Research & Development

The main function of Contamac's polymer Research and Development Department is the continuous generation of new and improved products for the ophthalmic industry. Working with customers and closely monitoring our industry, we are able to develop products that meet ever changing and challenging requirements.

When we have identified a need for a new product, we follow our ISO approved design and development program. This system ensures that all possible aspects and implications of a new product are evaluated at each stage of the design process. The use of this system, together with our knowledge of the industry ensures that the correct amount of resource and priority are given to any development.

The complexities of research and development projects, and the nature of the end product, vary considerably. We often respond to customer requests for simple requirements such as a variation in handling tints and colours or a change in the dimensions of the finished button. The objective of many projects is to develop leading edge technology products and these are often complex and long term. As a manufacturer of materials that ultimately becomes either a Contact Lens or Intraocular Lens, the primary use of the final device will also dictate the complexity of testing and regulatory issues.

Contact Lens products include materials for producing soft hydrophilic contact lenses and gas permeable (GP) contact lenses. Materials for GP lenses essentially consist of silicone acrylate and fluorine acrylate monomers, which enable the material to be permeable to oxygen. Major developments in this market have centered on increasing both wettability and permeability, which are two diametrically opposed properties. Contamac has developed the Optimum range of GP materials, which has industry leading properties and FDA clearance.

In the last decade the soft lens industry has seen the emergence of silicone hydrogel materials. These have all the familiar properties of soft lenses, including significant water content, making the lens soft and comfortable. However they also incorporate elements found in the GP type of lenses to increase the oxygen permeability of these materials. The initial reason for the development of these materials was for continuous wear contact lenses. However in recent years these materials have been successfully marketed as a daily wear lens. Contamac has a silicone hydrogel material that can be used by lens manufacturers to produce lathe cut lenses with increased oxygen permeability.