Systems and methods for identifying left and right use contacts on primary package

Abstract

Primary packaging for a contact lens includes an indicator on the primary packaging that indicates whether said contact lens is for use in a right or left eye of a lens wearer. A method of packaging a contact lens includes a lens manufacturer marking a contact lens package with an indicator as to whether a contact lens in the marked package is to be worn in a left eye or a right eye.

1 . Primary packaging for a contact lens comprising an indicator on said primary packaging that indicates whether said contact lens is for use in a right or left eye of a lens wearer.  
     
     
         2 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said packaging is packaging for an individual contact lens.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said packaging is outer packaging for containing a plurality of individually packaged lenses.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein said individually packaged lenses each bear a second indicator that indicates whether said contact lens is for use in a right or left eye of a lens wearer.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises a letter.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises a word.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises a check mark.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises a symbol.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises a color.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said primary packaging comprises a blister package.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein said primary outer packaging comprises a box.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein said primary outer packaging comprises a tub.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein said primary packaging comprises a retort package.  
     
     
         14 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein said primary packaging comprises a flat package in which the contact lens is in a compressed state.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging of  claim 1 , further comprising a base to which an individual lens in said primary packaging can be releasably attached.  
     
     
         16 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said packaging further comprises interlocking members, each member including primary packaging for an individual contact lens.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein said primary packaging comprises a cap for sealing said contact lens in a lens compartment, said cap including indicia for indicating whether the lens in the package is for use in the left eye or right eye of said contact lens wearer.  
     
     
         18 . The packaging of  claim 17 , wherein the cap includes indicia indicating parameters of the contact lens inside the package.  
     
     
         19 . A method of distributing contact lenses comprising: 
 a) receiving an order from a contact lens wearer for a supply of contact lenses designed to be worn for a prescribed number of days, the order including lenses of a first prescription for use in the right eye of the wearer and lenses of a second prescription for use in the left eye of the wearer;    b) shipping the contact lenses requested in the order to the wearer in an outer package containing a plurality of individual contact lens packages, the plurality of individual contact lens packages comprising two different package types, a first of the package types containing lenses for the first prescription and the second of the package types containing lenses for the second prescription, the first and second package types being readily distinguishable from one another.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the package types are readily distinguishable because they are made of different colored material.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the package types are readily distinguishable because indicia on the packages signify the package as being for the left eye or for the right eye.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the packages have a left eye designation and a right eye designation, and a place for a check mark to be made by each designation, and a check mark in one of the places.  
     
     
         23 . A method of packaging a contact lens comprising a lens manufacturer marking a contact lens package with an indicator as to whether a contact lens in the marked package is to be worn in a left eye or a right eye.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the contact lens for the left eye has one prescription and the contact lens for the right eye has a second prescription.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the package is marked for use in the left or right eye by one or more of a check mark, a color, a word, and a symbol.  
     
     
         26 . A method of packaging a contact lens comprising a lens wholesaler marking a contact lens package with an indicator as to whether a contact lens in the marked package is to be worn in a left eye or a right eye.  
     
     
         27 . A method of filling an order for contact lenses comprising: 
 placing a contact lens with a first prescription for a left eye in a package that indicates that contact lens is for use in the left eye;    placing a second contact lens with a second prescription for a right eye in a package that indicates that contact lens is for use in the right eye; and    shipping the order.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , marking each package with one or more of a check mark, a color, a word, and a symbol to indicate whether a corresponding lens is for use in a right or left eye.  
     
     
         29 . Primary packaging for a contact lens comprising: 
 an outer packaging for containing a plurality of individually packaged lenses; and    a plurality of individually packaged lenses contained within said outer package;    wherein said individually packaged lenses each bear an indicator that indicates whether said contact lens is for use in a right or left eye of a lens wearer.    
     
     
         30 . The primary packaging of  claim 29 , wherein said individually packaged lenses are arranged in a first and a second stack; 
 said first stack including primarily individually packaged lenses for use in a right eye, said individually packaged lenses in said first stack bearing an indicator that includes a right eye indicator; and    said second stack including primarily individually packaged lenses for use in a left eye, said individually packaged lenses in said second stack bearing an indicator that includes a right eye indicator