SCRATCH-RESISTANT ANTI-REFLECTION COATING ON OPTHALMIC R

抗反射（AR）涂层被应用于眼科镜片上，通过消除分散的反射和鬼影来增加视觉舒适度和减少眼睛疲劳。然而，如今在美国，抗反射涂层镜片的比例约为15%，而欧洲为60%，日本为80%。大多数光学实验室负担不起真空AR镀膜设备的百万美元成本。此外，集中涂层实验室的要求导致制造实验室对处方失去控制长达五个工作日。在今天的眼科零售市场上，一小时或一天的服务广告不断，因此，AR涂层镜片的五天周转是抵制的。提出的研究是开发一种基于低成本溶胶-凝胶工艺的解决方案，以使美国人享受到AR涂料的好处。本研究将采用旋涂和浸涂技术。该工艺有望以目前真空AR涂层的一半成本生产AR涂层。镀膜设备成本低，加工时间短，使光学实验室能够在当天将AR镀膜镜片交付给客户。其固有的低成本和与当前硬镀膜工艺的兼容性必将提高美国AR镀膜镜片的百分比，从而使美国社会受益。拟议的商业应用：70亿美元的眼科晶状体治疗市场潜力巨大。提出的快速、低成本制造眼镜镜片上的AR涂层将显著增加眼镜镜片上AR涂层的使用。

Anti-reflection (AR) coatings have been applied on the ophthalmic lenses for the benefit of increase in visual comfort and reduction in eyestrain and fatigue by eliminating distracting reflections and ghost images. However, anti-reflection coated lenses today is about 15% in the United States, compared to 60% in Europe, to 80% in Japan. Most of optical labs can not afford the million dollar cost of vacuum AR coating equipment. In addition, the requirement of centralized coating laboratories leads that the fabrication laboratories lose control of the prescription for up to five working days. In the ophthalmic retail market today, one hour or one day service is advertised constantly, and therefore a five day turn around on AR coated lenses is resisted. The proposed research is to develop a solution based on the low cost sol- gel process to this problem in order to have Americans enjoying the benefit of AR coatings. Spin coating and dip coating technologies will be used in this research. The process is expected to produce AR coating at half cost of current vacuum AR coating. The low coating equipment cost and short processing time enable optical lab to deliver AR coated lenses to the client at the same day. The intrinsic low cost and compatibility with current the hard coating process will definitely increase the percentage of US AR coated lenses, thus benefit the American society. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Great potential exists in US $7 billion ophthalmic lens treatment market. The proposed fast, low cost fabrication of AR coatings on ophthalmic lenses will significantly increase the usage of AR coatings on lenses.