Chemical investigations of ultraviolet-absorbing hydrogel material for soft intraocular lenses.

A poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogel material exhibiting ultraviolet-absorbing properties was synthesized by simultaneous polymerization, crosslinking, and covalent bonding of an available polymerizable absorber. The two-stage leaching experiments carried out by aqueous extraction and the analysis of the concentrated extracts by high resolution capillary gas chromatography showed very low levels of additive released through leaching action. This proves that the ultraviolet absorbers can be successfully incorporated by covalent bonding in soft hydrogel intraocular lenses.