Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Ophthalmic lenses or blanks
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-03-06
Sugarman, Scott J. (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Ophthalmic lenses or blanks
C351S177000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196683
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to contact lens manufacture, the lenses made thereby, and more particularly to a contact lens which produces a cosmetic effect.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Contact lenses which yield a cosmetic effect, i.e., a change in the visual appearance of the wearer's eye, are well known and have been available commercially for many years. The principal object of many of these lenses is to improve the color of the iris or its texture. The appearance of an iris is relatively complex, showing multiple colors and textures (collectively referred to herein simply as “color”, as in a “colored contact lens”). See, for example, Jahnke, U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,477. The appearance of the natural iris is not a simple solid color, but a structure comprising many lines and different colors. Some cosmetic lens wearers prefer a colored contact lens that duplicates this natural complexity. For these wearers, the more natural their eyes appear with the lens, the more appealing they find the cosmetic effect of the lens. Other cosmetic contact lens wearers are interested in a more striking eye change, and the contact lens patterns and colors that these customers prefer may deviate from a common natural looking eye in order to make their eyes more distinct. The more a contact lens can duplicate this complexity, the more appealing it is considered to be as a consumer product.
Colored contact lenses are commonly made in two ways. One is by bonding, or entrapping, a dye to a lens, such as diazo, triazo, or vat dyes, which permeate the lens. This method is considered limiting because only non-opaque dyes can be used. The resulting contact lens will be colored, but the entire lens still transmits significant amounts of light through the part of the lens covering the iris. This tends to produce generally subtle color changes, which reduces the utility of the lens to effect a cosmetic change with dark colored eyes, for instance.
Opaque lenses may be produced using vat, diazo or triazo dyes by first soaking a hydrophilic lens in a BaCI solution, removing the lens from the BaCI solution, soaking the lens in an H
2
SO
4
solution so that the barium precipitates with the sulfate ion to form BaSO
4
. Thereafter, the application of the vat, diazo or triazo dyes can produce an opaque color. This process, however, is extremely time consuming, involves many steps, and is difficult to scale.
The other common method for making a colored contact lens is by printing an ink-containing pigment (or pigments) to the surface of the lens. This can be by printing the ink directly on the surface of the lens, or on a casting cup which then transfers the printing to the lens. Printing is also considered somewhat limited due to the types of pigments that have been used to date. These pigments absorb and reflect light to give a cosmetic effect. Texture, for instance, is achieved by choosing the pattern(s) in which the ink is applied to the lens surface, and the number of ink colors applied. Current technology relies upon pigments that have limited or no characteristics other than direct absorption or reflection of light. There has been a continuing effort in the industry to improve colored contact lenses by printing pigments on the lens that give the cosmetic appearance that many consumers want, and attempting to achieve cosmetic effects that may have appeal such as a perception of depth, and unusual textural effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal objective of this invention to provide an improved contact lens through the addition of a pearlescent material to the contact lens to change the cosmetic appearance of the iris. The pearlescent material can be in the form of an ink or inks applied to the contact lens, using techniques developed for application of conventional pigments. The pearlescent ink (or pearlescent pigment) can be used alone or with conventional pigments to make colored contact lenses with superior cosmetic properties. What the inventors have discerned already is that colored contact lenses made in accordance with the invention impart textures to the eye that cannot be duplicated through the use of conventional (i.e., non-pearlescent) pigments alone.
One aspect of the invention thus comprises a contact lens in the form of a lens blank with a pearlescent material added to the blank, or button. More particularly, the pearlescent material is situated in an area of the contact lens which overlies a wearer's iris. The pearlescent material may be formed integral with the lens blank, e.g., dispersed throughout the blank or the portion of the blank ultimately overlying the iris, or printed upon the lens surface. The pearlescent material can further be used in conjunction with non-pearlescent pigment(s). In one aspect, the invention is a contact lens comprising a zone of pearlescent pigment and a zone of non-pearlescent pigment. Lathe-formed lenses made from buttons, or one-sided molded lenses (wherein one side of the lens is molded and the other side is lathed) are also contemplated within the invention's scope.
In another respect, the invention encompasses a contact lens comprising a substantially transparent pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil section, and a colored pattern over the iris section, wherein the colored pattern is comprised of pearlescent material.
The invention further encompasses a method for making a contact lens, comprising the steps of providing a transparent contact lens, and applying a pearlescent material colorant to the surface of the contact lens. The pearlescent material can be applied alone, or as noted above, in combination with other pigments.
The inventive method further includes making a contact lens wherein a contact lens blank material is provided, and a pearlescent material is added to the contact lens blank material in an amount to change the cosmetic appearance of the a contact lens made from the blank material.
The invention, its features and its advantages will be further understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3679504 (1972-07-01), Wichterle
patent: 4405773 (1983-09-01), Loshaek et al.
patent: 4582402 (1986-04-01), Knapp
patent: 4639105 (1987-01-01), Neefe
patent: 4668240 (1987-05-01), Loshaek
patent: 5034166 (1991-07-01), Rawlings et al.
patent: 5116112 (1992-05-01), Rawlings
patent: 5414477 (1995-05-01), Jahnke
Atkins Barry L.
Quinn Michael H.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Sugarman Scott J.
Wesley Jessen Corporation
LandOfFree
Pearlescent contact lens does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pearlescent contact lens, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pearlescent contact lens will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2503191