Contact or intraocular lens manufacturing and coating operations are processes that can benefit from using plasma to clean the reusable fixture components. Contact lens plasma treatment is a common functionalization application where the lens surface is oxidized to create a hydrophilic lens surface that is resistant to protein deposition. The plasma process allows for improved comfort and longer wear. An additional example is the use of plasma to remove contamination from process carriers used in the manufacture of contact lenses. Plasma cleaning can permit rework or maintain multiple use fixtures and process components by eliminating build-up that may occur through repetitive use.
Plasma deposition is used to provide coatings for contact or intraocular lenses to improve wettability, and enhance adhesion of liquid based chemistries. Plasma can also functionalize which will enhance the performance of the device. The process of functionalization involves the reaction of plasma generated radicals with the sample surface resulting in the addition of specific chemical functionality to the material surface. For example, amino (NH2) functionality can be added to the surface by utilizing ammonia as a plasma process gas. Other chemistries can yield oxides, hydroxides, and carboxyl groups. Plasma can be used to remove coatings or process material build-up to restore the fit and function of the processing fixtures.