Coating of RGP Contact Lenses
The smart RGP contact lens: hydrophilic for a better wearing comfort; bacteria repellent for a better hygiene
Rigid Gas Permeable contact lenses (RGP CL) have numerous advantages over soft, hydrogel CL because they can be worn for longer periods of time (up to one year and longer); they afford clearer vision and can be used to correct certain visual defects. Moreover, they are environmentally sustainable. However, RGP CL are mostly hydrophobic (they are poorly wet with the tear film) which causes a sensation of discomfort. Moreover, proteins and bacteria tend to easily deposit on them, and so cause irritations, which compels the wearer to a strict hygiene protocol.
In a propriety process (German Patent DE102018127812B4-1/“Coating of a contact lens and process thereof”, granted June 2020. Inventor Prof. Es-Souni) an ultrathin polymer layer is coated on RGP CL that have following properties:
A thin, biocompatible and release- free polymer layer on RGP contact lenses increases wearing comfort and prevents adhesion of bacteria
- The coating is superhydrophilic (water spreads on the surface with nearly 0° contact angle), biocompatible and prevents the adhesion of protein and bacteria
- The coating does not affect the optical properties and gas permeability of the RGP CL
- The coating is durable and self-healing
The process is environmentally sustainable, easily up-scalable with little investment in laboratory equipment.
We offer to partner with RGP CL producers to implement our coating process as part of their production line