Silicone Hydrogels Materials for Contact Lens Applications

Silicone Hydrogels Materials for Contact Lens Applications 

Gonzalez-Meijome, Javier Gonzalez-Peiez Paulo R.B. Fernandes, Daniela P. Lopes-Ferreira,  

School of Sciences, University ofMinho, Braga, Portugal Ocular Surface and Contact Lens Research Group, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, University of 

Santiago de Compostela, Coruna, Spain. Department of Applied Thermodynamics, Technical College of Mechanical Engineering Polytechnic 

Silicone hydrogel (Si-Hy) materials combine the benefits of silicone or siloxane derivates in terms of oxygen permeability and mechanical properties with those of hydrogels in terms of wettability and hidrophilicity. Such properties are critical when it comes to the application at the ocular surface in the form of contact lenses (CL) to correct visual dysfunctions, as bandage mechanism or as drug delivery devices. Nowadays, CL are used by over 100 million people worldwide. 

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Silicone Hydrogels Materials for Contact Lens Applications 295... 

Kiinzler, J. Ozark, R. Low Modulus Fluorosiloxane-Based Hydrogels for Contact Lens Application. In Silicones and Silicone-Modified Materials Glarson, S. J., Fitzgerald, J. J., Owen, M. J., Smith, S. D., Eds. AGS Symposium Series 729 American Chemical Society Washington, DC, 2000 pp 296-307. 

Silicone Hydrogels. A new class of hydrogels based on silicone has been developed (14). These materials were developed in an attempt to combine the high oxygen permeability of polydimethylsiloxane and the excellent water absorption characteristics of conventional non-silicone hydrogels. This new class of hydrogels was developed primarily for contact lens application. These silicone hydrogels are also prepared by free-radical poljnnerization techniques. 

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