Intraocular lenses essentially free from glistenings

Abstract

The present invention relates a method for manufacturing an intraocular lens, wherein an acrylic monomer composition containing a single high refractive index monomer is polymerized. An intraocular lens obtainable by the method is also provided.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . Use of a polymer composition obtained by polymerization of at least one main monomer a) of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X can be O, 
         Y can be O, S respectively, 
         R is a straight, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, 
         R a  is hydrogen or a methyl residue, 
         R b  can be hydrogen, C 1 -C 2  alkyl residue or Y—Ar 3 , 
         Ar 1 , Ar 2  and Ar 3  are respectively independently of each other an aryl group which is bonded to Y by way of a bond or by way of (—CH 2 ) n , wherein n can be 0, 1, 2 or 3, and wherein the aryl group can be substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, selected from C 1 -C 5  alkyl, C 1 -C 5 -alkoxy, 
         b) a crosslinking monomer, and 
         c) optionally further monomers for adjusting properties such as UV absorption for opthalmological devices. 
       
     
     
         18 . Use of a polymer composition according to  claim 17  wherein in monomer a) Y denotes S. 
     
     
         19 . Use according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the monomer a) is present in a proportion of at least 30% by weight. 
     
     
         20 . Use according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the polymer has a refractive index of 1.60 or more. 
     
     
         21 . Use of a polymer composition according to one of  claims 17  to  20  as an eye implant, in particular a corneal implant. 
     
     
         22 . Use according to one of  claims 17  to  21  characterized in that the composition is used for IOL. 
     
     
         23 . A process for the production of a polymer composition as defined in one of the preceding claims characterized in that a prepolymer is produced from monomer a) and optionally monomer b) in the presence of the initiator I, the crosslinking monomer c), optionally further monomers and initiator II are added to the prepolymer and the mixture is polymerized. 
     
     
         24 . A process according to  claim 23  characterized in that the initiators used in step 1 and in step 2 are the same. 
     
     
         25 . A process according to  claim 23  or  claim 24  characterized in that the initiator is an initiator activatable by light. 
     
     
         26 . A method for manufacturing an intraocular lens, the method comprising polymerizing:
 (a) an acrylic monomer of the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein Y is O, S; 
         R 1  is hydrogen or a methyl residue; 
         R 2  is a straight or branched hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 4 carbon atoms; 
         R 3  is an aryl group optionally substituted with 1 to 5 substituents, selected from C 1 -C 4  alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy; 
         R 4  is hydrogen; 
         n is 0 or 1; 
         m is 2 or 3; 
         m+n=3; and 
         (b) a crosslinking monomer. 
       
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  further comprising polymerizing monomers capable of adjusting UV absorption of the intraocular lens. 
     
     
         28 . A ophthalmic device comprising a polymer composition prepared by polymerizing:
 (c) an acrylic monomer of the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein Y is O, S; 
         R 1  is hydrogen or a methyl residue; 
         R 2  is a straight or branched hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 4 carbon atoms; 
         R 3  is an aryl group optionally substituted with 1 to 5 substituents, selected from C 1 -C 4  alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy; 
         R 4  is hydrogen; 
         n is 0 or 1; 
         m is 2 or 3; 
         m+n=3; and 
         (d) a crosslinking monomer. 
       
     
     
         29 . An ophthalmic device comprising a polymer composition, wherein the polymer composition is prepared by polymerization of:
 (a) at least one main monomer (a) having the following formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X is O; 
         Y is O, S; 
         R is a straight, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 4 carbon atoms; 
         R a  is hydrogen or a methyl residue; 
         R b  is hydrogen, a C 1 -C 2  alkyl residue or Y—Ar 3 ; 
         Ar 1 , Ar 2  and Ar 3  are each independently an aryl group which is bonded to Y by way of a direct bond or by way of a (—CH 2 ) n  linkage, wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, and wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, selected from C 1 -C 5  alkyl, C 1 -C 5 -alkoxy; 
         (b) a crosslinking monomer (b), and 
         (c) optionally further monomers (c) capable of adjusting UV absorption of the polymeric composition. 
       
     
     
         30 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 29 , wherein in monomer a) Y is S. 
     
     
         31 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 29 , wherein main monomer (a) is present in a proportion of at least 30% by weight. 
     
     
         32 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 29 , wherein the polymer has a refractive index of 1.60 or more. 
     
     
         33 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 29 , wherein the ophthalmic device is an eye implant. 
     
     
         34 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 29 , wherein the ophthalmic device is selected from intraocular lenses. 
     
     
         35 . A method for the preparation of a polymer composition, wherein the polymer composition is prepared by polymerization of:
 (a) at least one main monomer (a) having the following formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X is O; 
         Y is O, S; 
         R is a straight, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 4 carbon atoms; 
         R a  is hydrogen or a methyl residue; 
         R b  is hydrogen, a C 1 -C 2  alkyl residue or Y—Ar 3 ; 
         Ar 1 , Ar 2  and Ar 3  are each independently an aryl group which is bonded to Y by way of a direct bond or by way of a (—CH 2 ) n  linkage, wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, and wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, selected from C 1 -C 5  alkyl, C 1 -C 5 -alkoxy; 
         (b) a crosslinking monomer (b), and 
         (c) optionally further monomers (c) capable of adjusting UV absorption of the polymeric composition, 
         the method comprising: 
         (d) preparing a prepolymer from main monomer (a) and optionally monomer (c) in the presence of a first initiator; and 
         (e) further polymerizing the prepolymer in the presence of the crosslinking monomer (b), optionally further monomers (a), optionally further monomers (c) and a second initiator 
       
     
     
         36 . The process according to  claim 35 , wherein the first and second initiators are the same. 
     
     
         37 . The process according to  claim 35 , wherein the first and second initiators are activatable by light 
     
     
         38 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 33 , herein the eye implant is a corneal implant. 
     
     
         39 . An ophthalmic device comprising a polymer composition, wherein the polymer composition is prepared by polymerization of:
 (a) at least one main monomer selected from the following:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
          or a mixture thereof; 
         (b) a crosslinking monomer (b); and 
         (c) optionally further monomers (c) capable of adjusting the refractive index, surface properties, glass transition temperature, strength properties, UV absorption and/or coloring, of the polymeric composition.