Fabrication of Spiropyran-functionalized Photochromic Hydrogel Lenses

Abstract

Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based hydrogels were surface-functionalized with spiropyran (SP) derivatives to obtain photochromic contact lenses. The contact lens reversibly changes from colorless to purple as response to UV light since colorless ring-closed SP state converts to purple ring-opened merocyanine (MC) state under UV light irradiation. The purple contact lens emits red light at 640 nm. Importantly, the presence of SP segments did not significantly affect the equilibrium water content (EWC) of the lens. SP-functionalized hydrogel lenses may find potential applications in developing light-adaptive ophthalmic materials.