Lens forming systems and methods
Described herein are methods and systems for forming lenses. In one embodiment, systems for use in forming eyeglass lenses are described that include one or more LED lights. The LED lights may be used to cure lens forming compositions and coating compositions. In other embodiments, methods of determining an appropriate spacing for mold members are described. In other embodiments, methods of forming anti-reflective coatings, photochromic coatings, hardcoat coatings, and combinations thereof, on eyeglass lenses, are described.
1 - 52 . (canceled)
53 . A method of forming a lens, comprising:
applying one or more antireflective coating compositions to a casting face of a mold member, at least one of the antireflective coating compositions comprising nanomaterials, one or more initiators, and one or more monomers;
assembling a mold assembly, the mold assembly comprising the coated mold member, wherein the mold assembly comprises a mold cavity at least partially defined by the coated mold member;
placing a liquid lens forming composition in the mold cavity, the liquid lens forming composition comprising one or more monomers and one or more initiators;
curing the lens forming composition to form a lens; and
demolding the formed lens from the mold assembly, wherein the formed lens comprises one or more antireflective coating layers on an outer surface of the lens, and wherein each of the antireflective coating layers has a thickness of less than about 500 nm, and wherein an outer antireflective coating layer has an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the formed lens.
54 . The method of claim 53 , further comprising at least partially curing one or more of the antireflective coating compositions to form one or more antireflective coating layers on the casting face of the mold member.
55 - 59 . (canceled)
60 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the nanomaterials comprise one or more oxides and/or nitrides of elements from Columns 2-15 of the Periodic Table.
61 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the nanomaterials comprise one or more oxides and/or nitrides of silicon, cerium, titanium and/or aluminum.
62 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the nanomaterials comprise cerium oxide.
63 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the nanomaterials comprise silica.
64 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the nanomaterials comprise alumina.
65 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the nanomaterials comprise titania.
66 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the one or more monomers in one or more antireflective coating compositions comprise monoacrylates, diacrylates, multiacrylates or mixtures thereof.
67 - 74 . (canceled)
75 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the one or more initiators in one or more antireflective coating compositions comprise acylphosphine oxides, bis-acylphosphine oxides or mixtures thereof.
76 . The method of claim 53 , wherein one or more antireflective coating compositions comprises a mixture of one or more α-hydroxy ketones initiators and one or more phosphine oxide initiators.
77 . (canceled)
78 . The method of claim 53 , wherein one or more antireflective coating compositions further comprise one or more co-initiators.
79 - 82 . (canceled)
83 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the one or more monomers in the lens forming composition comprise aromatic containing polyethylenic polyether functional monomers.
84 - 89 . (canceled)
90 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the lens forming composition further comprises one or more co-initiators.
91 - 92 . (canceled)
93 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the lens forming composition further comprises one or more activating light absorbing compounds.
94 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the lens forming composition further comprises one or more photochromic compounds.
95 - 106 . (canceled)
107 . The method of claim 53 , wherein the formed lens is an eyeglass lens.
108 - 121 . (canceled)
122 . A method of forming an antireflective coating on a lens, comprising:
applying one or more antireflective coating compositions to a lens, at least one of the antireflective coating compositions comprising nanomaterials, one or more initiators, and one or more monomers;
at least partially curing the antireflective coating composition to form one or more antireflective coating layers on the lens, wherein each of the antireflective coating layers has a thickness of less than about 500 nm, and wherein an outer antireflective coating layer has an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the formed lens.
123 - 361 . (canceled)