Intraocular lenses essentially free from glistenings
The present invention relates a method for manufacturing an intraocular lens in a closed mold, wherein an acrylic monomer composition containing a single high refractive index monomer according to formula (I): is polymerized by employing an initiator that is activated by light having a wavelength of 390 nm or more.
1. A method for manufacturing an flexible intraocular lens, the method comprising polymerizing in a closed mould an acrylic monomer composition comprising a single high refractive index monomer according to formula (I):
wherein R 1 is H or CH 3 ;
R 2 is a C 1 -C 3 alkylene or —(C 1 -C 3 alkylene)-Y—(C 1 -C 3 alkylene)-;
Y is O or S;
R 3 is C 6 -C 18 aryl or heteroaryl;
R 4 is H or linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl;
m+n=3;
n=0 or 1; and
m=2 or 3;
in the presence of an initiator that is activated by light having a wave length of 390 nm or more, wherein the intraocular lens is a flexible lens.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein n is 0 and m=3.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein n is 1 and m is 2.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein Y is S.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein R 3 is phenyl.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initiator is selected from the group consisting of phosphine oxide photoinitiators, ketone-based photoinitiators and benzoin photoinitiators.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acrylic monomer composition further comprises a hydrophilic crosslinker.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the hydrophilic crosslinker has the formula (II):
wherein R 1 is H or CH 3 ; R 7 is substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 300 alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, arylalkyl or heteroaryl; X═O; and q=2, 3 or 4.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein R 1 is CH 3 .
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein R 1 is H.
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the hydrophilic crosslinker has the formula (III):
wherein R 1 and R 5 are independently H or CH 3 ; and
o is such that the number-average molecular weight is about 200 to about 2000.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein o is 1-5.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein R 1 is CH 3 .
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein R 5 is H.
15. A flexible intraocular lens comprising a polymer obtained by polymerizing in a closed mould an acrylic monomer composition comprising a single high refractive index monomer according to formula (I):
wherein R 1 is H or CH 3 ;
R 2 is a C 1 -C 3 alkylene or —(C 1 -C 3 alkylene)-Y—(C 1 -C 3 alkylene)-;
Y is O or S;
R 3 is C 6 -C 18 aryl or heteroaryl;
R 4 is H or linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl;
m+n=3;
n=0 or 1; and
m=2 or 3;
in the presence of an initiator that is activated by light having a wave length of 390 nm or more, wherein the intraocular lens is a flexible lens.
16. The flexible intraocular lens according to claim 15 , wherein the intraocular lens has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 25° C.
17. The flexible intraocular lens of claim 16 further having a refractive index of at least 1.50.
18. The flexible intraocular lens of claim 16 further having an elongation of at least 150%.
19. The flexible intraocular lens according to claim 15 , wherein m=3 and n=0.
20. The flexible intraocular lens according to claim 15 , wherein the acrylic monomer composition further comprises a hydrophilic crosslinker.
21. The flexible intraocular lens according to claim 20 , wherein the hydrophilic crosslinker has the formula (II):
wherein R 1 is H or CH 3 ; R 7 is substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 300 alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, arylalkyl or heteroaryl; X═O; and q=2, 3 or 4.
22. The flexible intraocular lens according to claim 20 , wherein the hydrophilic crosslinker has the formula (III):
wherein R 1 and R 5 are independently H or CH 3 ; and
o is such that the number-average molecular weight is about 200 to about 2000.
23. A polymer obtained by polymerizing in a closed mould an acrylic monomer composition comprising a single high refractive index monomer according to formula (I):
wherein R 1 is H or CH 3 ;
R 2 is a C 1 -C 3 alkylene or —(C 1 -C 3 alkylene)-Y—(C 1 -C 3 alkylene)-;
Y is O or S;
R 3 is C 6 -C 18 aryl or heteroaryl;
R 4 is H or linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl;
m+n=3;
n=0 or 1; and
m=2 or 3;
in the presence of an initiator that is activated by light having a wave length of 390 nm or more.