Contact lens cleaning solution
AssigneeVista Scientific LLC
InventorsJeanne Y. Ellis, Edward J. Ellis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is based on the unexpected finding that the combination of a carboxylate containing anionic polymer, of molecular weight greater than about 1000 daltons, with cleaning agents, provides improved contact lens cleaning preparations. The present invention includes contacting a soiled contact lens with an aqueous solution comprising an anionically charged polymer and a surfactant or surfactant combination selected from the classes of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants.
Claims16
An aqueous contact lens cleaning composition comprising:
- a water soluble polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1000 daltons and including a plurality of carboxylate groups in one of an acid form and a salt form;
- an amphoteric surfactant;
- a non-ionic surfactant;
- a buffering agent;
- an anti-microbial agent;
- water;
- and
- wherein the cleaning composition has a pH of from about 6 to about 8 and a viscosity from about 10 to about 200 cps.
A method of actively preventing the redeposition of deposits and debris during a contact lens cleaning operation, the method comprising:
- applying an anti-redeposition/cleaning composition to the lens, the composition including:
- a water soluble polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1000 daltons and including a plurality of carboxylate groups in one of an acid form and a salt form;
- an amphoteric surfactant;
- a non-ionic surfactant;
- a buffering agent;
- an anti-microbial agent;
- water;
- and wherein the cleaning composition has a pH of from about 6 to about 8 and a viscosity from about 10 to about 200 cps;
- rubbing the cleaning composition over a surface of the lens to reduce deposits and debris present on the surface of the lens, the water soluble polymer acting as a redeposition agent to prevent redeposition of deposits and debris on the lens;
- and
- rinsing the lens to remove solubilized soils and remaining cleaning composition from the surface of the lens.
A method of passively preventing the redeposition of deposits and debris while cleaning a surface of a contact lens, the method comprising:
- placing the contact lens in an anti-redeposition/cleaning composition including:
- a water soluble polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1000 daltons and including a plurality of carboxylate groups in one of an acid form and a salt form;
- an amphoteric surfactant;
- a non-ionic surfactant;
- a buffering agent;
- an anti-microbial agent;
- water;
- and wherein the cleaning composition has a pH of from about 6 to about 8 and a viscosity from about 10 to about 200 cps;
- allowing a predetermined time for the passive removal of deposits and debris present on the lens;
- and
- removing the lens from the cleaning solution.
A method of suspending deposits and debris contained on a surface of a contact lens, the method comprising:
- applying an anti-redeposition/cleaning agent to the lens, the agent including:
- a water soluble polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1000 daltons and including a plurality of carboxylate groups in one of an acid form and a salt form;
- an amphoteric surfactant;
- a non-ionic surfactant;
- a buffering agent;
- an anti-microbial agent;
- water;
- and wherein the cleaning composition has a pH of from about 6 to about 8 and a viscosity from about 10 to about 200 cps;
- rubbing the agent over a surface of the lens to reduce deposits and debris present on the surface of the lens by solubilizing the deposits and debris with the ampthoteric and non-ionic surfactants;
- preventing the redeposition of the solubilized deposits and debris using the water soluble polymer as an inhibitor to the deposition of the solubilized deposits and debris on the surface of the lens;
- rinsing the lens to remove solubilized deposits and debris and remaining cleaning composition from the surface of the lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.