Know How The Contact Lenses Manufactured

The size and shape of rigid gas permeable differ from patient to patient. So, they have to be made according to the exact specifications.

For an overview, read on to know how Manufacturing Contact Lenses are processed:

How Soft Contact Lenses are manufactured

Soft lens are manufactured from hydrophilic plastic polymers called hydrogels. These lenses are the most popular of the different types of lens as they are highly water absorbent, soft and comfortable to the eyes with high optical qualities. The soft contacts with high oxygen permeability, the widely used silicone hydrogel are manufactured by the lathe cutting process or an injection moulding process.

Lathe cutting

In the lathe cutting process, spinning shafts are used to mount the non-hydrated disks of soft contacts material one by one. They are shaped intricately with computer tools that are used to cut the front and back surfaces of the contacts with precision and care. After the contacts is rendered to the required shape, it is removed from the lathe. The next step is to hydrate the lens and soften it. After it passes the quality assurance test, the contact lens is ready to be packaged.

The lathe cutting process involves more intricate steps and takes more time than the injection moulding process. However, in the recent years, as a result of new and scientific research going on in the relative field, it is now more automated and quick than it was in the earlier times. With the advent of automated robotics and the help of computerized processes, a lathe-cut soft contact lens can be now produced in a few minutes.

Injection moulding

Cast Moulding Contact Lenses process involves heating the soft contact lens material and transforming it into its molten state. After that, it is shaped in a particular way by injecting it into computer-designed moulds under high pressure. After it is cooled down, the material is removed from the moulds. They are given a finishing touch by polishing the edges smooth. After that, the lenses are hydrated so that they become soft. The last step is the quality assurance testing.

Silicone Hydrogel contact lenses are made mostly with the help of the injection moulding process as it is faster and more economic than the lathe cutting process.

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