9 26, 2006

第35回：「コンタクトレンズ」

【課題文】

素材間の力の均衡応用
常識打破したコンタクト

＜前略＞
コンタクトにはハードとソフトの２種類がある。最初に普及したのがハードタイプ。固めのプラスチック製樹脂で作られ、レンズも厚めだ。水分を含まず、耐久性や安全性に優れるが、角膜に必要な酸素を通しにくいという弱点があった。

それに代わって、主流になったのがソフトタイプ。酸素を通しやすい樹脂素材が開発されたためだ。水分を含み、薄く、装着感がよい。汚れが付着しやすく、頻繁にケアが必要だが、使い捨てタイプの登場が普及に弾みをつけた。

＜中略＞
ソフトタイプには、マイナスイオン性を示す素材が使われることが多い。それをミクロレベルでのぞくと、編み目の構造が浮き上がる。問題はそこでマイナスとマイナスが反発し合う影響で編み目がどんどん広がることだ。水分子を多く含み、目に潤いを与えるが、耐久性は悪くなる。

＜中略＞
詳細は秘中の秘だが、「まさしく磁石のイメージ」。マイナス素材とプラス素材との引き寄せ合う力を利用する。編み目の片方が引っ張られても、もう一方で戻す力が働く。絶妙な力の均衡が耐久性の向上に直結するのだ。プラスとマイナスの結合は電気的な安定でもあり、レンズから汚れを遠ざける効果を発揮する。

新採用の「両面モールド製法」は、レンズの形状をした「合わせ型」の中に液状の素材を注入し、成型していく。製品の原型になるのは、型と型の数ミリのすき間。「その空間をいかに均一に作っていくかが重要」（生産部・福田猛氏）だ。
＜後略＞

「ニッポンの技術再発見」　週刊東洋経済



[テキスト1]

素材間の力の均衡応用
常識打破したコンタクト

コンタクトにはハードとソフトの２種類がある。最初に普及したのがハードタイプ。固めのプラスチック製樹脂で作られ、レンズも厚めだ。水分を含まず、耐久性や安全性に優れるが、角膜に必要な酸素を通しにくいという弱点があった。

それに代わって、主流になったのがソフトタイプ。酸素を通しやすい樹脂素材が開発されたためだ。水分を含み、薄く、装着感がよい。汚れが付着しやすく、頻繁にケアが必要だが、使い捨てタイプの登場が普及に弾みをつけた。



[訳例1]

(1) Opposites Attract - The Ionic Bonding Breakthrough In Contact Lenses

Contact lenses come in two types - hard and soft. Hard lenses, thick and made out of a rigid plastic resin, were the first kind of contacts introduced to the market. While hard contacts are (2) moisture free, making them durable and safe, their impermeability deprives the cornea of critical oxygen, and therein lies their weakness.

Enter soft contacts, today's most popular kind of contact lens. Made with a specially designed resin that allows for easy oxygen permeation, they're moist, thin and fit comfortably upon the eye. Despite these advantages, soft contacts are (3) a dirt magnet and require constant care, spurring the debut of disposable lenses.


気合の入った導入パラ。
(1) Opposites Attract という宇宙の定理が巧みに用いられている。
(2) moisture free だとカラカラの干物のような感じがするが、大丈夫か。
(3) 覚えておきたい表現。


[訳例2]

(1)
Contact lenses are classified into two types: hard and soft. (2) First mass-market contact lenses were hard lenses, which are made of a relatively hard plastic material, and thicker than soft lenses. Without water content, (3) hard lens excels in durability and safety, but it often does not allow sufficient oxygen to pass through to the cornea. (4)

When (5) gas-permeable materials were developed for soft lenses, soft lenses overtook hard lenses. Soft lenses contain water, and are thinner and thus more comfortable to wear than hard lenses. Inherently, soft lenses need frequent care because they tend to retain deposits. However, (6) the advent of disposable soft lenses, requiring no cumbersome care, enhanced popularity of soft lenses.


  1. ここにクリエイティブなタイトルが欲しい。
  2. The firstとする。
  3. hard lens を複数形にして、hard lenses excel…, but they often do not… という形。
  4. Good work here.
  5. gas-permeable → oxygen-permeableとする。

[訳例3]

(1) There are two types of contact lenses: a hard contact lens and a soft contact lens. Hard contact lenses were the first lenses in wide use. Made of an inflexible and solid plastic material, a hard contact lens is thicker than its soft counterpart. Although a hard contact lens is safer and lasts longer, it has a disadvantage of containing no water, so that it prevents necessary oxygen from reaching the cornea.

Hard contact lenses are being replaced by soft contact lenses because a new (2) breathable plastic material has been developed for soft lenses. Soft contact lenses are thin, comfortable to wear, and (3) having high water content. Although conventional soft lenses must be cleaned very often because of dirt that easily builds up on them, newly-developed ‘disposable’ soft lenses, which save users the need for cleaning, have boosted the widespread use of soft lenses.


  1. 簡単に There are two types of contact lenses: hard and soft.とする
  2. Nice word.
  3. having → have a …

[訳例4]

When you purchase contact lenses, you have two types to choose from, hard or soft lenses. Hard contact lenses, (1) which are now obsolete, have been widely used before soft lenses were introduced. As the name implies, a hard contact lens is made of a rigid plastic and relatively thick. The (2) material containing no water provides excellent durability and (3) stability.

The downside is, however, it does not allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea (4) of the eye to keep it healthy. The development of oxygen permeable polymer has given birth to soft contact lenses, which have become the preferred choice of customers. Soft lenses are moist and thin, providing greater comfort to the wearer. Their inherent problem of being less deposit resistant and requiring frequent removal and cleaning has been solved by the advent of disposable contact lenses.


  1. ハードタイプはまだ販売されているのでこの記載は不適当（原文にもない）。
  2. 冗長なため、moisture-free または low water content に修正。
  3. safety に訂正。「安全性」と「安定性」を読み間違えた誤訳。（訳者）
  4. contact lens とcornea の話をしているので、自明につき不要。

[訳例5]

There are (1) two types of contact lenses: hard and soft. The hard type appeared first in the market. Made from rigid, (2) water-impermeable plastics, hard lenses are durable and safe to wear. The downside of this type is that necessary oxygen can hardly pass through to the cornea.

After the development of oxygen-permeable, (3) hydrophilic polymers, soft contact lenses were introduced to mostly replace the hard type. Soft lenses are thinner and easier to wear than the hard ones. Because of the tendency to attract (4) soils, soft contacts need frequent cleaning. Even so, the soft is increasingly dominant largely boosted by the spread of disposable lenses.


  1. チェックされていないが、contact lenses は単数にして two types of contact lens が正しいようだ。two contact lens types の形が可能ならば contact lens は types を修飾するものとして複数にする必要はないということを教わった記憶がある。（訳者）
  2. Nice word choice.
  3. Wow! Big word! I think you’re the only one who ventured into the hydrophilic territory.
  4. I think simply “dirt”, “deposits” or even “grime” would be better words in this situation. However, I did a very quick Google search and found that “soils” is sometimes used as a verb to describe contact lenses becoming dirty. Using it as a noun, like you did, however, makes it seem too much like actual soil from the ground that we use to plant flowers in (土壌).

○ 水分を含み、水分を含まず
常識の範囲を出ないが、ソフトコンタクトは豆腐や心太のような含水状態のハイドロゲルではなかろう。これは、OH基に水の分子が結びつく水素結合による親水性（hydrophilic）、吸水性（water-absorbent）、保水性（water-retentive）といった特性のことであろう。
moist、moisture free は不適と思われる。

○ 耐久性や安全性に優れる
耐久性はともかく、ガラスのようなものと比べるのであれば別として、ハードは酸素透過性が悪いためソフトとの比較において語るべき角膜への安全性は低いはず。これを原稿の不備と感じた場合はどうするか。材質に関してdurable and stableといったpunでかわすのも一つの手。

○ それに代わって、主流になったのが
Enter soft contacts　　　　　「そこで登場したのがソフトコンタクト」
Enter Starbucks　　　　　　　（眠いとき）
Enter Spiderman　　　　　　　「そこでスパイダーマン登場」
Enter Daimajin　　　　　　　　 「そこでマウンドには佐々木」

○ 酸素を通しやすい
easy oxygen permeation
breathable を使った人はかなりの勉強家。
gas permeable も可のようだ。
Wikipedia の search で ‘contact lens’ を検索すると、Relevance 100% で eyeTopics というサイトがヒットする。
ここでコンタクトレンズに関する豊富な情報が得られるが、oxygen-permeable とともに rigid gas permeable (RGP) materials or lenses ともある。


[テキスト2]

ソフトタイプには、マイナスイオン性を示す素材が使われることが多い。それをミクロレベルでのぞくと、編み目の構造が浮き上がる。問題はそこでマイナスとマイナスが反発し合う影響で編み目がどんどん広がることだ。水分子を多く含み、目に潤いを与えるが、耐久性は悪くなる。


[訳例1]

Soft lenses are frequently made with material that demonstrates negative ionicity. Taking a peek at the microscopic level, one notices suspended, mesh-like netting. The problem within this structure is the negative ions that repel each other, causing the mesh to continuously expand. The high water molecule content keeps the eyes moist but this makes for a flimsy, short-lasting lens.


[訳例2]

Typically, soft lenses are made from a material generating negative ions. When the material is viewed through a microscope, a mesh structure can be observed. A problem exists in that negative ions repelling each other gradually enlarge the mesh. Enlarged mesh will (1) keep many molecules of water and provide moisture to the eyes; however, it will make the lens less durable.


  1. keep → retain とする。

[訳例3]

Many soft contact lenses are made with a negative-ion material. Microscopic observation of the material will reveal a mesh structure. The problem is that negative charges repel each other and consequently enlarge the mesh opening size gradually. The negative-ion material contains much water to provide moisture to the eye, but it is not durable.


[訳例4]

Most of the soft contact lenses use negatively charged materials. They have a microscopically stitched structure where negative charges repel each other, resulting in broader spaces in the stitched structure. Thus, a soft contact lens having (1) higher content of water is better in terms of the health of the eyes, but suffers poor durability.


  1. a higher water content に修正。

[訳例5]

Soft contacts are generally manufactured from plastics that exhibit (1) anionic properties. Microscopic observation of the material reveals the three-dimensional structure of (2) cross-linked polymer networks. The problem is that these polymer cross-links expand in a hydrated state as negative charges repel each other. Resulting high water content adequately wets the eye, but it adversely affects the (3) mechanical strength of the lens.


  1. You brought the big guns to this translation, didn’t you? Anionic properties. I had to look it up and lo and behold, anionic means containing a negative charge. I may call upon you in class to ask where you found this. I used “negative ionicity” but really didn’t like the word ionicity all that much. Most of the class was thrown off by the 性 and were working their way around it by translating it as “negative materials”.　I would argue that the term anionic is too technical for your standard 東洋経済 article. It’s the type of word that’s going to need a footnote or a brief explanation in parentheses as to what the word really means.
  2. Superb!
  3. I would choose an adjective that gives the lens a negative attribute, like “flimsy”.

○ マイナスイオン性を示す
単に「負に荷電している」といえばよいのではないか。
negative ionicity、anionic properties などと無理をする必要はない。
特に ionicity は、Microsoft IMEのスペルチェックで赤の下線が出るほど専門的な単語らしい。

○ 編み目の構造
　　mesh を使うと三次元構造を表現しにくい。


[テキスト3]

詳細は秘中の秘だが、「まさしく磁石のイメージ」。マイナス素材とプラス素材との引き寄せ合う力を利用する。編み目の片方が引っ張られても、もう一方で戻す力が働く。絶妙な力の均衡が耐久性の向上に直結するのだ。プラスとマイナスの結合は電気的な安定でもあり、レンズから汚れを遠ざける効果を発揮する。

新採用の「両面モールド製法」は、レンズの形状をした「合わせ型」の中に液状の素材を注入し、成型していく。製品の原型になるのは、型と型の数ミリのすき間。「その空間をいかに均一に作っていくかが重要」（生産部・福田猛氏）だ。


[訳例1]

While the (1) nitty-gritty behind SIB (Seed Ionic Bond) is under strict lock and key, it's really nothing more than the magnetic power of attraction between negative and positive matter. As the mesh netting is pulled in one direction, an equal force works to push it back into form. This finely tuned balance of power is directly linked to improved durability in the lens. Positive/negative bonding gives the lens electric stability and keeps dirt at bay.

Through the newly adopted two-sided molding process the shape of the contact lens is formed as the liquid ionic bond is injected between the two lens-shaped molds. The making of the lens prototype occurs in a space of only a few millimeters between the molds. "The key is trying to making that space as uniform as possible," says SEED's Assistant Manager of Production, Mr. Takeshi Fukuda.


[訳例2]

(1) The company did not disclose details, but they say (2) the basic idea is a magnetic. The power that a negative material and a positive material attract each other is used. Even if a part of the mesh is pulled by a negative ion, a positive ion pulls it back. The well-balanced power improves durability. The bonding between the positive and negative materials also provides an electrically stable condition, which allows lenses to keep contaminants away.

Newly adopted “double-sided molding” is a method to form a lens by injecting (3) liquid material into a mold having the shape of a lens. (4) A few millimeters of gap in the thin mold shapes the base of a lens. According to Mr. Takeshi Fukuda, production Department at SEED Co., the key point is “how to make the thin space (5) to be as uniform as possible.”


  1. The company → SEED
    I know you mention it at the end of your translation, which is great because most people forgot, but you want to mention the company’s name the very first time it appears in your translation, even if we are translating out of sequence.
  2. ここの２文をつなげる。
    the basic idea works on magnetic properties, utilizing the power of attraction between negative and positive material
  3. While “liquid material” is acceptable, SEED’s official site seems to call it SIB (SEED ionic bond).
  4. A few millimeters of gap → A gap of a few millimeters
  5. to beを削除。

[訳例3]

Although the details of the technology are (1) classified as top secret, the mechanism can be best understood when you picture a magnet. In other words, the new technology takes advantage of the attracting forces between a positive charge and a negative charge. Even when one side of (2) a mesh is pulled away, the other side pulls it back. Well-balanced forces increase durability. Ionic bonding provides electrical stability, which helps keep lenses away from dirt.

The company recently introduced a process (3) “Double-sided molding”, which utilizes a lens-shaped (4) ‘front surface mold half’ that mates with a (4) ‘back-surface mold half’. In this molding process, a (5) liquid material is dispensed into space between the concave and convex mold halves. The space of a few millimeters in thickness serves as a mold. “Uniformity of the space is the key,” says Takeshi Fukuda from the Production Department of (6) the company.


  1. classified と top secret は意味がダブっているのでどちらか一つにする。
  2. a → the
  3. calledを挿入する。
  4. front-surface mold half とか back-surface mold half などの言葉はモールドの構成を正しく表しているかもしれないが、ここではそこまで詳しく説明する必要があるか？
  5. liquid materialでも間違いではないが、SEEDではSEED Ionic Bondという言葉を使っているので、それを使ったほうがよい。
  6. 会社名を明記する。

[訳例4]

Although details of the material are strictly kept secret (1) to third parties, the concept is a magnetic structure and utilizes attractive forces between positively and negatively charged materials. One side of a stitch may be pulled and the space becomes broader, while the other side compensates for it. Such an excellent balance of force directly contributes to durability (2) improvement. Electrical stability of positive and negative coupling also serves to make the lens contamination free.

In the newly developed manufacturing method, “Double-sided molding”, (3) a plastic material in a liquid form is injected into a lens-shaped “two-piece mold”. The few millimeter space between the two molds produces lenses. “It is essential to keep the space as uniform as possible,” says Takeshi Fukuda, SEED Production Department.


  1. 直されてはいなかったが、セッション中にも質問があり、不明確なので削除。（訳者）
  2. improved durability に修正。
  3. この会社のホームページにあるように、SIB (SEED Ionic Bond) と言い換えたほうがベターか。（訳者）

[訳例5]

Details are kept strictly confidential, (1) yet the freedom of imagination is a capacity just to conceive of the principle of magnetism. The new method exploits the mutual attraction between negative and positive charges. (2) The lens material is obtained by polymerizing anionic and cationic monomers to attain an ionic balance, and thereby to control the expansion of polymer cross-links. While directly contributing to increased durability, an exact charge balance also provides static stability to keep various soils from depositing on the lens. The fabrication process employs an innovative “two-piece” mold. To cast a lens, a drop of (3) liquid monomer is placed in a narrow, (4) shell-shaped cavity between the two mold halves. “It is important to achieve a high degree of (5) smoothness over the entire mold surfaces,” says Takeshi Fukuda of (6) the Production Division.


  1. I appreciate the creative stab at まさしく but this is a rare occasion where it backfired. It’s wordy confusing and a bit overdramatic. “Details are kept strictly confidential, yet if we think of the principle of magnetism the picture becomes clearer.” Or something to that effect.
  2. This is deep. Perhaps too deep for your average reader, although technically sound.
  3. This is a great rendering of 液状の素材. SEED’s official site, however, appears to call this material SIB (SEED Ionic Bond).
  4. Way to make the diagram work for you. This was an example where everyone was better served ignoring the Japanese (to an extent) and just focusing on the picture. Your approach and terminology is fresh.
  5. While I don’t deny smoothness would be highly important, “uniformity” would seem to be the better word in this context.
  6. What company does Mr. Fukuda work for?

投稿者 jetrans : 2006年09月26日 18:13

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