Contact lens packages

Abstract

A package having a roughened surface that does not adhere to a medical device enclosed therein.

What is claimed is  
     
         1 . A package for storing medical devices in a solution comprising 
 (a) a molded base comprising 
 a cavity formed in said molded base wherein said cavity comprises an inner surface, and  
 a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of said cavity wherein said flange comprises a top surface;  
   (b) a flexible cover sheet superimposed over said top surface of said flange and detachably sealed to said flange at about the periphery of said cavity to form an enclosure between said inner surface and said flexible cover, 
 wherein said inner surface has sufficient roughness so that a medical device contained within said enclosure floats freely in a solution.  
   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the device is a contact lens.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the contact lens is selected from the groups consisting of etafilcon A, genfilcon A, lenefilcon A, polymacon, acquafilcon A, balafilcon A, and lotrafilcon A.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the contact lens is acquafilcon A, balafilcon A, or lotrafilcon A.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface has an average roughness of about 1.0 μm to about 20 μm.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface has an average roughness of about 1.8 μm to about 4.5 μm.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface has an average roughness of about 1.9 μm to about 2.1 μm.  
     
     
         8 . A package for storing medical devices in a solution comprising 
 (a) a molded base comprising 
 a cavity formed in said molded base wherein said cavity comprises an inner surface, and  
 a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of said cavity wherein said flange comprises a top surface;  
   (b) a flexible cover sheet superimposed over said top surface of said flange and detachably sealed to said flange at about the periphery of said cavity to form an enclosure between said inner surface and said flexible cover, 
 wherein the surface contact area of said inner surface is about 25 percent to about 75 percents of said inner surface.  
   
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein a medical device contained within said enclosure floats freely in a solution.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 8  wherein the surface contact area of said inner surface is about 33 to about 65 percent.  
     
     
         11 . A method of reducing the adherence of a medical device to its package comprising storing said medical device in a solution in a package comprising, 
 (a) a molded base comprising 
 a cavity formed in said molded base wherein said cavity comprises an inner surface, and  
 a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of said cavity wherein said flange comprises a top surface;  
   (b) a flexible cover sheet superimposed over said top surface of said flange and detachably sealed to said flange at about the periphery of said cavity to form an enclosure between said inner surface and said flexible cover, 
 wherein said inner surface has sufficient roughness so that a medical device contained within said enclosure floats freely in a solution.  
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the device is a contact lens.  
     
     
         13 . A method of making a molded base a method of making a molded base comprising 
 a cavity formed in said molded base, wherein said cavity comprises an inner surface, and    a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of said cavity wherein said flange comprises a top surface;    wherein said inner surface of said cavity has sufficient roughness so that a medical device contained within said cavity floats freely in a solution    wherein the method comprises roughening the mold forming surface of a tool to a sufficient roughness and forming the mold on said surface of a tool.    
     
     
         14 . A method of hydrating a contact lens comprising hydrating said lens in a molded base wherein said molded base comprises a cavity formed in said molded base, wherein said cavity comprises an inner surface wherein said inner surface of said cavity has sufficient roughness so that a contact lens contained within said cavity floats freely in a solution.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the molded base has a roughness of about 1.0 μm to about 20 μm.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the molded base has a roughness of about 1.8 μm to about 4.5 μm.  
     
     
         17 . A method of hydrating a contact lens comprising hydrating said lens in a molded base wherein said molded base comprises a cavity formed in said molded base, wherein said cavity comprises an inner surface wherein the surface contact area of said inner surface is about 25 percent to about 75 percents of said inner surface.