Contact lens packaging solutions

• US 20090057164A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Carney, Fiona Patricia, Sentell, Karen Belinda, Minick, Kasey Jon, Minno, George Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,689,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/5.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/04 Heat A61L12/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/008 packaging of contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 Contact lenses

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved contact lens products which not only have initial insertion comfort. The contact lens product of the invention comprises a soft hydrogel contact lens immersed and autoclaved in a packaging solution including a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) (or glycerin) and a homopolymer or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone. The present invention also provides methods for making contact lens products of the invention.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic product, comprising a sealed and sterilized package which include a packaging solution and a soft hydrogel contact lens immersed in the packaging solution, wherein the packaging solution includes:

a homopolymer or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, wherein the homopolymer or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone is present in an amount sufficient to provide the packaging solution a viscosity of up to about 5.0 centipoises at 25°

C.;

glycerin or a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 600 or less;

an α

-oxo-multi-acid or salt thereof in an amount sufficient to have a reduced susceptibility to oxidation degradation of the polyethylene glycol in the packaging solution; and

one or more buffering agents in an amount sufficient to provide the solution a pH of from about 6.0 to 8.0,

wherein the packaging solution has an osmolality of from about 200 to about 450 mOsm/kg.

2. The ophthalmic product of claim 1, wherein the packaging solution comprises a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and at least one amino-containing vinylic monomer, wherein the amino-containing vinylic monomer is selected from the group consisting of alkylaminoalkylmethacrylate having 8-15 carbon atoms, alkylaminoalkylacrylate having 7-15 carbon atoms, dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylate having 8-20 carbon atoms, dialkylaminoalkylacrylate having 7-20 carbon atoms, and N-vinylalkylamide having 3-10 carbon atoms.

3. The ophthalmic product of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel contact lens is a silicone hydrogel contact lens.

4. The ophthalmic product of claim 2, wherein the amino-containing vinylic monomer is dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate or dimethylaminoethylacrylate.

5. The ophthalmic product of claim 1, wherein the packaging solution has a viscosity of up to about 3.0 centipoises at 25°

C.

6. The ophthalmic product of claim 1, wherein the packaging solution comprises a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 600 or less.

7. The ophthalmic product of claim 1, wherein the α

-oxo-multi-acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, 2-ketoglutaric acid, and malic acid.

8. The ophthalmic product of claim 1, wherein the α

-oxo-multi-acid is citric acid.

9. The ophthalmic product of claim 1, wherein hydrogel contact lens includes one or more leachable lubricant therein.

10. A process for making a soft contact lens capable of easing wearer'"'"'s initial discomfort, comprising the steps of:

a) packaging a hydrogel contact lens in a container containing a packaging solution, wherein the packaging solution comprises a homopolymer or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, glycerin or a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 600 or less, an α

-oxo-multi-acid or salt thereof in an amount sufficient to have a reduced susceptibility to oxidation degradation of the polyethylene glycol in the packaging solution, and one or more buffering agents in an amount sufficient to provide the solution a pH of from about 6.0 to 8.0, wherein the homopolymer or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone is present in an amount sufficient to provide the packaging solution a viscosity of up to about 5.0 centipoises at 25°

C., wherein the packaging solution has an osmolality of from about 200 to about 450 mOsm/kg; and

b) sterilizing the hydrogel contact lens in the package to obtain the soft contact lens.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the packaging solution comprises a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and at least one amino-containing vinylic monomer, wherein the amino-containing vinylic monomer is selected from the group consisting of alkylaminoalkylmethacrylate having 8-15 carbon atoms, alkylaminoalkylacrylate having 7-15 carbon atoms, dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylate having 8-20 carbon atoms, dialkylaminoalkylacrylate having 7-20 carbon atoms, and N-vinylalkylamide having 3-10 carbon atoms.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the hydrogel contact lens is a silicone hydrogel contact lens.

13. The process of claim 10, wherein the amino-containing vinylic monomer is dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate or dimethylaminoethylacrylate.

14. The process of claim 10, wherein the packaging solution has a viscosity of up to about 3.0 centipoises at 25°

C.

15. The process of claim 10, wherein the packaging solution comprises a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 600 or less.

16. The process of claim 10, wherein the α

-oxo-multi-acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, 2-ketoglutaric acid, and malic acid.

17. The process of claim 10, wherein the α

-oxo-multi-acid is citric acid.

18. The process of claim 10, wherein hydrogel contact lens includes one or more leachable lubricant therein.