Process for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses

• US 5,370,744 A
• Filed: 08/27/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Laboratories Incorporated (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bilbault, Thierry, Chowhan, Masood, Quintana, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dean, Richard O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL ARINI, ZEINAB
• Application Number:
  US08/113,142
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 134/26, 134/42
• US Class Current: 134/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/08 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/143 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/145 Polymeric quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0078 Compositions for cleaning contact lenses, spectacles or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2082 Polycarboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2086 Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/378 (Co)polymerised monomers containing sulfur, e.g. sulfonate
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/16 Phosphates including polyphosphates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/265 Carboxylic acids or salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/3245 Aminoacids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/3272 Urea, guanidine or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/34 containing sulfur

Abstract

An improved process for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses with a single solution is described. The process utilizes the cleaning effect of a cleaning agent in combination with the solvent action of water and physical agitation of the lens (i.e., by means of rubbing) to achieve a degree of cleaning which is comparable to or better than prior processes which utilize surfactant-cleaners. The cleaning agent is selected from polycarboxylates, polysulfonates and polyphosphates. The preferred cleaning agent is citrate. The process also offers greater convenience, relative to many prior systems for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses, since the need to utilize additional products to clean the lenses is eliminated.

Claims

1. A process for cleaning and disinfecting a contact lens with a single solution which comprises:

rubbing a small amount of the solution over the surface of the lens;

rinsing the lens to remove debris loosened by said rubbing; and

soaking the lens in the solution for a time sufficient to disinfect the lens;

wherein the solution is surfactant-free and comprises;

an ophthalmically acceptable antimicrobial agent in an amount effective to disinfect the lens;

a cleaning agent selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylates, polysulfonates and polyphosphates having a molecular weight of 90 to 600, in an amount effective to clean the lens; and

an aqueous vehicle therefor.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the lens is rubbed with the solution for at least 10 seconds, and the rubbing is performed by placing the lens in the palm of one hand, applying approximately one to four drops of the solution to the lens, and then rubbing the solution over both surfaces of the lens with a finger of the other hand.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the lens is soaked in the solution for at least four hours.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent is selected from the group consisting of citrate, succinate, tartrate, malonate, maleate, ethanol diglycinate, diethanol glycinate, polystyrene sulfonate and hexametaphosphate.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent comprises citrate.

6. A process according to claim 5, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises polyquaternium-1.

7. A process for removing protein deposits from a contact lens which comprises:

rubbing a small amount of a cleaning solution over the surface of the lens;

rinsing the lens to remove debris loosened by said rubbing; and

soaking the lens in the cleaning solution;

wherein the cleaning solution comprises;

a cleaning agent consisting essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylates, polysulfonates and polyphosphates having a molecular weight of 90 to 600, in an amount effective to clean the lens; and

an aqueous vehicle therefor.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein the lens is rubbed with the cleaning solution for at least 10 seconds, and the rubbing is performed by placing the lens in the palm of one hand, applying approximately one to four drops of the cleaning solution to the lens, and then rubbing the cleaning solution over both surfaces of the lens with a finger of the other hand.

9. A process according to claim 7, wherein the lens is soaked in the cleaning solution for at least four hours.

10. A process according to claim 7, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of citrate, succinate, tartrate, malonate, maleate, ethanol diglycinate, diethanol glycinate, polystyrene sulfonate and hexametaphosphate.

11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the compound comprises citrate.

12. A process according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning solution is surfactant-free.