Hydrogel Contact Lens Materials with Improved UV Blocking Effect

Abstract

HEMA, AA, MMA, and EGDMA as crosslinking agent and AIBN as an initiator, and 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2-ethylhexyl-trans-4-methoxy-cinnamate, 2-hydroxy-4-(methacryloyloxy)benzophenone as additives at 0.1-1.0% ratios were used to manufacture hydrophilic ophthalmic lenses through thermal polymerization before their physical properties were measured. The results showed that the samples containing of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone and 2-ethylhexyl-trans- 4-methoxy-cinnamate resulted in a decrease of the UV blocking performance after high-pressure sterilization whereas the sample containing 2-hydroxy-4-(methacryloyloxy)benzophenone showed no change in the UV blocking performance. It is judged that this is induced by presence or absence of an acyl functional group in benzophenone.