Xylitol Topical Ocular Solution

An aqueous solution for extra-ocular storage of contact lenses that demonstrates reduction in the incidence of bacterial, viral or acanthamoeba growth on the surface of the contact lenses comprising:

• (a) xylitol, in a volume concentration of from about 6% to about 10%;
• (b) an optional preservative
• (d) a buffer to maintain the solution near to the pH of natural human tears;
• and
• (e) optional ionic species comprising one or more ions selected from the group of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, in an amount necessary to render the aqueous solution hypotonic.

A substance in the form of an aqueous solution comprising:

• (a) xylitol, in a volume concentration of from about 4.5% to about 8%;
• (b) an optional aqueous delivery and adherence/stabilization promotion vehicle;
• (c) an optional thickener or emulsifier comprising one or more materials selected from the group of white petrolatum, mineral oil, sodium hyaluronate, carboxy methycellulose sodium, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hypromellose, and propylene glycol;
• (d) an optional preservative;
• (e) a buffer to maintain the solution near to the pH of natural human tears;
• and
• (f) optional ionic species comprising one or more ions selected from the group of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, in an amount necessary to render the aqueous solution isotonic with human tearshypotonic;
• for the treatment of ocular diseases by applying to the eyelids as a scrub.

A substance in the form of an aqueous solution comprising:

• (a) xylitol, in a volume concentration from about 1% to about 8%;
• (b) an optional aqueous delivery and adherence/stabilization promoter;
• (c) an optional thickener comprising one or more materials selected from the group comprising white petrolatum, mineral oil, sodium hyaluronate, carboxy methycellulose sodium, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hypromellose, and propylene glycol;
• (d) an optional preservative;
• (e) a buffer adapted to maintain the solution near to the pH of natural human tears;
• (f) optional ionic species comprising one or more ions selected from the group of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, in an amount necessary to render the aqueous solution isotonic with human tears;
• and
• (g) optionally, vitamin A;
• for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases.