Method for treating ophthalmic lenses

Abstract

A method of treating an ophthalmic lens in a package involves: placing the lens and an aqueous solution in a recess of package, the solution including an organic surface treatment agent that attaches to anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens; and sealing the recess of the package with lidstock and sterilizing the package contents. The bottom of the recess includes grooves.

1 . A method of treating an ophthalmic lens in a package, comprising:
 placing the lens and an aqueous solution in a recess of package, the solution comprising an organic surface treatment agent that attaches to anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens; and   sealing the recess of the package with lidstock and sterilizing the package contents;   wherein a bottom of the recess includes grooves.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment agent attaches to the lens surfaces by at least one of covalent bonding, ionic attachment, and hydrogen bonding. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment agent attaches to the lens surfaces by covalent bonding. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lens surfaces are ionically charged, and the surface treatment agent has an opposite, ionic charge. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the package contents are sterilized by autoclaving, and autoclaving effects attachment of the surface treatment agent to the lens surfaces. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attachment of the surface treatment agent is effected by heating the solution while in contact with the lens surfaces in the recess. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anterior surface of the lens contacts a portion of the recess bottom containing the grooves. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves have a depth of at least 0.2 mm. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the grooves have a depth of at least 0.4 mm. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recess has a depth greater than a height of the lens, and a sufficient volume of solution is placed in the recess so that the lens is completely immersed in the solution. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , where the volume of the solution is at least 0.5 ml. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , where the volume of the solution is at least 1 ml. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lens is a hydrogel contact lens. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lens is a silicone hydrogel contact lens. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after placing the lens and the solution in the recess of the package, the recess is sealed with the lidstock without removing the solution. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after placing the lens and the solution in the recess of the package, the solution is removed with a portion of the surface treatment agent remaining attached to the lens surface, and an aqueous packaging solution is added to the recess prior to sealing the recess with lidstock.