according to section 3.3.5 of DIN EN ISO 13666: 2019-12.

Preferably, the uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate is based on one of the optical materials mentioned in table 1, particularly preferred one of the organic hard resins.

Table 1: Examples of optical materials for blanks or lenses

*Based on sodium D line

In case, the uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate is made of mineral glass and of an organic hard resin such as a thermosetting hard resin or a thermoplastic hard resin, the mineral glass preferably comprises at least one ultrathin lens. In this case, the organic hard resin may comprise an uncoated or precoated blank, an uncoated or precoated single-vision blank, an uncoated or precoated multifocal blank, an uncoated or precoated power-variation blank, an uncoated or precoated progressive-power blank, an uncoated or precoated degressive-power blank, an uncoated or precoated finished lens, an uncoated or precoated uncut lens; or an uncoated or precoated edged lens, each blank comprising on at least the finished surface thereof at least one ultrathin lens and each finished lens comprising on at least one side thereof at least one ultrathin lens. After surfacing the opposite surface of the respective blank, this opposite surface may comprise at least one ultrathin lens as well, the at least one ultrathin lens being identical or different to the other one in relation to the glass composition, to the average thickness and/or to the shape. Further, the spectacle lens substrate may be made of at least two ultrathin lenses comprising a plastic film in-between. The at least one ultrathin lens may be based on various glass compositions, for example, be borosilicate glass, aluminium borosilicate glass or alkali-free borosilicate glass. Preferably, the at least one ultrathin lens is based on a borosilicate glass or an aluminium borosilicate glass. The at least one ultrathin lens preferably has an average thickness in a range from 10 μm to 1000 μm, further preferably from a range from 13 μm to 760 μm, further preferably from a range from 16 μm to 510 μm, more preferably from a range from 18 μm to 390 μm and most preferably from a range from 19 μm to 230 μm. Especially preferably, the at least one ultrathin lens has an average thickness in a range from 21 μm to 121 μm or from 75 μm to 140 μm or from 80 μm to 220 μm. The average thickness of the at least one ultrathin lens is understood to mean the arithmetic average. Below an average thickness of 10 μm, the at least one ultrathin lens is too mechanically unstable to be able to be combined with at least one of the surfaces of at least one of the organic hard resin components mentioned before. Above an average thickness of 1000 μm, the at least one ultrathin lens can lead to spectacle lenses that would have too great an edge thickness or too great a middle thickness of the spectacle lens. The average thickness of the at least one ultrathin lens is measured preferably with the Filmetrics F10-HC instrument from Filmetrics Inc. The at least one ultrathin lens preferably has a surface roughness Ra of < 1 nm. Further preferably, the surface roughness Ra of the at least one ultrathin lens is within a range from 0.1 nm to 0.8 nm, more preferably within a range from 0.3 nm to 0.7 nm and most preferably within a range from 0.4 nm to 0.6 nm. The aforementioned values for surface roughness Ra are each based on the front surface and the back surface of the at least one ultrathin lens of an unformed, planar ultrathin lens. After forming, the aforementioned values are in each case applicable preferably to that surface of the ultrathin lens that has not been brought into contact with the shaped body. Depending on the shaped body used for forming, the aforementioned values may also be applicable to the surface of the at least one ultrathin lens that was in contact with the shaped body used for forming. The surface roughness Ra of the at least one ultrathin lens is preferably determined by means of white light interferometry, preferably with the NewView 7100 instrument from Zygo Corporation. Ultrathin lenses are commercially available, for example, under the names: D 263 T eco, D 263 LA eco, D 263 M, AF 32 eco, SCHOTT AS 87 eco, B 270 I, each from Schott AG, or Corning Willow Glass or Corning Gorilla Glass, each from Corning Inc.

In case the spectacle lens substrate is made of an organic hard resin, preferably at least one of the finished surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate comprises at least one hard coating. The at least one finished surface of the spectacle lens substrate may be uncoated or precoated. The at least one hard coating preferably has an average thickness in a range of from 0.6 μm to 10 μm, further preferably in a range of from 0.8 μm to 6.6 μm, more preferably in a range of from 1.1 μm to 5.8 μm and most preferably in a range of from 1.6 μm to 4.9 μm. The average thickness of the at least one hard coating is preferably determined by the measurement of the spectral reflectivity and/or the spectral transmissivity. The average thickness is the arithmetic average of the physical thickness of the at least one hard coating measured in at least three positions of the primer coating after application and curing. Preferably, an optical spectrometer, such as one of the devices F20, F10-HC or F10-AR of the company Filmetrics Inc., preferably the device F10-HC, is used to determine the average thickness of the at least one hard coating. Illumination of a spectacle lens comprising a spectacle lens substrate and at least one hard coating with white light causes interference spectra dependent on the physical thickness of the at least one hard coating and the respective refractive index thereof. The path difference corresponds exactly to the multiple of the optical thickness. The average thickness is preferably calculated with Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) . Alternatively, the average thickness of the at least one hard coating may be determined with at least one scanning electron microscope photograph of a cross-section of the spectacle lens comprising a spectacle lens substrate and at least one hard coating. The thickness of the at least one hard coating is therefore determined in at least three positions and the arithmetic average is formed thereof.

The at least one hard coating may be based on at least one of the coating compositions disclosed in US 2005/0171231 A1, in US 2009/0189303 A1 or in US 2002/0111390 A1.

The at least one hard coating preferably is made of a coating composition disclosed in EP 2 578 649 A1, particularly in EP 2 578 649 A1, claim 1. The coating composition configured to produce the at least one hard coating preferably comprises

A) a) at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) Si (OR ¹) (OR ²) (OR ³) (OR ⁴) , wherein R ¹, R ², R ³ and R ⁴, which may be the same or different, are selected from an alkyl, an acyl, an alkyleneacyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl or an alkylenearyl group, each of which may optionally be substituted, and/or

b) at least one hydrolysis product of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) , and/or

c) at least one condensation product of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) , and/or

d) any mixture of the components a) to c) thereof;

B) a) at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) R ⁶R ⁷ _3-nSi (OR ⁵) _n, in which R ⁵ is selected from an alkyl, an acyl, an alkyleneacyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl or an alkylenearyl group, each of which may optionally be substituted, R ⁶ is an organic radical containing an epoxide group, R ⁷ is selected from an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl or an alkylenearyl group, each of which may optionally be substituted, n is 2 or 3; and/or

b) at least one hydrolysis product of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) , and/or

c) at least one condensation product of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) , and/or any mixture of the components a) to c) thereof;

C) at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride and/or oxyfluoride;

D) at least one epoxide compound having at least two epoxide groups; and

E) at least one catalyst system comprising at least one Lewis acid and at least one thermolatent Lewis acid-base adduct.

The term “at least one hydrolysis product” of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) or (II) respectively expresses the fact that the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) or of the formula (II) each has already been at least partly hydrolyzed to form silanol groups.

The term “at least one condensation product” of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) or of the formula (II) respectively expresses the fact that a certain degree of crosslinking has also already taken place through condensation reaction of the silanol groups.

The at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) may be selected from tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, tetrapropoxysilane, tetraisopropoxysilane, tetrabutoxysilane, tetraisobutoxysilane, tetrakis (methoxyethoxy) silane, tetrakis (methoxypropoxy) silane, tetrakis (ethoxyethoxy) silane, tetrakis (methoxyethoxyethoxy) silane, trimethoxyethoxysilane, dimethoxydiethoxysilane or mixtures thereof.

The at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) may be selected from 3-glycidoxymethyl-trimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrihydroxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyldimethylhydroxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyldimethylethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyldimethoxymethylsilane, 3-glycidoxypropyldiethoxymethylsilane, 2- (3, 4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane or mixtures thereof.

The at least one colloidal inorganic oxide may be selected from silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, tin dioxide, antimony oxide, aluminum oxide or mixtures thereof.

The mean particle diameter of the at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, fluoride or oxyfluoride is preferably selected such that the transparency of the at least one hard coating is not affected. Preferably, the at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride and/or oxyfluoride has a mean particle diameter in the range of from 2 nm to 150 nm, even more preferably of from 2 nm to 70 nm. The mean particle diameter is determined preferably by means of dynamic light scattering. The at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride or oxyfluoride contributes to an increase in scratch resistance through incorporation into the existing network. In addition, selection of at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride or oxyfluoride allows the refractive index of the at least one hard coating to be matched to the refractive index of the uncoated spectacle lens substrate or to a precoating of the spectacle lens substrate.

The at least one epoxide compound having at least two epoxide groups is preferably a polyglycidyl ether compound, more preferably a diglycidyl ether or triglycidyl ether compound. For example, as at least one epoxide compound comprising at least two epoxide compounds digylcidyl ether, ethylenglycoldiglycidyl ether, propylenglycoldiglycolglycidyl ether, 1, 4-butandioldiglycidyl ether, 1, 6-hexandioldiglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropantriglycidyl ether, triglycidylglycerin and/or trimethylolethantriglycidylether may be used in the coating composition. Preferably, the at least epoxide compound comprises trimethylolpropantriglycidyl ether, butandioldiglycidyl ether and/or 1, 6-hexandioldiglycidyl ether.

The at least one catalyst system comprising at least one Lewis acid and at least one thermolatent Lewis acid-base adduct enables very homogeneous crosslinking and hence also constantly high strength over the entire layer thickness of the at least one hard coating. The term "Lewis acid" relates to an electrophilic electron pair acceptor compound, the term “Lewis base” is understood to mean an electron pair donor compound. The at least one Lewis acid is preferably one which have catalytic activity even at relatively low temperatures, for example at room temperature. The at least one Lewis acid may be selected from ammonium salts, metal salts (especially of metals from one of groups 1 (i.e. alkali metal salts) , 2 (i.e. alkaline earth metal salts) or 13 (preferably Al or B) of the periodic table of the elements, halides of an element of group 13 of the periodic table of the elements (especially AIX ₃ or BX ₃ where X is chlorine or fluorine) , organic sulphonic acids and amine salts thereof, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, for example alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts of carboxylic acids, fluoride salts, organotin compounds, or a mixture thereof. Preferred metal salts of metals from one of groups 1, 2 and 13 of the periodic table of the elements are, for example, perchlorates or carboxylates (i.e. carboxylic salts) . Preferred Lewis acids are, for example, ammonium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, sulphonic acids and salts thereof, such as trifluoromethanesulphonic acids and salts thereof.

The at least one Lewis acid-base adduct is understood to mean a compound which has catalytic activity with regard to the chemical reaction in question only at relatively high temperatures, while it is essentially still catalytically inactive at room temperature. Only through the supply of sufficient thermal energy is a thermolatent catalyst compound converted to a catalytically active state.

The at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) and/or the at least one hydrolysis product of the silane derivative of the formula (I) and/or the at least one condensation product of the silane derivative of the formula (I) is/are preferably present in the coating composition in an amount of 5%by weight to 50%by weight, more preferably of 5%by weight to 20%by weight. The amounts given before apply with regard to the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) , with regard to the at least one hydrolysis product of the formula (I) , with regard to the at least one condensation product of the formula (I) or with regard to any mixture thereof. The amounts given before apply as well with regard to a mixture of silane derivatives of the formula (I) , with regard to a mixture of hydrolysis products of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) , with regard to a mixture of condensation products of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) or with regard to any mixture thereof.

The at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) and/or the at least one hydrolysis product of the silane derivative of the formula (II) and/or the at least one condensation product of the silane derivative of the formula (II) is/are preferably present in the coating composition in an amount of 5%by weight to 50%by weight, more preferably of 5%by weight to 20%by weight. The amounts given before apply with regard to the at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) , with regard to the at least one hydrolysis product of the formula (II) , with regard to the at least one condensation product of the formula (II) or with regard to any mixture thereof. The amounts given before apply as well with regard to a mixture of silane derivatives of the formula (II) , with regard to a mixture of hydrolysis products of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) , with regard to a mixture of condensation products of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (II) or with regard to any mixture thereof.

The weight ratio of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (I) , the at least one hydrolysis product of the silane derivative of the formula (I) and/or the at least one condensation product of the silane derivative of the formula (I) relative to the at least one silane derivative of the silane derivative of the formula (II) , the at least one hydrolysis product of the silane derivative of the formula (II) and/or the at least one condensation product of the silane derivative of the formula (II) is preferably in the range of from 95/5 to 5/95, more preferably in the range of from 70/30 to 30/70, even more preferably in the range of from 60/40 to 40/60.

The at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, fluoride and/or oxyfluoride is preferably present in an amount of 5%by weight to 50%by weight, more preferably of 5%by weight to 25%by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition. The amounts mentioned before apply for one type of colloidal oxide, one type of hydroxide, one type of fluoride, one type of oxyfluoride, for a mixture thereof, for a mixture of different colloidal oxides, a mixture of different colloidal hydroxides, a mixture of different colloidal fluorides, a mixture of different colloidal oxyfluorides or for a mixture thereof. The mixture of different colloidal oxides, hydroxides, fluorides or oxyfluorides may for example comprises one type of each in different particle sizes or different types of each in the same or in a different particle size.

The at least one epoxide compound having at least two epoxide groups is preferably present in an amount of 0.1%by weight to 10%by weight, more preferably of 0.5%by weight to 10%by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition. The amounts given before apply with regard to one type of epoxide compound or to a mixture of different types of epoxide compounds.

The at least one catalyst system is preferably present in an amount in the range from 0.01%by weight to 5%by weight, more preferably in the range from 0.1%by weight to 3%by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

The weight ratio of at least one Lewis acid to the at least one thermolatent Lewis acid-base adduct is preferably in the range from 20/1 to 1/2, more preferably from 5/1 to 2/1.

The coating composition comprises at least one solvent comprising at least one alcohol, at least one ether, at least one ester or water. In case the at least one solvent comprises two different solvents, the boiling point of the first solvent S1 and the boiling point of the second solvent S2 is either S1/S2 ≥ 1.2 or S1/S2 ≤ 0.8. Further, in case the at least one solvent comprises two different solvents, the weight ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent is preferably in the range of from 5 to 0.01, more preferably in the range of from 2 to 0.2.

Preferably water is present in an amount of 2%by weight to 15%by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

The components of the coating composition resulting in a hard coating are used in that they add to 100%by weight based on the total weight of the coating composition.

The coating composition mentioned before resulting in at least one hard coating is preferably applied to at least one of the coated or uncoated surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate by dip coating or by spin coating.

The use of the above mentioned coating composition comprising the components (A) to (E) , i.e. at least one silane derivative of formula (I) , at least one hydrolysis product and/or at least one condensation product thereof, at least one second silane derivative of formula (II) , at least one hydrolysis product and/or at least one condensation product thereof, at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, fluoride or oxyfluoride, at least one epoxide compound and at least one catalyst system, enables the production of at least one hard coating having very good adhesive strength on different uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrates, having a high hardness, being of high scratch resistance and showing a low tendency to crack formation on different uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrates.

Alternatively or additionally to the before mentioned coating composition resulting in a hard coating, at least one of the finished surfaces of the uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate, comprises at least one hard coating which is preferably based on a coating composition comprising

A) a) at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) R ¹R ² _3-nSi (OR ³) _n, wherein R ¹ comprises an alkyl group, a cyclo alkyl group, an acyl group, an aryl group or an hetero aryl group, each of which may be substituted, R ² is an organic rest comprising an epoxide group, R ³ comprises an alkyl group, a cyclo alkyl group, an aryl group or a hetero aryl group, each of which may be substituted, n = 2 or 3, and/or

b) at least one hydrolysis product of the silane derivative of the formula (III) , and/or

c) at least one condensation product of the silane derivative of the formula (III) , and/or

d) any mixture of components a) to c) ;

B) at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride and/or oxyfluoride;

C) at least one epoxy component comprising at least two epoxy groups; and

D) at least one catalyst system comprising at least one Lewis acid and at least one thermolatent Lewis base-adduct.

The term “at least one hydrolysis product” of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) the fact that the at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) has already been at least partly hydrolyzed to form silanol groups.

The term “at least one condensation product” of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) expresses the fact that a certain degree of crosslinking has also already taken place through condensation reaction of the silanol groups.

The at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) and/or the at least one hydrolysis product of the silane derivative of the formula (III) and/or the at least one condensation product of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) and/or any mixture thereof is/are present in the coating composition in a total amount in the range preferably of from 9%by weight to 81%by weight, further preferably of from 13%by weight to 76%by weight, more preferably of from 19%by weight and most preferably of from 23%by weight to 66%by weight, each based on the total weight of the coating composition. The amounts given before apply with regard to the at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) , with regard to the at least one hydrolysis product of the formula (III) , with regard to the at least one condensation of the formula (III) or with regard to any mixture thereof. The amounts given before apply as well with regard to a mixture of silane derivatives of the formula (III) , with regard to a mixture of hydrolysis products of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) , with regard to a mixture of condensation products of the at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) or with regard to any mixture thereof.

The at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride and/or oxyfluoride is/are present in the coating composition in a total amount in the range preferably of from 3%by weight to 60%by weight, further preferably of from 6%by weight to 58%by weight, more preferably of from 9% by weight to 57%by weight and most preferably of from 13%by weight to 55%by weight, each based on the total weight of the coating composition. The amounts given before apply with regard to one type of colloidal inorganic oxide, one type of colloidal inorganic hydroxide, one type of colloidal inorganic oxide hydrate, one type of colloidal inorganic fluoride, one type of colloidal inorganic oxyfluoride and any mixture thereof. The amounts given before apply as well with regard to a mixture of different colloidal inorganic oxides, a mixture of different colloidal inorganic hydroxides, a mixture of different colloidal inorganic oxide hydrates, a mixture of different colloidal inorganic fluorides, a mixture of different colloidal inorganic oxyfluorides or any mixture thereof. The mentioned mixtures may include each different particles sizes or different types of colloidal inorganic oxides, hydroxides, oxide hydrates, fluorides and/or oxyfluorides.

The at least one epoxide compound comprising at least two epoxide groups is present in the coating composition in an amount in the range preferably of from 0.01%by weight to 14%by weight, further preferably of from 0.07%by weight to 11%by weight, more preferably of from 0.1%by weight to 6%by weight and most preferably of from 0.2%by weight to 13%by weight, each based on the total weight of the coating composition. The amount given before apply with regard to one type of epoxide compound as well as with regard to a mixture of different epoxide compounds.

The at least one catalyst system comprising at least one Lewis acid and at least one thermolatent Lewis base-adduct is present in the coating composition in an amount in the range preferably from 0.04%by weight to 4%by weight, further preferably from 0.1%by weight to 3%by weight, more preferably from 0.2%by weight to 2%by weight and most preferably from 0.3%by weight to 1%by weight, each based on the total weight of the coating composition. The weight ratio of the at least one Lewis acid to the at least one thermolatent Lewis base-adduct is preferably in a range from 20: 1 to 2: 1, further preferably from 18: 1 to 1: 2, more preferably from 13: 1 to 1: 1 and most preferably from 6: 1 to 1: 1.

The coating composition may comprise at least one organic solvent and/or water. The components of the coating composition resulting in a hard coating are used in that they add to 100%by weight based on the total weight of the coating composition.

As at least one silane derivate of the formula (III)

3-glycidoxypropyltrihydroxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyl-dimethylhydroxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyl-dimethylethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane,

3-glycidoxypropyldiethoxy-methylsilane and/or 2- (3, 4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane for example may be used in the coating composition. Preferably, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and/or

is/are used as silane derivative of the formula (III) . The at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate may be a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate, where the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate comprise or are the metals of titanium, preferably TiO ₂, of silicon, preferably SiO ₂, of zirconium, preferably ZrO ₂, of tin, preferably SnO ₂, of antimony, preferably Sb ₂O ₃, of aluminum, preferably Al ₂O ₃ or AlO (OH) and/or mixed oxides and/or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate is a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate comprise or are metals of titanium, silicon, zirconium or mixtures thereof, further preferably of silicon. Further preferably, the at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate forms core-shell particles. In such core-shell particles the core comprises preferably a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate comprise or are metals of titanium, preferably TiO ₂, and/or of zirconium, preferably ZrO ₂ and the shell comprises preferably a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate comprise or are silicon, preferably SiO ₂. As colloidal inorganic fluoride magnesium fluoride may be used. The at least one colloidal oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride and/or oxyfluoride has a mean particle size in the range preferably from 3 nm to 70 nm, further preferably from 6 nm to 64 nm, more preferably from 8 nm to 56 nm and most preferably from 9 nm to 52 nm.

As at least one epoxide compound comprising at least two epoxide compounds digylcidyl ether, ethylenglycoldiglycidyl ether, propylenglycoldiglycolglycidyl ether, 1, 4-butandioldiglycidyl ether, 1, 6-hexandioldiglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropantriglycidyl ether, triglycidylglycerin and/or trimethylolethantriglycidylether for example may be used in the coating composition. Preferably, the at least epoxide compound comprises trimethylolpropantriglycidyl ether, butandioldiglycidyl ether and/or 1, 6-hexandioldiglycidyl ether.

As at least one Lewis acid ammonium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, sulfonic acids and/or salts of sulfonic acids, such as trifluormethane sulfonic acid and/or salts thereof, for example may be used in the at least one catalyst system.

As at least one Lewis base-adduct a metal complex compound, such as aluminum acetylacetonate, iron acetylacetonate and/or zinc acetylacetonate, for example may be used in the at least one catalyst system.

The use of the coating composition comprising the components (A) to (D) , i.e. at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) , at least one hydrolysis product and/or at least one condensation product thereof, least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride or oxyfluoride, at least one epoxide compound and at least one catalyst system, enables the production of at least one hard coating having very good adhesive strength on different uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrates, having a high hardness, being of high scratch resistance and showing a low tendency to crack formation on different uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrates.

The coating composition resulting in at least one hard coating is preferably applied to at least one coated or uncoated surface of the spectacle lens substrate by dip coating or by spin coating.

In case the spectacle lens substrate is made of an organic hard resin, preferably at least one of the finished surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate is coated with at least one hard coating as described above and at least one primer coating. If the spectacle lens comprises at least one hard coating and at least one primer coating, the at least one primer coating is the layer that is located next, but not necessarily adjacent, to the finished surface of the spectacle lens substrate to be coated. Phrased differently, if at least one of the finished surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate is coated with at least one primer coating and with at least one hard coating, preferably the at least one hard coating is furthest away from the to be coated surface of the spectacle lens substrate. The at least one finished surface of the spectacle lens substrate may be uncoated or precoated.

The average thickness of the at least one primer coating preferably lies in a range of from 300 nm to 1200 nm, further preferably in a range of from 340 nm to 1150 nm, further preferably in a range of from 390 nm to 1120 nm, more preferably in a range of from 440 nm to 1110 nm and most preferably in a range of from 470 nm to 1100 nm. The average thickness is the arithmetic average of the physical thickness of the at least one primer coating measured in at least three positions of the primer coating after application and curing. Preferably, the average thickness of the at least one primer coating is determined by the measurement of the spectral reflectivity and/or the spectral transmissivity. Preferably, an optical spectrometer, such as one of the devices F20, F10-HC or F10-AR of the company Filmetrics Inc., preferably the device F10-HC, is used to determine the average thickness of the at least one primer coating. Illumination of a spectacle lens comprising a spectacle lens substrate and at least one primer coating with white light causes interference spectra dependent on the physical thickness of the at least one primer coating and the respective refractive index thereof. The path difference corresponds exactly to the multiple of the optical thickness. The average thickness is preferably calculated with Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) . Alternatively, the average thickness of the at least one primer coating may be determined with at least one scanning electron microscope photograph of a cross-section of the spectacle lens comprising a spectacle lens substrate and at least one primer coating. The thickness of the at least one primer coating is therefore determined in at least three positions and the arithmetic average is formed thereof.

The at least one primer coating may preferably be based on a primer coating composition comprising

i) at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurethane dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurea dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurethane-polyurea dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyester dispersion, preferably at least one aqueous aliphatic polyurethane dispersion or at least one aqueous aliphatic polyester dispersion and more preferably at least one aqueous aliphatic polyurethane dispersion,

ii) at least one solvent,

iii) optionally at least one additive.

The at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurethane dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurea dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurethane-polyurea dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyester dispersion is present in the primer coating composition in a total amount from a range preferably of from 2%by weight to 38%by weight, further preferably of from 4%by weight to 34%by weight, further preferably of from 5%by weight to 28%by weight, more preferably of from 6%by weight to 25%by weight and most preferably of from 7%by weight to 21%by weight, each based on the total weight of the primer coating composition. The total amount comprises the amount of only one of the dispersions mentioned before or a mixture thereof.

The primer coating composition comprises preferably at least one aqueous polyurethane dispersion, wherein the polyurethane comprises a polyester unit as a spacer or the polyurethane dispersion is a polyurethane-polyurea dispersion, characterized by the occurrence of both urethane and urea groups in a macromolecular chain of the polyurethane-polyurea. Such polyurethane dispersions are described for example in WO 94/17116 A1, in particular in WO 94/17116 A1, page 7, lines 11 to 33. The aqueous polyurethane dispersion may be blended with anionically stabilized acrylic emulsions, as described in WO 94/17116 A1, in particular in WO 94/17116 A1, page 7, lines 33 to 35.

The at least one solvent is present in the primer coating composition in an amount from a range preferably of from 68%by weight to 99%by weight, further preferable of from 69%by weight to 98%by weight, more preferably of from 81%by weight to 97%by weight and most preferably of from 89%by weight to 93%by weight, each based on the total weight of the primer coating composition. The amounts mentioned before apply with regard to one type of solvent as well as with regard to a mixture of different solvents.

As at least one solvent preferably at least one organic solvent with a low boiling point of < 100℃under normal pressure and at least one organic solvent with a middle boiling of 100℃ to 150℃ under normal pressure may be used. As at least one organic solvent with a low boiling point methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, tert-butanol, actone, diethyl ether, tert-butylmethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, 1, 2-dichlorethane, methylene chloride, cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, n-heptane and/or methyl ethyl ketone for example may be used. Preferably, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and/or 2-propanol are used as at least one solvent with a low boiling point. As at least one organic solvent with a middle boiling point 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1-butanol, dibutyl ether, 1, 4-dioxan, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, methylisobutylketone and/or toluol for example may be used. Preferably, 1-methoxy-2-propanol and/or 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone is/are used as at least one solvent with a middle boiling point.

The weight ratio of the at least one solvent with a low boiling point to the at least one solvent with a middle boiling point is preferably 1: 1, further preferably 1: 1.4, more preferably 1: 1.5 and most preferably 1: 1.7.

As at least one solvent at least one organic solvent with a low boiling point, at least one solvent with a middle boiling point and water may be used. The weight ratio of the at least one solvent with a low boiling point to the at least one solvent with a middle boiling point to water is preferably 2: 7: 1, further preferably 2.5: 6.5: 1, further preferably 3: 6: 1, more preferably 3: 5: 1 and most preferably 3: 6: 1.

The primer coating composition may comprise optionally at least one additive. The at least one additive may comprise at least one dispersing agent, at least one anti-settling agent, at least one wetting agent, at least one biocide, at least one UV-absorber or mixtures thereof. The at least one additive may be present in the primer coating composition preferably in an amount from a range of from 0.01%by weight to 1.7%by weight, further preferably in an amount from a range of from 0.07%by weight to 1.4%by weight, more preferably in an amount from a range of from 0.09%by weight to 1.1%by weight and most preferably in an amount from a range of from 0.1%by weight to 0.7%by weight, each based on the total weight of the primer coating composition. The amounts mentioned before apply with regard to one type of additive as well as with regard to a mixture of different additives.

The primer coating composition comprising the components i) to iii) , i.e. the at least one dispersion, the at least one solvent and optionally the at least one additive, after application on at least one of the uncoated or precoated surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate, drying and curing results in at least one primer coating.

The at least one primer coating composition resulting in at least one primer coating is preferably applied to at least one precoated or uncoated surface of the optical lens substrate by dip coating or by spin coating.

The components of the primer coating composition material resulting in at least one primer coating are used in that they add to 100%by weight, based on the total weight of the primer coating composition.

Alternatively or additionally to the before mentioned at least one primer coating, the coating of the spectacle lens may comprise at least one primer coating based on a primer composition preferably comprising

ii) at least one solvent,

iii) at least one base, and

iv) optionally at least one additive.

The at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurethane dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurea dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyurethane-polyurea dispersion, at least one aqueous aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic polyester dispersion is present in the primer coating composition in a total amount from a range preferably of from 2%by weight to 31%by weight, further preferably of from 4%by weight to 26%by weight, further preferably of from 5%by weight to 21%by weight, more preferably of from 6%by weight to 20%by weight and most preferably of from 7%by weight to 19%by weight, each based on the total weight of the primer coating composition. The total amount comprises the amount of only one of the dispersions mentioned before or a mixture thereof.

The primer coating composition comprises preferably at least one aqueous polyurethane dispersion, wherein the polyurethane comprises a polyester unit as a spacer or the polyurethane dispersion is a polyurethane-polyurea dispersion, characterized by the occurrence of both urethane and urea groups in a macromolecular chain of the polyurethane-polyurea. Such polyurethane dispersions are described for example in WO 94/17116 A1, in particular in WO 94/17116 A1, page 7, lines 11 to 33. The aqueous polyurethane dispersion may be blended with anionically stabilized acrylic emulsions, as described in WO 94/17116 A1, in particular in WO 94/17116 A1, page 7, lines 33 to 35. According to WO 94/17116 A1, page 7, lines 11 to 33, an aqueous polyurethane dispersion typically is a polyurethane-polyurea, i.e., a polymer characterized by the occurrence of both urethane and urea groups in a macromolecular chain. The aqueous polyurethane dispersion may be blended with anionically stabilized acrylic emulsions as mentioned in WO 94/17166 A1, in particular in WO 94/17116 A1, page 7, lines 33 to 35.

The at least one solvent is present in the primer coating composition in an amount preferably from a range of from 69%by weight to 98%by weight, further preferable of from 73%by weight to 96%by weight, more preferably of from 76%by weight to 94%by weight and most preferably of from 79%by weight to 93%by weight, each based on the total weight of the primer coating composition. The amounts mentioned before apply with regard to one type of solvent as well as with regard to a mixture of different solvents.

As at least one solvent preferably at least one organic solvent with a low boiling point of <100℃under normal pressure and at least one organic solvent with a middle boiling of 100℃ to 150℃ under normal pressure may be used. As at least one organic solvent with a low boiling point methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, tert-butanol, actone, diethyl ether, tert-butylmethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, 1, 2-dichlorethane, methylene chloride, cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, n-heptane and/or methyl ethyl ketone for example may be used. Preferably, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and/or 2-propanol are used as at least one solvent with a low boiling point. As at least one organic solvent with a middle boiling point 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1-butanol, dibutyl ether, 1, 4-dioxan, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, methylisobutylketone and/or toluol for example may be used. Preferably, 1-methoxy-2-propanol and/or 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone is/are used as at least one solvent with a middle boiling point.

Further, additionally to the at least one solvent with a low boiling point and/or to the at least one solvent with a middle boiling point, the primer coating composition may comprise water. The weight ratio of the at least one solvent with a low boiling point to the at least one solvent with a middle boiling point to water is preferably 2: 7: 1, further preferably 2.5: 6.5: 1, further preferably 3: 6: 1, more preferably 3: 5: 1 and most preferably 3: 6: 1.

Further, the primer coating composition comprises at least one base, which confers a buffering effect with respect to the pH value to the at least one primer coating resulting from that primer coating composition. The at least one base preferably retards, more preferably inhibits an acidic component to come into contact with an adjacent layer, preferably an adjacent layer which is located nearer or next or adjacent to the spectacle lens substrate. The primer coating composition comprises the at least one base in an amount in the range of preferably from 0.1%by weight to 3.2%by weight, further preferably from 0.2%by weight to 2.8%by weight, further preferably from 0.3%by weight to 2.4%by weight, more preferably from 0.4%by weight to 1.9%by weight and most preferably from 0.5%by weight to 1.6%by weight, each based on the total weight of the primer coating composition. The amounts given before apply to the use of one type of base as well as to the use of a mixture of different bases. The primer coating composition may comprise as at least one base for example imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole, 2, 5-dimethylimidazole, 4- hydroxymethylimidazole, pyrazole, 1, 2, 3-triazole, 1, 2, 4-triazole, tetrazole, pentazole, pyrrole, pyrrolidine, pyridine, 4-aminopyridine, 4-methylpyridine, 4-methoxypyridine, 2, 4, 6-trimethylpyridine, piperidine, piperazine, triethylamine, di-isopropyl amine, di-isobutyl amine, caustic soda and/or caustic potash. Preferably, the primer coating composition comprises at least one base selected from the group consisting of 2-methlyimidazole, imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole, 2, 5-dimethylimidazole, triethylamine and caustic soda, more preferably at least one base selected from the group consisting of 2-methylimidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and caustic soda. Most preferably, the primer coating composition comprises at least one base selected from the group consisting of 2-methylimidazole and 1-methylimidazole in an amount of a range from 0.1%by weight to 2%by weight, preferably from 0.3%by weight to 1.5%by weight, each based on the total weight the primer coating composition. The amounts mentioned before apply to the use of a mixture of 2-methylimidazole and 1-methylimidazole as well as to the use of 2-methylimidazole or to the use of 1-methylimidazole.

The primer coating composition may comprise optionally at least one additive. The at least one additive may comprise at least one dispersing agent, at least one anti-settling agent, at least one wetting agent, at least one biocide, at least one UV-absorber or mixtures thereof. The at least one additive may be present in the primer coating composition preferably in an amount of from 0.01%by weight to 1.7%by weight, further preferably in an amount of from 0.07%by weight to 1.4%by weight, more preferably in an amount of from 0.09%by weight to 1.1%by weight and most preferably in an amount of from 0.1%by weight to 0.7%by weight, each based on the total weight of the primer coating composition. The amounts mentioned before apply with regard to one type of additive as well as with regard to a mixture of different additives.

The primer coating composition comprising the components i) to iv) , i.e. the at least one dispersion, the at least one solvent, the at least one base and optionally the at least one additive, after application to at least one precoated or uncoated surface of the spectacle lens substrate, drying and curing results in at least one primer coating.

The primer coating composition resulting in at least one primer coating is preferably applied to at least one precoated or uncoated surface of the spectacle lens substrate by dip coating or by spin coating. The components of the primer coating composition resulting in at least one primer coating are used in that they add to 100%by weight based on the total weight of the primer coating composition.

In case the spectacle lens comprises at least one hard coating, optionally at least one primer coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral preferably is the outermost coating thereof. The uncoated or precoated surface of the spectacle lens substrate to be coated with at least one hard coating, optionally with at least one primer coating and with at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, comprises the optional at least one primer coating as the coating nearest to the surface of the spectacle lens substrate and the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating furthest away from said surface.

In one embodiment, the coating of the spectacle lens comprises at least one photochromic coating. Preferably, only the precoated or uncoated finished front surface of the spectacle lens substrate comprises or is coated with at least one photochromic coating. If a spectacle lens comprises at least one hard coating, optionally at least one primer coating and at least one photochromic coating, preferably the at least one photochromic coating is the coating next, but not necessarily adjacent, to the surface of the spectacle lens substrate to be coated and the hard coating is the coating furthest away from said surface. The surface of the spectacle lens substrate preferably is optically finished and may be precoated or uncoated. In case the spectacle lens comprises at least one hard coating, optionally at least one primer coating, at least one photochromic coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, preferably the at least one photochromic coating is the coating next to, but not necessarily adjacent to, the surface of the spectacle lens substrate to be coated, whereas the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is the coating furthest away from said surface. The at least one photochromic coating may for example be based on a photochromic composition described in EP 1 433 814 A1, EP 1 602 479 A1 or EP 1 561 571 A1.

EP 1 433 814 A1, in particular EP 1 433 814 A1, claim 1, discloses a photochromic composition comprising (1) 100 parts by weight of radically polymerizable monomers; (2) 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of an amine compound; and (3) 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a photochromic compound, the radically polymerizable monomers including a radically polymerizable monomer having a silanol group or a group which forms a silanol group by hydrolysis, and/or a radically polymerizable monomer having an isocyanate group. According to EP 1 433 814 A1 to increase adhesion between the photochromic coating resulting from the photochromic composition described therein and a spectacle lens substrate, a radically polymerizable monomer having a silanol group or a group which forms a silanol group by hydrolysis or a radically polymerizable monomer having an isocyanate group is used. Usable monomers are mentioned in EP 1 433 814 A1, page 3, paragraph [0025] , to page 7, paragraph [0046] . Additionally, according to EP 1 433 814 A1 the photochromic composition may include other radically polymerizable monomers. As other polymerizable monomers, a combination of a radically polymerizable monomer having a homopolymer L-scale Rockwell hardness of at least 60 ( “high-hardness monomer” ) and a radically polymerizable monomer having a homopolymer L-scale Rockwell hardness of 40 or less ( “low-hardness monomer” ) is preferably used to improve the characteristic properties such as solvent resistance, hardness and heat resistance of the resulting photochromic coating or the photochromic properties thereof such as colour development intensity and fading speed. Examples and explanations with respect to the high-hardness monomers and the low-hardness monomers are given in EP 1 433 814 A1, page 7, paragraph [0052] , to page 13, paragraph

To improve the balance of the characteristic properties such as solvent resistance, hardness and heat resistance or photochromic properties such as colour development intensity and fading speed of the resulting photochromic coating, the amount of a low-hardness monomer is preferably 5 to 70%by weight and the amount of a high-hardness monomer is preferably 5 to 95%by weight based on the total of all the other radically polymerizable monomers excluding the radically polymerizable monomer having a silanol group or a group which forms a silanol group by hydrolysis and the radically polymerizable monomer having an isocyanate group. Further, according to EP 1 433 814 A1, it is particularly preferred that a monomer having at least three radically polymerizable groups should be contained as the high-hardness monomer in an amount of at least 5%by weight based on the total of all other radically polymerizable monomers. Further preferably, according to EP 1 433 814 A1, the radically polymerizable monomers include a radically polymerizable monomer having at least one epoxy group and at least one radically polymerizable group in the molecule besides the mentioned monomers classified by hardness. The durability of a photochromic compound and the adhesion of the photochromic coating can be improved by using the radically polymerizable monomer having at least one epoxy group. Radically polymerizable monomers having at least one epoxy group and at least one radically polymerizable group in the molecule are disclosed in EP 1 433 814 A1, page 13, paragraph [0101] , to page 14, paragraph [0105] . According to EP 1 433 814 A1, the amount of the radically polymerizable monomer having at least one epoxy group and at least one radically polymerizable group in the molecule is preferably 0.01 to 30%by weight, particularly preferably 0.1 to 20%by weight based on the total of all other radically polymerizable monomers. The photochromic composition described in EP 1 433 814 A1 comprises at least one amine compound in an amount of 0.01 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total of all the radically polymerizable monomers in addition to the above mentioned radically polymerizable monomers. Examples for the at least one amine compound is given in EP 1 433 814 A1, page 14, paragraph [0108] , to page 15, paragraph [0112] . The photochromic composition disclosed in EP 1 433 814 A1 comprises at least one photochromic compound in an amount of 0.01 to 20 parts by weight, preferably 0.05 to 15 parts by weight and more preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total of all radically polymerizable monomers. Examples for photochromic compounds are given in EP 1 433 814 A1, page 15, paragraph [0114] to page 20, paragraph [0122] .

EP 1 602 479 A1, in particular EP 1 602 479 A1, claim 9, discloses a photochromic composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a radically polymerizable monomer, 0.001 to 5 parts by weight of a silicone base or fluorine base surfactant and 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a photochromic compound. According to EP 1 602 479 A1, the photochromic composition comprises a radically polymerizable monomer having a silanol group or a group which forms a silanol group by hydrolysis, an amine compound and a photochromic compound. The use amount of the radically polymerizable monomer having a silanol group or a group which forms a silanol group by hydrolysis is suitably 0.5 to 20%by weight, particularly 1 to 10%by weight based on the total weight of the whole coating agents. Other radically polymerizable monomers which according to EP 1 602 479 A1 can be used together with the radically polymerizable monomer having a silanol group or a group which forms a silanol group by hydrolysis, such as for example trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, tetramethylolmethane trimethacrylate, tetramethylolmethane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane triethylene glycol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetramethacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, urethane oligomer tetraacrylate, urethane oligomer hexamethacrylate, urethane oligomer hexaacrylate, polyester oligomer hexaacrylate, diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, tripropireneglycol dimethacrylate, bisphenol A dimethacrylate, 2, 2-bis (4-methacryloyloxyethoxydiphenyl) propane, glycidyl methacrylate, 2, 2-bis (4-acryloyloxypolyethylene glycol phenyl) propane having an average molecular weight of 776 or methyl ether polyethylene glycol methacrylate having an average molecular weight of 475. The use amount of the other radically polymerizable monomers is suitably 20 to 90%by weight, particularly 40 to 80%by weight based on the weight of the whole coating agents. The use amount of the amine compound, such as triethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate or N, N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate for example, is suitably 0.01 to 15%by weight, particularly 0.1 to 10%by weight based on the weight of the whole coating agents. The use amount of the photochromic compound such as a naphthopyran derivative, a chromene derivative, a spirooxazine derivative, a spiropyran derivative or a flugimide derivative is suitably 0.1 to 30%by weight, particularly 1 to 10%by weight based on the weight of the whole coating agents.

In case the spectacle lens comprises at least one photochromic coating, preferably the front surface of the uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate comprising the at least one photochromic coating, the spectacle lens may optionally comprise at least one photochromic primer. Preferably the front surface of the spectacle lens substrate comprises the at least one photochromic primer and the at least one photochromic coating, the photochromic coating being the outermost coating thereof. The at least one photochromic primer may comprise the polyurethane resin layer disclosed in EP 1 602 479 A1, in particular in EP 1 602 479 A1, claim 1, or the primer layer disclosed in WO 03/058300 A1, in particular in WO 03/058300 A1, page 22, line 3 to page 23, line 13.

In one embodiment, the spectacle lens may comprise at least one mirror coating. In case the spectacle lens comprises at least one mirror coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. the at least one mirror coating is preferably next to but not necessarily adjacent to the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating with the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being the outermost layer thereof. Next to, but not necessarily adjacent to, preferably means the at least one mirror coating and the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being located on the identical uncoated or precoated surface of the spectacle lens substrate. Preferably, only the front surface of the spectacle lens substrate comprises at least one mirror coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being the outermost coating thereof. The at least one mirror coating typically comprises alternating dielectric layers in the manner of a Bragg mirror and/or at least one semitransparent metal layer. The at least one semitransparent metal layer may comprise, for example, an aluminum layer, chromium layer, gold layer and/or silver layer. The layer thickness of the semitransparent metal layer is typically within a range of from 4 nm to 48 nm, more typically within a range of from 8 nm to 41 nm and most typically within a range of from 17 nm to 33 nm. The at least one semitransparent metal layer is typically applied by means of a physical vapor deposition method.

The spectacle lens comprises preferably at least one antireflective coating. The at least one antireflective coating preferably comprises alternating discrete metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate layers composed of or comprising aluminum, silicon, zirconium, titanium, yttrium, tantalum, neodymium, lanthanum, niobium and/or praseodymium. The at least one antireflective coating preferably comprises at least one layer of a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate layer composed of or comprising silicon, which preferably forms the outermost layer of the antireflective coating. The antireflective coating typically comprises a coating stack of at least one layer with a high refractive index (HRI) and of at least one layer with a low refractive index (LRI) . There is no limitation for the number of layers. However, from the perspective of broadband reflection reduction, the layer total number in the antireflective coating is preferably higher than or equal to 3, further preferably higher than or equal to 5, and lower than or equal to 9. Preferably, the HRI layers have a physical thickness ranging from 10 to 120 nm and the LRI layers have a physical thickness ranging from 10 to 100 nm. The at least one antireflective coating preferably has a total layer thickness from a range from 100 nm to 1000 nm, preferably from a range from 110 nm to 800 nm, further preferably from a range from 120 nm to 750 nm, more preferably from a range from 130 nm to 700 nm and most preferably from a range from 140 nm to 500 nm. The at least one antireflective coating may be designed with respect to the desired optical properties thereof preferably by using the software OptiLayer, version 12.37, of company OptiLayer GmbH, 85748 Garching b. München, or the software Essential MacLeod, version 11.00.541, of company Thin Film Center Inc., 2745 E Via Rotunda, Tucson, AZ USA. For designing the at least one antireflective coating, the respective refractive indices of the layer materials preferably are assumed to be wavelength dependent. In case the antireflective coating comprises at least one layer of SiO ₂ and at least one layer of TiO ₂, the designing the antireflective coating preferably is based on a refractive index for TiO ₂ of n= 2.420 at 550 nm and a refractive index for SiO ₂ of n = 1.468 at 550 nm.

The at least one antireflective coating may comprise the layer sequence and the layer thickness indicated in EP 2 437 084 A1, in figures 3 and 5, in each case between the superhydrophobic layer and the hard lacquer layer or the layer sequence and the layer thicknesses disclosed in paragraph

of EP 2 801 846 A1.

In a spectacle lens comprising at least one hard coating and at least one antireflective coating, the at least antireflective coating preferably forms the outermost coating. The antireflective coating is preferably disposed on top of the at least one hard coating on the eye side and/or object side of the spectacle lens. In case the spectacle lens comprises at least one antireflective coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, preferably the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coatin the outermost coating thereof.

In one embodiment, the spectacle lens may comprise at least one electrically conductive or semiconductive layer. The at least one electrically conductive or semiconductive layer may comprise, for example, a layer composed of or comprising indium tin oxide ( (In ₂O ₃) _0.9 (SnO ₂) _0.1; ITO) , fluorine tin oxide (SnO ₂: F; FTO) , aluminum zinc oxide (ZnO: Al; AZO) and/or antimony tin oxide (SnO ₂: Sb; ATO) . Preferably, the electrically conductive or semiconductive layer comprises a layer composed of or comprising ITO or composed of or comprising FTO. An electrically conductive or semiconductive layer arranged as the outermost layer of the spectacle lens on the object side or eye side reduces or avoids the static charging of the spectacle lens. This in turn facilitates the cleaning of the spectacle lens. The at least one electrically conductive or semiconductive layer may be one of the layers of the antireflective coating.

Preferably the at least one antireflective coating is manufactured by physical vapor deposition, preferably by means of electron beam evaporation or thermal evaporation in a vacuum chamber.

The spectacle lens comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. The at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably is the outermost coating in the coating sequence of the spectacle lens. The at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably comprises at least one biocidal inorganic component, preferably selected from at least one biocidal inorganic metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate and/or metal sulphide, and at least one inorganic binding component, preferably selected from at least one inorganic metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate and/or metal sulphide. The at least one biocidal inorganic component preferably has the functionality of oxidation or light induced oxidation via direct contact to achieve the antiviral and/or antibacterial effect of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. The at least one inorganic binding component preferably has the functionality to ensure or enhance the adhesion of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating to each adjacent coating. Preferably, the at least one adjacent coating is directly adjacent. The at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating may cover the adjacent coating underneath, i.e. the adjacent coating in direction to the surface of the spectacle lens substrate, completely or partially. A partial covering or partial coating could be that for example only one half of the coating underneath is covered by or coated with the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating or that the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprises any arbitrary shape of islands on the outermost surface of an adjacent coating underneath the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. Preferably the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating covers the adjacent layer underneath completely. In case the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is not the outermost coating of the spectacle lens, the outermost coating may cover the underneath antibacterial and/or antiviral coating completely or partially.

The at least one biocidal inorganic component may comprise at least one biocidal inorganic metal, metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate and/or metal sulphide composed of or comprising silver, preferably Ag, AgO, Ag ₂O, Ag ₂S; copper, preferably Cu, Cu ₂O; titanium, preferably TiO, TiO ₂, Ti ₂O ₃, Ti ₃O ₄; zinc, preferably ZnO; and/or iron, preferably FeO, Fe ₂O ₃. The at least one biocidal inorganic component may comprise at least one metal, at least one metal oxide, at least one metal hydroxide, at least one metal oxide hydrate, at least one metal sulphide or a combination thereof. As at least one metal one metal or a combination of different metals, as at least one metal oxide one type of metal oxide or a combination of different types of metal oxides, as at least one metal hydroxide one type of metal hydroxides or a combination of different types of metal hydroxides, as at least one metal oxide hydrate one type of metal oxide hydrate or a combination of different types of metal oxide hydrates and as at least one metal sulphide one type of metal sulphide or a combination of different types of metal sulphides may be used. Preferably, the at least one biocidal inorganic component comprises at least one biocidal inorganic metal, metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate and/or metal sulphide composed of or comprising silver, preferably Ag, AgO, Ag ₂O, Ag ₂S; copper, preferably Cu, Cu ₂O; and/or zinc, preferably ZnO. Further preferably, the at least one biocidal inorganic component comprises at last one biocidal inorganic metal, metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate composed of or comprising silver, preferably Ag, AgO and/or Ag ₂O and/or Cu, preferably Cu ₂O. Particularly preferably, the at least one biocidal inorganic component comprises at least one biocidal metal, metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate composed of or comprising silver, preferably Ag, AgO and/or Ag ₂O.

The at least one binding inorganic component may comprise at least one inorganic metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate and/or metal sulphide composed of or comprising silicon, preferably SiO ₂; titanium, preferably TiO, TiO ₂, Ti ₂O ₃, Ti ₃O ₄; aluminum, preferably Al ₂O ₃; and/or zirconium, preferably ZrO ₂. The at least one binding inorganic component may comprise at least one metal oxide, at least one metal hydroxide, at least one metal oxide hydrate, at least one metal sulphide or a combination thereof. Further, as at least one metal oxide one type of metal oxide or a combination of different types of metal oxides, as at least one metal hydroxide one type of metal hydroxides or a combination of different types of metal hydroxides, as at least one metal oxide hydrate one type of metal oxide hydrate or a combination of different types of metal oxide hydrates and as at least one metal sulphide one type of metal sulphide or a combination of different types of metal sulphides may be used. Preferably, the at least one binding inorganic component comprises at least one inorganic metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate composed of or comprising silicon, preferably SiO ₂; titanium, preferably TiO, TiO ₂, Ti ₂O ₃, Ti ₃O ₄; and/or zirconium, preferably ZrO ₂. Further preferably, the at least one binding inorganic component comprises at least one inorganic metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate composed of or comprising silicon, preferably SiO ₂; and/or titanium, preferably TiO, TiO ₂, Ti ₂O ₃, Ti ₃O ₄. Particularly preferably, the at least one binding inorganic component comprises at least one inorganic metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate composed of or comprising silicon, preferably SiO ₂.

Preferably, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating do not comprise the identical biocidal inorganic component and binding inorganic component. The at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate and/or metal sulphide of the at least one biocidal inorganic component and of the at least one binding inorganic component are preferably not identical. However, in case the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding inorganic component comprise for example at least one metal oxide composed of or comprising the identical metal, for example titanium, it is preferred that the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding inorganic component comprise different types of the at least one metal oxides, for example, TiO ₂ and TiO. Alternatively, the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding inorganic component may comprise for example the identical metal oxide but in a different crystal structure. Preferably, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is obtained by physical vapor deposition. Therefore, the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding inorganic component are co-deposited as respective at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate and/or metal sulphide. Alternatively, the respective metal may be co-deposited under the respective atmosphere, for example to deposit at least one metal oxide, the co-deposition is under an oxygen containing atmosphere. To achieve a stable and consistent deposition rate of the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding inorganic component, the conditions for the vacuum co-deposition preferably are at least one of the following: the chamber pressure during the deposition preferably is in a range from 1×10 ^-6 mbar to 1×10 ^-3 mbar, further preferably from 1×10 ^-5 mbar to 1×10 ^-4 mbar, the thermal evaporator voltage preferably is in a range from 0, 5 to 7V, further preferably from 1 to 5V, the electrical current preferably is in a range from 10 A to 350 A, further preferably from 100 A to 300 A, the electron beam evaporator voltage is preferably set to 6 kV to 10 kV, the beam current preferably is in a range from 20 mA to 80 mA, further preferably from 30 mA to 60 mA, optionally the chamber is purged with additional O ₂ and/or Arfor ion-beam assistance, preferably in a flow rate of 5 to 50 sccm O ₂, and the overall deposition rate measured during co-deposition is preferably set to 0, 5 nm/sto 10 nm/s, further preferably 1 nm/sto 5 nm/s.

The at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding component forming the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably are co-deposited through co-deposition under vacuum according to at least one of the following methods: i) by optionally ion-beam assisted co-evaporation; ii) by ion-beam co-sputtering; iii) by cathode co-sputtering and/or by iv) by plasma-assisted chemical vapor co-deposition. Evaporation under vacuum in the optionally ion-beam assisted co-evaporation method i) can be done using at least one of the following evaporation sources: a) at least one thermal evaporator to heat the at least one component to be evaporated under vacuum by resistive heating of at least one metal container comprising said at least one component; b) at least one electron beam gun to heat the at least one component to be evaporated under vacuum via an electron beam. In contrast to conventional deposition methods under vacuum, in which only one component is deposited from one single deposition source at the same time, for example from one single evaporation source or from one single sputter source, for the co-deposition under vacuum resulting in the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably at least two deposition sources are operated simultaneously. Preferably, at least one of the at least two deposition sources is used to deposit the at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one the at least two deposition sources is used to deposit the at least one binding inorganic component. The at least two deposition sources for co-depositing the at least one biocidal component and the at least one binding component forming the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating may be of the identical type or may be of different types of deposition sources. Further, the at least two deposition sources for co-depositing the at least one biocidal component and the at least one binding component forming the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating may be of the identical type in case the identical method selected from the above mentioned methods i) to iv) is used or may be of different types of deposition sources, both in case the identical method selected from the above mentioned methods i) to iv) as well as in case different methods selected from the above mentioned methods i) to iv) is used. In case the identical method according to any one of the methods i) to iv) mentioned above is used for deposition, for example, in case the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is manufactured according to the co-deposition method i) mentioned above, i.e. by optionally ion-beam assisted co-evaporation, for example the at least one evaporation source to deposit the at least one biocidal inorganic component may be at least one thermal evaporator and the at least one evaporation source to deposit the at least one binding inorganic component may at least one electron beam gun. Alternatively, for example, the at least one evaporation source to deposit the at least one biocidal inorganic component may be at least one electron beam gun and the at least one evaporation source to deposit the at least one binding inorganic component may at least one thermal evaporator. Further, for example, the at least one evaporation source to deposit the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one evaporation source to deposit the at least one binding inorganic component may be of identical type. In case at least two biocidal inorganic components are to be co-deposited, the at least two deposition sources used therefor may be of identical type or of different type. In case at least two binding inorganic components are to be co-deposited, the at least two deposition sources used therefor may be of identical type or of different type. Further, the method for co-deposition of the at least two biocidal inorganic components and/or the method for co-deposition of the at least two binding inorganic components each according to any one of the methods i) to iv) mentioned above may be of identical type or at least two different methods may be used.

Irrespective of the fact if the at least two deposition sources used are of identical type or of different type, the co-deposition of all components to be deposited simultaneously is preferred.

The described co-deposition preferably is an ion-assisted co-deposition. Ion-assisted co-deposition preferably means that further simultaneously to the co-deposition the surface to be coated with the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is bombarded with at least one ion-beam. The at least one ion-beam may be produced by at least one ion gun emitting for example gas ions of Ar ⁺, Ar ₂ ⁺, O ₂ ⁺and/or N ₂ ⁺.

To obtain a consistent and durable antibacterial and/or antiviral effect of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, which preferably shows a very good adhesion to at least one adjacent coating, the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding component preferably are co-deposited simultaneously to form a uniform coating layer. If the coating of the spectacle lens comprises at least one antireflective coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating in the coating sequence, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is in the coating sequence the coating furthest away from the at least one surface of the spectacle lens substrate to be coated. If the at least one antireflective coating and the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating are adjacent to each other and if the at least one antireflective coating is applied by physical vapor deposition as well, the co-deposition of the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding component may be conducted in the same vacuum chamber where the at least one antireflective coating has been applied. The vacuum chamber, preferably, requires at least one apparatus of electron beam evaporation to deposit the at least one biocidal inorganic component, another apparatus of electron beam or thermal evaporation to deposit the at least one binding component. Further, if more than two components are used, e.g. at least one two biocidal inorganic components and at least one binding component or at least one biocidal component and at least two binding components, at least a third apparatus of evaporation preferably should be installed.

To ensure a clear distinguishable antibacterial and/or antiviral effect of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, compared with a spectacle lens without the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably comprises the at least one biocidal inorganic component in an amount of a range from 1 %by weight to 90 %by weight, further preferably from 10 %by weight to 80 %by weight, more preferably from 15%by weight to 60 %by weight, and particularly preferably from 20%by weight to 40 %by weight, each based on the total weight of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. The amounts for the at least one biocidal inorganic component given before apply for the use of one type of biocidal inorganic component as well as for the use of a combination of different types of biocidal inorganic components. One type of biocidal inorganic components may comprise the identical or a different metal ion. To simultaneously ensure a good adhesion of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating to at least one adjacent layer, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably comprises the at least one binding inorganic component in an amount of a range from 10 %by weight to 99%by weight, further preferably from 20 %by weight to 90 %by weight, more preferably from 40 %by weight to 85 %by weight and particularly preferably from 60 %by weight to 80%by weight, each based on the total weight of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. The amounts for the at least one binding inorganic component mentioned before apply for the use of one type of binding inorganic component as well as for the use of a combination of different types of binding inorganic components. One type of binding inorganic components may comprise the identical or a different metal ion.

The respective amounts of the at least one biocidal inorganic component and the at least one binding inorganic component given above are preferably determined by a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

In contrast to the antibacterial layer disclosed in CN 106772713 A1 consisting of Ag ₂O, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating according exhibits good adhesion even to at least one adjacent antireflective coating. This good adhesion is achieved in contrast to CN 106772713 A1 in the absence of a binding layer on top of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating according to the invention.

The adhesion preferably is assessed by means of a cross-cut test and rated in accordance to BYK Gardner catalogue “QC solutions for coatings and plastics” , 2018, page 158.

The average thickness of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably lies in a range of from 1 nm to 100 nm, further preferably from 3 nm to 60 nm, more preferably from 4 nm to 40 nm and most preferably from 5 nm to 20 nm. The physical thickness of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably is determined by a scanning electron microscope photograph of a cross-section of the spectacle lens comprising a spectacle lens substrate and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. The physical thickness of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is therein determined in at least three positions and the arithmetic average is formed thereof.

The before mentioned thickness ranges preferably ensure a long term antibacterial and/or antiviral effect of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, without significantly affecting the desired optical properties of the spectacle lens, in particular without significantly affecting the desired optical properties of the at least one antireflective coating. Phrased differently, the thickness of the at least one antibacterial coating may be a compromise between the long term antibacterial and/or antiviral effect of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the desired optical properties of the spectacle lens.

In case the coating of the spectacle lens comprises at least one antireflective coating, depending on the optical stack design of the at least one antireflective coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating can be considered as an additional and independent coating thereto, or as one of the layers of the antireflective coating.

In case the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is not the outermost coating of the spectacle lens, i.e. in case the spectacle lens comprises at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, for example, in case the spectacle lens comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and at least one anti-fog coating as outermost coating or at least one anti-bacterial and/or antiviral coating and at least one clean coat layer as outermost coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one outermost coating preferably are directly adjacent to each other. Directly adjacent to each other means that no further layer is located in-between the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. Directly adjacent does not necessarily mean that the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is completely covered with the at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. The at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating could either cover the adjacent at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating completely or partially. In contrast to CN 106772713 A preferably no binding layer is located between the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. Further, is has been found that advantageously no binding layer in-between the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is needed for ensuring the adhesion between the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating. In CN 106772713 A the binding layer is needed to increase the adhesion between the antibacterial and the top layer. Using the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating according to the invention the adhesion between this at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one coating adjacent thereto needs not to be improved. With respect to the at least one outermost coating being different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, preferably the outermost coating being at least one anti-fog coating or at least one clean coat layer, a good adhesion between the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is achieved, due to the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating already comprising at least one binding component renders a binding layer as in CN 106772713 A redundant. The absence of such an additional binding layer in-between of at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and at least one outermost coating different from the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating also has the advantage that the distance of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is not increased. Therefore, in the absence of such an addition binding layer, preferably the effectiveness of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating against bacteria and/or viruses is not reduced due to that barrier preventing the contact between the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the bacteria and/or viruses.

The spectacle lens may comprise at least one clean coat layer, the at least one clean coat layer being the outermost coating in the layer sequence of the coating. The at least one clean coat layer may have oleophobic or hydrophobic properties, as disclosed for example in EP 1 392 613 A1, wherein water forms a contact angle of more than 90°, preferably of more than 100° and particularly of more than 110°. The at least one clean coat layer may comprise for example at least one fluoro organic layer covalently bonding to the underneath adjacent layer as disclosed in DE 19848591 A1, claim 1, or at least one layer based on perfluoropolyethers. The at least one clean coat layer may be a hydrophobic coating, preferably physical vapor deposited layer, which ensures that the spectacle lens having an easy to clean surface. Typical contaminations on the surface of a spectacle lens could be easily removed by liquid droplets, preferably water droplets, just rolling off or rolling of in combination with wiping. The hydrophobic coating comprises preferably a silane having at least one fluorine-containing group, which exhibits preferably more than 20 carbon atoms. Per-or polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) with silane functionality that comprise at least one - (CF ₂) _x-units (x≥1) are commonly used. In case, the at least one clean coat layer is adjacent to and on top of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the per-or polyfluoroalkyl substances preferably react with the hydroxyl groups of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating to covalently bonding to the antibacterial and/or antiviral coating through condensation.

In case, the at least one clean coat layer is adjacent to and on top of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, for components in the antibacterial and/or antiviral coating that are poorly soluble in water, the at least clean coat layer could act as a barrier to prevent the direct contact and largely reduces the contact area of a virus and biocidal oxides. For components that are presumed to be effective as metal ions, the at least one clean coat layer could slow down the migration of the metal ions. For photocatalytic components, the at least one clean coat layer may prevent the generation of reactive oxygen species, e.g. OH,

H ₂O ₂, because of their property of repelling to water. To remain the hydrophobic surface of the at least one clean coat layer while not to significantly reducing the antibacterial and/or antiviral effect of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the thickness of the at least one clean coat layer preferably lies in a range from 1 nm to 20 nm, further preferably from 1 nm to 15 nm, more preferably from 1 nm to 10 nm, and particularly preferably from 1 nm to 5 nm. The thickness of the at least one clean coat layer preferably is the average thickness, preferably determined by at least one scanning electron microscope photograph of a cross-section of the spectacle lens comprising at least a spectacle lens substrate and at least one clean coat layer. In the at least one scanning electron microscope photograph, the physical thickness of the at least one clean coat layer is determined in at least three positions and the arithmetic average is formed thereof. Preferably, to remain the hydrophobic surface of the at least one clean coat layer while not to significantly reducing the antibacterial and/or antiviral effect of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the average thickness of the at least one clean coat layer may be adapted to have a small water contact angle. Dependent on the composition of the at least one clean coat layer, the average thickness of the at least one clean coat layer may need to be reduced for reducing or adapting the water contact angle. Preferably the water contact angle of the at least one clean coat layer lies in a range of from 90° to 105°, more preferably in a range of from 95° to 100°. The water contact angle preferably is determined by means of an OCA20 contact angle meter from Dataphysics using deionized water with a droplet size of 1 and 10μL as liquid.

Alternatively or additionally to the low thickness of the at least one clean coat layer, a deposition mask or a shadow mask may be used in the vacuum deposition process for a plasma treatment via ion beam assistance with the chamber purged with Ar or O ₂ gas on the at least one clean coat layer. The surface of the at least one clean coat layer where it is not protected or shielded by the deposition or shadow mask, the hydrophobic material of the at least one clean coat layer may be removed by the plasma treatment and a hybrid surface is created. Alternatively, the surface of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating may be protected or shielded by the deposition or shadow mask and only the not masked parts of the surface of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating are coated with the at least one clean coat layer. The average thickness of the at least one clean coat layer applied with the deposition or shadow mask preferably lies in a range from 1 nm to 50 nm, further preferably from 1 nm to 30 nm, more preferably from 1 nm to 20 nm, and particularly preferably from 1 nm to 10 nm. The average thickness of the at least one clean coat layer applied with the deposition or shadow mask is preferably determined analogously to the average thickness of the at least one clean coat layer described above.

The deposition or shadow mask is set as the same dimension as the spectacle lens but having many holes. To not to deteriorate the surface slippery the parameters of the holes are preferred to have the diameter ranging from 0.1 to 1 mm, distance of each holes ranging from 1 to 2 mm. Comparing to the wet etching process, shadow mask methodology is versatile because it allows for a wide range of materials to be deposited via a simpler process. The mask can be reused for many depositions by following a simple mask cleaning procedure. Shadow mask technology could create an overall hydrophobic (clean coat) surface with areas that are non-hydrophobic to let water bridge and support the biocidal compounds or ROS to overcome the barrier.

In contrast to CN 106772713 A, no binding layer between for example the antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one clean coat layer is necessary to achieve the necessary adhesion between the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one clean coat layer. In the disclosed coating sequence of CN 106772713 A the antibacterial layer is underneath of the binding layer and the superhydrophobic layer These two layers mentioned in CN 106772713 A may prevent the biocidal compound or ROS from deactivating bacteria but more importantly from deactivating viruses, as it may require a much higher concentration of the biocidal compound or ROS.

The spectacle lens comprises at least one anti-fog coating. In case at least one of the surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate is coated with at least one anti-fog coating, the at least one anti-fog coating preferably is the outermost coating. In case at least one of the surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate is coated with at least one anti-fog coating and at least one clean coat layer, the at least one clean coat layer preferably is the outermost coating.

The at least one antifog coating preferably comprises an antifogging resin or surfactant, including highly hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, (sodium) polyacrylate, or polyurethane comprising hydrophilic groups. For example, there are commercially available antifog resins UVAF, AFC-GW, AFC-133P12G, AFC-SW6M and AFC-G*NK from Gelwell Biotech Corp. and Visgard Premium, Visgard Premium SE, Visgard Premium Plus and Visgard Elite from FSI Coating Technologies, Inc.

The layer thickness of the al least one anti-fog coating is not subject in principle to any special constraint. The layer thickness of the at least one anti-fog coating each lies preferably in a range of from 1 μm to 20 μm, further preferably in a range of from 2 μm to 17 μm, more preferably in a range of from 3 μm to 15 μm, most preferably in a range of from 4 μm to 12 μm and particularly preferably in a range of from 5 μm to 10 μm.

Summarizing, the following embodiments are particularly preferred within the scope of the present invention:

Embodiment 1: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.

Embodiment 2. A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least antireflective coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being the outermost coating thereof.

Embodiment 3: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one hard coating and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being the outermost coating thereof.

Embodiment 4: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and at least one clean coat layer, the at least one clean coat layer being the outermost layer thereof.

Embodiment 5: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and at least one anti-fog coating, the at least one anti-fog coating being the outermost layer thereof.

Embodiment 6. A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises on the identical surface of the spectacle lens substrate at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, at least one anti-fog coating and at least one clean coat layer, the at least one clean coat layer being the outermost layer thereof, the at least one anti-fog coating being adjacent to the at least one clean coat layer as the layer underneath, in direction to the surface of the spectacle lens substrate.

Embodiment 7: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, and wherein the at least one coating comprises no binding layer, the binding layer preferably comprising at least one oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate of silicon, in particular SiO ₂, as outermost layer adjacent to the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.

Embodiment 8: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprising at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic component.

Embodiment 9: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the spectacle lens comprising from eye side to object side optionally at least one clean coat layer /at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating /at least one antireflective coating /at least one hard coating /optionally at least one primer coating //back surface of the at least one spectacle lens substrate /front surface of the at least one spectacle lens substrate /optionally at least one primer coating /at least one hard coating /at least one antireflection coating /at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating /optionally at least one clean coating.

Embodiment 10: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the spectacle lens comprising from eye side to object side optionally at least one clean coat layer /at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating /at least one hard coating /optionally at least one primer coating //back surface of the at least one spectacle lens substrate /front surface of the at least one spectacle lens substrate /optionally at least one primer coating /at least one hard coating /at least one antireflection coating /at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating /optionally at least one clean coating.

Embodiment 11: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating, wherein the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the spectacle lens comprising from eye side to object side at least one clean coat layer /at least one anti-fog coating /at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating /at least one hard coating /optionally at least one primer coating //back surface of the at least one spectacle lens substrate/front surface of the at least one spectacle lens substrate /optionally at least one primer coating /at least one hard coating /at least one antireflection coating /at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating /optionally at least one clean coating.

Embodiment 12: A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, wherein the antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprises at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic component, the at least one biocidal inorganic component in an amount of a range of from 1 %by weight to 90 %by weight and the at least one binding inorganic component in an amount of a range of from 10 %by weight to 99 %by weight, each based on the total weight of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, preferably selected in that the before mentioned amounts add to 100%by weight, based on the total weight of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.

Embodiment 13: A method for manufacturing a spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the process comprising the following steps in the given order:

a) Providing an uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate

b) Co-depositing at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic component under vacuum on at least one surface of the uncoated or precoated surface of the spectacle lens substrate resulting in the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.

Embodiment 14: The process according to embodiment 13, wherein the co-depositing of step b) is ion beam assisted.

Embodiment 15: A process of applying an antibacterial and/or antiviral coating on at least one surface of the group consisting of a medical device, a shield, a screen, preferably a touch screen, a window and a windshield.

Embodiment 16: A shield or a ski google or a protective lens comprising at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprising at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic coating, preferably the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being any one of the preceding embodiments.

Embodiment 17: A screen, preferably a touch screen, comprising at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating preferably comprising at least biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic component, further preferably the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being any one of the preceding embodiments.

Embodiment 18: An ophthalmic lens comprising at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprising at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic coating, preferably the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being any one of the preceding embodiments.

Embodiment 19: A transparent article comprising at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprising at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic coating, preferably the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being any one of the preceding embodiments.

The following examples are non-limiting for the scope of the invention:

I Spectacle lens according to the examples and comparative examples

Comparative example 1

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with composition according to example 2 of EP 2 578 649 A1 and then vacuum deposited with a five layers antireflective coating that the material of each layer is SiO ₂, CrO ₂, SiO ₂, CrO ₂, SiO ₂ respectively. The layer thicknesses were 30 nm, 30 nm, 20 nm, 60 nm and 90 nm. No further coating was applied.

Comparative example 2

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with composition according to example 2 of EP 2 578 649 A1 and then vacuum deposited with a same antireflective coating as in comparative example 1. An antibacterial and/antiviral coating was deposited on top of the antireflective coating with electron beam evaporation and ion-beam assistance with purged 30 sccm O ₂ in chamber. This antibacterial and/or antiviral coating consists of 100%by weight of the biocidal component Ag ₂O and exhibits a thickness of 10 nm.

Comparative example 3

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with composition according to example 2 of EP 2 578 649 A1 and then vacuum deposited with a same antireflective coating as in comparative example 1. An antibacterial and antiviral layer was further deposited on this surface: the biocidal component was deposited by thermal evaporation and the binding component was deposited by electron beam evaporation and ion-beam assistance with purged 30 sccm O ₂ in chamber. This antibacterial and/or antiviral layer consists of 40%by weight of biocidal compound Ag ₂O and 60 %by weight of the binding compound SiO ₂ and exhibits a total thickness of 10 nm. Afterwards, the spectacle lens was further coated a hydrophobic clean coat layer with a thickness of 5 nm of the hydrophobic material Cotec 300+ from COTECH GmbH.

Example 1

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with composition according to example 2 of EP 2 578 649 A1 then vacuum deposited with a same antireflective coating as in comparative example 1. Using double electron beam evaporation and ion-beam assistance with purged 30 sccm O ₂ in chamber, an antibacterial and/antiviral coating was deposited on top of the antireflective coating. This antibacterial and/or antiviral coating consists of 20%by weight of the biocidal component Ag ₂O and 80%by weight of the binding component SiO ₂ and exhibits a total thickness of 10 nm.

Example 2

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with a hardening silicone film and then vacuum deposited with a same antireflection coating as example1. Using double electron beam evaporation and ion-beam assistance with purged 30 sccm O ₂ in chamber, an antibacterial and/or antiviral coating is deposited on top of the antireflective coating. This antibacterial and/or antiviral coating consists of 40 %by weight of biocidal compound Ag ₂O and 60 %by weight of the binding compound SiO ₂ and exhibits a total thickness of 10 nm.

Example 3

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with a hardening silicone film and then vacuum deposited with a same antireflection coating as example1. Using double electron beam evaporation and ion-beam assistance with purged 30 sccm O ₂ in chamber, an antibacterial and antiviral layer is deposited on this surface. This antibacterial and antiviral layer consists of 40 %by weight of biocidal compound Ag ₂O and 60 %by weight of the binding compound SiO ₂ and exhibits a total thickness of 10 nm.

Example 4

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with a hardening silicone film and then vacuum deposited with a same antireflection coating as example1. An antibacterial and/or antiviral coating was further deposited on this surface: the biocidal compound was deposited by thermal evaporation and the second compound was deposited by electron beam evaporation and ion-beam assistance with purged 30 sccm O ₂ in chamber. This antibacterial and/or antiviral layer consists of 40%by weight of biocidal compound Ag ₂O and 60%by weight of the binding compound SiO ₂ and exhibits a total thickness of 10 nm. Afterwards, the lens was further coated a hydrophobic clean coat layer with a thickness of 1 nm of the hydrophobic material Cotec 300+ from COTECH GmbH.

Example 5

An uncoated Zeiss CR39 plano flat sheet lens substrate based on polyallyldiglycol carbonate was firstly coated by the dip method with a hardening silicone film and then vacuum deposited with a same antireflection coating as example1. An antibacterial and/or antiviral coating was further deposited on this surface: the biocidal compound was deposited by thermal evaporation and the second compound was deposited by electron beam evaporation and ion-beam assistance with purged 30 sccm O ₂ in chamber. This antibacterial and antiviral layer consists of 50 wt%of biocidal compound Ag2O and 50 wt%of the binding compound SiO2 and exhibits a total thickness of 10 nm. Afterwards, the lens was further coated a hydrophobic layer with a thickness of 5 nm. The hydrophobic layer was further plasma treated in the present of the shadow mask (hole diameter 0.5mm, hole distance 1 mm) .

II Characterization of the spectacle lenses according to the examples and comparative examples

IIa Adhesion

The adhesion of the coating to the spectacle lens was evaluated by the cross-cut test. This test applies and removes pressure sensitive tape (3M Scotch 600) over the two cuts made in the coating and into the substrate. The cuts are made by a blade tool with 6 blades parallelly installed, 25 grids of size 1mm x 1mm is formed by cutting perpendicularly. The ranking is made based on the percentage of the delaminated area to the grids area according to BYK Gardner catalogue “QC solutions for coatings and plastics” , 2018, page 158. If the delaminated area is more than 5%, the adhesion is considered as fail. The results are shown in table 3 below.

IIb Antibacterial and/or antiviral effect

The antibacterial effect of the spectacle lenses of the examples and comparative example has been assessed according to the following procedure:

- Spectacle lens sample preparation: the spectacle lenses according to the examples and the comparative examples were firstly sterilized by a dry-heat sterilizer at 170℃ for 60 mins and then further sterilized in an autoclave at 121 ℃ for 15 mins. The control samples were made of medical grade polyethylene and sterilized using the same procedure.

- Bacterial preparation and test inoculum: the selected bacteria were transferred from the stock culture to the slant culture medium and incubated for 24 hr at 35 ℃, afterwards, this culture is further transferred to a fresh slant culture medium for another 24 hr at 35 ℃. Further, the bacterial culture is countered to obtain the desired concentration.

- Inoculation and incubation: certain volume of test inoculum was added to the test sample surface for incubation

- Recovery of bacteria: after 24 hr, the bacteria was recovered from the test sample surface and counted. The antibacterial activity and bacterial reduction ratio was calculated according to equation:

- Reduction ratio = (C _t–T _t) /C _t

where

C _t= number of viable bacterial recovered from untreated test specimen (control sample) after 24 hr

and

T _t= number of viable bacterial recovered from treated test specimen (lens sample) after 24 hr,

- Antibacterial activity = U _t-A _t

where

- U _t= the average of the common logarithm of the number of viable bacterial recovered from untreated test specimen (control sample) after 24 hr

- A _t= the average of the common logarithm of the number of viable bacterial recovered from treated test specimen (lens sample) after 24 hr.

For assessing the antiviral effect of the spectacle lenses of the examples and comparative example, the following procedure has been applied:

- Spectacle lens sample preparation: the spectacle lenses according to the examples and comparative examples were sterilized by a solution of 70%alcohol/30%water and ready as “test sample”

Negative control: the negative control was to ensure the virus activity when it was not treated with the test samples. In the negative control a 1 ml plastic vial made of medical grade polyethylene that was sterilized using the same procedure as the lens samples,

- Virus preparation: the selected virus was diluted with the maintenance medium (DMEM: Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium) contains 10%FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum) to obtain a virus suspension of 1000 PFU (Plaque forming units) .

- Cell preparation and growth: the selected host cell was planked onto a six well plastic plate and 1 ml of DMEM growth medium contains 10%FBS was added for cell growth. The growth period took 12 to 16 hrs. Afterwards, the growth medium was removed and 500 μl of maintenance medium was added.

- Treatment and recovery of virus: for test samples, 100 μl of virus suspension was added to the spectacle lens surface for treatment of 1 hr. Afterwards, the suspension was recovered from the spectacle lens surface and added to the six wells plastic plate. The spectacle lens was further washed for 3 times with 50 μl maintenance medium to fully recover the virus. For negative control, 100 μl of virus suspension was added to the plastic vial for 1 hr. Afterwards, the suspension was recovered from the vial and added to the six wells plastic plate. The vial was further washed for 3 times with 50 μl maintenance medium to fully recover the virus.

- Cell infection: the recovered virus stays in the six wells plastic plate for an infection of 24 hrs.

- Determine cell infection rate: the cell in the six wells plastic plate was collected and put under a flow cytometry to determine the cell infection rate.

- The virus viability was obtained by the calculating infection rate normalize to the negative control (negative control= 100%) .

The spectacle lenses according to the examples and the comparative examples has been assessed with respect to the bacteria or viruses as shown in table 2 below.

Table 2:

The respective results are given in table 3 below.

Table 3:

¹⁾ E. = Example, ²⁾ C.E = Comparative Example

Comparative example 1 is a spectacle lens with no antibacterial/antiviral coating.

Comparative example 2 is a spectacle lens has an antibacterial/antiviral coating that composed by 100%Ag ₂O.

Comparative example 3 is a spectacle lens has an antibacterial/antiviral coating but additionally has one clean coat layer as the outer layer

The results indicate the comparative example 1 has already exhibited some effects on the bacteria and virus, compared to the reference, this may be caused by the surface roughness and the presence of SiO ₂. The results clearly demonstrated that the clean coat layer almost completely hindered the antiviral effect, while the antibacterial effect remained not affected. This was likely because the significant higher concentration required for antiviral compare to antibacterial effect.

The spectacle lenses according to examples 1 to 3 have an antibacterial/antiviral layer with different ratios of the biocidal and binding components. Results indicating the antibacterial/antiviral layer has a significant effect in deactivation of virus and bacteria. The higher the amount of biocidal components the better of the antiviral effect.

The spectacle lenses according to examples 4 to 5 have an antibacterial/antiviral layer with one additional clean coat as the outermost layer. Results showing that the reduced clean coat thickness lead to partially recovered antiviral effect. For example 5 that used mask technology, because of the presence of the non-clean coated area, the antiviral effect was comparable to the one without the clean coat.

IIc Water contact angle

The water contact angle of the spectacle lenses according to the examples and comparative was measured with an OCA20 contact angle meter from Dataphysics; deionized water was used as liquid, the droplet size was 1 and 10 μL.

Claims

A spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating,

characterized in that

the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprising at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic component.
The spectacle lens according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprises the at least one biocidal inorganic component in an amount from the range of from 1 %by weight to 90 %by weight, based on the total weight of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the at least one biocidal inorganic component is selected from the group consisting of at least one biocidal inorganic metal, at least one biocidal inorganic metal oxide, at least one biocidal inorganic metal hydroxide, at least one biocidal inorganic metal oxide hydrate and at least one biocidal inorganic metal sulphide each composed of or each comprising silver, copper, titanium, zinc, and/or iron.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the at least one binding inorganic component is selected from the group consisting of at least one inorganic metal oxide, at least one inorganic metal hydroxide, at least one inorganic metal oxide hydrate and at least one inorganic metal sulphide each composed of or each comprising silicon, titanium, aluminum, and/or zirconium.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the average layer thickness of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating lies in a range of from 1 nm to 100 nm.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being the outermost coating.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one of the surfaces of the spectacle lens substrate comprises at least one hard coating, at least one antireflective coating, at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating, the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating being the outermost coating thereof.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the at least one hard coating is based on a coating composition comprising

A) a) at least one silane derivative of the formula (III) R ¹R ² _3-nSi (OR ³) _n, wherein R ¹ comprises an alkyl group, a cyclo alkyl group, an acyl group, an aryl group or an hetero aryl group, each of which may be substituted, R ² is an organic rest comprising an epoxide group, R ³ comprises an alkyl group, a cyclo alkyl group, an aryl group or a hetero aryl group, each of which may be substituted, n = 2 or 3, and/or

b) at least one hydrolysis product of the silane derivative of the formula (III) , and/or

c) at least one condensation product of the silane derivative of the formula (III) , and/or

d) any mixture of components a) to c) ;

B) at least one colloidal inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxide hydrate, fluoride and/or oxyfluoride;

C) at least one epoxy component comprising at least two epoxy groups; and

D) at least one catalyst system comprising at least one Lewis acid and at least one thermolatent Lewis base-adduct.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the at least one coating comprises at least one clean coat layer, the at least one clean coat layer being the outermost coating.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the water contact angle of the at least one clean coat layer lies in a range of from 90° to 105°.
The spectacle lens according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the at least one clean coat layer are adjacent to each other, the at least one clean coat layer covering the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating completely or partially.
A method for manufacturing a spectacle lens comprising at least one spectacle lens substrate and at least one coating,

characterized in that

the at least one coating comprises at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating and the method comprises the steps

a) Providing an uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate comprising at least one surface,

b) Co-depositing at least one biocidal inorganic component and at least one binding inorganic component under vacuum on at least one surface of the uncoated or precoated spectacle lens substrate resulting in at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.
The method according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the co-depositing of step b) is through at least one method selected from the group consisting of i) co-evaporation; ii) ion-beam co-sputtering; iii) cathode co-sputtering and iv) plasma-assisted chemical vapor co-deposition.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims 12 or 13,

characterized in that

the co-depositing of step b) is ion-beam assisted.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims 12 to 14,

characterized in that

the co-deposition of step b) is through an ion-beam assisted co-evaporation.
Transparent article comprising at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating,

characterized in that

the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprises at least one biocidal inorganic component selected from the group consisting of at least one biocidal inorganic metal, at least one biocidal inorganic metal oxide, at least one biocidal inorganic metal hydroxide, at least one biocidal inorganic metal oxide hydrate and at least one biocidal inorganic metal sulphide each composed of or each comprising silver, copper, titanium, zinc, and/or iron and at least one binding inorganic component selected from the group consisting of at least one inorganic metal oxide, at least one inorganic metal hydroxide, at least one inorganic metal oxide hydrate and at least one inorganic metal sulphide each composed of or each comprising silicon, titanium, aluminum, and/or zirconium.
Transparent article according to claim 16,

characterized in that

the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating comprises the at least one biocidal inorganic component in an amount from the range of from 1 %by weight to 90 %by weight, based on the total weight of the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.