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Impact of Ethylene Oxide Butylene Oxide Copolymers on the Composition and Friction of Silicone Hydrogel Surfaces

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Abstract

The surface chemical compositions of three types of silicone hydrogel contact lenses, PureVision® (balafilcon A), ACUVUE® OASYS® (senofilcon A), and O2OPTIX® (lotrafilcon B), were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy prior to and following treatment in a test solution of diblock copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(butylene oxide) (EO–BO). Prior to treatment, differences in surface elemental compositions of the lenses were found to reflect known bulk compositions and/or respective surface treatments. Following solution treatment, surface chemical modifications were apparent in balafilcon A and lotrafilcon B, especially in the distribution of chemical functionalities present at the surface. Only modest changes in surface composition were observed for the senofilcon A material. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to evaluate the surface topography and frictional properties of the lenses prior to and following similar solution treatments. AFM measurements in saline revealed large disparities between the coefficients of friction of the three lenses, with balafilcon A and lotrafilcon B exhibiting coefficients of friction approximately five times greater than that of senofilcon A. Lens surface treatment with the diblock copolymer test solution produced a significant reduction in the coefficients of friction of the two lenses exhibiting higher friction, yet only a small reduction in friction was observed for senofilcon A lens. Together, these results depict a strong correlation between the surface chemistry and frictional response of the lens systems as they relate to solution treatment with this specific diblock copolymer.

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Acknowledgment

This project was funded by a research grant from Alcon Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Rhines Hall 100, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Yuchen Huo, Alexander Rudy, Alice Wang & Scott S. Perry

  2. Alcon Inc., Research and Development, Vision Care, 6201 South Freeway, Fort Worth, TX, 76134, USA

    Howard Ketelson

Authors
  1. Yuchen Huo
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  2. Alexander Rudy
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  3. Alice Wang
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  4. Howard Ketelson
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  5. Scott S. Perry
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Correspondence to Scott S. Perry.

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Huo, Y., Rudy, A., Wang, A. et al. Impact of Ethylene Oxide Butylene Oxide Copolymers on the Composition and Friction of Silicone Hydrogel Surfaces. Tribol Lett 45, 505–513 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-011-9902-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-011-9902-7

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