Dye microenvironment
View Patent ↗An optimized photochromic dye microenvironment isolated from and dispersed within a distinct host phase.
1. An ophthalmic article comprising:
a layer of an ophthalmic lens substrate;
a layer of a host phase material that is distinct from and attached to the ophthalmic lens substrate as an adhesive; and
a first dispersed phase distinct from the adhesive host phase material, the first dispersed phase distributed within the host phase material and comprising a first photochromic dye and a first microenvironment immediately surrounding the first photochromic dye;
wherein a characteristic of said first photochromic dye is controlled by non-covalent interaction between said first photochromic dye and said first microenvironment.
2. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 wherein the host phase material comprises a thermoset material.
3. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 wherein the host phase material comprises a thermoplastic material.
4. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 wherein the first microenvironment is formed from a composition comprising an aliphatic isocyanate.
5. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 wherein the first dispersed phase comprises an outer shell that is formed through interfacial polymerization with a water-soluble co-reactant.
6. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 wherein the first microenvironment has a glass transition temperature distinct from a glass transition temperature of the host phase material.
7. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 wherein the first photochromic dye is selected from a group consisting of: benzopyrans, naphthopyrans, spirobenzopyrans, spironaphthopyrans, spirobenzoxzines, spironaphthoxazines, fulgides and fulgim ides.
8. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 wherein the first dispersed phase comprises an outer shell that is formed from a composition comprising a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer.
9. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 further comprising a second dispersed phase distinct from and distributed within the host phase material, the second dispersed phase comprising the first microenvironment immediately surrounding a second photochromic dye, the second photochromic dye distinct from the first photochromic dye.
10. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 further comprising a second dispersed phase distinct from and distributed within the host phase material, the second dispersed phase comprising a second microenvironment immediately surrounding the first photochromic dye, the second microenvironment distinct from the first microenvironment.
11. The ophthalmic article of claim 1 further comprising a second dispersed phase distinct from and distributed within the host phase material, the second dispersed phase comprising a second microenvironment immediately surrounding a second photochromic dye, the second microenvironment distinct from the first microenvironment and the second photochromic dye distinct from the first photochromic dye.