Methods materials and systems for producing a contact lens and contact lenses produced using said methods materials and systems

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, materials and systems for producing contact lenses and contact lenses produced using said methods, materials and systems. According to some embodiments, a contact lens produced by said methods, materials and systems includes an extra-ocular indicator (“EOI”) adapted to alter in color upon removal of said lens from an eye. The EOI may be at least partially composed of a pigment adapted to become relatively more visible when the contact lens is outside an eye than when the contact lens is placed in an eye.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a contact lens, said method comprising:
 shaping a contact lens substrate from a substantially transparent material; and   applying to the substantially transparent material an encapsulated extra-ocular indicator (“EOI”).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying includes embedding the EOI within at least a portion of said contact lens material. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying includes coating the EOI upon at least a portion of said contact lens material. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EOI is adapted to become relatively more visible when said contact lens is outside an eye than when said contact lens is placed in an eye. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said EOI is at least partially composed of a pH responsive pigment and alters in color upon removal of said contact lens from an eye. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said EOI is at least partially composed of an encapsulated thermochromatic pigment. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said EOI is at least partially composed of a pigment adapted to alter in color upon coming in contact with organic matter. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EOI is adapted to become relatively less visible when said contact lens is placed in an eye than when said contact lens is outside an eye. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said contact lens material is at least partially composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a materials identified in the market as: (1) Alphafilcon A, (2) Asmofilcon A, (3) Balafilcon A, (4) Comfilcon A, (5) Enfilcon A, (6) Galyfilcon A, (7) Hilafilcon A, (8) Hilafilcon B, (9) Hioxifilcon, (10) Lotrafilcon B, (11) Methafilcon A, (12) Omafilcon A, (13) Phemfilcon A, (14) Polymacon, (15) Senofilcon, (16) Tetrafilcon A, (17) Vifilcon A, (18) polymethyl methacrylate, (19) hydrophilic gel, (20) silicon, (21) HEMA, (22) GMA, (23) MMA, (24) NVP, (25) xerogeland and (26) rigid gas permeable polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EOI includes a materials selected from the group: (1) leuco dye, (2) lactone, (3) weak acid, (4) dodecanol, (5) spirolactones, (6) fluorans, (7) spiropyrans, (8) fulgides, (9) bisphenol A, (10) parabens, (11) 1,2,3-triazole derivates, and (12) 4-hydroxycoumarin. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a contact lens pair, said method comprising:
 shaping a contact lens substrate for each of two lenses from a common substantially transparent material; and   applying to the substantially transparent material of each of the contact lens a different encapsulated extra-ocular indicator (“EOI”).   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein applying includes embedding the EOI within at least a portion of said contact lens material. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein applying includes coating the EOI upon at least a portion of said contact lens material. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the EOI is adapted to become relatively more visible when said contact lens is outside an eye than when said contact lens is placed in an eye. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said EOI is at least partially composed of a pH responsive pigment and alters in color upon removal of said contact lens from an eye. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said EOI is at least partially composed of an encapsulated thermochromatic pigment. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said EOI is at least partially composed of a pigment adapted to alter in color upon coming in contact with organic matter. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the EOI is adapted to become relatively less visible when said contact lens is placed in an eye than when said contact lens is outside an eye. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said contact lens material is at least partially composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a materials identified in the market as: (1) Alphafilcon A, (2) Asmofilcon A, (3) Balafilcon A, (4) Comfilcon A, (5) Enfilcon A, (6) Galyfilcon A, (7) Hilafilcon A, (8) Hilafilcon B, (9) Hioxifilcon, (10) Lotrafilcon B, (11) Methafilcon A, (12) Omafilcon A, (13) Phemfilcon A, (14) Polymacon, (15) Senofilcon, (16) Tetrafilcon A, (17) Vifilcon A, (18) polymethyl methacrylate, (19) hydrophilic gel, (20) silicon, (21) HEMA, (22) GMA, (23) MMA, (24) NVP, (25) xerogeland and (26) rigid gas permeable polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the EOI includes a materials selected from the group: (1) leuco dye, (2) lactone, (3) weak acid, (4) dodecanol, (5) spirolactones, (6) fluorans, (7) spiropyrans, (8) fulgides, (9) bisphenol A, (10) parabens, (11) 1,2,3-triazole derivates, and (12) 4-hydroxycoumarin.