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(11) EP 2 927 734 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 07.10.2015 Bulletin 2015/41 G02C 7/04 (2006.01)

(21) Application number: 15161586.1

(22) Date of filing: 30.03.2015

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB • Wright, Dawn D. GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO St. Augustine, FL Florida 32092 (US) PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR • Bowers, Angie L. Designated Extension States: Jacksonville, FL Florida 32223 (US) BA ME • Copper, Lenora L. Designated Validation States: Jacksonville, FL Florida 32258 (US) MA (74) Representative: Tunstall, Christopher Stephen (30) Priority: 31.03.2014 US 201414230556 Carpmaels & Ransford LLP One Southampton Row (71) Applicant: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. London WC1B 5HA (GB) Jacksonville, FL 32256 (US)

(54) with pearlescent sclera

(57) Pearlescent pigments may be incorporated into with an oxide, for example, titanium dioxide or iron oxide, one or more regions of a cosmetic contact lens to add a incorporated into one or more regions of the contact lens shiny, radiant and iridescent appearance thereto. More will result in the one or more regions having a natural, particularly, mica based pearlescent pigments coated wet reflective appearance. EP 2 927 734 A1

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 2 927 734 A1 2

Description lens usesa light tint to aid the wearer inlocating a dropped contact lens, enhancement tint contact lenses have a BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION transparent or translucent tint that is meant to enhance one’s natural color, the color tint contact lens com- 1. Field of the Invention 5 prises an opaque tint meant to change one’s , and the light filtering tint contact lens functions to enhance [0001] The present invention relates to ophthalmic certain colors while muting others. Bifocal and multifocal lenses, and more particularly to contact lenses incorpo- contact lenses are designed specifically for patients with rating pearlescent pigments in a region that results in a presbyopia and are available in both soft and rigid vari- shiny, radiant and iridescent appearance for the sclera. 10 eties. Toric contact lenses are designed specifically for patients with astigmatism and are also available in both 2. Discussion of the Related Art soft and rigid varieties. Combination lenses combining different aspects of the above are also available, for ex- [0002] Contact lenses or contacts are simply lenses ample, hybrid contact lenses. placed on the eye. Contact lenses are considered med- 15 [0004] Other cosmetic contact lenses focus on the ical devices and may be worn to correct vision and/or for sclera rather than or in addition to the iris. For example, cosmetic or other therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses a contact lens may comprise a brightly colored peripheral have been utilized commercially to improve vision since portion, i.e. outside of the iris region, that may be opaque, the 1950s. Early contact lenses made or fabricated from semi-opaque and/or translucent. The bright portion may hard materials were relatively expensive and fragile. In 20 extend from the edge of the limbus to the edge of the addition, these early contact lenses were fabricated from contact lens creatingthe impression ofa brighter or whiter materials that did not allow sufficient oxygen transmis- sclera. These contact lenses may include a limbal ring sion through the contact lens to the conjunctiva and cor- which may make the iris appear larger, darker and/or nea which potentially could cause a number of adverse more defined than it would otherwise. A limbal ring is clinical effects. Although these contact lenses are still 25 essentially an annular band of color that, when the lens utilized, they are not suitable for all patients due to their is on the eye and centered, partially or completely over- poor initial comfort. Later developments in the field gave lies the lens wearer’s limbal region which is the junction rise to soft contact lenses, based upon hydrogels, which of the sclera and the . are extremely popular and widely utilized today. Silicone [0005] While the above described cosmetic contact hydrogel contact lenses that are available today combine 30 lenses do enhance eye appearance, there exists a need the benefit of silicone, which has extremely high oxygen in the cosmetic lens area for lenses comprising effect permeability, with the proven comfort and clinical per- pigments that result in a shiny, radiant and iridescent formance of hydrogels. Essentially, these silicone hydro- appearance. gel based contact lenses have higher oxygen permea- bility values and are generally more comfortable to wear 35 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION than the contact lenses made of the earlier hard materi- als. Rigid gas permeable hard contact lenses, on the oth- [0006] The contact lens with a brightly colored sclera, er hand, are made from siloxane-containing polymers including pearlescent pigments overcomes the issues but are more rigid than soft contact lenses and thus hold briefly set forth above. their shape and are more durable. 40 [0007] Cosmetic contact lenses may be designed to [0003] Currentlyavailable contact lensesremain a cost alter the appearance of the upon which they are effective means for vision correction. The thin plastic worn in any number of ways, including the color of the lenses fit over the cornea of the eye to correct vision entire eye and/or different regions of the eye. While not defects, including myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia a requirement, cosmetic contact lenses may also be uti- or farsightedness, astigmatism, i.e. asphericity in the cor- 45 lized to correct refractive error. Cosmetic contact lenses nea, and presbyopia i.e. the loss of the ability of the crys- may also have a direct medical application. For example, talline lens to accommodate. Contact lenses are availa- cosmetic contact lenses may be utilized to restore the ble in a variety of forms and are made of a variety of appearance of a damaged eye. Cosmetic contact lenses materials to provide different functionality. Daily wear soft may include transparent, translucent, opaque-color en- contact lenses are typically made from soft polymer ma- 50 hancements or tints. Tints may include organic/inorganic terials combined with water for oxygen permeability. Dai- pigments, dyes or special effect pigments. Printed re- ly wear soft contact lenses may be daily disposable or gions on the contact lens may include the iris region (iris extended wear disposable. Daily disposable contact patterns), the limbal region (limbal rings), the scleral re- lenses are usually worn for a single day and then thrown gion (sclera brightening), or any combination thereof. In away, while extended wear disposable contact lenses 55 addition, patterns may be continuous, intermittent or any are usually worn for a period of up to thirty days. Colored combination thereof. soft contact lenses use different materials to provide dif- [0008] The cosmetic contact lenses of the present in- ferent functionality. For example, a visibility tint contact vention may comprise any of the above described lenses

2 3 EP 2 927 734 A1 4 with the incorporation of pearlescent pigments to add a rise to soft contact lenses, based upon hydrogels, which shiny, radiant and iridescent appearance to a wearer’s are extremely popular and widely utilized today. Silicone eyes. The pigments may be added to any region of the hydrogel contact lenses that are available today combine lens, but is preferably added to the region overlying the the benefit of silicone, which has extremely high oxygen sclera. The combination or incorporation of pearlescent 5 permeability, with the proven comfort and clinical per- pigments will result in a brighter white sclera region that formance of hydrogels. Essentially, these silicone hydro- has a wet reflective appearance and which also looks gel based contact lenses have higher oxygen permea- natural. bilities and are generally more comfortable to wear than [0009] The incorporation ofpearlescent pigments does the contact lenses made of the earlier hard materials. not have any significant impact on the cosmetic contact 10 However, these new contact lenses are not totally without lens manufacturing process; accordingly, a natural and limitations. shiny appearance may be achieved without significant [0012] Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a changes. plan view of an exemplary non-cosmetic contact lens 100. The contact lens 100 comprises an optic zone 102, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 a peripheral zone 104 surrounding the optic zone 102, a back curve surface designed to make contact with an [0010] The foregoing and other features and advan- individual’s eye when worn and a front curve surface op- tages of the invention will be apparent from the following, posite the back curve surface. The optic zone 102 is the more particular description of preferred embodiments of portion of the contact lens 100 through which vision cor- the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying draw- 20 rection may be obtained. In other words, the optic zone ings. 102 provides vision correction and is designed for a spe- cific need such as single vision myopia or hyperopia cor- Figure 1 is a plan view of an exemplary non-cosmetic rection, astigmatism vision correction, bi-focal vision cor- contact lens. rection, multi-focal vision correction, custom correction Figure 2 is a plan view of a first exemplary cosmetic 25 or any other design that may provide vision correction. contact lens. The peripheral zone 104 surrounds the optic zone 102 Figure 3 is a plan view of a second exemplary cos- and provides mechanical stability for the contact lens 100 metic contact lens. on the eye. In other words, the peripheral zone 104 pro- Figure 4 is a plan view of a third exemplary cosmetic vides mechanical features which influence positioning contact lens. 30 and stabilization of the contact lens 100 on the eye, in- Figure 5 is a plan view of a fourth exemplary cosmetic cluding centration and orientation. Orientation is funda- contact lens. mental when the optic zone 102 includes non-rotationally Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a gen- symmetric features, such as astigmatic correction and/or eralized pad printing process. high order aberration correction. In some contact lens Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a more 35 designs, an optional intermediate zone between the optic detailed pad printing process. zone 102 and the peripheral zone 104 may be utilized. Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a cos- The optional intermediate zone ensures that the optic metic contact lens with a brightly colored sclera with zone 102 and the peripheral zone 104 are smoothly pearlescent pigmentsin accordancewith the present blended. invention. 40 [0013] The lens 100 illustrated in Figure 1 is circular, but may be any convenient shape for a contact lens, such DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM- as an elliptical or truncated circular shape. In addition to BODIMENTS being round or non-round, the contact lens 100 may be planar or non-planar. [0011] Contact lenses or contacts are simply lenses 45 [0014] A cosmetic contact lens is designed to enhance placed on the eye. Contact lenses are considered med- or alter the appearance of the eye upon which it is worn. ical devices and may be worn to correct vision and/or for While not a requirement, cosmetic contact lenses may cosmetic or other therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses also be utilized for the correction of refractive error. In have been utilized commercially to improve vision since addition, cosmetic contact lenses may also have direct the 1950s. Early contact lenses made or fabricated from 50 medical application, for example, to restore the appear- hard materials were relatively expensive and fragile. In ance of a damaged eye. Individuals who suffer from an- addition, these early contact lenses were fabricated from iridia, the absence of an iris, or dyscoria, damage of the materials that did not allow sufficient oxygen transmis- iris, may utilize colored contact lenses that will give the sion through the contact lens to the conjunctiva and cor- appearance of a complete iris. Cosmetic contact lenses nea which potentially could cause a number of adverse 55 may include translucent/transparent color enhancement, clinical effects. Although these contact lenses are still tint, opaque color tint, artificial iris patterns, limbal rings, utilized, they are not suitable for all patients due to their sclera brightening tints and/or any combination of the poor initial comfort. Later developments in the field gave above.

3 5 EP 2 927 734 A1 6

[0015] Referring to Figure 2, there is illustrated a first colors to enhance the appearance of the wearer’s iris. exemplary cosmetic contact lens 200. While this lens 200 This combination provides the most natural iris along with comprises an optic zone and a peripheral zone within the the contrast of a dark limbal ring, while providing the ad- meaning set forth above with respect to the contact lens ditional benefit of a bright coloring applied in the periph- 100 of Figure 1, different terms are utilized to describe 5 eral portion 306. The limbal ring 308 may be of any suit- the various regions of a cosmetic contact lens. The cos- able width or pattern that allows the ring 308 to blend metic contact lens 200 comprises a center region 202 naturally with the iris, the central portion coloring/pattern that is sized to substantially correspond to the size and 304 and the bright colored peripheral portion 306. The location of an individual pupil. The center region 202 typ- limbal ring 308 may be translucent or opaque. ically has no coloring or design so as not to interfere with 10 [0018] Figure 4 illustrates a third exemplary cosmetic visual acuity. A central portion 204 surrounds the center contact lens 400 with a bright coloring in the peripheral region 202 and is sized to substantially correspond to the portion 406 applied in the form of a geometric pattern. size and location of an individual’s iris. The central portion The cosmetic contact lens 400 comprises a center region 204 may comprise one or more colors and/or a pattern 402, a central portion 404 that surrounds the center re- formed by one or more colors to enhance the appearance 15 gion 402, the peripheral portion 406 that surrounds the of the wearer’s iris. Disposed about the central portion central portion 404 and a limbal ring 408. The difference 204 and extending to the surrounding edge of the contact between the contact lens of Figures 3 and 4 lies in the lens 200 is a peripheral portion 206. The peripheral por- geometric pattern in the peripheral portion 406. In this tion 206 comprises an annular shape with an inner diam- exemplary cosmetic lens 400, the geometric pattern eter measured from point 201 and an outer diameter20 takes on the appearance of circles 410 removed from measured from point 203 which may, but need not nec- the lens surface that would otherwise be colored white, essarily coincide with the outer edge of the contact lens so that each circle 410 touches its neighboring circle 410 200 as a whole. The peripheral portion 206 may be color- at a tangent. While this exemplary embodiment utilizes ed with a bright color, for example, white, near white, off circles 410 as the geometric shape, it is important to note white, light yellow, pale blue, light pink, light green or any 25 that any geometric shape may be utilized. It may also be combination of the above. The bright colors are disposed thought of as rows and columns of cross shaped brightly so as to blend gradually with the wearer’s sclera. colored structures formed by the circles 410. As illustrat- [0016] The peripheral portion 206 is colored to en- ed, circles 412 may also extend into the pattern in the hance the appearance of the sclera. The coloring of the central portion 404. peripheral portion 206 may be opaque, translucent, or 30 [0019] Patterning comprising geometric shapes may somewhere between the two, or semi-opaque. Exempla- be formed from regularly shaped structures as described ry embodiments enhance the appearance of the sclera above with respect to Figure 4, or from a plurality of ran- by providing the sclera with a refreshed, natural appear- dom dots or shapes 510 which are in both the central ance. Opaque as utilized herein shall be understood to portion 504 and the peripheral portion 506 of a cosmetic mean a color that permits an average light transmittance 35 contact lens 500 as illustrated in Figure 5. The central in the 380 to 780 nm range of 0 to about 50 percent, and region 502 and the limbal ring 508 do not have patterns preferably 7 to about 50 percent. Translucent as utilized in this exemplary contact lens 500, for example, no herein shall be understood to mean a color that permits spokes or blending. Any convenient shapes for convey- an average light transmittance in the 380 to 780 nm range ing a realistic or enhanced sense of color may be utilized, of about 50 to about 85 percent, and preferably from40 particularly, where such geometric shapes contribute to about 65 to about 85 percent. a desired hue or shade. The dots utilized may comprise [0017] Figure 3 illustrates a second exemplary cosmet- any size and shape. Dots aid in blending of the boarders ic contact lens 300. The cosmetic contact lens 300 com- of the different elements of the cosmetic contact lenses. prises a center region 302, a central portion 304 that sur- [0020] In any of the patterns of the cosmetic contact rounds the center region 302, a peripheral portion 306 45 lenses set forth herein, the center preferably is clear. that surrounds the central portion 304 and a limbal ring However, the center region may be an area of translu- 308. As set forth herein, a limbal ring is essentially an cent/transparent or opaque color or any combination of annular band of color that, when the lens is on the eye opaque and translucent/transparent colors. and centered, partially or completely overlies the lens [0021] As used in a contact lens for either enhancing wearer’s limbal region. In some exemplary embodi-50 or altering the wearer’s eye color, preferably the limbal ments, a limbal ring may be larger to create a halo effect. ring element is a solid band of color that masks the color In this exemplary embodiment, the coloring in the periph- of the lens wearer’s limbal region and more preferably, eral portion 306 is or may be graduated from opaque to the masking color is an opaque color. Once again, limbal translucent or transparent from the inner diameter meas- rings, sized appropriately, may be utilized to create a halo ured from point 301 to the outer diameter measured from 55 effect. The remaining elements, the spokes, dots and point 303. As in the previously described exemplary em- other pattern elements may be translucent or opaque bodiment, the central portion 304 may comprise one or depending on the desired cosmetic on-eye result. more colors and/or a pattern formed by one or more [0022] The color selected for each of the limbal ring

4 7 EP 2 927 734 A1 8 andiris pattern elements willbe determinedby the natural iments of the present invention incorporate pearlescent color of the lens wearer’s iris and the enhancement or pigments into regions corresponding to a wearer’s sclera color change desired. Thus, elements may be any color, thereby creating a shiny, radiant and iridescent appear- including any of a variety of hues and chromas of blue, ance. In other words, the combination or incorporation green, gray, brown, black, yellow, red, or combinations 5 of pearlescent pigments, for example mica based pear- thereof. Preferred colors for the limbal ring include any lescent pigments coated with titanium dioxide will result of the various hues and chromas of black, brown, gray, in a brighter white sclera region that has a wet reflective dark blue and dark green. appearance and which also looks natural. The preferred [0023] The brightly colored element comprising the pe- pearlescent pigment is a silver type that is a mica based ripheral portion may be pure white, near white, off white, 10 pigment coated with titanium dioxide. An exemplary mica light yellow, pale blue, light pink, light green, or any com- based pigment is potassium aluminum silicate, which bination of the above. Preferably, it is matched so that it may be coated with titanium dioxide, TiO 2, or iron oxide, does not starkly contrast with the visible portion of the Fe2O3. EMD Chemicals Inc. offers a food and drug ap- sclera that is not covered by the lens. These colors are proved natural silicate combined with titanium dioxide 15 preferably obtained by use of TiO2 with higher amounts under the trademark Candurin®. It is important to note; yielding greater opacity and contrast. The addition of pig- however, that any pearlescent pigment may be combined ments include iron oxide black, iron oxide brown, iron with other pearlescent pigments and/or in combination oxide yellow, iron oxide red, titanium dioxide, and the with different types of pigments or dyes and utilized in like, and combinations thereof, in small amounts to adjust the sclera region. the whiter colored element. In addition to these pigments, 20 [0027] The cosmetic contact lenses of the present in- soluble and non-soluble dyes may be used, including vention incorporating pearlescent pigments may include dichlorotriazine and vinyl sulfone-based dyes. One ex- a limbal ring, a pattern that overlies the wearer’s iris, a emplary embodiment being a colorant with 10 percent to pattern that overlies the pupil region, a clear pupil region,

20 percent TiO 2 and 80 percent to 90 percent clear bind- a brightly colored sclera region, a brightly colored sclera ing polymer to provide appropriate translucency. 25 region with a geometric pattern and/or any combination [0024] In general, the colored elements may be made thereof. The limbal ring is preferably opaque or translu- from any organic or inorganic pigment suitable for use in cent. The iris area may be translucent, opaque or trans- contact lenses, or combinations of such pigments. The parent. The pupil region is transparent or contains no opacity may be controlled by varying the concentration pattern. Both pigments and dyes may be utilized to color of the pigment and titanium dioxide used, with higher 30 the pattern elements of the limbal, iris and pupil regions amounts yielding greater opacity. Illustrative organic pig- of the contact lens. Any organic pigment, inorganic pig- ments include pthalocyanine blue, pthalocyanine green, ment, effect pigment, dye or any combination thereof may carbazole violet, vat orange #1, and the like as well as be utilized to color the elements of the patterns. combinations thereof. Examples of useful inorganic pig- [0028] The designs/patterns/colors for the different re- ments include iron oxide black, iron oxide brown, iron 35 gions of a cosmetic contact lens are developed based oxide yellow, iron oxide red, titanium dioxide, and the upon market research. These patterns are then etched like, as well as combinations thereof. In addition to these into metal structures generally referred to as a cliché. pigments, soluble and non-soluble dyes may be used, Once the clichés are fabricated, a multi-step process is including dichlorotriazine and vinyl sulfone-based dyes. utilized to manufacture the cosmetic contact lens as de- Useful dyes and pigments are commercially available. 40 scribed below. Figure 6 illustrates a general overview of [0025] In accordance with a preferred exemplary em- the pad printing process utilized in the manufacturing bodiment, pearlescent pigments may be incorporated in- process. The first step, 602, in the process is filing of the to one or more regions or portions of a cosmetic contact cliché cavities with the desired colorant. The second step, lens to add a shiny, radiant and iridescent appearance 604, in the process involves the removal of excess ink thereto. More preferably, these pearlescent pigments are 45 from the surface of the clichés. Excess ink is typically added to at least a portion of the lens corresponding to removed from the surface of the clichés through the use the wearer’s sclera. A pearl luster and interference effect of a doctoring blade or doctoring blades. In the third step, results from alternating layers of transparent materials 606, of the process, the colorant is dried on the clichés. with different refractive indices. Pearlescent pigments In the fourth step, 608, of the process, the colorant in the maybe combined with otherpearlescent pigments and/or 50 cliché’s is picked up by pads. In the fifth step, 610, of the in combination with different types of pigments, for ex- process, the colorant is dried or is allowed to dry on the ample, iron oxides, phthalocyanimes and titanium diox- pads. In the sixth step, 612, of the process, the colorant ide, or dyes. Some of the resulting colors may be silver, is transferred from the pads to the front curve surface gold and various shades of red, blue and green. wherein additional processing is performed as described [0026] In general, the currently utilized preferred pig- 55 below. In the seventh step, 614, of the process, the col- ment for creating a brightly colored sclera region on a orant is dried or is allowed to dry on the front curve surface cosmetic contact lens is titanium dioxide. The cosmetic of the front curve mold half. Figure 7 provides a more contact lenses in accordance with the preferred embod- detailed process description. In the first step, 702, an

5 9 EP 2 927 734 A1 10 unprinted front curve mold for the contact lens is provid- 68.5 g glycerol, 378 g 1-ethoxy-2-propanol (EP), 1511 g ed. In the second step, 704, a clear base, i.e. no pigment isopropyl lactate (IPL) and 8.89 g 2,2’-azobis(2-methyl- or dyes is applied to the front curve. In the third step, 706, butyronitrile) (AMBN). First adding the DODT, monomers ink, including solvents, clear base and pigments is ap- and solvents, except for about 50-100 cc of the IPL, were plied to the clear base printed front curve. In the fourth 5 mixed in a five (5) liter blue cap bottle and stirred for ten step 708, the printed front curve is then dosed with a (10) minutes. The mixture was then poured into a five (5) reactive monomer mixture, for example, etafilcon-A. In liter stainless steel reactor with stirrer and nitrogen. The the fifth step, 710, of the process, the back curve mold mixture was stirred and heated for approximately twenty- for the contact lens is positioned on the front curve mold five (25) minutes until the temperature was sixty-eight where it remains for two (2) minutes while the tempera- 10 (68) degrees C. After the temperature was stabilized at ture is maintained at seventy (70) degrees C. In the sixth sixty-eight (68) degrees C, the AMBN was dissolved in step, 712, of the process, the reactive monomer mixture the remaining IPL and added while opening the nitrogen between the front and back curve is exposed to visible bleed. The polymerization was allowed to proceed for light for curing. This curing step utilizes visible light at five 16-24 hours after which the temperature was increased (5) mW for four (4) minutes at a temperature of seventy 15 to eighty (80) degrees C and the reaction was completed. (70) degrees C. In the seventh step, 714, of the process The mixture was then allowed to equilibrate to room tem- the contact lens from the mold is hydrated for one (1) perature. The viscosity of the mixture was adjusted as hour in seventy (70) degrees C solution of 800 ppm desired by mixing four (4) parts of IPL with one (1) part Tween 80 and de-ionized water and for an additional one of EP. (1) hour in forty-five (45) degree C de-ionized water. In 20 [0031] As set forth above, the lens forming material the eighth step, 716, of the process, the contact lens is comprises etafilcon A. Etafilcon A is a well-known and steam sterilized in its own packaged saline solution for patented material for manufacturing contact lenses. Eta- eighteen (18) minutes at a temperature of one hundred filcon A is a copolymer of 2-hydroxyethal methacrylate twenty-four (124) degree C. It is important to note that and methacrylic acid cross-linked with 1, 1, 1-trimethyol the above-described process has been simplified for25 propope trimethacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacr- ease of explanation. ylate. Etafilcon A is utilized in a number of contact lenses [0029] Referring now to Figure 8, there is a diagram- available from VISTAKON® a division of Johnson & matic illustration of a cosmetic contact lens 800 with a Johnson Vision Care, Inc. It is important to note that while brightly colored sclera region 802 formed from mixture etafilcon A is utilized in the exemplary embodiments de- comprising pearlescent pigments in accordance with the 30 scribed herein, any suitable lens forming material may present invention. The brightly colored sclera region 802 be utilized. with pearlescent pigments may be manufactured as fol- [0032] Although shown and described in what is be- lows. A clear base ink was prepared by adding 35.35 g lieved to be the most practical and preferred embodi- of 1-propanol to 588.11 g of 1 D Clear Base. A more ments, it is apparent that departures from specific de- detailed description of the clear base ink composition as 35 signs and methods described and shown will suggest well as its preparation is given below. The ink sample themselves to those skilled in the art and may be used was then mixed for three (3) minutes at 1800 rpm on a without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven- Servodyne mixer. A twenty (20) percent Silver Fine ink tion. The present invention is not restricted to the partic- was prepared by adding 5.98g of 1-propanol to 20.05g ular constructions described and illustrated, but should Silver Fine pigments (EMD Cemicals, Candurian® Pearl 40 be constructed to cohere with all modifications that may Effect Colors) and 80.01 g of 1 D Clear Base. The mixture fall within the scope of the appended claims. was then hand mixed. Steel clichés with etched patterns [0033] A non-exhaustive list of aspects of the disclo- were filled with the ink mixtures and printed onto the sur- sure is set out in the following numbered clauses: face of a mold as described above. The ink was trans- ferred from the clichés to the surface of a mold using a 45 Clause 1. A contact lens, the contact lens compris- silicon pad. The clear base ink was printed first followed ing: by the Silver Fine ink. A lens forming material; namely, etafilcon A reactive monomer mixture, was deposited on- a first region substantially corresponding to the to the printed mold and a complementary mold half was scleral portion of an eye; then utilized to complete the mold assembly. The lens 50 a second region substantially corresponding to material was then cured, released from the mold and the non-scleral portion of an eye; and equilibrated in a buffered saline solution, all as described mica based pearlescent pigments incorporated in more detail above. The pearlescent pigments are en- into the first region and configured to create a capsulated within the lens material. scleral region having a shiny, radiant and irides- [0030] A binding polymer for the clear base ink was 55 cent appearance. made using 96 g of 1-dodecanethiol (DODT), 56.54 g lauryl methacrylate (LMA), 7.40 g methacrylic acid Clause 2. The contact lens according to Clause 1, (MAA), 1367 g of hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), wherein the mica based pearlescent pigment are

6 11 EP 2 927 734 A1 12

coated with an oxide layer. 4. The contact lens according to Claim 2, wherein the oxide layer comprises iron oxide. Clause 3. The contact lens according to Clause 2, wherein the oxide layer comprises titanium dioxide. 5. The contact lens according to Claim 1, wherein the 5 mica based pearlescent pigments comprise potas- Clause 4. The contact lens according to Clause 2, sium aluminum silicate. wherein the oxide layer comprises iron oxide. 6. The contact lens according to any of Claims 1 to 5, Clause 5. The contact lens according to Clause 1, wherein the mica based pearlescent pigments are wherein the mica based pearlescent pigments com- 10 arranged in a random pattern. prise potassium aluminum silicate. 7. The contact lens according to any of Claims 1 to 5, Clause 6. The contact lens according to Clause 1, wherein the mica based pearlescent pigments are wherein the mica based pearlescent pigments are arranged in a non-random pattern. arranged in a random pattern. 15 8. The contact lens according to any of Claims 1 to 7, Clause 7. The contact lens according to Clause 1, wherein the mica based pearlescent pigments en- wherein the mica based pearlescent pigments are capsulated with the first region. arranged in a non-random pattern. 20 9. The contact lens according to any of Claims 1 to 8, Clause 8. The contact lens according to Clause 1, further comprising one or more non-mica based wherein the mica based pearlescent pigments en- pearlescent pigments to be combined with the mica capsulated with the first region. based pearlescent pigments.

Clause 9. The contact lens according to Clause 1, 25 10. The contact lens according to any of Claims 1 to 9, further comprising one or more non-mica based further comprising one or more non- pearlescent pig- pearlescent pigments to be combined with the mica ments to be combined with the mica based pearles- based pearlescent pigments. cent pigments.

Clause 10. The contact lens according to Clause 1, 30 11. The contact lens according to any of Claims 1 to 10, further comprising one or more non- pearlescent pig- further comprising one or more dyes to be combined ments to be combined with the mica based pearles- with the mica based pearlescent pigments. cent pigments.

Clause 11. The contact lens according to Clause 1, 35 further comprising one or more dyes to be combined with the mica based pearlescent pigments.

Claims 40

1. A contact lens, the contact lens comprising:

a first region substantially corresponding to the scleral portion of an eye; 45 a second region substantially corresponding to the non-scleral portion of an eye; and mica based pearlescent pigments incorporated into the first region and configured to create a scleral region having a shiny, radiant and irides- 50 cent appearance.

2. The contact lens according to Claim 1, wherein the mica based pearlescent pigment are coated with an oxide layer. 55

3. The contact lens according to Claim 2, wherein the oxide layer comprises titanium dioxide.

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