Acidic processes to prepare antimicrobial contact lenses

Abstract

This invention relates to antimicrobial lenses containing metals and methods for their production.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         3 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the acidic substance is acetic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the effective amount of the acidic substance is about 0.01% to about 10%. 
     
     
         5 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the effective amount of the acidic substance is about 0.5%. 
     
     
         6 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the effective amount of the acidic substance is about 0.05%. 
     
     
         7 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the pH of the solution of steps (a) and (b) is about 2 to about 5. 
     
     
         8 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the pH of the solution of steps (a) and (b) is about 2 to about 4. 
     
     
         9 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the pH of the solution of steps (a) and (b) is about 3 to about 4. 
     
     
         10 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the salt precursor is selected from the group consisting of tetra-alkyl ammonium lactate, tetra-alkyl ammonium sulfate, tetra-alkyl ammonium chloride, tetra-alkyl ammonium, bromide, tetra-alkyl ammonium iodide, sodium chloride, sodium iodide, sodium bromide, lithium chloride, lithium sulfide, sodium sulfide, potassium sulfide, and sodium tetrachloro argentate. 
     
     
         11 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the salt precursor is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium iodide, sodium bromide, lithium chloride, lithium sulfide, sodium sulfide, potassium sulfide, and sodium tetrachloro argentite. 
     
     
         12 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the salt precursor is sodium iodide. 
     
     
         13 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of silver iodide, silver chloride, and silver bromide. 
     
     
         14 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the metal agent is selected from the group consisting of silver nitrate, silver triflate, and silver acetate. 
     
     
         15 . The lens of  claim 17  wherein the metal agent is silver acetate. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An antimicrobial lens comprising a metal salt, prepared by a method comprising the steps of
 (a) treating a cured lens, a solution comprising a salt precursor and an effective amount of an acidic substance, wherein the pH of said solution is less than about 7.0; and   (b) treating the lens of step (a) with a solution comprising a metal agent and an effective amount of an acidic substance, wherein the pH of said solution is less than about 7.0.   
     
     
         18 . The antimicrobial lens of  claim 17  wherein the metal salt is silver iodide, the salt precursor is sodium nitrate, the metal agent is silver nitrate and the pH of the solutions of steps (a) and (b) is about 3-4. 
     
     
         19 . An antimicrobial lens comprising a metal salt, prepared by a method comprising the steps of
 (a) treating a cured lens, a solution comprising a metal agent and an effective amount of an acidic substance, wherein the pH of said solution is less than about 7.0; and   (b) treating the lens of step (a) with a solution comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a salt precursor and an effective amount of an acidic substance, wherein the pH of said solution is less than about 7.0.   
     
     
         20 . The antimicrobial lens of  claim 19  wherein the metal salt is silver iodide, the salt precursor is sodium nitrate, the metal agent is silver nitrate and the pH of the solutions of steps (a) and (b) is about 3-4.