Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Methacrylate-Based Hydrogel and Cerium(IV) Oxide Nanoparticles as Ophthalmic Lens Material

The functional hydrogel lens containing 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) was manufactured by thermal polymerization. The physical properties of the produced hydrogel lens were measured and analyzed. In this study, HEMA, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were used for thermal copolymerization. Additionally, poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA), 3-(Triethoxysilyl) propyl isocyanate (TEPI), and cerium(Ⅳ) oxide nanoparticles were used as additives to make a functional hydrogel lens. The mixture was heated at 100 °C for 90 min to produce the hydrogel ophthalmic lens by the cast mold method. The resulting physical properties showed that the water content and refractive index of the sample were in the ranges of 38.06~42.11% and 1.426~1.436, respectively. The addition of cerium oxide nanoparticles lowered the contact angle and allowed the hydrogel lens to block UV light. The tensile strength was also improved by 52.13% through cerium oxide nanoparticles, and up to 123.4% by using TEPI. Based on the results of this study, the produced ophthalmic lens is suitable for durable, UV-blocking high-performance lenses.