Ophthalmic lens polymer incorporating acyclic monomer

A COMPOSITION OF THE REACTION PRODUCT OF A HYDROPHILIC MONOMER AND A CYCLIC MONOMER IS PRESENTED. THE PREFERRED HYDROPHILIC MONOMER IS HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLAMIDE (HMA) AND THE PREFERRED ACICLIC MONOMER IS HYDROXYOCYL METHACRYLATE (HOMA). THE MONOMERIC COMPONENTS CAN BE POLYMERIZED IN A POLYSTYRENE MOLD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONTACT LENSES AND, WHEN THEY INCREASE THE VOLUME WITH WATER, THEY ARE SUITABLE FOR USE AS SOFT HYDROGEL CONTACT LENSES. THE PREFERRED COMPOSITIONS ALSO INCLUDE A ZWITTERIONIC MONOMER, SUCH AS A SULFOBETAIN, AND A CROSS-CUTTING AGENT, SUCH AS ETHYLENGLYCOL DIMETHACRYLATE (EGDMA). HYDROGEL CONTACT LENSES MADE FROM THESE POLYMERS PRESENT HIGH WATER CONTENT AND GREAT MECHANICAL RESISTANCE AND ARE COMPATIBLE WITH POLYSTYRENE MOLDS.