Process for making silicone intraocular lens with blue light absorption properties

Abstract

A process for producing silicone intraocular lenses (IOLs) capable of absorbing blue light. Intraocular lenses so produced block blue light from reaching the retina of an eye implanted with the IOL. By blocking blue light from reaching the retina, the IOL thereby prevents potential damage to the retina.

1 . A method for treating medical devices comprising: 
 exposing a semi-finished silicone medical device to a solution containing one or more reactive dyes and one or more catalysts.    
     
     
         2 . A method for treating medical devices to render said devices capable of absorbing blue light comprising: 
 exposing a semi-finished silicone medical device to a solution containing one or more reactive dyes and one or more catalysts.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said medical device is selected from the group consisting of contact lenses, keratoprostheses, capsular bag extension rings, corneal inlays and corneal rings.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said medical device is an intraocular lens.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said reactive dyes having ethylenically unsaturated groups are selected from the group consisting of vinyl, allyl, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, fumarate, maleate, itaconate, styrene and nitrile.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said catalysts are selected from the group consisting of platinum (3-3.5%)-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane complex and platinum (3-3.5%)-cyclovinylmethylsiloxane complex.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said catalysts is a platinum catalyst.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said medical device is thermally treated at a temperature less than about 100° C.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said medical device is thermally treated at a temperature of about 80 to 90° C.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said medical device is thermally treated for about 30 minutes.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said medical device is thermally treated for a period of time less than several hours.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said medical device is thermally treated for about 120 minutes or less.  
     
     
         13 . A process for producing a medical device capable of absorbing blue light comprising: 
 exposing a medical device with free reactive groups to a solution containing one or more reactive dyes and one or more catalysts.    
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said free reactive groups are free hydrosilyl groups.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said medical device is selected from the group consisting of contact lenses, keratoprostheses, capsular bag extension rings, corneal inlays and corneal rings.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said medical device is an intraocular lens.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said reactive dyes having ethylenically unsaturated groups are selected from the group consisting of vinyl, allyl, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, fumarate, maleate, itaconate, styrene and nitrile.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said catalysts are selected from the group consisting of platinum (3-3.5%)-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane complex and platinum (3-3.5%)-cyclovinylmethylsiloxane complex.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said catalysts is a platinum catalyst.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said medical device is thermally treated at a temperature less than about 100° C.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said medical device is thermally treated at a temperature of about 80 to 90° C.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said medical device is thermally treated for about 30 minutes.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said medical device is thermally treated for a period of time less than several hours.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said medical device is thermally treated for about 120 minutes or less.  
     
     
         25 . A method of using the medical device produced through the method of  claim 1  or  2  comprising: 
 implanting said medical device surgically within an eye.    
     
     
         26 . A method of using the medical device produced through the process of  claim 13  comprising: 
 implanting said medical device surgically within an eye.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said catalyst includes one or more inhibitors.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said catalyst includes one or more inhibitors selected from the group consisting of 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane and 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetravinyl cyclosiloxane.  
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said catalysts include one or more inhibitors.  
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said catalysts include one or more inhibitors selected from the group consisting of 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane and 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetravinyl cyclosiloxane.  
     
     
         31 . A medical device comprising: 
 a medical device treated with at least one reactive dye so that said medical device has blue light absorption properties.    
     
     
         32 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said medical device is fabricated from semi-finished silicone.  
     
     
         33 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said at least one reactive dye having ethylenically unsaturated groups is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, allyl, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, fumarate, maleate, itaconate, styrene and nitrile.  
     
     
         34 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said reactive dye is a reactive yellow dye.  
     
     
         35 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said reactive dye has either one or two ethylenically unsaturated groups.  
     
     
         36 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said reactive dye is selected from the group consisting of N,N-bis-(2-allylcarbamatoethyl)-(4′-phenylazo)aniline and N,N-bis-(2-vinylacetoxyethyl)-(4′-phenylazo)aniline and N-2-[3′-(2″-methylphenylazo)-4′-hydroxyphenyl]ethyl vinylacetamide.  
     
     
         37 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said reactive dye undergoes a hydrosilation reaction with said medical device.  
     
     
         38 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said reactive dye penetrates into the polymer matrix of said medical device.  
     
     
         39 . The medical device of  claim 31  wherein said reactive dye partially or completely coats the surface of said medical device.  
     
     
         40 . An intraocular lens comprising: 
 an intraocular lens treated with at least one reactive dye so that said intraocular lens has blue light absorption properties.    
     
     
         41 . The intraocular lens of  claim 40  wherein said medical device is fabricated from semi-finished silicone.  
     
     
         42 . The intraocular lens of  claim 40  wherein said reactive dye having ethylenically unsaturated groups is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, allyl, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, fumarate, maleate, itaconate, styrene and nitrile.  
     
     
         43 . The intraocular lens of  claim 40  wherein said reactive dye is a reactive yellow dye.  
     
     
         44 . The intraocular lens of  claim 40  wherein said reactive dye is selected from the group consisting of N,N-bis-(2-allylcarbamatoethyl)-(4′-phenylazo)aniline and N,N-bis-(2-vinylacetoxyethyl)-(4′-phenylazo)aniline and N-2-[3′-(2″-methylphenylazo)-4′-hydroxyphenyl]ethyl vinylacetamide.  
     
     
         45 . The intraocular lens of  claim 40  wherein said reactive dye undergoes a hydrosilation reaction with said medical device.  
     
     
         46 . The intraocular lens of  claim 40  wherein said reactive dye penetrates into the polymer matrix of said medical device.  
     
     
         47 . The intraocular lens of  claim 40  wherein said reactive dye partially or completely coats the surface of said medical device.