“Reactive components” are the components in the reactive composition which become part of the chemical structure of the resulting material by covalent bonding, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, the formation of interpenetrating polymeric networks, or any other means. Examples include but are not limited to silicone reactive components (e.g., the silicone-containing components described below) and hydrophilic reactive components (e.g., the hydrophilic monomers described below).

As used herein, the term “silicone hydrogel contact lens” refers to a contact lens comprising at least one silicone hydrogel. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses generally have increased oxygen permeability compared to conventional hydrogels. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses use both their water and polymer content to transmit oxygen to the eye.

“DMD” refers to a digital micromirror device that may be a bistable spatial light modulator consisting of an array of movable micromirrors functionally mounted over a CMOS SRAM. Each mirror may be independently controlled by loading data into the memory cell, which may be below the mirror, to steer reflected light, spatially mapping a pixel of video data to a pixel on a display. The data electrostatically controls the mirror's tilt angle in a binary fashion, where the mirror states are either +X degrees (on) or −X degrees (off). Light reflected by the on mirrors then may be passed through a projection lens and onto a screen. Light may be reflected off to create a dark field and defines the black-level floor for the image. Images may be created by gray-scale modulation between on and off levels at a rate fast enough to be integrated by the observer. The DMD (digital micromirror device) may comprise Digital Light Processing (DLP) projection systems.

“DMD Script” refers to a control protocol and image file for a spatial light modulator and also to the control signals of any system component, for example, a light source or filter wheel, either of which may include a series of command sequences in time.

The term “multi-functional” refers to a component having two or more polymerizable groups. The term “mono-functional” refers to a component having one polymerizable group.

The terms “halogen” or “halo” indicate fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

As used herein, the term “alkyl” refers to an unsubstituted or substituted linear or branched alkyl group containing the indicated number of carbon atoms. If no number is indicated, then alkyl (optionally including any substituents on alkyl) may contain 1 to 16 carbon atoms. Preferably, the alkyl group contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms, alternatively 1 to 7 carbon atoms, or alternatively 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of alkyl include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, iso-, sec- and tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, 3-ethylbutyl, and the like. Examples of substituents on alkyl include 1, 2, or 3 groups independently selected from hydroxy, amino, amido, oxa, carboxy, alkyl carboxy, carbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halogen, phenyl, benzyl, and combinations thereof “Alkylene” means a divalent alkyl group, such as —CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂—, and —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂—.

“Haloalkyl” refers to an alkyl group as defined above substituted with one or more halogen atoms, where each halogen is independently F, Cl, Br or I. A preferred halogen is F.

Preferred haloalkyl groups contain 1-6 carbons, more preferably 1-4 carbons, and still more preferably 1-2 carbons. “Haloalkyl” includes perhaloalkyl groups, such as —CF₃— or —CF₂CF₃—. “Haloalkylene” means a divalent haloalkyl group, such as —CH₂CF₂—.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to an unsubstituted or substituted cyclic hydrocarbon containing the indicated number of ring carbon atoms. If no number is indicated, then cycloalkyl may contain 3 to 12 ring carbon atoms. Preferred are C₃-C₈cycloalkyl groups, more preferably C₄-C₇cycloalkyl, and still more preferably C₅-C₆cycloalkyl. Examples of cycloalkyl include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl. Examples of substituents on cycloalkyl include 1, 2, or 3 groups independently selected from alkyl, hydroxy, amino, amido, oxa, carbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halo, phenyl, benzyl, and combinations thereof. “Cycloalkylene” means a divalent cycloalkyl group, such as 1,2-cyclohexylene, 1,3-cyclohexylene, or 1,4-cyclohexylene.

“Heterocycloalkyl” refers to a cycloalkyl ring or ring system as defined above in which at least one ring carbon has been replaced with a heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. The heterocycloalkyl ring is optionally fused to or otherwise attached to other heterocycloalkyl rings and/or non-aromatic hydrocarbon rings and/or phenyl rings. Preferred heterocycloalkyl groups have from 5 to 7 members. More preferred heterocycloalkyl groups have 5 or 6 members. Heterocycloalkylene means a divalent heterocycloalkyl group.

“Aryl” refers to an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring system containing at least one aromatic ring. The aryl group contains the indicated number of ring carbon atoms. If no number is indicated, then aryl may contain 6 to 14 ring carbon atoms. The aromatic ring may optionally be fused or otherwise attached to other aromatic hydrocarbon rings or non-aromatic hydrocarbon rings. Examples of aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, and biphenyl. Preferred examples of aryl groups include phenyl. Examples of substituents on aryl include 1, 2, or 3 groups independently selected from alkyl, hydroxy, amino, amido, oxa, carboxy, alkyl carboxy, carbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halo, phenyl, benzyl, and combinations thereof. “Arylene” means a divalent aryl group, for example 1,2-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene.

“Heteroaryl” refers to an aryl ring or ring system, as defined above, in which at least one ring carbon atom has been replaced with a heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. The heteroaryl ring may be fused or otherwise attached to one or more heteroaryl rings, aromatic or nonaromatic hydrocarbon rings or heterocycloalkyl rings. Examples of heteroaryl groups include pyridyl, furyl, and thienyl. “Heteroarylene” means a divalent heteroaryl group.

“Alkoxy” refers to an alkyl group attached to the parent molecular moiety through an oxygen bridge. Examples of alkoxy groups include, for instance, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and isopropoxy. “Aryloxy” refers to an aryl group attached to a parent molecular moiety through an oxygen bridge. Examples include phenoxy. “Cyclic alkoxy” means a cycloalkyl group attached to the parent moiety through an oxygen bridge.

“Alkylamine” refers to an alkyl group attached to the parent molecular moiety through an —NH bridge. Alkyleneamine means a divalent alkylamine group, such as —CH₂CH₂NH—.

“Siloxanyl” refers to a structure having at least one Si—O—Si bond. Thus, for example, siloxanyl group means a group having at least one Si—O—Si group (i.e. a siloxane group), and siloxanyl compound means a compound having at least one Si—O—Si group. “Siloxanyl” encompasses monomeric (e.g., Si—O—Si) as well as oligomeric/polymeric structures (e.g., —[Si—O]_n—, where n is 2 or more). Each silicon atom in the siloxanyl group is substituted with independently selected R^Agroups (where R^Ais as defined in formula A options (b)-(i)) to complete their valence.

“Silyl” refers to a structure of formula R³Si— and “siloxy” refers to a structure of formula R³Si—O—, where each R in silyl or siloxy is independently selected from trimethylsiloxy, C₁-C₈alkyl (preferably C₁-C₃alkyl, more preferably ethyl or methyl), and C₃-C₈cycloalkyl.

“Alkyleneoxy” refers to groups of the general formula -(alkylene-O)_p— or —(O-alkylene)_p-, wherein alkylene is as defined above, and p is from 1 to 200, or from 1 to 100, or from 1 to 50, or from 1 to 25, or from 1 to 20, or from 1 to 10, wherein each alkylene is independently optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from hydroxyl, halo (e.g., fluoro), amino, amido, ether, carbonyl, carboxyl, and combinations thereof. If p is greater than 1, then each alkylene may be the same or different and the alkyleneoxy may be in block or random configuration. When alkyleneoxy forms a terminal group in a molecule, the terminal end of the alkyleneoxy may, for instance, be a hydroxy or alkoxy (e.g., HO—[CH₂CH₂O]_p— or CH₃O—[CH₂CH₂O]_p—). Examples of alkyleneoxy include polymethyleneoxy, polyethyleneoxy, polypropyleneoxy, polybutyleneoxy, and poly(ethyleneoxy-co-propyleneoxy).

“Oxaalkylene” refers to an alkylene group as defined above where one or more non-adjacent CH₂groups have been substituted with an oxygen atom, such as —CH₂CH₂OCH(CH₃)CH₂—. “Thiaalkylene” refers to an alkylene group as defined above where one or more non-adjacent CH₂groups have been substituted with a sulfur atom, such as —CH₂CH₂SCH(CH₃)CH₂—.

The term “linking group” refers to a moiety that links the polymerizable group to the parent molecule. The linking group may be any moiety that does not undesirably interfere with the polymerization of the compound of which it is a part. For instance, the linking group may be a bond, or it may comprise one or more alkylene, haloalkylene, amide, amine, alkyleneamine, carbamate, carboxylate (—CO₂—), arylene, heteroarylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, alkyleneoxy, oxaalkylene, thiaalkylene, haloalkyleneoxy (alkyleneoxy substituted with one or more halo groups, e.g., —OCF₂—, —OCF₂CF₂—, —OCF₂CH₂—), siloxanyl, alkylenesiloxanyl, or combinations thereof. The linking group may optionally be substituted with 1 or more substituent groups. Suitable substituent groups may include those independently selected from alkyl, halo (e.g., fluoro), hydroxyl, HO-alkyleneoxy, MeO-alkyleneoxy, siloxanyl, siloxy, siloxy-alkyleneoxy-, siloxy-alkylene-alkyleneoxy- (where more than one alkyleneoxy groups may be present and wherein each methylene in alkylene and alkyleneoxy is independently optionally substituted with hydroxyl), ether, amine, carbonyl, carbamate, and combinations thereof. The linking group may also be substituted with a polymerizable group, such as (meth)acrylate.

Preferred linking groups include C₁-C₈alkylene (preferably C₂-C₆alkylene) and C₁-C₈oxaalkylene (preferably C₂-C₆oxaalkylene), each of which is optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups independently selected from hydroxyl and siloxy. Preferred linking groups also include carboxylate, amide, C₁-C₈alkylene-carboxylate-C₁-C₈alkylene, or C₁-C₈alkylene-amide-C₁-C₈alkylene.

When the linking group is comprised of combinations of moieties as described above (e.g., alkylene and cycloalkylene), the moieties may be present in any order. For instance, if in Formula E below, L (linking group) in a structural formula is indicated as being -alkylene-cycloalkylene-, then Rg-L may be either Rg-alkylene-cycloalkylene-, or Rg-cycloalkylene-alkylene-. Notwithstanding this, the listing order represents the preferred order in which the moieties appear in the compound starting from the terminal polymerizable group (Rg) to which the linking group is attached. For example, if two linking groups, L and L², are indicated as both being alkylene-cycloalkylene, then Rg-L is preferably Rg-alkylene-cycloalkylene- and -L²-Rg is preferably -cycloalkylene-alkylene-Rg.

As noted above, in one aspect, the invention provides compounds that are useful for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses. The compounds are of the formula I:

[Image Omitted]

wherein p, q, r, and s are independently at each occurrence 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; X¹is a bridging group optionally containing one or more repeating segments; v and w are independently an integer ranging from 1 to 3000; R¹and R², when present, are independently at each occurrence alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, or halo; R³and R⁴, when present, are independently at each occurrence alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, halo, or a moiety of formula II:

[Image Omitted]

wherein formula II is linked to formula I via X², wherein X²is a bridging group.

Compounds of formula I may include compounds of formula I-1, which are compounds of formula I wherein p and q are 3 at each occurrence.

Compounds of formulae I and I-1 may include compounds of formula I-2, which are compounds of formula I or I-1 wherein R¹and R²are independently at each occurrence alkyl.

Compounds of formulae I, I-1, and I-2 may include compounds of formula I-3, which are compounds of formula I, I-1, or I-2 wherein p is 3 and R⁴at each occurrence is independently C₁-C₃alkyl.

Compounds of formulae I, I-1, I-2, and I-3 may include compounds of formula I-4, which are compounds of formula I, I-1, I-2, or I-3 wherein r is 0 at each occurrence and s is 0 at each occurrence.

Compounds of formulae I, I-1, I-2, and I-3 may include compounds of formula I-5, which are compounds of formula I, I-1, I-2, or I-3 wherein r is 1 at each occurrence and s is 0 at each occurrence.

Compounds of formula I-5 may include compounds of formula I-6, which are compounds of formula I-5 wherein v and w are each 1 and R³is of formula II.

Compounds of formula I include compounds of formula I-A:

[Image Omitted]

wherein X³is a bridging group, preferably a -carboxylate-alkylene- group.

Compounds of formula I-A include compounds of formula I-A-1:

[Image Omitted]

Compounds of formula I include compounds of formula I-B:

[Image Omitted]

wherein X⁴is a bridging group, preferably oxaalkylene, X⁵is a bridging group, preferably -carboxylate-alkylene-, R⁵is H or methyl, T is a chain terminating group, and m is an integer ranging from 10 to 3000.

Compounds of formula I-B include compounds of formula I-B-1:

[Image Omitted]

Compounds of formula I include compounds of formula I-C:

[Image Omitted]

wherein X⁶is a bridging group, preferably carboxylate, X⁷is a bridging group, preferably -carboxylate-alkylene-, and T is independently a chain terminating group or an initiator fragment.

Compounds of formula I-C include compounds of formula I-C-1:

[Image Omitted]

Compounds of formula I include compounds of formula I-D:

[Image Omitted]

wherein X⁶is a bridging group, preferably carboxylate, X⁷is a bridging group, preferably -carboxylate-alkylene-, T is independently a chain terminating group or an initiator fragment, a is an integer ranging from 1 to 1500, or from 1 to 1000, or from 1 to 500, or from 1 to 100, b is an integer ranging from 1 to 1500, or from 1 to 1000, or from 1 to 500, or from 1 to 100, c is an integer ranging from 1 to 1500, or from 1 to 1000, or from 1 to 500, or from 1 to 250, and Q is derived from a hydrophilic monomer, preferably N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide, N-vinyl acetamide, or combinations of two or more thereof.

Compounds of formula I-D include compounds of formula I-D-1:

[Image Omitted]

Compounds of formula I include compounds of formula I-E:

[Image Omitted]

wherein X⁸is a bridging group, preferably -oxaalkylene-carbonyl- and X⁹is a bridging group, preferably -amide-oxaalkylene-.

Compounds of formula I-E include compounds of formula I-E-1:

[Image Omitted]

In the compounds of formula I and it's various sub-formulae, X, X¹, X², X³, X⁴, X⁵, X⁶, X⁷, X⁸, and X⁹represent bridging groups. Each such bridging group may, for instance, comprise one or more alkylene, haloalkylene, amide, amine, alkyleneamine, carbamate, carboxylate (—CO₂—), carbonyl (C═O), arylene, heteroarylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, alkyleneoxy, oxaalkylene, thiaalkylene, repeating or polymeric units, or combinations of any of the foregoing. Polymeric units may, for example, be derived from one or more hydrophilic monomers, such as any of the hydrophilic monomers described below.

Preferred bridging groups for X, X¹, X², X³, X⁴, X⁵, X⁶, X⁷, X⁸, and X⁹include carboxylate, -carboxylate-alkylene-, oxaalkylene, -oxaalkylene-carbonyl-, -amide-oxaalkylene-, repeating units derived from N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide, N-vinyl acetamide, and combinations of two or more thereof.

Example compounds of formula I are shown in Table A.

TABLE A

where m is an integer ranging from 10 to 3000, and T is a chain terminating group,

[Image Omitted]

where m is an integer ranging from 10 to 3000 and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 100, and

each T is independently a chain terminating group or an initiator fragment,

[Image Omitted]

or

wherein a is an integer ranging from 1 to 100, b is an integer ranging from 1 to 100, c is an

integer ranging from 1 to 250, T is independently a chain terminating group or an initiator

fragment, and Q is derived from a hydrophilic monomer, such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-

vinyl pyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide, N-vinyl

acetamide.

Compounds of formula I may be readily prepared by those skilled in the art using literature methods. Exemplary syntheses are shown in the Examples below.

Compounds of formula I may be used as functionalized photoinitiators for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses. Such manufacturing method may comprise: (a) providing a mold assembly comprised of a base curve and a front curve, the base curve and the front curve defining and enclosing a cavity therebetween, the cavity containing a reactive monomer mixture, wherein the reactive monomer mixture comprises a monomer suitable for making the ophthalmic lens, a first polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated at a first wavelength, a first functional moiety chemically linked to the first polymerization initiator, and a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, wherein at least one of the base curve or front curve is light transmissive; (b) exposing one or more selective regions of the reactive monomer mixture to a source of actinic radiation at the first wavelength to thereby selectively polymerize a portion of the reactive monomer mixture, wherein the selectively polymerized portion incorporates the first functional moiety; (c) exposing the reactive monomer mixture to the second activation to activate the second polymerization initiator and cure the reactive monomer mixture; (d) removing the ophthalmic lens from the mold assembly; and (e) extracting unreacted first polymerization initiator (with chemically linked first functional moiety) from the ophthalmic lens, wherein the first polymerization initiator having a chemically linked first functional moiety is a compound of formula I (which may be a compound according to any of the sub-formulae described above, including those shown in Table A).

According to the method, reactive monomer mixtures are formed into ophthalmic lenses, such as soft contact lenses, by dispensing the mixture into a mold assembly and subsequently curing the mixture. The mold assembly is comprised of a base curve, which is the mold half that contacts the posterior surface of the lens, and a front curve, which contacts the anterior surface. The front curve and base curve, when brought together, define and enclose a cavity between them which, according to the invention, contains the reactive monomer mixture.

The mold components (front curve and base curve), from the which the mold assembly used in the invention is comprised, may be made from various materials, including disposable or reusable materials. For instance, the mold may be a thermoplastic optical mold, made from any suitable material including, without limitation, polyethylene, polypropylene, other polyolefins including homopolymers, copolymers, and terpolymers, polystyrene, polystyrene copolymers, polyesters such as poly(ethylene terephathalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate), polyamides, poly(vinyl alcohol) and its derivatives, hydrogenated styrene butadiene block copolymers like Tuftec, cyclic olefin polymers such as Zeonor and Topas resins, and combinations thereof. The mold may be selected to be transparent or mostly transparent to wavelengths that will activate the first polymerization initiator, thus permitting irradiation through the front curve, the base curve, or both the front curve and base curve. The material may be the same or different between the front and base curves. A preferred material for the front curve of the mold assembly is a 90:10 (w/w) blend of cyclic olefin polymer and hydrogenated styrene butadiene block copolymer, respectively. A preferred material for the base curve of the mold assembly is a 90:10 (w/w) blend of cyclic olefin polymer and polypropylene. Other exemplary materials include a blend of Zeonor and Tuftec for either or both of the base curve and the front curve. The thickness of the base curve or front curve molds may vary, but is typically between 100 and 1500 microns, preferably between 600 and 800 microns, as measured in the center of the optical zone of the target lens mold design. Other mold materials that may be used include re-usable molds comprised of, for instance, glass, quartz, or ceramics such as Aluminum oxide. BK270 and RB 270 are examples of materials suitable for molding for the transmissive mold half They may be molded or polished to achieve acceptable optical profile and surface roughness properties. Additionally, coatings may be applied to such re-usable molds to aid in the release of the cured lens. These mold coatings are typically based on siloxanes or silanes and may be partially or completely fluorinated.

The reactive monomer mixture contains a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I). The first polymerization initiator is capable of being activated at a first wavelength (the wavelength, which may be a range of wavelengths, that activates the first polymerization initiator). As discussed above, when activated by the first wavelength, the polymerization initiator decomposes into free radical groups which can react with a monomer in the reactive monomer mixture to initiate a free radical polymerization reaction. The initiator, once the polymerization is initiated, adds monomer units to grow the polymer chain and, as a result, also becomes a covalently linked part of the polymer. As a consequence, the first functional moiety, which is chemically linked to the initiator, also becomes part of the polymer. The result is the incorporation of the functional moiety into the lens. And because the process of the invention adopts a selective polymerization approach, it is possible to position the functional moiety at specified locations in the ophthalmic lens. Such selective positioning of functional features permits the manufacture of lenses that incorporate light filtering and/or light apodization features.

The first polymerization initiator (compound of formula I) may absorb (and be activated by) various wavelengths of light, for instant ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths and/or visible light wavelengths. Preferably, the first polymerization initiator may absorb within the visible range (about 380 nm to about 780 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum. Preferably, the first polymerization initiator is activated at wavelengths including ranges from 200 to 600 nm, or from 300 to 500 nm, or from 350 to 450 nm, or from 380 to 450 nm.

The reactive monomer mixture of contains a first functional moiety that is chemically linked to the first polymerization initiator. As described above, the method permits the incorporation of the first functional moiety at selective locations in the ophthalmic lens. A wide variety of functional moieties may be incorporated. Thus, the first wavelength, and its intensity and pattern, may be selectively chosen to interact with the spectral absorbance of the monomer mixture such that a desired two-dimensional or three-dimensional incorporation of the first functional moiety is achieved via Beer's law effects, as is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,317,505, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The compounds of formula I incorporate a first functional moiety which may function as light absorbing moiety. In the invention, the light absorbing moiety functional moiety is an anthraquinonyl derivative. The light absorbing functional moiety may be used to provide an ophthalmic lens with a variety of functions including, for instance, the absorption of specific wavelengths of light.

The compound of formula I may be used as the first polymerization initiator (containing a chemically linked first functional moiety) may be present in the reactive monomer mixture of the method described above in effective amounts of, for instance, 0.01 weight percent to 20 weight percent based on all components in the reactive monomer mixture, excluding diluents.

The reactive monomer mixture of the method contains a second polymerization initiator. The second polymerization initiator is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate (e.g., less than 50 mole percent, preferably less than 20 mole percent, more preferably less than 5 mole percent, and further preferably less than 1 mole percent, activation of) the first polymerization initiator. For example, the second polymerization initiator can be activated by either photonic or thermal energy that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator. Preferably, the second polymerization initiator is a thermal initiator. Examples of thermal initiators include, without limitation, azo compounds such as azobisisobutyronitrile and 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid), peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide, tert-butyl peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, tert-butyl peroxybenzoate, dicumyl peroxide, and lauroyl peroxide, peracids such as peracetic acid and potassium persulfate as well as various redox systems. A preferred thermal initiator is azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Optionally, the second polymerization initiator may contain a chemically linked second functional moiety, which may be the same or different from the first functional moiety. The second polymerization initiator is used in the reactive monomer mixture in effective amounts to initiate polymerization of the reactive monomer mixture, e.g., from about 0.1 to about 2 parts by weight per 100 parts of reactive monomer mixture.

According to the method, one or more selective regions of the reactive monomer mixture (in the mold assembly cavity) are exposed to a source of actinic radiation at the first wavelength, which thereby selectively activates the first polymerization initiator (the formula I compound) and consequently selectively polymerizes a portion of the reactive monomer mixture. Advantageously, because the first polymerization initiator has the first functional moiety chemically linked to it, the selectively polymerized portion of the reactive monomer mixture incorporates the first functional moiety.

Various techniques may be used for the selective activation of the first polymerization initiator. A preferred technique is voxel-based lithography as generally described, for example, in US20150146159, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,075,186, and 8,317,505, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additional references include U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,905,594, 8,157,373, 8,240,849, 8,313,828, 8,318,055, 8,795,558, 9,180,633, 9,180,634, 9,417,464, 9,610,742, and 9,857,607, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary prior art apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,317,505 (“the '505 patent”) that can be used to selectively control an array of individual beams of actinic radiation to cure or partially cure a reactive monomer mixture such as that used to form ophthalmic lenses. Light is generated by an actinic radiation source or light source 120 and emerges as a light in a defined band of wavelengths but with some spatial variation in intensity and direction. Element 130, a spatial intensity controller or collimator, condenses, diffuses and, in some embodiments, collimates light to create a beam of light 140 that is highly uniform in intensity and preferably centered around a pre-determined wavelength. Further, in some embodiments, the beam 140 impinges on a digital micromirror device (DMD) 110 including an array of selectively controllable mirrors, which divides the beam into pixel elements of intensity each of which can be assigned a digital on or off value. In reality, the mirror at each pixel reflects light in one of two paths. The “ON” path (item 150) is the path that leads to photons proceeding toward a reactive chemical media. In the “OFF” path, light is reflected along a different path that will lie between the paths depicted as items 116 and 117. This “OFF” path directs photons to impinge upon a beam dump 115 which has been carefully crafted to absorb and entrap any photons directed towards it. Referring back to the “ON” path 150, light depicted in this path actually includes the many different pixel values that have been set to the “ON” value and are spatially directed along the appropriate individual path corresponding to their pixel location. A time averaged intensity of each of the pixel elements along their respective paths 150 can be represented as a spatial intensity profile 160 across the spatial grid defined by the DMD 110. Alternatively, with the constant intensity impinging on each mirror, item 160 may represent a spatial time exposure profile. The computer program that selectively controls the array of mirrors (on/off time) is referred to herein as a “script”.

The '505 patent describes the beams vertically impinging on a light transmissive forming optic 180 and into a volume of reactive monomer mixture 302 (FIG. 2), with the selectively controllable beams of actinic radiation causing selective curing, through the forming optic, of the reactive monomer within the vat on a voxel by voxel basis according to the script.

The method described herein may leverage the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, but replaces the forming optic (male mold) with a traditional two part cast mold such as the exemplary one shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the cure apparatus 200 including first 201 and second 202 mold halves that together form the shape of the cured contact lens to be formed, at least one of which is light transmissive, with a reactive monomer mixture 204 filling the entire space in between. The first and second mold halves are secured in place within a cure apparatus 200 including a first portion 210a and a second portion 210b, at least one portion of which (i.e., 210b in FIG. 3) is similarly light transmissive. A selectively controllable source of actinic radiation 205, such as that described above, is directed to selectively impinge upon a light transmissive mold half and exposure jig portion as illustrated. The apparatus may further include a light absorber 212 designed to capture stray light after it has passed through the transmissive jig portion, mold half and reactive monomer mixture. In the alternative, the opposing mold half and/or jig portion could be non-transmissive or otherwise light absorbing, such as if the mold half or jig portion was comprised of a carbon black filled thermoplastic such as styrene or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

The method described herein can be used to spatially incorporate (two-dimensional or three-dimensional) functional moieties, geometries, or physical properties into an ophthalmic lens formed between the two mold halves. As discussed above, this can be accomplished by incorporating into the reactive monomer mixture a first polymerization initiator linked to a first functional moiety that is activated by a first predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths, and a second polymerization initiator linked or not linked to a second functional moiety. The second polymerization initiator can be activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator. The second activation may, for instance, be by application of photonic and/or thermal energy. As such the photonic and/or thermal energy can be selectively applied by the cure apparatus to selectively and differentially cure and/or otherwise selectively activate the functional chemistry.

By way of illustration, the reactive monomer mixture can first be exposed to light at a first wavelength or wavelength range via the source of actinic radiation 205 according to a predetermined digital script as described above. The first wavelength of light will activate the first polymerization initiator causing free-radical polymerization. The desired degree and depth of polymerization at each point in the array of beams of actinic radiation is defined by the pre-programmed script and wavelength of the actinic radiation as it may interact lightly or heavily with the spectral absorption of the reactive monomer mixture in a manner consistent with Beer's law. A first functional moiety linked to the first polymerization initiator is incorporated into the polymer chain of the selectively polymerized reactive monomer mixture. After exposure to the actinic radiation, the mold assembly may be exposed to a second energy, again, not substantially activating the first photo-initiator, preferably thermal energy. To accomplish this the mold assembly shown in FIG. 3 may simply be placed in a thermally controlled environment, such as an oven, until the reactive monomer mixture is cured, for example at approximately 90 degrees Celsius for approximately two to three hours.

As an alternative, following exposure to a first actinic radiation the mold halves and exposure jig assembly are placed in the thermal apparatus for about 20 minutes to allow sufficient gelling of the reactive monomer mixture to prevent unwanted relative movement of the BC mold relative to the FC mold, at which time it is removed from the thermal apparatus and the exposure jigs removed from the mold halves. The mold halves are then immediately placed back in the thermal apparatus for the duration of the time for final cure. This allows the exposure jig to be reused if desired, during the remainder of the final lens curing step. The formed lens object can then be removed from the mold halves 202 and 203 and undergo an extraction process to remove unreacted first polymerization initiator. The extraction process to remove unreacted first polymerization initiator may be complete or incomplete. In some cases, removal of all unreacted first polymerization initiator is not required to create the desired features or optical effects. In other cases, the extraction process removes only a portion of the unreacted first polymerization initiator, enabling an optional irradiation step using a lower concentration of the first polymerization initiator. Or the extraction process can remove substantially all of the unreacted first polymerization initiator. After removing unreacted first polymerization initiator, the standard post-processing steps of lens extraction to remove other reactive monomer components and of lens hydration can be carried out to form the final ophthalmic lens. In some instances, the standard post-processing steps of lens extraction and hydration, using aqueous alcohols, water, and buffers can also extract unreacted first polymerization initiators, thereby combining two or more extraction steps into one operation. The resulting lens object will have varying properties spatially incorporated therein as determined by the different curing methods applied to the respective portions. The first wavelength, and its intensity and pattern, is selectively chosen to interact with the spectral absorbance of the reactive monomer mixture such that a desired two-dimensional or three-dimensional incorporation is achieved via Beer's law effects, as is described in detail in the '505 patent.

The method described herein permits the incorporation of functional chemistry into the lens that can change light absorbing properties within the lens. Variations in light absorbing properties can be used to filter certain wavelengths of light and/or to create apodization features within a lens.

While voxel-based lithography as described above is a preferred technique for the selective activation of the first polymerization initiator (compound of formula I), other techniques may also be utilized. For example, selective activation may be provided by photo masking, from the first wavelength, those areas of the reactive monomer mixture where polymerization is not desired. The non-masked areas of the reactive monomer mixture may then undergo activation and selective polymerization. The photo masks may be binary in nature, but more preferably are gray scaled. Specification, and fabrication of photo masks of this nature are known to those in the art of gray scale photolithography.

Preferably, the reactive monomer mixture has sufficient viscosity so that the polymerized moieties to do not undesirably diffuse during or immediately after the first selective polymerization described above. Various options are available for providing such viscosity. For example, a reactive monomer mixture that contains viscous components, such as macromers or pre-polymers, may be used. Diluents may also be excluded, or at least used in low concentration, to avoid significantly reducing the reactive monomer mixture's viscosity.

A preferred approach is to conduct a limited pre-cure of the reactive monomer mixture through a brief activation of the second polymerization initiator, prior to or concurrently with the first activation. Thus, for example, if the second polymerization initiator is a thermal initiator, the reactive monomer mixture in the mold assembly may be heated to briefly activate the thermal initiator and therefore initiate some polymerization of the reactive monomer mixture. The initiation and polymerization can then be halted once a desired viscosity has been achieved. By way of illustration, if the thermal initiator is AIBN, such pre-cure may be achieved by heating the reactive monomer mixture to a temperature ranging, for instance, from 40 to 150 degrees for about 0.1 to 120 minutes. Preferably, the pre-cure step is carried out prior to the selective activation of the first polymerization initiator.

According to the method, a full cure of the reactive monomer mixture is conducted following the selective polymerization. This full cure employs the second polymerization initiator present in the reactive monomer mixture. In particular, the second polymerization initiator is activated, thereby initiating the polymerization of the remaining reactive components in the reactive monomer mixture.

As noted above, the reactive monomer mixture of the method contains a monomer suitable for making the desired ophthalmic lens. By way of example, the reactive monomer mixture may comprise one or more of: hydrophilic components, hydrophobic components, silicone-containing components, wetting agents such as polyamides, crosslinking agents, and further components such as diluents and initiators.

Hydrophilic Components

Examples of suitable families of hydrophilic monomers that may be present in the reactive monomer mixture include (meth)acrylates, styrenes, vinyl ethers, (meth)acrylamides, N-vinyl lactams, N-vinyl amides, N-vinyl imides, N-vinyl ureas, O-vinyl carbamates, O-vinyl carbonates, other hydrophilic vinyl compounds, and mixtures thereof.

Non-limiting examples of hydrophilic (meth)acrylate and (meth)acrylamide monomers include: acrylamide, N-isopropyl acrylamide, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) (meth)acrylamide, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) (meth)acrylamide, N-(2-hydroxypropyl) (meth)acrylamide, N,N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl) (meth)acrylamide, N-(3-hydroxypropyl) (meth)acrylamide, N-(2-hydroxybutyl) (meth)acrylamide, N-(3-hydroxybutyl) (meth)acrylamide, N-(4-hydroxybutyl) (meth)acrylamide, 2-aminoethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-aminopropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-aminopropyl (meth)acrylate, N-2-aminoethyl (meth)acrylamides), N-3-aminopropyl (meth)acrylamide, N-2-aminopropyl (meth)acrylamide, N,N-bis-2-aminoethyl (meth)acrylamides, N,N-bis-3-aminopropyl (meth)acrylamide), N,N-bis-2-aminopropyl (meth)acrylamide, glycerol methacrylate, polyethyleneglycol monomethacrylate, (meth)acrylic acid, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, and mixtures thereof.

Hydrophilic monomers may also be ionic, including anionic, cationic, zwitterions, betaines, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of such charged monomers include (meth)acrylic acid, N-[(ethenyloxy)carbonyl]-β-alanine (VINAL), 3-acrylamidopropanoic acid (ACA1), 5-acrylamidopentanoic acid (ACA2), 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoic acid (AMBA), 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium chloride (Q Salt or METAC), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS), 1-propanaminium, N-(2-carboxyethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)amino]-, inner salt (CBT), 1-propanaminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-[3-[(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)amino]propyl]-3-sulfo-, inner salt (SBT), 3,5-Dioxa-8-aza-4-phosphaundec-10-en-1-aminium, 4-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyl-9-oxo-, inner salt, 4-oxide (9CI) (PBT), 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, 3-(dimethyl(4-vinylbenzyl)ammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (DMVBAPS), 3-((3-acrylamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (AMPDAPS), 3-((3-methacrylamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (MAMPDAPS), 3-((3-(acryloyloxy)propyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (APDAPS), and methacryloyloxy)propyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (MAPDAPS).

Non-limiting examples of hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and N-vinyl amide monomers include: N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), N-vinyl-2-piperidone, N-vinyl-2-caprolactam, N-vinyl-3-methyl-2-caprolactam, N-vinyl-3-methyl-2-piperidone, N-vinyl-4-methyl-2-piperidone, N-vinyl-4-methyl-2-caprolactam, N-vinyl-3-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-vinyl acetamide (NVA), N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide (VMA), N-vinyl-N-ethyl acetamide, N-vinyl-N-ethyl formamide, N-vinyl formamide, N-vinyl-N-methylpropionamide, N-vinyl-N-methyl-2-methylpropionamide, N-vinyl-2-methylpropionamide, N-vinyl-N,N′-dimethylurea, 1-methyl-3-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, 1-methyl-5-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, 5-methyl-3-methylene-2-pyrrolidone; 1-ethyl-5-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-3-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, 5-ethyl-3-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, 1-N-propyl-3-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, 1-N-propyl-5-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, 1-isopropyl-3-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, 1-isopropyl-5-methylene-2-pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-N-ethyl acetamide, N-vinyl-N-ethyl formamide, N-vinyl formamide, N-vinyl isopropylamide, N-vinyl caprolactam, N-vinylimidazole, and mixtures thereof

Non-limiting examples of hydrophilic O-vinyl carbamates and O-vinyl carbonates monomers include N-2-hydroxyethyl vinyl carbamate and N-carboxy-ß-alanine N-vinyl ester. Further examples of hydrophilic vinyl carbonate or vinyl carbamate monomers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,215. Hydrophilic oxazolone monomers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,277.

Other hydrophilic vinyl compounds include ethylene glycol vinyl ether (EGVE), di(ethylene glycol) vinyl ether (DEGVE), allyl alcohol, and 2-ethyl oxazoline.

The hydrophilic monomers may also be macromers or prepolymers of linear or branched poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), or statistically random or block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, having polymerizable moieties such as (meth)acrylates, styrenes, vinyl ethers, (meth)acrylamides, N-vinylamides, and the like. The macromers of these polyethers have one polymerizable group; the prepolymers may have two or more polymerizable groups.

The preferred hydrophilic monomers of the present invention are DMA, NVP, HEMA, VMA, NVA, and mixtures thereof. Preferred hydrophilic monomers include mixtures of DMA and HEMA. Other suitable hydrophilic monomers will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Generally, there are no particular restrictions with respect to the amount of the hydrophilic monomer present in the reactive monomer mixture. The amount of the hydrophilic monomers may be selected based upon the desired characteristics of the resulting hydrogel, including water content, clarity, wettability, protein uptake, and the like. Wettability may be measured by contact angle, and desirable contact angles are less than about 100°, less than about 80°, and less than about 60°. The hydrophilic monomer may be present in an amount in the range of, for instance, about 0.1 to about 100 weight percent, alternatively in the range of about 1 to about 80 weight percent, alternatively about 5 to about 65 weight percent, alternatively in the range of about 40 to about 60 weight percent, or alternatively about 55 to about 60 weight percent, based on the total weight of the reactive components in the reactive monomer mixture.

Silicone-Containing Components

Silicone-containing components suitable for use in the reactive monomer mixture of the invention comprise one or more polymerizable compounds, where each compound independently comprises at least one polymerizable group, at least one siloxane group, and one or more linking groups connecting the polymerizable group(s) to the siloxane group(s). The silicone-containing components may, for instance, contain from 1 to 220 siloxane repeat units, such as the groups defined below. The silicone-containing component may also contain at least one fluorine atom.

The silicone-containing component may comprise: one or more polymerizable groups as defined above; one or more optionally repeating siloxane units; and one or more linking groups connecting the polymerizable groups to the siloxane units. The silicone-containing component may comprise: one or more polymerizable groups that are independently a (meth)acrylate, a styryl, a vinyl ether, a (meth)acrylamide, an N-vinyl lactam, an N-vinylamide, an O-vinylcarbamate, an O-vinylcarbonate, a vinyl group, or mixtures of the foregoing; one or more optionally repeating siloxane units; and one or more linking groups connecting the polymerizable groups to the siloxane units.

The silicone-containing component may comprise: one or more polymerizable groups that are independently a (meth)acrylate, a (meth)acrylamide, an N-vinyl lactam, an N-vinylamide, a styryl, or mixtures of the foregoing; one or more optionally repeating siloxane units; and one or more linking groups connecting the polymerizable groups to the siloxane units.

The silicone-containing component may comprise: one or more polymerizable groups that are independently a (meth)acrylate, a (meth)acrylamide, or mixtures of the foregoing; one or more optionally repeating siloxane units; and one or more linking groups connecting the polymerizable groups to the siloxane units.

The silicone-containing component may comprise one or more polymerizable compounds of Formula A:

[Image Omitted]

wherein:

at least one R^Ais a group of formula R_g-L- wherein R_gis a polymerizable group and L is a linking group, and the remaining R^Aare each independently:

- (a) R_g-L-,
- (b) C₁-C₁₆alkyl optionally substituted with one or more hydroxy, amino, amido, oxa, carboxy, alkyl carboxy, carbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halo, phenyl, benzyl, or combinations thereof,
- (c) C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one or more alkyl, hydroxy, amino, amido, oxa, carbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halo, phenyl, benzyl, or combinations thereof,
- (d) a C₆-C₁₄aryl group optionally substituted with one or more alkyl, hydroxy, amino, amido, oxa, carboxy, alkyl carboxy, carbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halo, phenyl, benzyl, or combinations thereof,
- (e) halo,
- (f) alkoxy, cyclic alkoxy, or aryloxy,
- (g) siloxy,
- (h) alkyleneoxy-alkyl or alkoxy-alkyleneoxy-alkyl, such as polyethyleneoxyalkyl, polypropyleneoxyalkyl, or poly(ethyleneoxy-co-propyleneoxyalkyl), or
- (i) a monovalent siloxane chain comprising from 1 to 100 siloxane repeat units optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, oxa, carboxy, alkyl carboxy, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, halo or combinations thereof; and

n is from 0 to 500 or from 0 to 200, or from 0 to 100, or from 0 to 20, where it is understood that when n is other than 0, n is a distribution having a mode equal to a stated value. When n is 2 or more, the SiO units may carry the same or different R^Asubstituents and if different R^Asubstituents are present, the n groups may be in random or block configuration.

In Formula A, three R^Amay each comprise a polymerizable group, alternatively two R^Amay each comprise a polymerizable group, or alternatively one R^Amay comprise a polymerizable group.

Examples of silicone-containing components suitable for use in the invention include, but are not limited to, compounds listed in Table B. Where the compounds in Table B contain polysiloxane groups, the number of SiO repeat units in such compounds, unless otherwise indicated, is preferably from 3 to 100, more preferably from 3 to 40, or still more preferably from 3 to 20.

TABLE B

1
mono-methacryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated poly dimethylsiloxanes

(mPDMS) (preferably containing from 3 to 15 SiO repeating units)

2
mono-acryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane

3
mono(meth)acryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-methyl terminated

polydimethylsiloxane

4
mono(meth)acryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydiethylsiloxane

5
mono(meth)acryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-methyl terminated polydiethylsiloxane

6
mono(meth)acrylamidoalkylpolydialkylsiloxanes

7
mono(meth)acryloxyalkyl terminated mono-alkyl polydiarylsiloxanes

8
3-methacryloxypropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane (TRIS)

9
3-methacryloxypropylbis(trimethylsiloxy)methylsilane

10
3-methacryloxypropylpentamethyl disiloxane

11
mono(meth)acrylamidoalkylpolydialkylsiloxanes

12
mono(meth)acrylamidoalkyl polydimethylsiloxanes

13
N-(2,3-dihydroxypropane)-N′-(propyl tetra(dimethylsiloxy)

dimethylbutylsilane)acrylamide

14
N-[3-tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]-propyl acrylamide (TRIS-Am)

15
2-hydroxy-3-[3-methyl-3,3-di(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropoxy]-propyl methacrylate

(SiMAA)

16
2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyloxypropyl-tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane

17

[Image Omitted]

mono-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyloxy)-propyl terminated from 4 to 30, or from 4 to

terminated polydimethylsiloxanes (OH-mPDMS) (containing from 4 to 30, or from 4 to

20, or from 4 to 15 SiO repeat units)

18

[Image Omitted]

19

20

21

22

23

24

Additional non-limiting examples of suitable silicone-containing components are listed in Table C. Unless otherwise indicated, j2 where applicable is preferably from 1 to 100, more preferably from 3 to 40, or still more preferably from 3 to 15. In compounds containing j1 and j2, the sum of j1 and j2 is preferably from 2 to 100, more preferably from 3 to 40, or still more preferably from 3 to 15.

TABLE C

25

[Image Omitted]

26

27

28

29

30
1,3-bis[4-(vinyloxy carbonyloxy)but-1-yl]tetramethyl-disiloxane

31
3-(vinyloxycarbonylthio)propyl-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane]

32
3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl allyl carbamate

33
3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl vinyl carbamate

34
tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylstyrene (Styryl-TRIS)

35

[Image Omitted]

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

Mixtures of silicone-containing components may be used. By way of example, suitable mixtures may include, but are not limited to: a mixture of mono-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyloxy)-propyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (OH-mPDMS) having different molecular weights, such as a mixture of OH-mPDMS containing 4 and 15 SiO repeat units; a mixture of OH-mPDMS with different molecular weights (e.g., containing 4 and 15 repeat SiO repeat units) together with a silicone based crosslinker, such as bis-3-acryloxy-2-hydroxypropyloxypropyl polydimethylsiloxane (ac-PDMS); a mixture of 2-hydroxy-3-[3-methyl-3,3-di(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropoxy]-propyl methacrylate (SiMAA) and mono-methacryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (mPDMS), such as mPDMS 1000.

Silicone-containing components for use in the invention may have an average molecular weight of from about 400 to about 4000 daltons.

The silicone containing component(s) may be present in amounts up to about 95 weight %, or from about 10 to about 80 weight %, or from about 20 to about 70 weight %, based upon all reactive components of the reactive monomer mixture (excluding diluents).

Polyamides

The reactive monomer mixture may include at least one polyamide. As used herein, the term “polyamide” refers to polymers and copolymers comprising repeating units containing amide groups. The polyamide may comprise cyclic amide groups, acyclic amide groups and combinations thereof and may be any polyamide known to those of skill in the art. Acyclic polyamides comprise pendant acyclic amide groups and are capable of association with hydroxyl groups. Cyclic polyamides comprise cyclic amide groups and are capable of association with hydroxyl groups.

Examples of suitable acyclic polyamides include polymers and copolymers comprising repeating units of Formulae G1 and G2:

[Image Omitted]

wherein X is a direct bond, —(CO)—, or —(CONHR₄₄)—, wherein R₄₄is a C₁to C₃alkyl group; R₄₀is selected from H, straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁to C₄alkyl groups; R₄₁is selected from H, straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁to C₄alkyl groups, amino groups having up to two carbon atoms, amide groups having up to four carbon atoms, and alkoxy groups having up to two carbon groups; R₄₂is selected from H, straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁to C₄alkyl groups; or methyl, ethoxy, hydroxyethyl, and hydroxymethyl; R₄₃is selected from H, straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁to C₄alkyl groups; or methyl, ethoxy, hydroxyethyl, and hydroxymethyl; wherein the number of carbon atoms in R₄₀and R₄₁taken together is 8 or less, including 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or less; and wherein the number of carbon atoms in R₄₂and R₄₃taken together is 8 or less, including 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or less. The number of carbon atoms in R₄₀and R₄₁taken together may be 6 or less or 4 or less. The number of carbon atoms in R₄₂and R₄₃taken together may be 6 or less. As used herein substituted alkyl groups include alkyl groups substituted with an amine, amide, ether, hydroxyl, carbonyl or carboxy groups or combinations thereof.

R₄₀and R₄₁may be independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted C₁to C₂alkyl groups. X may be a direct bond, and R₄₀and R₄₁may be independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted C₁to C₂alkyl groups. R₄₂and R₄₃can be independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted C₁to C₂alkyl groups, methyl, ethoxy, hydroxyethyl, and hydroxymethyl.

The acyclic polyamides of the present invention may comprise a majority of the repeating units of Formula LV or Formula LVI, or the acyclic polyamides can comprise at least 50 mole percent of the repeating unit of Formula G or Formula G1, including at least 70 mole percent, and at least 80 mole percent. Specific examples of repeating units of Formula G and Formula G1 include repeating units derived from N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide, N-vinylacetamide, N-vinyl-N-methylpropionamide, N-vinyl-N-methyl-2-methylpropionamide, N-vinyl-2-methyl-propionamide, N-vinyl-N,N′-dimethylurea, N, N-dimethylacrylamide, methacrylamide, and acyclic amides of Formulae G2 and G3:

[Image Omitted]

Examples of suitable cyclic amides that can be used to form the cyclic polyamides of include α-lactam, β-lactam, γ-lactam, δ-lactam, and ε-lactam. Examples of suitable cyclic polyamides include polymers and copolymers comprising repeating units of Formula G4:

[Image Omitted]

wherein R₄₅is a hydrogen atom or methyl group; wherein f is a number from 1 to 10; wherein X is a direct bond, —(CO)—, or —(CONHR₄₆)—, wherein R₄₆is a C₁to C₃alkyl group. In Formula LIX, f may be 8 or less, including 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1. In Formula G4, f may be 6 or less, including 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1. In Formula G4, f may be from 2 to 8, including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. In Formula LIX, f may be 2 or 3. When X is a direct bond, f may be 2. In such instances, the cyclic polyamide may be polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

The cyclic polyamides of the present invention may comprise 50 mole percent or more of the repeating unit of Formula G4, or the cyclic polyamides can comprise at least 50 mole percent of the repeating unit of Formula G4, including at least 70 mole percent, and at least 80 mole percent.

The polyamides may also be copolymers comprising repeating units of both cyclic and acyclic amides. Additional repeating units may be formed from monomers selected from hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylates, alkyl(meth)acrylates, other hydrophilic monomers and siloxane substituted (meth)acrylates. Any of the monomers listed as suitable hydrophilic monomers may be used as co-monomers to form the additional repeating units. Specific examples of additional monomers which may be used to form polyamides include 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, methyl (meth)acrylate and hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, dihydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, and the like and mixtures thereof. Ionic monomers may also be included. Examples of ionic monomers include (meth)acrylic acid, N-[(ethenyloxy)carbonyl]-β-alanine (VINAL, CAS #148969-96-4), 3-acrylamidopropanoic acid (ACA1), 5-acrylamidopentanoic acid (ACA2), 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoic acid (AMBA), 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium chloride (Q Salt or METAC), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS), 1-propanaminium, N-(2-carboxyethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)amino]-, inner salt (CBT, carboxybetaine; CAS 79704-35-1), 1-propanaminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-[3-[(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)amino]propyl]-3-sulfo-, inner salt (SBT, sulfobetaine, CAS 80293-60-3), 3,5-Dioxa-8-aza-4-phosphaundec-10-en-1-aminium, 4-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyl-9-oxo-, inner salt, 4-oxide (9CI) (PBT, phosphobetaine, CAS 163674-35-9, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, 3-(dimethyl(4-vinylbenzyl)ammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (DMVBAPS), 3-((3-acrylamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (AMPDAPS), 3-((3-methacrylamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (MAMPDAPS), 3-((3-(acryloyloxy)propyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (APDAPS), methacryloyloxy)propyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (MAPDAPS).

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise both an acyclic polyamide and a cyclic polyamide or copolymers thereof. The acyclic polyamide can be any of those acyclic polyamides described herein or copolymers thereof, and the cyclic polyamide can be any of those cyclic polyamides described herein or copolymers thereof. The polyamide may be selected from the group polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylmethyacetamide (PVMA), polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA), polyvinylacetamide (PNVA), poly(hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylamide), polyacrylamide, and copolymers and mixtures thereof. The polyamide may be a mixture of PVP (e.g., PVP K90) and PVMA (e.g., having a M_wof about 570 KDa).

The total amount of all polyamides in the reactive monomer mixture may be in the range of between 1 weight percent and about 35 weight percent, including in the range of about 1 weight percent to about 15 weight percent, and in the range of about 5 weight percent to about 15 weight percent, in all cases, based on the total weight of the reactive components of the reactive monomer mixture.

Without intending to be bound by theory, when used with a silicone hydrogel, the polyamide functions as an internal wetting agent. The polyamides of the present invention may be non-polymerizable, and in this case, are incorporated into the silicone hydrogels as semi-interpenetrating networks. The polyamides are entrapped or physically retained within the silicone hydrogels. Alternatively, the polyamides of the present invention may be polymerizable, for example as polyamide macromers or prepolymers, and in this case, are covalently incorporated into the silicone hydrogels. Mixtures of polymerizable and non-polymerizable polyamides may also be used.

When the polyamides are incorporated into the reactive monomer mixture they may have a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 daltons; greater than about 150,000; between about 150,000 to about 2,000,000 daltons; between about 300,000 to about 1,800,000 daltons. Higher molecular weight polyamides may be used if they are compatible with the reactive monomer mixture.

Cross-Linking Agents

It is generally desirable to add one or more cross-linking agents, also referred to as cross-linking monomers, multi-functional macromers, and prepolymers, to the reactive monomer mixture. The cross-linking agents may be selected from bifunctional crosslinkers, trifunctional crosslinkers, tetrafunctional crosslinkers, and mixtures thereof, including silicone-containing and non-silicone containing cross-linking agents. Non-silicone-containing cross-linking agents include ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA), triallyl cyanurate (TAC), glycerol trimethacrylate, methacryloxyethyl vinylcarbonate (HEMAVc), allylmethacrylate, methylene bisacrylamide (MBA), and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight up to about 5000 Daltons. The cross-linking agents are used in the usual amounts, e.g., from about 0.000415 to about 0.0156 mole per 100 grams of reactive Formulas in the reactive monomer mixture. Alternatively, if the hydrophilic monomers and/or the silicone-containing components are multifunctional by molecular design or because of impurities, the addition of a cross-linking agent to the reactive monomer mixture is optional. Examples of hydrophilic monomers and macromers which can act as the cross-linking agents and when present do not require the addition of an additional cross-linking agent to the reactive monomer mixture include (meth)acrylate and (meth)acrylamide endcapped polyethers. Other cross-linking agents will be known to one skilled in the art and may be used to make the silicone hydrogel of the present invention.

It may be desirable to select crosslinking agents with similar reactivity to one or more of the other reactive components in the formulation. In some cases, it may be desirable to select a mixture of crosslinking agents with different reactivity in order to control some physical, mechanical or biological property of the resulting silicone hydrogel. The structure and morphology of the silicone hydrogel may also be influenced by the diluent(s) and cure conditions used.

Multifunctional silicone-containing components, including macromers, cross-linking agents, and prepolymers, may also be included to further increase the modulus and retain tensile strength. The silicone containing cross-linking agents may be used alone or in combination with other cross-linking agents. An example of a silicone containing component which can act as a cross-linking agent and, when present, does not require the addition of a crosslinking monomer to the reactive monomer mixture includes α, ω-bismethacryloxypropyl polydimethylsiloxane. Another example is bis-3-acryloxy-2-hydroxypropyloxypropyl polydimethylsiloxane (ac-PDMS).

Cross-linking agents that have rigid chemical structures and polymerizable groups that undergo free radical polymerization may also be used. Non-limiting examples of suitable rigid structures include cross-linking agents comprising phenyl and benzyl ring, such are 1,4-phenylene diacrylate, 1,4-phenylene dimethacrylate, 2,2-bis(4-methacryloxyphenyl)-propane, 2,2-bis[4-(2-acryloxyethoxy)phenyl]propane, 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy)-phenyl]propane, and 4-vinylbenzyl methacrylate, and combinations thereof. Rigid crosslinking agents may be included in amounts between about 0.5 and about 15, or 2-10, 3-7 based upon the total weight of all of the reactive components. The physical and mechanical properties of the silicone hydrogels of the present invention may be optimized for a particular use by adjusting the components in the reactive monomer mixture.

Non-limiting examples of silicone cross-linking agents also include the multi-functional silicone-containing components described in Table D above.

Further Constituents

The reactive monomer mixture may contain additional components such as, but not limited to, diluents, initiators, UV absorbers, visible light absorbers, photochromic compounds, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, antimicrobial substances, tints, pigments, copolymerizable dyes, nonpolymerizable dyes, release agents, and combinations thereof.

Classes of suitable diluents for silicone hydrogel reactive monomer mixtures include alcohols having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, amides having 10 to 20 carbon atoms derived from primary amines and carboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. The diluents may be primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols.

Generally, the reactive components are mixed in a diluent to form a reactive monomer mixture. Suitable diluents are known in the art. For silicone hydrogels, suitable diluents are disclosed in WO 03/022321 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,445, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Classes of suitable diluents for silicone hydrogel reactive monomer mixtures include alcohols having 2 to 20 carbons, amides having 10 to 20 carbon atoms derived from primary amines, and carboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Primary and tertiary alcohols may be used. Preferred classes include alcohols having 5 to 20 carbons and carboxylic acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms.

Specific diluents which may be used include 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, diisopropylaminoethanol, isopropanol, 3,7-dimethyl-3-octanol, 1-decanol, 1-dodecanol, 1-octanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 2-hexanol, 2-octanol, 3-methyl-3-pentanol, tert-amyl alcohol, tert-butanol, 2-butanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-propanol, 1-propanol, ethanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, (3-acetoxy-2-hydroxypropyloxy)-propylbis(trimethylsiloxy) methylsilane, 1-tert-butoxy-2-propanol, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol, tert-butoxyethanol, 2-octyl-1-dodecanol, decanoic acid, octanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, 2-(diisopropylamino)ethanol mixtures thereof and the like. Examples of amide diluents include N,N-dimethyl propionamide and dimethyl acetamide.

Preferred diluents include 3,7-dimethyl-3-octanol, 1-dodecanol, 1-decanol, 1-octanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 2-hexanol, 2-octanol, 3-methyl-3-pentanol, 2-pentanol, t-amyl alcohol, tert-butanol, 2-butanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, ethanol, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol, 2-octyl-1-dodecanol, decanoic acid, octanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, mixtures thereof and the like.

More preferred diluents include 3,7-dimethyl-3-octanol, 1-dodecanol, 1-decanol, 1-octanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 2-hexanol, 2-octanol, 1-dodecanol, 3-methyl-3-pentanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, t-amyl alcohol, tert-butanol, 2-butanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol, 2-octyl-1-dodecanol, mixtures thereof and the like. If a diluent is present, generally there are no particular restrictions with respect to the amount of diluent present. When diluent is used, the diluent may be present in an amount in the range of about 2 to about 70 weight percent, including in the range of about 5 to about 50 weight percent, and in the range of about 15 to about 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the reactive monomer mixtures (including reactive and nonreactive Formulas). Mixtures of diluents may be used.

The reactive monomer mixture for making the ophthalmic lenses of the invention may comprise, in addition to a first polymerization initiator and a second polymerization initiator, any of the polymerizable compounds and optional components described above.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, and a hydrophilic component selected from DMA, NVP, HEMA, VMA, NVA, methacrylic acid, and mixtures thereof. Preferred are mixtures of HEMA and methacrylic acid.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component, and a silicone-containing component.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component selected from DMA, HEMA and mixtures thereof, a silicone-containing component selected from 2-hydroxy-3-[3-methyl-3,3-di(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropoxy]-propyl methacrylate (SiMAA), mono-methacryloxypropyl terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (mPDMS), mono-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyl)-propyl ether terminated mono-n-butyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (OH-mPDMS), and mixtures thereof, and a wetting agent (preferably PVP or PVMA). For the hydrophilic component, mixtures of DMA and HEMA are preferred. For the silicone containing component, mixtures of SiMAA and mPDMS are preferred.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component comprising a mixture of DMA and HEMA; a silicone-containing component comprising a mixture of OH-mPDMS having from 2 to 20 repeat units (preferably a mixture of 4 and 15 repeat units). Preferably, the reactive monomer mixture further comprises a silicone-containing crosslinker, such as ac-PDMS. Also preferably, the reactive monomer mixture contains a wetting agent (preferably DMA, PVP, PVMA or mixtures thereof).

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component; between about 1 and about 15 wt % at least one polyamide (e.g., an acyclic polyamide, a cyclic polyamide, or mixtures thereof); at least one first mono-functional, hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane) having 4 to 8 siloxane repeating units (e.g., OH-mPDMS where n is 4 to 8, preferably n is 4); at least one second hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane) that is a mono-functional hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane)s having 10 to 200 or 10-100 or 10-50 or 10-20 siloxane repeating units (e.g., OH-mPDMS where n is 10 to 200 or 10-100 or 10-50 or 10-20, preferably n is 15); about 5 to about 35 wt % of at least one hydrophilic monomer; and optionally a multifunctional hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane)s having 10 to 200, or 10 to 100 siloxane repeating units (e.g., ac-PDMS). Preferably, the first mono-functional, hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane) and the second hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane) are present in concentrations to provide a ratio of weight percent of the first mono-functional, hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane) to weight percent of the second hydroxyl substituted poly(disubstituted siloxane) of 0.4-1.3, or 0.4-1.0.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component such as DMA; a silicone-containing component such as compound 8 in Table B ((TRIS), and a silicone macromer, such as compound 42 in Table C.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component such as DMA and/or NVP; a silicone-containing component such as compound 14 in Table B ((TRIS-Am), and a silicone macromer, such as compound 43 in Table C (IEM-PDMS-IPDI-PDMS-IPDI-PDMS-IEM).

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component such as VMA; and a silicone macromer, such as compound 35 in Table C.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component such as VMA and/or NVP; a silicone-containing component such as compound 28 in Table C (e.g., where j2 is about 16), a silicone macromer, such as compound 35 in Table C.

The reactive monomer mixture may comprise: a first polymerization initiator having a first functional moiety chemically linked to it (i.e., a compound of formula I), a second polymerization initiator that is capable of being activated by a second activation that does not substantially activate the first polymerization initiator, and a hydrophilic component, a hydrophilic component such as VMA and/or NVP; a silicone-containing component such as a compound 18 in Table B (e.g., where j2 is about 4), a silicone macromer, such as a compound 41 in Table C.

The foregoing reactive monomer mixtures may contain optional ingredients such as, but not limited to, internal wetting agents, crosslinkers, other UV or HEV absorbers, and diluents. Moreover, the ophthalmic lenses made from the foregoing reactive monomer mixtures may undergo further treatment including, but not limited to, plasma treatment, application of a coating (such as in-package coatings (IPCs) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,227), and the like.

The formed lens object can then be removed from the mold halves by mechanical means, solvent swelling, or combinations thereof, and then undergo an extraction process to remove unreacted first polymerization initiator. The extraction process to remove unreacted first polymerization initiator may be complete or incomplete. In some cases, removal of all unreacted first polymerization initiator is not required to create the desired features or optical effects. In other cases, the extraction process removes only a portion of the unreacted first polymerization initiator, enabling an optional irradiation step using a lower concentration of the first polymerization initiator. Or the extraction process can remove substantially all of the unreacted first polymerization initiator. After removing unreacted first polymerization initiator, the standard post-processing steps of lens extraction to remove other reactive monomer components and of lens hydration can be carried out to form the final ophthalmic lens. In some instances, the standard post-processing steps of lens extraction and hydration, using aqueous alcohols, water, and buffers can also extract unreacted first polymerization initiators, thereby combining two or more extraction steps into one operation.

Aqueous solutions are solutions which comprise water. The aqueous solutions of the present invention may comprise at least about 20 weight percent water, or at least about 50 weight percent water, or at least about 70 weight percent water, or at least about 95 weight percent water. Aqueous solutions may also include additional water soluble Formulas such as inorganic salts or release agents, wetting agents, slip agents, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical Formulas, combinations thereof and the like. Release agents are compounds or mixtures of compounds which, when combined with water, decrease the time required to release a contact lens from a mold, as compared to the time required to release such a lens using an aqueous solution that does not comprise the release agent. The aqueous solutions may not require special handling, such as purification, recycling or special disposal procedures.

Extraction may be accomplished, for example, via immersion of the lens in an aqueous solution or exposing the lens to a flow of an aqueous solution. Extraction may also include, for example, one or more of: heating the aqueous solution; stirring the aqueous solution; increasing the level of release aid in the aqueous solution to a level sufficient to cause release of the lens; mechanical or ultrasonic agitation of the lens; and incorporating at least one leaching or extraction aid in the aqueous solution to a level sufficient to facilitate adequate removal of unreacted components from the lens. The foregoing may be conducted in batch or continuous processes, with or without the addition of heat, agitation or both.

Application of physical agitation may be desired to facilitate leach and release. For example, the lens mold part to which a lens is adhered can be vibrated or caused to move back and forth within an aqueous solution. Other methods may include ultrasonic waves through the aqueous solution.

The lenses may be sterilized by known means such as, but not limited to, autoclaving.

As indicated above, preferred ophthalmic lenses are contact lenses, more preferably soft hydrogel contact lenses. Silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses (e.g., contact lenses) that may be prepared according to the invention preferably exhibit the following properties. All values are prefaced by “about,” and the lenses may have any combination of the listed properties. The properties may be determined by methods known to those skilled in the art, for instance as described in United States pre-grant publication US20180037690, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Water concentration %: at least 20%, or at least 25% and up to 80% or up to 70%

Haze: 30% or less, or 10% or less

Advancing dynamic contact angle (Wilhelmy plate method): 1000 or less, or 800 or less; or 500 or less

Tensile Modulus (psi): 120 or less, or 80 to 120

Oxygen permeability (Dk, barrers): at least 80, or at least 100, or at least 150, or at least 200

Elongation to Break: at least 100

For ionic silicon hydrogels, the following properties may also be preferred (in addition to those recited above):

Lysozyme uptake (μg/lens): at least 100, or at least 150, or at least 500, or at least 700

Polyquaternium 1 (PQ1) uptake (%): 15 or less, or 10 or less, or 5 or less

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail in the following Examples.

EXAMPLES

The following abbreviations will be used throughout the Examples and Figures and have the following meanings:

DMA: N, N-dimethylacrylamide (Jarchem)

HEMA: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (Bimax)

PVP K12, K30, or K90: poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (ISP Ashland)

TEGDMA: tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (Esstech)

Omnirad 819: bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphineoxide (IGM Resins)

AIBN: azobisisobutyronitrile [CAS 78-67-1]

SiMAA: 2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-[3-[1,3,3,3-tetramethyl-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]disiloxanyl]propoxy]propyl ester (Toray) or 3-(3-(1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptamethyltrisiloxan-3-yl)propoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate

HO-mPDMS: mono-n-butyl terminated mono-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyloxy)-propyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (M_n=1400 grams/mole, n=15) (Ortec or DSM-Polymer Technology Group)

[Image Omitted]

Norbloc: 2-(2′-hydroxy-5-methacrylyloxyethylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole (Janssen)

Blue HEMA: 1-amino-4-[3-(4-(2-methacryloyloxy-ethoxy)-6-chlorotriazin-2-ylamino)-4-sulfophenylamino]anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,853

Borate Buffered Packing Solution: 18.52 grams (300 mmol) of boric acid, 3.7 grams (9.7 mmol) of sodium borate decahydrate, and 28 grams (197 mmol) of sodium sulfate were dissolved in enough deionized water to fill a 2 liter volumetric flask.

D3O: 3,7-dimethyl-3-octanol (Vigon)

HCl: hydrochloric acid

IPA: 2-propanol

ACN: acetonitrile

THF: tetrahydrofuran

PEO: polyethylene oxide

DMF: dimethylformamide

DCM: dichloromethane

PP: polypropylene which is the homopolymer of propylene

TT: Tuftec which is a hydrogenated styrene butadiene block copolymer (Asahi Kasei Chemicals)

Z: Zeonor which is a polycycloolefin thermoplastic polymer (Nippon Zeon Co Ltd)

LED: light emitting diode

¹N NMR: proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

UV-VIS: ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy

TLC: thin layer chromatography

ID: inner diameter

L: liter(s)

mL: milliliter(s)

mM: millimolar

M: molar

Equiv. or eq.: equivalent

kg: kilogram(s)

g: gram(s)

mg: milligram(s)

mol: mole

mmol: millimole

min: minute(s)

mm: millimeter(s)

cm: centimeter(s)

μm: micrometer(s)

nm: nanometer(s)

mW: milliwatt(s)

mJ: millijoule(s)

Pa: pascal

PSI: pounds per square inch

Abs: absorption

% T: Percent Transmission

MAPO: monoacylphosphine oxide

DMD: digital micromirror device

Example 1—Synthesis of Photoinitiator-Dye (“PI-Dye1”) as Shown in Scheme B

Synthesis of 1-(3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraethylphosphanediamine: 2.5 M n-Butyllithium in hexanes (42.0 mL, 105.0 mmol, 1.05 eq.) was added dropwise to a solution of 1-(benzyloxy)-3-bromobenzene (26.3 grams, 100.0 mmol, 1.00 eq.) in THE (200 mL) at −78° C. After stirring for 2 hours, 1-chloro-N,N,N′,N′-tetraethyl-phosphanediamine (22 mL, 105.0 mmol, 1.05 eq.) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture while maintaining the reaction temperature below −70° C. The reaction was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C. and diluted with water (20 mL). The reaction mixture was then concentrated under reduced pressure to a volume of 50 mL. The residual material was diluted with methyl tert-butyl ether (350 mL) and water (100 mL). The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with methyl tert-butyl ether (2×250 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (2×150 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to produce 1-(3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraethylphosphanediamine (36.0 grams, quantitative yield) as a colorless oil, which was used in the next step without further purification.

Synthesis of (3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)dichlorophosphane: 2.0 M HCl in diethyl ether (200 mL, 400.0 mmol, 4.0 eq.) was added to a solution of 1-(3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraethylphosphanediamine (36.0 grams, 100.0 mmol, 1.0 eq.) in anhydrous diethyl ether (400 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. The resulting suspension was filtered through a plug of Celite (80.0 grams) under nitrogen, which was then washed with anhydrous diethyl ether (2×100 mL). The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and blanketed with nitrogen to give (3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)dichlorophosphane (22.0 grams, 77% yield) as a yellow oil, which was used subsequently without further purification. Note: The anhydrous diethyl ether (250 mL) and NMR solvents were sparged with nitrogen for 15 minutes before using.

Synthesis of ((3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)phosphoryl)bis(mesitylmethanone): 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzoyl chloride (31.0 mL, 185.0 mmol, 2.4 eq.) was added to a suspension of zinc dust (12.1 grams, 185.0 mmol, 2.4 eq.) in anhydrous ethyl acetate (150 mL) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was shielded from ambient light exposure. A solution of (3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)dichlorophosphane (22.0 grams, 77.0 mmol, 1.0 eq.) in anhydrous ethyl acetate (100 mL) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture at room temperature. After stirring at room temperature for 24 hours, the reaction was cooled to 0° C. and sodium bicarbonate (15.6 grams, 185.0 mmol, 2.4 eq.) was added in one portion, followed by the dropwise addition of 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (11.0 mL, 93.0 mmol, 1.2 eq.) over 40 minutes while maintaining the reaction temperature below 5° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour and diluted with water (100 mL). The insoluble material was removed by filtration through a plug of sand (50.0 grams), which was washed with ethyl acetate (300 mL). The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×300 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was re-dissolved in dichloromethane (150 mL), absorbed onto Celite (80 grams) and purified on a Biotage automated chromatography system (2×200 gram Biotage silica gel column), each time eluting with a gradient of 0 to 50% ethyl acetate in heptanes to give ((3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)phosphoryl)bis(mesitylmethanone) (10.3 grams, 25% yield) as a yellow semi-solid. Note: Anhydrous ethyl acetate (250 mL) was sparged with nitrogen for 30 minutes before use.