CONTACT LENS FOR LASER PROTECTION

IN PHASE I OF THIS PROJECT, PHYSICAL OPTICS CORPORATION (POC) WILL EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF TAKING HARD (POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE) AND SOFT (POLYHYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE) CONTACT LENSES AND FITTING THEM WITH HOLOGRAPHIC AND/OR ABSORPTION DYE TECHNOLOGY SUCH THAT THE CONTACT LENSES WILL THEN FITER OR ABSORB SPECIFIC LASER WAVELENGTHS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS LASER PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY WILL BE TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION APPROXIMATELY 4 ORDER OF MAGNITUDE AT THE SPECIFIC THREAT WAVELENGTHS AND TO MAXIMIZE PHOTOPIC/SCOTOPIC THROUGHPUT FOR THE OUT-OF-BAND WAVELENGTHS. EACH SET OF CONTACT LENSES WILL ADDRESS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC WAVELENGTHS OR BANDS. METHODS OF RECORDING THE HOLOGRAPHIC FILTERS DIRECTLY IN THE CONTACT LENS MATERIAL WILL BE EXAMINED AS WELL AS THE FEASIBILITY OF ADHERING A HOLOGRAPHIC FILTERS TO THE SURFACE OF THE CONTACT LENSES. THE ABSORPTION DYES WILL BE INCORPORATED DIRECTLY INTO THE CONTACT LENS MATERIAL. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PHASE I PROGRAM IS TO DETERMINE WHICH MATERIALS AND METHODS MAY BE USED SUCH THAT THEY ACCOMPLISH THEIR TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES AND YET ARE STILL COMPATIBLE WITH SAFE USE IN THE HUMAN EYE.