Hydrogel Contact Research Articles

Surface characterization of an ultra-soft contact lens material using an atomic force microscopy nanoindentation method

As new ultra-soft materials are being developed for medical devices and biomedical applications, the comprehensive characterization of their physical and mechanical properties is both critical and challenging. To characterize the very low surface modulus of the novel biomimetic lehfilcon A silicone hydrogel contact lens coated with a layer of a branched polymer brush structure, an improved atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation method has been applied. This technique allows for precise contact-point determination without the effects of viscous squeeze-out upon approaching the branched polymer. Additionally, it allows individual brush elements to be mechanically characterized in the absence of poroelastic effects. This was accomplished by selecting an AFM probe with a design (tip size, geometry, and spring constant) that was especially suited to measuring the properties of soft materials and biological samples. The enhanced sensitivity and accuracy of this method allows for the precise measurement of the very soft lehfilcon A material, which has an extremely low elastic modulus in the surface region (as low as 2 kPa) and extremely high elasticity (nearly 100%) in an aqueous environment. The surface-characterization results not only reveal the ultra-soft nature of the lehfilcon A lens surface but also demonstrate that the elastic modulus exhibits a 30 kPa/200 nm gradient with depth due to the disparity between the modulus of the branched polymer brushes and the SiHy substrate. This surface-characterization methodology may be applied to other ultra-soft materials and medical devices.

Improvement of Soft Contact Lens Wettability After the Instillation of Hyaluronic Acid Eye Drops.

To evaluate the effect of the topical instillation of hyaluronic acid eye drops with different viscosity on soft contact lens wettability and comfort. A randomized and participant-masked study was performed, involving 20 participants (25.4±2.6 years). One eye wore hydrogel (ocufilcon D) contact lenses, and another eye wore silicone-hydrogel (somofilcon A) contact lenses. The in vivo wettability tear film surface quality (TFSQ) index and comfort were measured before and after the instillation of different eye drops: saline solution (control) and 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% hyaluronic acid. Compared with saline solution, the instillation of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% hyaluronic acid improved the in vivo wettability of the hydrogel contact lenses by decreasing their TFSQ mean for 5, 10, and 30 min, respectively ( P <0.05). During silicone-hydrogel contact lens wear, the hyaluronic acid did not affect wettability because there were no changes in TFSQ mean ( P ≥0.05), but the 0.3% hyaluronic acid produced a decrease in comfort for the first 3 min ( P <0.05). The instillation of hyaluronic acid eye drops increased the in vivo wettability of the hydrogel contact lens, and the duration of this effect was directly related to its concentration and viscosity.

Ophthalmic Hydrogel Contact Lens Material Containing Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles and 3-(Trifluoromethyl)styrene for Biomedical Application.

This research was conducted for the synthesis and application of ophthalmic lens materials with improved oxygen permeability and durability. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP), 3-(trifluoromethyl)styrene (3-TFMSt), and magnesium oxide nanoparticles were used as additives for the basic combination of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Additionally, the materials were copolymerized with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linking agent and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The addition of magnesium oxide nanoparticles was found to increase the tensile strength from 0.0631 to 0.0842 kgf/mm2. Copolymerization with a small amount of 3-TFMSt of about 1% increased the tensile strength to 0.1506 kgf/mm2 and the oxygen permeability from 6.00 to 9.64 (cm2/s)∙(mLO2/mL·mmHg)∙10-11. The contact lens material produced using N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and magnesium oxide nanoparticles as additives satisfied the basic physical properties required for hydrogel contact lenses and is expected to be used usefully as a material for fabricating high-performance hydrogel lenses.

Pre-Lens Tear Meniscus Height, Lipid Layer Pattern and Non-Invasive Break-Up Time Short-Term Changes with a Water Gradient Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens.

To evaluate pre-lens tear film volume, stability and lipid interferometry patterns with a silicone hydrogel water content contact lens, a novel, noninvasive, ocular-surface-analyzer technology was used. A prospective, longitudinal, single-center, self-control study was performed in daily or monthly replacement silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers. A tear film analysis was achieved with the Integrated Clinical Platform (ICP) Ocular Surface Analyzer (OSA) from SBM System. The subjects were reassessed, with the contact lens, after 30 min of wearing to quantify the volume, stability and lipid pattern of the short-term pre-lens tear film. Lipid layer thickness decreased from 2.05 ± 1.53 to 1.90 ± 1.73 Guillon patterns (p = 0.23). First pre-lens NIBUT decreased from 5.03 ± 1.04 to 4.63 ± 0.89 s (p = 0.01). Mean pre-lens NIBUT significantly increased from 15.19 ± 9.54 to 21.27 ± 11.97 s (p &lt; 0.01). Lid opening time significantly increased from 26.36 ± 19.72 to 38.58 ± 21.78 s (p &lt; 0.01). The silicone hydrogel contact lens with water gradient technology significantly increased the mean pre-lens NIBUT and lid opening time. Lehfilcon A suggested an improvement in contact lens wearers with tear film instability or decreased subjective symptoms of dry eye disease.

ATR-FTIR, SAXS and UV-Vis Studies of Silicone Hydrogel and Bio-Hydrogel Soft Contact Lenses

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of contact lens materials on the structural properties and to examine ultraviolet (UVA part) and visible (Vis) transmittance with and without UV filters of the commercially available silicone hydrogel (SiHy) and bio-hydrogel (bio-Hy) soft contact lenses (CLs) in vitro.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Hacettepe University, Department of Physics, Ankara, Turkey, between May 2018 and May 2021.&#x0D; Methodology:Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra of CLs were recorded (at removing from its package, after 10 min, 1 h and 1 day at room temperature) in the 4000-650 cm-1region to estimate water contents of CLs. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was performed to differentiate chemical structure of CLs based on the spectral differences. Ultraviolet (UVA) and visible light transmittance of (CLs) was measured in the 315 -800 nm region. Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) analyses were performed to obtain further structural information on nano-scale. &#x0D; Results: One of the key observations in this study is the large influence of lens water content. The HCA analysis grouped all the CLs of same brand in same cluster based on their chemical similarity. The UVA transmittance results showed that CLs with UV blockers almost met ClassI and ClassII standards. The size (11.8-39.9 nm) and differences in morphologies of the nano globules were determined and correlated with equilibrium water content (EWC).&#x0D; Conclusion: This work was designed to explain important characteristics of commercial CLs and results will have implications for future experimental and clinical research regarding hydration/ dehydration experiments with CL polymers.

Affluence and Contact Lens Prescribing.

To assess the impact of national affluence on the extent of prescribing of various types of soft contact lenses. Using information derived from a large bank of contact lens prescribing data, the relationship between the percentage prescribing of daily disposable, toric, silicone hydrogel, and multifocal contact lenses versus the gross domestic product at purchasing parity per capita (GDP [PPP]) was determined for all countries in which contact lens prescribers returned survey forms relating to greater than 100 contact lens fits between 2017 and 2021, inclusive. Data from 39 countries were analyzed, comprising 94,181 contact lens fits. The relationship between percentage contact lens prescribing versus GDP (PPP) was highly statistically significant for daily disposable lenses (r 2 =0.35, P <0.0001), marginally significant for toric lenses (r 2 =0.08, P =0.06), and not significant for silicone hydrogel lenses (r 2 =0.01, P =0.42) or multifocal lenses (r 2 =0.02, P =0.35). The rate of prescribing daily disposable contact lenses, and to a lesser extent toric lenses, is related to national affluence. The contact lens industry, practitioners, and governments/regulatory bodies should remain cognizant of this association and, where possible, reduce cost barriers to the purchase of such contact lens products so that they can be prescribed based on important clinical, refraction, and lifestyle considerations.

Effectiveness of Commonly Used Contact Lens Disinfectants Against SARS-CoV-2.

Objective:To assess the effect of commonly used contact lens disinfectants against severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Methods:The efficacy of five disinfectant solutions against SARS-CoV-2 was tested in the presence and absence of contact lenses (CLs). Three types of unused CLs (hard gas permeable, soft hydrogel, and soft silicone hydrogel) and worn silicone hydrogel CLs were tested. Contact lenses were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and disinfected at various times, with and without rubbing and rinsing, as per manufacturer's instructions. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and viability polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were applied to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and viral infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, respectively.Results:In the presence of SARS-CoV-2–infected CLs, no SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be detected when disinfectant solutions were used according to the manufacturer's instructions. When SARS-Co-V2–infected CLs were disinfected without the rub-and-rinse step, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected at almost each time interval with each disinfecting solution tested for both new and worn CLs. In the absence of CLs, viable SARS-CoV-2 was detected with all disinfectant solutions except Menicon Progent at all time points.Conclusions:Disinfectant solutions effectively disinfect CLs from SARS-CoV-2 if manufacturer's instructions are followed. The rub-and-rinse regimen is mainly responsible for disinfection. The viability PCR may be useful to indicate potential infectiousness.

A Composite System Based upon Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrins and Soft Hydrogel Contact Lenses for the Delivery of Therapeutic Doses of Econazole to the Cornea, In Vitro.

Fungal keratitis, a disease in which the cornea becomes inflamed due to an invasive fungal infection, remains difficult to treat due in part to limited choices of available treatments. Topical eye drops are first-line treatment, but can be ineffective as low levels of drug reach the target site due to precorneal losses and the impenetrability of the cornea. The aim of this study was to determine the corneal delivery of econazole using a novel topical enhancement approach using a composite delivery system based upon cyclodextrins and soft hydrogel contact lenses. Excess econazole nitrate was added to hydroxypropyl-α-cyclodextrin (HP-α-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) solutions, and the solubility determined using HPLC. Proprietary soft hydrogel contact lenses were then impregnated with saturated solutions and applied to freshly enucleated porcine eyeballs. Econazole nitrate ‘eye drops’ at the same concentrations served as the control. After 6 h, the corneas were excised and drug-extracted, prior to quantification using HPLC. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed to examine econazole–HP-β-CD inclusion complexation and dissociation. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of econazole was determined against four fungal species associated with keratitis, and these data were then related to the amount of drug delivered to the cornea, using an average corneal volume of 0.19 mL. The solubility of econazole increased greatly in the presence of HP-β-CD and more so with HP-α-CD (p < 0.001), with ratios >> 2. Hydrogel contact lenses delivered ×2.8 more drug across the corneas in comparison to eye drops alone, and ×5 more drug delivered to the cornea when cyclodextrin was present. Molecular graphics demonstrated dynamic econazole release, which would create transient enhanced drug concentration at the cornea surface. The solution-only drops achieved the least satisfactory result, producing sub-MIC levels with factors of ×0.81 for both Fusarium semitectum and Fusarium solani and ×0.40 for both Scolecobasidium tshawytschae and Bipolaris hawaiiensis. All other treatments delivered econazole at > MIC for all four fungal species. The efficacies of the delivery platforms evaluated were ranked: HP-α-CD contact lens > HP-β-CD contact lens > contact lens = HP-α-CD drops > HP-β-CD drops > solution-only drops. In summary, the results in this study have demonstrated that a composite drug delivery system based upon econazole–HP-β-CD inclusion complexes loaded into contact lenses can achieve significantly greater corneal drug delivery with the potential for improved clinical responses.

Multipurpose Lens Care Systems and Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Wettability: A Systematic Review.

To provide a relationship between materials developed for silicone hydrogel contact lenses and multipurpose care solutions to identify improvements in wettability, for prelens noninvasive break-up time and subjective score. This systematic review was completed according to the updated PRISMA 2020 statement recommendations and followed the explanation and elaboration guidelines. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus scientific literature databases were searched from January 2000 to November 2021. A total of four clinical trials published between 2011 and 2017 were included in this investigation. All included studies were randomized clinical trials. The success of contact lenses is related to the comfort of their use and therefore to the stability of the tear film and the wettability of its surface. The relationship between these parameters and changes in the ocular surface and inflammatory and infectious processes has been demonstrated. Hyaluronan and propylene glycol multipurpose solution (MPS) wetting agents achieved slightly higher prelens noninvasive break-up times than poloxamine. Polyquaternium-1 achieved better wettability and patient comfort than polyhexamethylene biguanide in medium-term studies. Short-term studies did not demonstrate differences between MPSs in their effect on contact lens wettability.

Physical Properties of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens with Chemical Structure of Silicone Monomers

Physical Properties of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens with Chemical Structure of Silicone Monomers

True Story of Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate)-Based Contact Lenses: How Did It Really Happen

Soft hydrogel contact lenses represent the most famous and commercially successful application of poly(2‑hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The scarcely crosslinked network of this hydrophilic polymer finds its use also in many other fields, be it in (bio)medicine or technology. Moreover, the polymer itself and its crosslinked forms, discovered more or less serendipitously in the early fifties by a group of Czech chemists, is extremely interesting due to its exceptional properties: it readily swells in water, is optically clear, soft, biologically compatible, sufficiently strong, stable, gas-permeable, cheap, and easy to produce. Looking for its as-yet undiscovered qualities and possible utilization still continues. The story of the invention of hydrogel contact lenses was referred to many times in various literary sources which, however, contain numerous errors and misinterpretations. In the present article, we put these records straight and present the correct chronology of the hydrogel contact lenses development including the dramatic patent litigation. A brief overview of the chemical nature, properties, and applications of the constitutive substance of the lenses, i.e., the hydrophilic methacrylate, is also given.

Characteristics of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses Commercially Available in Korea

Soft contact lenses are made of soft and flexible materials that are comfortable to wear and adapt quickly. According to the material, soft contact lenses can be divided into hydrogel contact lenses and silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses have enhanced oxygen permeability compared to conventional hydrogel contact lenses, so side effects from long-term wear can be reduced. Representative factors that explain the characteristics of soft contact lenses are oxygen permeability, water content, and modulus. To increase the oxygen permeability of silicone hydrogel contact lenses, it is necessary to increase the silicone content, and the increase in the silicone content is accompanied by a decrease in the water content. As the water content decreases, the modulus of the contact lens increases, making the material harder and uncomfortable to wear. In this paper, the oxygen permeability, water content, and modulus of silicone hydrogel contact lenses that can be commercially available in the domestic market are investigated.

Itraconazole Nanocrystals on Hydrogel Contact Lenses via Inkjet Printing: Implications for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery

The therapeutic effect of common ocular drug delivery systems is often limited because tear fluid, protective biological barriers, and the blink reflex prevent drugs from reaching their target. Combining nanodrug delivery systems with contact lenses is one approach to increase the precorneal residence time and thus the drug concentration in the eye. Hence, the aim of this study was to selectively print itraconazole (ITZ) nanocrystals on commercially available 1 day soft hydrogel contact lenses using inkjet printing. For this, ITZ nanocrystals stabilized with Poloxamer 407 were prepared and optimized via wet media milling. After careful characterization, the nanocrystals were printed into vials, the printing process was adjusted, and the characteristics of the nanoformulation after printing were investigated. Finally, nanocrystals were printed onto hydrogel contact lenses. By performing a concise design of experiments (DoE), stable nanocrystals with a size of approximately 200 nm, a narrow particle size distribution, a negative surface charge, and an almost spherical shape were obtained. Compared to the bulk material, the apparent solubility was significantly increased and no changes in the solid-state behavior occurred. It was further demonstrated that inkjet printing did not affect the characteristics of the nanocrystals. Multiple layers of the ITZ nanoformulation were printed on soft hydrogel 1 day contact lenses, and a dual drug release profile was obtained in simulated tear fluid. These results clearly show that printing on contact lenses is a promising application for ophthalmic drug delivery.

Contact Lenses Loaded with Melatonin Analogs: A Promising Therapeutic Tool against Dry Eye Disease.

Melatonin analogs topically administered evoke a potent tear secretagogue effect in rabbits. This route of drug administration requires high drug concentration and frequent dosing due to its reduced ocular surface retention. Therefore, contact lenses (CLs) have emerged as an alternative drug-delivery system that prolongs drug retention in the cornea, improving its therapeutic performance. This study explores the in vitro ability of five commercially available hydrogel CLs to act as a delivery system for melatonin analogs and the in vivo secretagogue effect of melatonin analog-loaded CLs. We soaked CLs with melatonin or melatonin analog solutions (1 mM) for 12 h. Spectroscopic assays showed that IIK7-loaded CLs led to the inadequate delivery of this compound. Conventional hydrogel lenses loaded with agomelatine released more agomelatine than silicone ones (16–33% more). In contrast, the CLs of silicone materials are more effective as a delivery system of 5-MCA-NAT than CLs of conventional materials (24–29%). The adaptation of CLs loaded with agomelatine or 5-MCA-NAT in rabbits triggered a higher tear secretion than the corresponding eye drops (78% and 59% more, respectively). These data suggest that CLs preloaded with melatonin analogs could be an adequate strategy to combat aqueous tear deficient dry eye disease.

Phenylboronic acid modified hydrogel materials and their potential for use in contact lens based drug delivery

The use of hydrogel-based contact lens materials holds promise for ophthalmic drug delivery by increasing drug residence time, improving drug bioavailability, reducing administration frequency, and enhancing special site targeting. Issues such as ease of manufacturing, lens comfort and appropriate release kinetics must be considered. Furthermore, the high water content of hydrogel materials can result in rapid and poorly controlled release kinetics. Herein, we modified common hydrogels used in contact lens manufacturing with phenylboronic acid (PBA). PBA addresses these material design issues since boronate esters are easily formed when boron acid and diols interact, opening up a pathway for simple modification of the model lens materials with saccharide based wetting agents. The wetting agents have the potential to improve lens comfort. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of PBA and the presence of diols can be useful to help control drug release kinetics. In this work, polymerizable 3-(acrylamido)phenylboronic acid (APBA) was synthesized and incorporated into various hydrogels used in contact lens applications, including poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (PDMA) using UV induced free radical polymerization. The APBA structure and its incorporation into the hydrogel materials were confirmed by NMR and FTIR. The materials were shown to interact with and bind wetting agents such as hyaluronan (HA) and hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) by simple soaking in an aqueous solution. The equilibrium water content of the modified materials was characterized, demonstrating that most materials are still in the appropriate range after the introduction of the hydrophobic PBA. The release of three model ophthalmic drugs with varying hydrophilicity, atropine, atropine sulfate and dexamethasone, was examined. The presence of PBA in the materials was found to promote sustained drug release due to its hydrophobic nature. The results suggest that the modification of the materials with PBA was able to not only provide a mucoadhesive property that enhanced wetting agent interactions with the materials, but had the potential to alter drug release. Thus, the modification of contact lens materials with mucoadhesive functionality may be useful in the design of hydrogel contact lenses for ophthalmic drug release and wetting agent binding.

The Antibacterial Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Loaded Soft Contact Lens

Introduction: Contact lenses coated with antibacterial agents may reduce the risk of microbial keratitis; however, to the best of our knowledge, such contact lenses are not available on the market. Methods: We determined the ability of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs)-loaded soft contact lenses to prevent the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Commercially acquired sterile silicone hydrogel contact lenses were soaked in ZnO-NPs (˂50 nm) suspensions of various concentrations, and the stability of the ZnO-NPs coating on contact lenses over 28 days was monitored using a UV-vis spectrophotometer. The cytotoxicity effects of ZnO-NPs on human corneal epithelial cells were evaluated using a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the ZnO-NPs coating on contact lenses was optimal from day seven onward. In the following assays, optimally, ZnO-NP-coated contact lenses were incubated with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa suspensions (1 x 105 colony forming unit) for 24 hr at 37°C, followed by enumeration using the plating method. Our data showed that 100 ppm of ZnO-NPs coating on contact lenses reduced the adhesion of 69.9% and 74.6% of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa significantly (p&lt;0.05). The confocal laser scanning microscopic analyses were consistent with our bacterial adhesion findings. Low cytotoxicity against human corneal epithelial cells was observed even at the highest concentration of 300 ppm. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the potential role of ZnO-NPs in developing contact lenses with antibacterial properties.

Electrodeposition induced covalent cross-linking of chitosan for electrofabrication of hydrogel contact lenses

To meet the requirement of personalization, there is an urgent need to develop a simple, efficient and versatile manufacturing method for customized contact lens manufabrication. Here, we report a novel electrofabrication methodology (i.e., electrodeposition) for the fabrication of hydrogel contact lenses, which can induce covalent cross-linking between chitosan and epichlorohydrin simultaneously. The transmittance and toughness of hydrogels are improved by electrochemical cross-linking without affecting their oxygen permeability. Furthermore, the geometry of the chitosan based hydrogel contact lenses can be customized simply by the electrode template, and its characteristics can be regulated by electrical signals and electrochemical cross-linking. The electrodeposited hydrogel contact lenses have good optical properties, mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and their anti-adhesion properties to Staphylococcus aureus are close to commercial contact lenses. This work reveals the mechanism of electrochemical cross-linking between chitosan and epichlorohydrin and provides an alternative method for contact lens fabrication.

Controlled release of naringenin from soft hydrogel contact lens: An investigation into lens critical properties and in vitro release

The naringenin (NAR)-impregnated hydrogel lenses (nesofilcon A material) were manufactured in this study with the feasibility to achieve controlled daily drug release. The lenses were fabricated using a comparable commercial-standard process, utilizing injection molding and thermal curing approaches. NAR-loaded lenses were prepared by both direct entrapment and ‘soak and release’ methods. Their critical properties were tested to ISO standards and comparable to the commercial lenses. NAR was fully characterized by studying its physical and chemical stability throughout the manufacturing processes using thermal analysis, high performance liquid chromatography and X-ray diffraction analysis. The NAR-loaded lenses showed > 97% light transmission, >75% water content, 0.50–0.53 ± 0.06 MPa tensile strength, with a lens diameter of 14.1 ± 0.1 mm. Lens polymerization kinetics were studied using differential scanning calorimetry. NAR released from the lens, prepared by a direct entrapment approach, followed a diffusion-controlled mechanism, and provided a controlled drug release of 72–82% for 24 h. A faster release rate was observed for NAR-loaded lenses prepared by a soak and release method, with over 90% of NAR was releasedin the first five hours.

Preparation and Physical Properties of a Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Grafted with a Phosphorylcholine-Containing Hydrophilic Copolymer

Preparation and Physical Properties of a Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Grafted with a Phosphorylcholine-Containing Hydrophilic Copolymer

Characterization and analysis of extended-wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses utilizing novel silicone macromers.

Contact lenses are one of the most successful biomaterials in history with a global market estimated to be worth over $17 billion in 2025. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses dominate the market and are complex biphasic biomaterials with several critical material properties needed for clinical use. Careful consideration of composition and chemistry is needed to identify formulations of lenses meeting all commercial standards with the potential for improved manufacturability, cost, and/or next generation use. Four silicone macromers were investigated in this work with varying symmetry of siloxane units and macromer structure, number of siloxane groups, branching, length, and concentration. Novel silicone hydrogel lenses were produced and evaluated for optical transmittance, elastic modulus, oxygen transmissibility, water content, and surface wettability. Several lenses met commercial standards and demonstrated an increase in oxygen permeability (Dk) and inverse relationship with elastic modulus and siloxane concentration, respectively. A hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio below 1.4 was needed for a co‐continuous water phase. Substitution of methoxypropyl groups for butyl groups increased hydrophobic microdomains leading to decreased optical quality and mechanical properties. Generally, fluorine‐containing silicone macromers allowed for a wider range of successful compositions, and above a certain hydrophilic composition, the presence of trifluoropropyl groups resulted in improved solubility and optically clear lenses. Data also showed asymmetric siloxane macromers have potential to meet critical lens properties at lower overall siloxane content. New lens materials with wider composition ranges meeting all clinical lens properties is a significant challenge and may significantly expand the field.