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This invention relates generally to opthalmic molds and methods useful for casting opthalmic moldings. In one aspect, the invention relates to a mold for casting an opthalmic molding formed from a first mold half detachably affixed to a second mold half, whereby the mold has a top and a bottom; and

This invention relates generally to opthalmic molds and methods useful for casting opthalmic moldings. In one aspect, the invention relates to a mold for casting an opthalmic molding formed from a first mold half detachably affixed to a second mold half, whereby the mold has a top and a bottom; and a cavity formed by the first and second mold halves, wherein the cavity receives a lens forming material through an opening at the bottom of the mold and vents gas and excess lens forming material from an opening at the top of the mold. In another aspect, this invention relates to methods for casting opthalmic moldings, particularly intraocular lenses.

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1. A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of a lens forming cavity, wherein said lens forming cavity has a circumferential edg

1. A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of a lens forming cavity, wherein said lens forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise an inlet hole and a vent hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned and a sealed position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are not aligned. 2. The mold of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of said lens forming cavity from horizontal is between about 20° to about 90°.3. The mold of claim 1, further comprising a vent opening formed at least in part by at least one of said vent holes and in communication with a top portion of said lens forming cavity.4. The mold of claim 3, further comprising a fill opening formed at least in part by at least one of said fill holes and in communication with a bottom portion of said lens forming cavity.5. The mold of claim 1, wherein said first and second mold sections contact at a knife edge interface forming a seal therebetween.6. The mold of claim 1, wherein said first mold section comprises a recessed chamber defining a lower portion of said lens forming cavity, and said second mold section comprises a raised projection defining an upper portion of said lens forming cavity.7. The mold of claim 6, wherein said recessed chamber is bounded by a wall obliquely angled relative to the circumferential edge plane of the lens forming cavity, whereby said recessed chamber has the form of a truncated conical section, and wherein said raised projection comprises a cooperating shape adapted to be received within said recessed chamber.8. The mold of claim 1, wherein said first and second mold sections are hingedly connected to one another.9. The mold of claim 1, further comprising means for holding said first and second mold sections together in an assembled configuration.10. The mold of claim 1, comprising a valved vent opening formed at least in part by at least one of said vent holes and permitting passage of fluid from a top portion of said lens forming cavity upon application of a threshold pressure.11. The mold of claim 1, comprising a valved fill opening formed at least in part by at least one of said fill holes and movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration.12. A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections define a lens-forming cavity, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise an inlet hole and a vent hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned, and a sealed position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are not aligned. 13. The mold of claim 12, wherein said lens-forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal.14. The mold of claim 13, wherein the angle of inclination of said lens-forming cavity from horizontal is between about 20° to about 90°.15. The mold of claim 12, wherein said first and second mold sections contact at a knife edge interface forming a seal therebetween.16. The mold of claim 12, wherein said first mold section comprises a recessed chamber defining a lower portion of said lens forming cavity, and said second mold section comprises a raised projection defining an upper portion of said lens forming cavity.17. The mold of claim 16, wherein said recessed chamber is bounded by a wall obliquely angled relative to the circumferential edge plane of the lens forming cavity, wherein said recessed chamber has the form of a truncated conical section, and wherein said raised projection comprises a cooperating shape adapted to be received within said recessed chamber.18. The mold of claim 12, wherein said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of said lens forming cavity.19. The mold of claim 12, further comprising means for holding said first and second mold sections together in an assembled configuration.20. A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections define a lens-forming cavity, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise an inlet hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said inlet holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned, and a sealed position wherein said inlet boles of said first and second mold sections are not aligned. 21. The mold of claim 20, wherein said lens-forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal.22. The mold of claim 20, wherein said first and second mold sections contact at a knife edge interface forming a seal therebetween.23. The mold of claim 20, wherein said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of said lens forming cavity.24. The mold of claim 20, further composing means for holding said first and second mold sections together in an assembled configuration.25. A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections define a lens-forming cavity, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise a vent hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said vent holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned, and a sealed position wherein said vent holes of said first and second mold sections are not aligned. 26. The mold of claim 25, wherein said lens-forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal.27. The mold of claim 25, wherein said first and second mold sections contact at a knife edge interface forming a seal therebetween.28. The mold of claim 25, wherein said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of said lens forming cavity.29. The mold of claim 25, further comprising means for holding said first and second mold sections together in an assembled configuration.30. The mold of claim 1, wherein said first and second mold sections overlap and are rotatable with respect to each other to align said vent openings and to align said fill openings.31. A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of a lens forming cavity, wherein said lens forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal; a vent opening in communication with said lens-forming cavity; and a slug or mandrel disposed within said vent opening during filling to form a hole for receiving a haptic. 32. The mold of claim 1, further comprising a vent opening formed at least in part by at least one of said vent holes and a coaxially arranged fill opening formed at least in part by at least one of said fill holes, wherein said vent opening and said fill opening are each in communication with said lens-forming cavity.33. A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of a lens forming cavity, wherein said lens forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal; and a combined fill and vent conduit defined by said first and second mold sections and in communication with said lens-forming cavity, wherein said fill and vent conduit is open to passage of a lens-forming material when said mold sections are in an open, slightly separated position, and is closed to passage of said lens-forming material when said mold sections are fully engaged. 34. The mold of claim 33, wherein said fill and vent conduit comprises a needle engagement channel and positioning stop.35. The mold of claim 1, further comprising a base that is inclined at an angle relative to said plane of said lens-forming cavity.36. The mold of claim 35, wherein said inclined bass is generally planar and placement of said inclined base in a horizontal position results in said plane of said lens-forming cavity being oriented at an angle of inclination relative to horizontal.