Packaging for shipping and storing intraocular lenses

A method for providing an intraocular lens enclosed in a packaging in a sterile and gas-tight manner, the packaging comprising a loading chamber with the intraocular lens preloaded therein or an injector with the intraocular lens preloaded therein, comprising the following:

• inserting the intraocular lens into an interior space of the packaging, wherein the packaging, in a first sub-section defining a first interior space area that is configured for insertion of an intraocular lens and comprises a first packaging material that is gas-tight, and in a second sub-section defining a second interior space area and includes a second packaging material that is permeable to gas steam and gaseous sterilizing substances, but is impermeable to water in its liquid state;
• first sealing of the packaging so that the intraocular lens is enclosed in the interior space of the packaging, the interior space being partly delimited by the first sub-section and partly delimited by the second sub-section;
• sterilizing the interior space of the packaging sealed by the first sealing, by exposing the packaging to steam or a mixture of steam and other gaseous sterilizing substance, so that the steam or mixture of steam and gaseous sterilizing substance penetrates through the second sub-section into the interior space of the packaging;
• cooling the packaging to condense at least some of the steam inside so that it cannot escape from the packaging;
• second sealing of the packaging by sealing off at least one portion of the first sub-section of the packaging with the intraocular lens enclosed therein from the second sub-section so as to separate the first interior space area from the second interior space area in a gas-tight manner, whereby the intraocular lens and water that has penetrated as steam during sterilization is packaged within the first packaging material.