Alcon Inc.
Method for producing coated silicone hydrogel contact lenses

Abstract:

The invention is generally related to a method for producing, in a consistent manner, SiHy contact lenses each having an intact durable coating thereon, wherein the coating is a hydrogel coating formed by covalently attached a hydrophilic polymeric material onto a base coating of a polyanionic polymer on a SiHy contact lens. In this method, the base coating is formed by having two solution coating steps separated by at least one rinsing step with a buffered saline or pH controlled solution. The durability of the hydrogel coatings on resultant silicone hydrogel contact lenses can be improved significantly and will not vary with the optical power (i.e., the center thickness) of the SiHy contact lens under coating.