This poster reports innovative polymerizable hydrophilic silicone monomers specifically designed as silicone hydrogel contact lens building blocks. The monomers are compatible with hydrophilic co-monomers without the need for any homogenizing solvent, thereby affording silicone hydrogels that are transparent across a wide range of monomer-co-monomer compositions. The hydrophilic group is attached to the terminal end and away from the polymerizable group, which upon polymerization and formation of contact lens, can maintain a high degree of mobility and migrate preferentially to the surface when in contact with ocular tear fluid. This can offer improved surface wettability and lubricity in comparison to silicone monomers/macromers with hydrophilic groups in the middle of the molecular structure. We report synthesis and formulation of the hydrophilic silicone monomers with co-monomers and their effects on contact angle, oxygen permeability, water content, transparency, and other properties for the lenses formed.

High purity, novel silicone hydrogel contact lens monomers designed for sustained surface wettability and lubricity

244th National Meeting (2012)

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