Contact lens packages having lens lifting arms and methods of handling

1 . A contact lens package for a contact lens, comprising:

a package base having a recessed well for receiving said contact lens therein; and

a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm and second arm cooperate to lift the contact lens out of the recessed well, wherein the first arm is configured to engage a first surface of the contact lens and the second arm is configured to engage a second surface of the contact lens;

wherein the first arm and second arm are portions of a single strip structure, the strip structure connected to the package base at a location on the strip between the first arm and the second arm;

wherein at least one of the arms is biased away from the recessed well.

2 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein surface tension exists between the first arm and said contact lens such that said contact lens is retained on the first arm after the second arm is pivoted away from said contact lens.

3 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the contact lens is a convex surface of the contact lens and the second surface is a concave surface of the contact lens.

4 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the contact lens is a concave surface of the contact lens and the second surface is a convex surface of the contact lens.

5 . The contact lens package of claim 3 , wherein the second arm is connected to the package base adjacent a rim of the recessed well.

6 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the single strip structure is connected to the package base adjacent a rim of the recessed well.

7 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the package base comprises a grip region.

8 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , further comprising a lid connected to the package base, wherein the first and second arms are connected to the package base between the recessed well and a location where the lid is connected to the package base.

9 . The contact lens package of claim 8 , wherein the lid is movably connected to the package base such that said lid is movable pivotally with respect to the package base.

10 . The contact lens package of claim 8 , wherein the lid is foil.

11 . The contact lens package of claim 8 , wherein an end of at least one of the arms is affixed to the lid.

12 . The contact lens package of claim 11 , wherein the end is affixed to the lid by welding.

13 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the recessed well is a blister bowl integral to the package base.

14 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first and second arms comprise polypropylene.

15 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first and second arms comprise a strip having at least two free edges.

16 . The contact lens package of claim 15 , wherein the strip has three free edges.

17 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , wherein the second arm comprises a strip having at least two free edges.

18 . The contact lens package of claim 17 , wherein the strip has three free edges.

19 . The contact lens package of claim 1 , further wherein the first arm is configured to have a first wetted contact area with the contact lens larger than a second wetted contact areas between the second arm and the contact lens.

20 . A method of presenting a contact lens from a recessed well in a contact lens package to a user, the method comprising:

moving said contact lens from said recessed well by movement of first and second arms attached to a portion of the contact lens package, said movement from a position of the arms extending into said recessed well and initiated by opening of said contact lens package;

wherein the first arm and second arm are portions of a single strip structure, the strip structure connected to the contact lens package at a location on the strip between the first arm and the second arm;

wherein an end of at least one of the first and second arms are biased out of said well by a spring force.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the end of the first and second arms are held in the recessed well before opening of the said contact lens package by a cover of said contact lens package over the recessed well.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein said contact lens is held to the first arm by surface tension when the contact lens package is in an opened state.

23 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

upon opening of said contact lens package, moving the second arm out of the recessed well, wherein prior to opening of said contact lens package, the second arm extends into the recessed well to a position under said contact lens such that said contact lens is between the first arm and the second arm in the recessed well before opening of said contact lens package.

24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the arms is attached to a cover of said contact lens package such that movement of the cover causes the movement of the first and second arms.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the first and second arms are attached to the cover by welding.

26 . The method of any of claim 25 , wherein the first and second arms are attached at one end to a package base of said contact lens package.

27 . The method of any one of claim 26 , wherein the at least one of the first and second arms comprise polypropylene.

28 . A method of packaging a contact lens, comprising:

providing a package base with a recessed well;

providing a single strip structure comprising a first arm portion and a second arm portion;

attaching the strip structure to the package base at a location on the strip between the first arm portion and the second arm portion such that an end of the first arm portion and an end of the second arm portion extend into the recessed well;

providing a contact lens adjacent the end of the first arm portion in the recessed well;

providing a packaging solution in the recessed well; and

sealing the recessed well by applying a cover over the recessed well, the strip structure, the contact lens and the region adjacent the recessed well.