Method and apparatus for applying and removing a soft contact lens

Claim 2

A soft contact lens applicator for applying and removing a soft contact lens from the eye comprising: an eyepiece member having a first end portion with a concave surface formed thereon for engaging the soft contact lens, a second end portion, and a plurality of ducts intersecting the concave surface in spaced relation on the concave surface and communicating the concave surface with the second end portion, said concave surface being formed to include a top portion, a bottom portion, a center portion, a right side and a left side portion, the right side portion and the left side portion each including a recessed portion recessed from the concave surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, and the center portion, so that when the soft contact lens is removed the sides of the lens are drawn by vacuum force into the recesses of the right side portion and the left side portion thus breaking the seal between the eye and the lens; and vacuum means attached to the second end portion of said eyepiece member and in communication with the plurality of ducts for applying a vacuum force through the ducts to aid in applying and removing the soft contact lens.

Claim 3

A soft contact lens applicator for applying and removing a soft contact lens from the eye comprising: an eyepiece member having a first end portion with a concave surface formed thereon for engaging the soft contact lens, a second end portion, and a plurality of ducts intersecting the concave surface in spaced relation on the concave surface and communicating the concave surface with the second end portion, said concave surface being formed to include a top portion, a bottom portion, a center portion, a right side and a left side portion, the right side portion and the left side portion each including a recessed portion recessed from the concave surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, and the center portion, so that when the soft contact lens is removed the sides of the lens are drawn by vacuum force into the recesses of the right side portion and the left side portion thus breaking the seal between the eye and the lens; and vacuum means attached to the second end portion of said eyepiece member and in communication with the plurality of ducts for applying a vacuum force through the ducts to aid in applying and removing the soft contact lens.

Claim 4

A soft contact lens applicator for applying and removing a soft contact lens from the eye comprising: an eyepiece member having a first end portion with a concave surface formed thereon for engaging the soft contact lens, a second end portion, and a plurality of ducts intersecting the concave surface in spaced relation on the concave surface and communicating the concave surface with the second end portion, said concave surface being formed to include a top portion, a bottom portion, a center portion, a right side and a left side portion, the right side portion and the left side portion each including a recessed portion recessed from the concave surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, and the center portion, so that when the soft contact lens is removed the sides of the lens are drawn by vacuum force into the recesses of the right side portion and the left side portion thus breaking the seal between the eye and the lens; and vacuum means attached to the second end portion of said eyepiece member and in communication with the plurality of ducts for applying a vacuum force through the ducts to aid in applying and removing the soft contact lens.

Claim 5

The applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said eyepiece member is further characterized to include at least one duct intersecting, respectively, each surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, the center portion, the recessed portion of the left side portion and the recessed portion of the right side portion of the concave surface of said eyepiece member.

Claim 6

A soft contact lens applicator for applying and removing a soft contact lens from the eye comprising: an eyepiece member having: a first end portion with a concave surface formed thereon for engaging the soft contact lens, the concave surface characterized to include a top portion, a bottom portion, a center portion, a right side portion, and a left side portion, the right side portion and the left side portion each including a recessed portion recessed from the concave surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, and the center portion; a second end portion; and a plurality of ducts intersecting the concave surface in spaced relationship and communicating the concave surface with the second end portion, said eyepiece member characterized to include at least one duct intersecting respectively each surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, the center portion, the recessed portion of the right side portion and the recessed portion of the left side portion of the concave surface of said eyepiece member; and vacuum means attached to the second end portion of said eyepiece member and in communication with the plurality of ducts for applying a vacuum force through the ducts to aid in applying and removing the soft contact lens.

Claim 7

A soft contact lens applicator for applying and removing a soft contact lens from the eye comprising: an eyepiece member having: a first end portion with a concave surface formed thereon for engaging the soft contact lens, the concave surface characterized to include a top portion, a bottom portion, a center portion, a right side portion, and a left side portion, the right side portion and the left side portion each including a recessed portion recessed from the concave surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, and the center portion; a second end portion; and a plurality of ducts intersecting the concave surface in spaced relationship and communicating the concave surface with the second end portion, said eyepiece member characterized to include at least one duct intersecting respectively each surface of the top portion, the bottom portion, the center portion, the recessed portion of the right side portion and the recessed portion of the left side portion of the concave surface of said eyepiece member; and vacuum means attached to the second end portion of said eyepiece member and in communication with the plurality of ducts for applying a vacuum force through the ducts to aid in applying and removing the soft contact lens.

Claim 8

The applicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said vacuum means is further characterized to include: a conduit member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a bore running therethrough, the second end portion of said eyepiece member secured to the first end portion of the conduit member and the ducts in said eyepiece member in communication with the bore of the conduit member; and a rubber bulb secured to the second end portion of the conduit member and in cOmmunication with the bore.

Claim 9

The applicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said vacuum means is further characterized to include: a conduit member having a first end portion, a second end portion, a first bore running therethrough, a second bore intermediate the first end portion and the second end portion and intersecting the first bore at substantially right angles; a rubber bulb secured to the conduit member and in communication with the second bore; and a transparent end member secured to the second end portion of the conduit member sealing the first bore at one end thereof and allowing outside light to be transmitted through said transparent end member through the first bore of the conduit member, and through the ducts of said eyepiece member to aid in adjusting the applicator on the soft contact lens.

Claim 10

The applicator as defined in claim 3 wherein the plurality of ducts of said eyepiece member extend through said eyepiece member from the concave surface to the second end portion.

Claim 11

The applicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said eyepiece member is further characterized to include a vacuum chamber intermediate the first end portion and the second end portion of said eyepiece member, the vacuum chamber in communication with the plurality of ducts and said vacuum means.