Multi-scaled adhesion mechanics of hydrogel contact lenses

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d20005025

The mechanical and adhesion properties of hydrogel contact lenses play a role in a variety of manufacturing processes, lens handling, user comfort, and lens optical performance. Additionally, the hydrogel mechanical properties, adhesion properties, or both are hypothesized to be factors in a variety of lens-related ocular complications. Thus, there is a current need for accurate and reliable mechanical and adhesion characterization techniques for these biomedical devices. This thesis establishes novel experimental protocols and methods to accurately characterize hydrogel contact lens adhesion and mechanical properties in a variety of contexts and length scales. Throughout all aims/experiments, two commercially available hydrogel lenses are characterized for comparison, Narafilcon A/Acuvue TruEye and Etafilcon A/Acuvue2.