| abstract |
Disclosed herein are materials and methods suitable for modifying the shape of a contact lens. A contact lens contains an additive that is able to reversibly increase or decrease the dioptric power of the contact lens in response to the introduction, removal, or modification of a stimulus. The additive responds to the stimulus by swelling or shrinking to a degree sufficient to change a radius of curvature of the contact lens, such as increasing or decreasing the anterior or posterior radius of curvature of the lens. Additives including various polymer gels, including polymer gels embedded with magnetic particles, capable of modifying their size or location following introduction of a corresponding stimulus. Stimuli capable of inducing the desired modification include an electric field, a magnetic field, light, temperature, pH, an ionic solution or a combination thereof. |