SCRATCH-RESISTANT ANTI-REFLECTION COATING ON OPTHALMIC R

抗反射(AR)涂层已经应用在眼科镜片上，通过消除分心的反射和鬼影图像来增加视觉舒适性，减少眼睛疲劳和疲劳。然而，目前美国的抗反射涂层镜片的比例约为15%，而欧洲和日本的比例分别为60%和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，集中式涂层实验室的要求导致制造实验室失去对处方的控制长达五个工作日。在今天的眼科零售市场，一小时或一天的服务不断地被广告宣传，因此AR涂层镜片的五天周转是被抵制的。本研究旨在开发一种基于低成本的溶胶-凝胶法来解决这一问题，以便让美国人享受AR涂层的好处。本研究将采用旋涂和浸涂技术。该工艺有望以目前真空AR涂层一半的成本生产AR涂层。较低的镀膜设备成本和较短的加工时间使光学实验室能够在当天将AR镀膜镜片交付给客户。固有的低成本和与当前硬性镀膜工艺的兼容性肯定会增加美国AR镀膜镜片的比例，从而造福美国社会。商业应用建议：70亿美元的眼科晶状体治疗市场潜力巨大。建议的快速、低成本的眼科镜片AR涂层的制造将显著增加镜片上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.