Method and composition for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses
AssigneeBausch & Lomb Incorporated
InventorsMary F. Mowrey-McKee, David W. Proud, George E. Minno
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Abstract
Contact lenses are simultaneously cleaned and disinfected by contacting the lenses with an aqueous system containing an antimicrobial agent and a proteolytic enzyme for a period sufficient to clean and disinfect the lenses. The aqueous solutions have suitable osmotic values which do not substantially inhibit the activity of the antimicrobial agent.
Claims28
A method for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses comprising contacting the lenses with an aqueous system containing an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, benzalkonium halides, and biguanides and a proteolytic enzyme for a time sufficient to clean and disinfect the lenses and wherein the osmotic value of said aqueous system does not substantially inhibit the activity of said antimicrobial agent.
A method of simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses comprising the steps of:
- dissolving a proteolytic enzyme in a disinfecting solution containing, as the antimicrobial agent, from about 0.00001 to about 0.5 percent by weight/volume of a non-oxidative chemical selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, benzalkonium halides, and biguanides and from about 0.01 to about 2.5 percent by weight/volume of a buffering agent and wherein said solution has a final osmotic value of less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water, and
- contacting said lenses with said solution for a period of time sufficient to clean and disinfect said lenses.
An improved method for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses with proteolytic enzymes and antimicrobial agents in the absence of thimerosal, the improvement comprising contacting the lenses with an aqueous system containing said enzyme and said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, benzalkonium halides, and biguanides, and maintaining the osmotic value of the system at a level which does not substantially inhibit the activity of the antimicrobial agent.
A composition for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses said composition comprising water, a disinfecting amount of an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, and biguanides and an effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme, wherein the final osmotic value of the composition is less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water.
An aqueous composition for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses, said composition having a pH of about 6.5 to about 8.5 and comprising about 0.00003 to about 0.05 percent by weight/volume of a hexamethylene biguanide polymer, an effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme, and wherein the final osmotic value of said composition is less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.