Wettability and Surface Morphology Investigation of RGP Eye Contact Lens Irradiated by 193 nm Excimer Laser

Abstract

In this work, Rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses based on Fluoro Silicone Acrylate, were irradiated by using 193 nm ArFexcimer laser, at 1 Hz pulse repetition rate with 75 mJ/pulse energy to improve surface wettability. We investigated the morphology of the ablated area by imaging the surface modification with Atomic force microscopy (AFM) with roughness analysis and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Characterization techniques were performed too via contact angle measurement in order to determine the surface wettability and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological appearance of samples reveals the effect of a photochemical and photothermal ablation mechanism. The laser irradiation without changing the chemical bonds has modified the lens surface properties and increased the surface hydrophilicity. Morphological surface changes with laser exposure and the water contact angle decreases as the surface of the fluorosilicone acrylate material is modified.