Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COLORED CONTACT LENS WITH
A MORE NATURAL APPEARANCE
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. ~ 119(e) of the filing
date of the provisional U.S. patent application having serial number
60/174,288, filed on January 3, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to colored contact lenses and in
particular to such lenses having multiple opaque colored portions that form a
pattern that can change the apparent color of the iris while imparting a very
natural appearance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Early attempts to modify or enhance the color of one's eyes utilized
colored contact lenses with a simple solidly colored area that covered the
iris portion of the eye. However, contact lenses with this type of opaque
coloring imparted a very unnatural appearance. Other types of colored
contact lenses were developed, such as Wichterle, U.S. Pat. No.
3,679,504, which discloses an opaque lens having an iris of more than a
single color artistically drawn or photographically reproduced. However,
such lenses did not look natural and as such never achieved commercial
success. Other attempts to produce an opaque lens with a natural
appearance are disclosed in. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,536,386, (Spivak);
3,712,718 (LeGrand), 4,460,523 (Neefe), 4,719,657 (Bawa), 4,744,647
(Meshel et al.), 4,634,449 (Jenkins); European Patent Publication No. 0
309 154 (Allergan) and U.K. Patent Application No. 2 202 540 A (IGEL).
Commercial success was achieved by the colored contact lens
described in Knapp (in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,402) which discloses a contact
lens having, in its preferred embodiment, colored, opaque dots. The
Knapp lens provides a natural appearance with a lens that is simple and
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inexpensive to produce, using a simple one-color printed dot pattern.
Although the intermittent pattern of dots does not fully cover the iris, it
provides a sufficient density of dots that a masking effect gives the
appearance of a continuous color when viewed by an ordinary observer.
Knapp also discloses that the printing step may be repeated one or more-
times using different patterns in different colors, since upon close
examination the iris is found to contain more than one .color. The printed
pattern need not be absolutely uniform, allowing for enhancement of the
fine structure of the iris. The one-color Knapp lenses currently achieving
commercial success have their dots arranged in an irregular pattern to
enhance the structure of the iris. However, neither the Knapp commercial
lenses, nor the Knapp patent disclose or suggest how one would arrange a
pattern of dots having more than one color to achieve a more natural
appearance.
Various efforts have been made to improve on the Knapp lens. U.S.
Patent No. 5,414,477 to Jahnke discloses the application of the intermittent
ink pattern in two or more portions of distinct shades of colorant to provide
a more natural appearance.
Other attempts to create a more natural appearing lens include U.S.
Patent No. 5,120,121 to Rawlings, which discloses a cluster~of
interconnecting lines radiating from the periphery of the pupil portion to the
periphery of the iris portion. Further, European Patent No. 0 472 496 A2
shows a contact lens having a pattern of lines that attempts to replicate the
lines found in the iris.
Despite these efforts, the contact lens industry continues to seek a
low-cost, colored lens that can enhance or modify the eye color, while
providing the depth and texture that is inherent in the human iris.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the surprising discovery that a
pattern having multiple-color opaque portions can achieve a more natural
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appearing iris if configured properly. The improvement in appearance over
the one-color Knapp lenses and the multiple-color Jahnke lenses is
startling. Like the one and two color lenses, the lenses of this invention
are able to cause a fundamental change in the apparent color of the
wearer's iris, e.g. from dark brown to light blue or green. Although a
preferred embodiment of the invention is a three color lens wherein
different colors overlap, more than three colors are contemplated, and
lenses wherein all three (or more) of the different colors overlap are also
contemplated.
One objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact lens
with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil
section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section.
The elements of the pattern are indiscernible to the ordinary viewer and
are made up of a first portion of the elements of the pattern, which is a
first
shade, and a second portion of the elements of the pattern, which is a
second shade different from said first shade, and a third portion of the
elements of the pattern, which is a third shade different from said second
shade and either different or the same as the first shade. Each of the
three portions contain overlapping, mixing and blending elements
consisting of or making up, uniform and non-uniform dots, islands of
colors, worms, starbursts, corkscrews, spokes, spikes, striations, radial
stripes, zig-zags and/or streaks, in combination or separately. Further,
each of the overlapping portions may or may not extend from one end of
the non-opaque pupil section to the periphery of the iris section. The
blending of these various portions creates a lens capable of changing the
apparent color of the iris of a person wearing the lens, while imparting a
very natural appearance.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact
lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil
section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section.
The elements of the pattern are indiscernible to the ordinary viewer and
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are made up of a first portion of the elements of the pattern, or the
outermost starburst, which is a first shade, and a second portion of the
elements of the pattern, or the outer starburst, which is a second shade
different from said first shade, and a third portion of the elements of the
pattern, or the inner starburst, which is a third shade different from said
second shade and either different or the same as the first shade. The
outermost starburst has a greatest concentration of elements located
generally outside of the outer starburst, and the outer starburst has a
greatest concentration of elements located generally outside the inner
starburst. A first uneven border differentiates the outermost and outer
starbursts, although there is overlap of the outermost and outer starbursts
A second uneven border differentiates the outer and inner starbursts,
although there is overlap between the outer and inner starbursts. Thus, a
lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person wearing
the lens and imparting a very natural appearance is provided.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact
fens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil
section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section,
which leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the pattern non-
opaque. The pattern covers at least about 25 percent of the area of the iris
section. The elements of the pattern are indiscernible to the ordinary
viewer. A first portion of the elements of the pattern, or the outermost
starburst, is of a first shade, and a second portion of the elements of the
pattern, or the outer starburst, is of a second shade different from said
first
shade, and a third portion of the elements of the pattern, or the inner
starburst, is of a third shade different from said second shade and either
different or the same as the first shade. The outermost starburst has a
greatest concentration of elements located generally outside of the outer
starburst, and the outer starburst has a greatest concentration of elements
located generally outside of the inner starburst. A first uneven border
differentiates the outermost and outer starbursts although the outermost
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and outer starbursts overlap, and a second uneven border differentiates
the oufier and inner starbursts although the outer and inner starbursts
overlap. The minimum distance of the first uneven border from the outer
perimeter of said iris section is from about 5% to about 60% of the radial
width of said iris section. The maximum distance of the first uneven border
from the outer perimeter of said iris section is from about 25% to about
95% of the radial width of the iris section. The minimum distance of the
second uneven border from the outer perimeter of the iris section is from
about 15% to about 75% of the radial width of the iris section, and the
maximum distance of said second uneven border from the outer perimeter
of the iris section is from about 50% to about 95% of the radial width of the
iris section. Thus, a contact lens capable of changing the apparent color of
the iris of a person wearing the lens and imparting a very natural
appearance is provided.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact
lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil
section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section,
which leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the pattern non-
opaque. The pattern covers at least about 25 percent of the area of the iris
section. The elements of the pattern are indiscernible to the ordinary
viewer. A first portion of the elements of the pattern, or the outermost
starburst, is of a first shade, and a second portion of the elements of the
pattern, or the outer starburst, is of a second shade different from said
first
shade, and a third portion of the elements of the pattern, or the inner
starburst, is of a third shade different from said second shade and either
different or the same as the first shade. The outermost starburst has a
greatest concentration of elements located generally outside of the outer
starburst, and the outer starburst has a greatest concentration of elements
located generally on the outside of the inner starburst. A first uneven
border differentiates the outermost and outer starbursts although the
outermost and outer starbursts overlap, and a second uneven border
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differentiates the outer and inner starbursts although the outer and inner
starbursts overlap. The minimum distance of the first uneven border from
the outer perimeter of said iris section is from about 15% to about 50% of
the radial width of said iris section. The maximum distance of the first
uneven border from the outer perimeter of said iris section is from about
45% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section. The minimum
distance of the second uneven border from the outer perimeter of the iris
section is from about 15% to about 65% of the radial width of the iris
section, and the maximum distance of said second uneven border from the
outer perimeter of the iris section is from about 60% to about 95% of the
radial width of the iris section. Thus, a contact lens capable of changing
the apparent color of the iris of a person wearing the lens and imparting a
very natural appearance is provided.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact
lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil
section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section,
which
leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the pattern non-opaque.
The pattern covers an effective amount of the iris section to change the
apparent color of the iris. The pattern is made up of multiple portions, each
of
which is a different shade from the other portion. These portions may or may
not overlap each other at multiple points. At least one of the multiple
portions
is a design that contains either uniform or non-uniform dots, islands of
color,
worms, starbursts, spokes, spikes, striations, radial stripes, zig-zags and/or
streaks, or some other design that, along with the other portions, provides a
lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of the person wearing
the lens, while imparting a very natural appearance.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact
lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil
section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section,
which
leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the pattern non-opaque.
The pattern, which is made up of elements, covers an effective amount of the
iris section to change the apparent color of the iris. The pattern is made up
of
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multiple portions, each of which is a different shade from the other portion.
Further, one of these portions is the darkest shade, one of these portions is
the lightest shade, and the pattern is configured so that the darkest shaded
portion has the greatest concentration of elements located generally outside
the other portions. This design provides a lens capable of changing the
apparent color of the iris of the person wearing the lens, while imparting a
very natural appearance.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact
lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil
section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section,
which
leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the pattern non-opaque.
The pattern, which is made up of elements, covers an effective amount of the
iris section to change the apparent color of the iris. The pattern is made up
of
at least three portions, each of which is a different shade from each other
portion. Each of the portions overlap the other portion at multiple points.
These overlapping portions blend, mix or commingle together, or appear to
blend, mix or commingle together, producing unique textures, colors and
patterns that make the eye look natural when the contact lens is placed on the
eye. To obtain the commingling or blending of the portions, in some instances
the different shades will be printed in the same location or close enough that
the difference in location is not discernible. This design provides a lens
capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person wearing the
lens, while imparting a very natural appearance.
It can be easily understood that other colored lenses having patterns
with multiple portions (having different shades or colors) can be designed and
still fall within the scope of the present invention.
The term "non-opaque" as used herein is intended to describe a part
of the lens that is uncolored or colored with translucent coloring.
The term "second shade different from said first shade" (or some
similar language) as used herein is intended to mean that both shades are
of totally different colors, such as blue and hazel; or that both shades are
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the same basic color, but having different intensities such as light blue and
dark blue.
The term "ordinary viewer" is intended to mean a person having
normal 20-20 vision standing about 5 feet from a person wearing the
lenses of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a contact lens pattern in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a contact lens pattern indicating an outermost
starburst in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 illustrates a contact lens pattern indicating an outer
starburst in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4 illustrates a contact lens pattern indicating an inner
starburst in accordance with the present invention;
Figures 5A-5C illustrate three contact lens patterns in accordance
with the present invention;
Figure 6 illustrates a contact lens design based on the combination
of Figures 5A-5C in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 7 illustrates a contact lens pattern with elements removed
from the periphery of the pattern in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 8 illustrates a contact lens pattern that is not substantially
continuous in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 9 illustrates three contact lens patterns, one of which is not
substantially continuous in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 10 illustrates three contact lens patterns in accordance with
the present invention;
Figure 11 illustrates three contact lens patterns in accordance with
the present invention;
Figure 12 illustrates three contact lens patterns and the combined
contact lens design in accordance with the present invention;
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Figure 13 illustrates three contact lens patterns and the combined
contact lens design in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 14 illustrates three contact lens patterns and the combined
contact lens design in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 15 illustrates a three-pattern contact lens design in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 16 illustrates a three-pattern contact lens design in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 17 illustrates a three-pattern contact lens design in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 18 illustrates a three-pattern contact lens design in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 19 illustrates a four-pattern contact lens design in accordance
with the present invention;
Figure 20 illustrates a three-pattern contact lens design in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 21 illustrates a four-pattern contact lens design in accordance
with the present invention; and
Figure 22 illustrates a four-pattern contact lens design in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a contact lens 10 in accordance with the present
invention. It has a non-opaque pupil section 20 in the center of lens, and
an annular iris section 22 surrounding the pupil section. For hydrophilic
lenses a peripheral section (not shown) surrounds iris section 22. A
colored, opaque, intermittent pattern is located over the iris section 22, as
show in Figure 1. The pattern leaves a substantial portion of the iris
section within the interstices of the pattern non-opaque. The non-opaque
areas of the iris section 22 appear white in Figure 1.
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The elements of the pattern are preferably dots, and especially
preferred are dots, some of which run together, as shown in Figure 1.
Certain portions of the iris section 22 are less densely covered with dots
than other portions.
The opaque pattern or patterns can be made up of dots having
regular or irregular, uniform or non-uniform shapes, for example, round,
square, hexagonal, elongated, or other dot shapes. Further, the elements
of the pattern may have a shape other than dots, so long as the elements
are undescrinable to the ordinary viewer, cover between 10 and 30
percent, preferably about 20 percent of the iris, and leave a substantial
portion of the iris section within the interstices of the pattern non-opaque.
The patterns that make up the portions of the iris can be islands of color or
worms, corkscrews, starbursts, spokes, spikes, striations, radial stripes,
zig-zags and streaks. In certain cases, a single color background is used
to complement the multi-pattern design. These patterns blend with each
other to provide a colored contact lens that enhances the structure of the
iris of a person wearing the lens.
The improvement of this invention is a multiple color pattern that
greatly improves the natural appearance of the wearer's iris, even over that
of one and two color lenses. To produce this improvement, three (or more)
colored patterns are printed in three or more portions. A first portion of the
elements are of a first shade and generally have a greatest concentration
of dots or other elements located generally on the outside of, but within,
the iris section, i.e. at or near the outer perimeter of the annular iris
section. This section may be referred to as the outermost starburst. A
preferable first outside portion pattern or outermost starburst is shown in
Figure 2. Black, or some other dark color such as gray, dark-brown or dark
blue, is most often used as the color of the outermost starburst.
A second portion (the outer starburst) of the elements are a second
shade, which is different from the first shade, and has elements with a
greatest concentration located generally on the inside of the outermost
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starburst, and generally, although not always, surrounded by the outermost
starburst portion. A preferable second portion or outer starburst appears in
Figure 3. The outer starburst can be many colors, for example, blue, gray,
brown, light blue, turquoise, violet, blue-violet, aqua, yellow or green.
A third portion (the inner starburst) of the elements are of a third
shade, which is different from the second shade and either the same or
different from the first shade. This third portion has a greatest
concentration of elements located generally, but not always, on the inside
of the other two portions. Generally, the greatest concentration of
elements of the third portion is surrounded by the concentration of
elements of the other two portions. A preferable third inside portion pattern
or inner starburst appears in Figure 4. A preferred color for the inner
starburst is hazel, but other colors to be used include yellow, yellow-green,
brown, yellow-brown, gold and orange. Figure 1, a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, shows a combination of Figures 2, 3 and 4.
In a preferred embodiment, a first uneven border differentiates the
outermost starburst and the outer starburst portions of the pattern
elements, however, the elements of fihe outermost and outer starbursts
overlap, mix and blend together, either in actuality or merely in perception,
to create the desired effect. A second uneven border differentiates the
outer starburst and the inner starburst portions of the pattern. The
elements of the outer and inner starbursts overlap, mix and blend together,
either in actuality or in perception. If the patterns of Figures 2, 3 and 4
are
merged to form a three color lens, the uneven edge of the pattern shown in
Figure 2 will merge and overlap with the pattern shown in Figure 3 to form
the first uneven border between the outermost and outer starbursts.
Further, the uneven edge of the pattern shown in Figure 4 will merge and
overlap with the pattern shown in Figure 3 to form the second uneven
border between the outer and inner starbursts.
In certain patterns, the outer starburst may contain pattern that
extends further toward the periphery of the fens than the pattern of the
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outermost starburst. In other patterns, the outer starburst may contain
pattern that extends further toward the pupil section of the lens than the
pattern of the inner starburst.
Alternative embodiments of the present invention include minimum and
maximum distances of the uneven borders from the outer perimeter of the iris
section. For example in one alternative embodiment, the minimum distance of
the first uneven border from the outer perimeter of the iris section is from
about 5% to about 60% of the radial width of the iris section, and the
maximum distance of the uneven border from the outer perimeter of the iris
section is from about 25% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris
section,
and the minimum distance of the second uneven border from the outer
perimeter of the iris section is from about 15% to about 75% of the radial
width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the uneven border from
the outer perimeter of the iris section is from about 50% to about 95% of the
radial width of the iris section.
In another embodiment, the minimum distance of the first uneven
border from the outer perimeter of the iris section is from about 15% to about
50% of the radial width of the iris section, and the maximum distance of the
uneven border from the outer perimeter of the iris section is from about 45%
to about 95% of the radial width of the iris section, and the minimum distance
of the second uneven border from the outer perimeter of the iris section is
from about 15% to about 65% of the radial width of the iris section, and the
maximum distance of the uneven border from the outer perimeter of the iris
section is from about 60% to about 95% of the radial width of the iris
section.
In yet another alternative embodiment, the outer starburst pattern
may extend to the periphery of the iris section of the contact lens, such that
some elements that make up the outer starburst are outside of all of the
elements that make up the outermost starburst pattern, and/or the
elements that make up the outer starburst pattern extend closer to the pupil
section such that some of those elements are inside all of the elements of
the inner starburst pattern.
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In yet another alternative embodiment, the inner starburst pattern
creates an interdigitation configuration with either the outermost starburst
pattern or the outer starburst pattern or both patterns. Further, the
outermost starburst pattern may create an interdigitation configuration with
the outer starburst pattern. In an interdigitation configuration, one pattern
intersects another similar to the fingers on one hand placed between the
fingers on the other hand in a planar fashion.
Another embodiment is made up of a pattern in which at least one of
the portions, and preferably more than one, is made up of a pattern or
design which consists of elements which are or create uniform and non-
uniform dots, islands of color, worms, corkscrews, starbursts, spokes,
spikes, striations, radial stripes, zig-zags and/or streaks (see the examples
in Figures 5-22). Also, a single color may be used as a background in
conjunction with the multi-pattern design (see Figures 21 and 22). In these
designs the portions may be the same, as in Figures 15 and 16, or
different, as in Figures 19, 20 and 21. For example, if the outermost
starburst is the same as that of Figure 2, and the outer starburst is the one
shown in Figure 3, then the inner starburst may be a design in which radial
stripes begin at the inner portion of the iris and travel in a radial
direction
toward the outer periphery of the iris. In this particular embodiment, the
remaining multiple portions, whether there are two or more, are made up of
a plurality of elements, which may be similar in design to the foregoing
portion, combine to leave a substantial portion within the interstices of the
pattern non-opaque.
Alternative embodiments include patterns designed such that the
greatest concentration of elements having the darkest color or shaded
portion are located generally on the outside of the concentration of the
elements of the other portions. In particular, the darkest shaded portion
has a greater concentration of elements generally located outside the
portions with the lighter shaded portions. Another embodiment places the
different portions having different shades such that the darkest portion has
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the greatest concentration of elements generally located on the outside of
the other portions, and the next darkest portion has the greatest
concentration of elements generally located outside the remaining portions'
elements. This design continues until the lightest shaded portion has the
greatest concentration of elements generally located inside all of the other
portions.
Another embodiment includes patterns that are not continuous or
concentric. In other words, these patterns, which may be of the type listed
above, have noticeable non-opaque areas such that when viewed without
the other patterns, the non-opaque areas are clearly visible. However,
when these patterns are combined with other patterns, the overlapping,
blending and mixing of these patterns creates a design that is able to
change the apparent color of the iris, while imparting a very natural
appearance.
Producing the opaque portions of the iris section is preferably
accomplished by printing the lens three times using the known printing
process of Knapp's U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,402, incorporated herein by '
reference, and the known printing process of Rawlings' U.S. Patent Nos.
5,034,166 and 5,116,112, incorporated herein by reference. Generally, a
plate or cliche having depressions in the desired pattern is smeared with
ink of the desired shade. Excess ink is removed by scrapping the surface
of the plate with a doctor blade leaving the depression filled with ink. A
silicon rubber pad is pressed against the plate to pick up the ink from the
depressions and then is pressed against a surface of the lens to transfer
the pattern to the lens. The printed pattern is then cured to render it
unremovable from the lens. Of course, either the anterior or posterior
surfaces of the lens may be printed, but printing the anterior surface is
presently preferred.
Preferred lenses and ink ingredients used to practice this invention
are known and described in Loshaek's U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,240,
incorporated herein by reference. The specific ingredients and target
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weights are described in detail below. Very briefly, a lens constructured of
polymer having -COOH, -OH, or -NH2 groups is printed with ink containing
binding polymer having the same functional groups, opaque coloring
substance, and a diisocyanate compound. First a solution of binding
polymer and solvent is prepared and this solution is mixed with paste
containing the coloring substance to form an ink. A preferred binding
polymer solutions have a viscosity of about 35,000 CPS for blue, gray,
brown and black, and 50,000 CPS for green. The opaque ink is printed and
cured on the lens surface.
(nk pastes and pigments that can be utilized in the present invention
can be made in a number of different ways using the ingredients and
percentages (by weight) as described below in the ink color charts. For
example, a hazel ink paste can be made using 63.49 percent binder solution
(by weight), 30.00 percent ethyl lactate, 0.61 percent titanium dioxide, 0.06
percent PCN blue, 4.30 percent iron oxide yellow, and 1.54 percent iron oxide
red. Although these colors are used for the preferred embodiments, other
colors or variations of the weight percentage of ingredients may be used. The
charts below are merely a representative example of the possible inks and
pigment levels, and is not a complete list. One of ordinary skill in the art
could
develop other inks and pigment levels that would provide an enhancing effect
to the iris of a person wearing the contact lens.
INK PASTE
COLOR CODE BLUE GRAY
Total Wt. 600 3000 600 3000
(g)
Ingredient Weight Target Target Weight _ _
Percent Weight Weight Percent Target Target
Weight Weight
Ethyl Lactate30.55 183.30 916.50 30.75 184.50 922.50
Binder Soln 61.15 366.90 1834.50 59.84 359.10 1795.50
PCN Blue 1.21 7.26 36.30
PCN Green 0.23 .38 6.90
1
TiOz 7.09 42.54 212.70 7.34 _ 220.20
44.04
IO Black 1.83 10.98 _
54.90
Grinding Media 600 3000 600 3000
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INK PASTE
COLOR BROWN HAZEL
Total Wt. 651 3000 651 3000
(g)
Ingredient Weight Target Target Weight Target Target
Percent Weight Weight Percent Weight Weight
Ethyl Lactate30.00 180.00 900.00 30.00 180.00 900.00
Binder Soln 55.90 330.60 1653.00 63.49 380.94 1904.70
PCN Blue 0.06 0.36 1.80
Ti02 0.61 3.65 18.3
Black 5.7b 34.20 171.00
10 Red 3.45 20.70 103.50 1.54 9.25 46.20
10 Yellow 4.30 25.80 129.00
10 Brown 5.75 34.50 172.50
Grinding 600 3000 600 3000
Media
INK PASTE
COLOR GREEN BLACK
Total Wt. 651 3000 651 3000
(g)
Ingredient Weight Target Target Weight Target Target
Percent Weight Weight Percent Weight Weight
Ethyl Lactate28.53 185.73 855.90 23.98 156.11 719.40
Binder Soln 63.85 415.66 1915.50 64.04 416.90 1921
.20
PCN Blue 0.03 0.20 0.90 _
_
10 Black 11.98 77.99 359.4
Crz03 7.59 49.41 227.70
Grinding 850 4298 850 4298
Media
INK PASTE
COLOR TURQUOISE ORANGE
Total Wt. 600 3000 600 3000
(g)
Ingredient Weight Target Target Weight Target Target
Percent Weight Weight Percent Weight Weight
Ethyl Lactate30.00 180.00 900.00 30.00 180.00 90
0.00
Binder Soln 58.16 348.96 1744.80 58.00 348.00 _
_
1740.00
PCN Blue 0.63 3.78 18.90
PCN Green 2.25 13.50 67.50
TiO~ 8.88 53.28 266.40
10 Red 6.00 36.00 180.00
Carbazole 0.08 0.48 2.40 _
Violet
Hydrophobic 6.00 36.00 180.00
10
Grinding ~ ~ 600.00 5000.00 850.00 4298.00
Media
5 Of course, alternative ways to form colored opaque elements of the
lens may be used. For example, selected portions of the iris section of a
wetted hydrophilic lens may be impregnated with a solution of a first
substance, such as barium chloride. Then the lens may be immersed in a
solution of a second substance, such as sulfuric acid, that forms an opaque,
10 water-insoluble precipitate with the first substance, for example barium
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sulfate. Thus an opaque precipitate forms within the lens in a predetermined
pattern in the iris section. Next all or at least the opaque pattern of the
iris
section is colored opaque pattern in accordance with the invention. If the
entire iris is colored with translucent tint, then the interstices within the
pattern
will be translucently colored, but still non-opaque and in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, the pupil section
of the lens may be colored by a non-opaque tint, because such tint is not
visible when the lens is against the dark pupil present in the eye of the
wearer. Other alternative opaquing methods include use of a laser (U.S. Pat.
No. 4,744,647) and finely ground particles U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,523.
The process of the present invention for making colored contact
lenses is as follows. A transparent contact lens comprising at least a pupil
section and an iris section surrounding the pupil section is provided.
If the lens is constructed of a hydrophilic material, it also has a
peripheral section surrounding iris section. For hydrophilic material, the
steps described below are performed with the material in an unhydrated
state. Preferred hydrophilic materials are disclosed by Loshaek in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,405,773, incorporated herein by reference.
The colored pattern may be deposited onto iris section of the lens in
any manner. A currently preferred method is by offset pad printing,
described below in some detail.
A plate as (not shown) is prepared having a flat surface and circular
depressions corresponding to the desired dot pattern. To make the pattern
shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, each depression should have a diameter of
approximately 0.1 mm, and a depth of approximately 0.013 mm. The
depressions are arranged to cover an annular shape corresponding to that
of the iris section of the lens.
The plate may be made by a technique that is well known for making
integrated analog or digital circuits. First, a pattern about 20 times as
large
as the desired pattern is prepared. Next, the pattern is reduced using well-
known photographic techniques to a pattern of the exact desired size
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having the portion to be colored darker than the remaining area. A flat
surface is covered by a photo resist material that becomes water insoluble
when exposed to light. The photo resist material is covered with the
pattern and exposed to light. The portion of the photo resist pattern is
removed by washing with water and the resulting plate is etched to the
required depth. Then the remainder of the photo resist material is
mechanically removed.
Colorant, comprising a pigment and binder or carrier for the pigment
is deposited on the flat surface of the plate and scraped across the pattern
with a doctor blade. This causes the depressions to be filled with ink while
removing excess ink from flat surface. The colorant may be more or less
opaque depending on the degree of color change desired. The opacity
may be varied by modifying the proporfiion of pigment to binder in the
colorant. A desired affect may be obtained using a highly opaque colorant
or by having a somewhat less opaque colorant and covering a greater
portion of the iris section surface.
A pad made of silicon rubber, impregnated with silicon oil for easy
release, is pressed against the pattern, removing ink from the depressions.
The ink on the pad is allowed to dry slightly to improve tackiness, then
pressed against the front surface of the contact lens, which deposits the
ink in the desired pattern over the iris section. The pad should have
enough flexibility to deform to fit over the convex front surface of the lens.
For a more natural effect, the printing step maybe repeated one or more
times using different patterns in different colors, since upon close
examination, the iris's of many persons are found to contain more than one
color. The printed pattern need not be absolutely uniform, allowing for
enhancement of the fine structure of the iris.
Next the deposited pattern is treated to render it resistant to removal
from the lens under exposure to the ocular fluids that the lens will encounter
when placed in the eye. The exact method of preventing removal depends on
the material of construction of the lens and the pattern. Mere air drying or
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heating the lens may suffice. For hydrophilic lenses, the techniques for
coating the opaque pattern described in Wichterle, U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,504
(incorporated herein by reference), may be used.
The method for manufacturing a colored contact lens generally
includes the steps of applying three portions of colorant to the surface of a
transparent contact lens and rendering the colorant resistant to removal from
ocular fluids. The printed contact lens has a non-opaque pupil section and an
iris section surrounding said pupil section with the three portions of
colorant.
The first portion of colorant, or outermost starburst, is of a first shade,
the
second portion of colorant, the outer starburst, is a second shade which is
different from the first shade, and the third portion of the colorant, or the
inner
starburst, is a third shade which is different from the second shade and may
or may not be the same as the first shade. The outermost starburst may be
located such that the greatest concentration of elements of the outermost
starburst are located generally on the outside of, but still within, the iris
section, and generally on the outside of the concentration of elements of the
outer starburst. The greatest concentration of elements of the outer starburst
is located generally on the outside of the greatest concentration of elements
of the inner starburst, and a first uneven border differentiates the outermost
starburst and the outer starburst, although the outermost starburst and the
outer starburst potions will overlap, A second uneven border differentiates
the
outer starburst and the inner starburst, although the outer and inner
starbursts
overlap. Thus, a lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a
person wearing the lens and imparting a very natural appearance is provided.
The steps used to deposit the intermittent pattern on the lens surface
include using a first plate having depressions corresponding to the first
portion
or outermost starburst and filling the depressions with colorant of the first
shade, preferably black. The next step is pressing a first flexible pad
against
the first plate and subsequently pressing the first flexible pad against the
surface of the lens (either side) thereby printing the first portion of the
elements.
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The next step involves using a second plate having depressions
corresponding to the second portion or outer starburst and filling in the
depressions with colorant of the second shade which is different from the
first
shade, preferably blue, green, gray or brown. The next step is pressing the
second flexible pad against a second plate and pressing the second flexible
pad against the surface of the lens (either the same or the opposite surface)
thereby printing the second portion of the elements.
The final step involves using a third plate having depressions
corresponding to the third portion or inner starburst and filling the
depressions
with colorant of the third shade which is different from the second shade and
is either the same or different from the first shade, preferably hazel.
Pressing
a third flexible pad against the third plate and pressing the third flexible
pad
against said surface of the lens (either side) thereby printing the third
portion
of the elements.
Although the steps listed above place an order to the printing of the
portions on the lens, the order of printing is not important to the present
invention and any other order of printing would be covered by the present
invention. Further, the process described above may include the maximum
and minimum distances, creating the uneven borders, previously listed in the
alternative embodiments.
An alternative embodiment for printing the different layers on the iris
section of the contact lens provides for ink-jet printing instead of pad
printing
of each layer. Ink-jet printing is accomplished without the need of pads or
plates and can be administered at a higher resolution than pad printing,
thereby providing for greater detail of each colored layer and a more natural
final pattern on the iris section of the contact lens.
Using ink jet printing also reduces the number of devices that make
contact either with the contact lens or with other devices. For example, a
silicon pad must make contact with a plate or cliche initially and then with
the
contact lens itself. Contact between the parts tends to wear down the parts,
which will then require replacements. During the ink-jet process, the micro-
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nozzles do not physically make contact with the contact lens, nor with any
other device. The chance of the micro-nozzle wearing out is thereby reduced.
Further, the ink-jet printer is electronically controlled such that changing
from one color layer to a different color layer can be done easily, by
computer
control. Thus, once a contact lens design is determined and separated into its
multiple colored layers, each layer can be applied to the colored contact lens
using an ink-jet process, thereby creating a colored contact lens capable of
changing the apparent color of the wearer's iris.
It can be seen that the present invention provides lenses capable of
changing the appearance of the wearer's iris, while allowing visualization
of the fine structure thereof. Various changes may be made in the function
and arrangement of parts: equivalent means may be substituted for those
illustrated and described; and certain features may be used independently
from others without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
