Process for sterilizing a contact lens
OwnerRichard F. Stockelinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Process for sterilizing a contact lens using an aqueous solution of a sterilant which may be a peroxygen disinfectant, an inorganic hypochlorite compound or a hypochlorite precursor compound. The process involves the steps of contacting the lens with the aqueous solution for a period of time sufficient to effect sterilization of the lens; and thereafter contacting the resultant aqueous solution and lens with an amount of activated carbon and for a period of time sufficient to decompose substantially all of any residual sterilant to ophthalmologically innocuous by-products.
Claims10
A process for sterilizing a contact lens with an aqueous solution containing a sterilant comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting a contact lens with an aqueous solution containing a sterilant selected from the group consisting of peroxygen disinfectants, inorganic hypochlorite compounds and hypochlorite precursor compounds, the amount of sterilant present in the solution and the time of contact of the lens with the solution being sufficient to effect sterilization of the lens;
- and thereafter
- (b) contacting the aqueous solution and lens resulting from step (a) with an amount of activated carbon and for a period of time sufficient to decompose substantially all of any residual sterilant to ophthalmologically innocuous by-products, said activated carbon having a surface area in excess of about 500 m.sup.2 /g and a pore volume of at least about 0.75 ml/g.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.