Disinfection of contact lenses
AssigneeBarnes-Hind, Inc.
InventorsHans H. Kaspar, Murray J. Sibley, Gordon H. Yung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A contact lens is disinfected in an aqueous H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution. The H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution is neutralized and transformed in situ into a buffered, saline storage solution by adding a neutralizer such as sodium sulfite or sodium thiosulfate, and optional buffering agents. The neutralizer has a coating which dissolves to release the ingredients only a period of time after it is added, so that it can be put into the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution at the same time that the lens is.
Claims35
A process for disinfecting a contact lens, comprising
- (A) immersing the lens in a predetermined volume of an aqueous disinfecting solution consisting essentially of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 at a concentration of about 3 wt. % or less which is effective to disinfect the lens in a disinfection period of less than about 6 hours, and
- (B) decomposing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said disinfecting solution by adding to said solution, before said disinfection period has elapsed, a neutralizer in the form of a tablet or a plurality of particles and comprising
- one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds which react with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to form H.sub.2 O and reaction products which are non-injurious to the eye, in an amount of said one or more compounds effective to react with all the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said solution, and thereby to form an aqueous solution containing said reaction products and having a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 and a tonicity of 200 to 450 milliosmol per kg of solution, and
- a coating encasing said tablet or each of said particles which coating dissolves gradually in said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution, so as to release said one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds only after said disinfection period has elapsed,
- whereby said released neutralizing compounds transform said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution in situ into a buffered, saline lens storage solution.
A process for disinfecting a contact lens, comprising
- (A) immersing the lens in a predetermined volume of an aqueous disinfecting solution consisting essentially of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 at a concentration of about 3 wt. % or less which is effective to disinfect the lens in a disinfection period of less than about 6 hours, and
- (B) decomposing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said disinfecting solution by adding to said solution, before said disinfection period has elapsed, a neutralizer in the form of a tablet or a plurality of particles and comprising
- one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds which react with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to form H.sub.2 O and reaction products which are non-injurious to the eye, in an amount of said one or more compounds effective to react with all the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said solution;
- one or more water-soluble agents in an amount thereof effective to provide that an aqueous solution having said predetermined volume and containing said reaction products and said water-soluble agents has a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 and a tonicity of 200 to 450 milliosmol per kg of solution, and
- a coating encasing said tablet or each of said particles which coating dissolves gradually in said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution, so as to release said one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds and water-soluble agents only after said disinfection period has elapsed,
- whereby said released neutralizing compounds and agents transform said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution in situ into a buffered, saline lens storage solution.
A kit for disinfecting a contact lens in a predetermined volume of an aqueous disinfecting solution of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 having a predetermined concentration, and for neutralizing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said solution after a disinfection period which is a function of said predetermined concentration and for transforming the solution in situ into a buffered isotonic lens storage solution;
- said kit comprising means for washing the lens, and a neutralizer in the form of a tablet or a plurality of particles, wherein said neutralizer comprises
- one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds which react with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to form H.sub.2 O and reaction products which are non-injurious to the eye, in an amount of said one or more compounds effective to react with all the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said disinfecting solution and thereby to form an aqueous solution containing dissolved therein said reaction products and having a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 and a tonicity of 200 to 400 milliosmol per kg of solution, and
- a coating encasing said tablet or each of said particles, which coating is characterized in that when said coated tablet or particles is placed in said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution before the end of said disinfection period, said coating gradually dissolves in the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution, and releases said one or more neutralizing compounds only after said disinfection period has elapsed.
A kit for disinfecting a contact lens in a predetermined volume of an aqueous disinfecting solution of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 having a predetermined concentration, and for neutralizing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said solution after a disinfection period which is a function of said predetermined concentration and for transforming the solution in situ into a buffered isotonic lens storage solution;
- said kit comprising means for washing the lens, and a neutralizer in the form of a tablet or a plurality of particles, wherein said neutralizer comprises
- one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds which react with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to form H.sub.2 O and reaction products which are non-injurious to the eye, in an amount of said one or more compounds effective to react with all the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said disinfecting solution,
- one or more water-soluble agents in an amount thereof effective to provide that an aqueous solution having said predetermined volume and containing dissolved therein said reaction products and said water-soluble agents has a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 and a tonicity of 200 to 400 milliosmol per kg of solution, and
- a coating encasing said tablet or each of said particles, which coating is characterized in that when said coated tablet or particles is placed in said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution before the end of said disinfection period, said coating gradually dissolves in the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution, and releases said one or more neutralizing compounds and water-soluble agents only after said disinfection period has elapsed.
A neutralizer suitable for use in a kit for disinfecting a contact lens in a predetermined volume of an aqueous disinfecting solution of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 having a predetermined concentration, and for neutralizing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said solution after a disinfection period which is a function of said predetermined concentration and for transforming the solution in situ into a buffered isotonic lens storage solution, which kit comprises means for washing the lens, and a neutralizer;
- which neutralizer is in the form of a tablet or a plurality of particles and comprises
- one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds which react with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to form H.sub.2 O and reaction products which are non-injurious to the eye, in an amount of said one or more compounds effective to react with all the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said disinfecting solution and thereby to form an aqueous solution containing dissolved therein said reaction products and having a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 and a tonicity of 200 to 400 milliosmol per kg of solution, and
- a coating encasing said tablet or each of said particles which coating is characterized in that when said coated tablet or particles is placed in said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution before the end of said disinfection period, said coating gradually dissolves in the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution, and releases said one or more neutralizing compounds only after said disinfection period has elapsed.
A neutralizer suitable for use in a kit for disinfecting a contact lens in a predetermined volume of an aqueous disinfecting solution of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 having a predetermined concentration, and for neutralizing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said solution after a disinfection period which is a function of said predetermined concentration and for transforming the solution in situ into a buffered isotonic lens storage solution, which kit comprises means for washing the lens, and a neutralizer;
- which neutralizer is in the form of a tablet or a plurality of particles and comprises
- one or more H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -neutralizing compounds which react with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to form H.sub.2 O and reaction products which are non-injurious to the eye, in an amount of said one or more compounds effective to react with all the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in said disinfecting solution,
- one or more water-soluble agents in an amount thereof effective to provide that an aqueous solution having said predetermined volume and containing dissolved therein said reaction products and said water-soluble agents has a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 and a tonicity of 200 to 400 milliosmol per kg of solution, and
- a coating encasing said tablet or each of said particles which coating is characterized in that when said coated tablet or particles is placed in said H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution before the end of said disinfection period, said coating gradually dissolves in the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution, and releases said one or more neutralizing compounds and water-soluble agents only after said disinfection period has elapsed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.