| DE2127854A1 | 1972-12-14 | |||
| US4031209A | 1977-06-21 | |||
| EP0358447A2 | 1990-03-14 | |||
| EP0083820A1 | 1983-07-20 |
(HYDROPHILIC)
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to novel powdered product for cleaning gelatinous contact lens (hydrophilic) .
BACKGROUND ART
The use of contact lens causes deposition of impurities on their surfaces.
Removing periodically such impurities accumulated on the surfaces of contact lens is important to assure the health of the eyes and therefore to protect vision.
Not removing such impurities may cause problems to those who use contact lens such as allergies, itching, increase of eye secretion, anatomical change of eyelid, among others.
Cleaning gelatinous contact lens (hydrophilic) may be done physically or chemically. Physical cleaning processes just cause disinfection of the contact lens through temperature changes (boiling or freezing) . They are inefficient since they do not remove impurities deposited on the surfaces of the lens. Chemical cleaning means using chemical products that dissolve or react with the impurities, and thus are able to remove proteins, lipids, mineral salts, bacteria and other residues.
Various products were developed, are being produced and traded and are normally used by people with contact lens.
These products are basically formulations or liquid solutions (or even products to be dissolved before using) containing different chemicals, such as polymeric cleaning agents (Patent WPI Ace 283-44506K/19, Patent US 417477, Patent US 4440662) , urea peroxide (Patent WPI Ace N2 84-277667/45), thimerosal, enzymes and others.
The use of the products available in the market has shown that they are inefficient since they do not clean quite well, that is, they do not fully remove pellicles, deposits or residues from the surfaces of the lens.
In addition to that, the use of the available products requires complex and difficult procedures that normally comprise a great number of steps to be followed, demands
handling care besides presenting the risk of being confused with eye drops and being very expensive.
A product that would eliminate the disadvantages of today available products was then searched for.
It was developed a product able to disinfect and clean gelatinous contact lens (hydrophilic) . DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
This invention consists of a powdered product characterized by any of the following formulations: (A) Any mixture made up of from about 90% (ninety percent) to about 100% (one hundred percent) in weight of NaHC0 3 ; from about 0.1% (one tenth percent) to about 5% (five percent) in weight of Na 3 P0 4 ; from about 0.1% (one tenth percent) to about 5% (five percent) in weight of EDTA disodiu (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid disodium salt) ; (B) Any mixture made up of from about 95% (ninety five percent) to about 100% (one hundred percent) in weight of NaHC0 3 ; from about 0.1% (one tenth percent) to about 5% (five percent) in weight of Na 3 P0 4 ; (C) Any mixture made up of from about 95% (ninety five percent) to about 100% (one hundred percent) in weight of NaHC0 3 ; from about 0.1% (one tenth percent) to about 5% (five percent) in weight of EDTA disodium (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid disodium salt) ; (D) about 100% (one hundred percent) in weight of NaHC0 3 .
This powder should be rubbed with the fingertips on the surface of the gelatinous contact lens (hydrophilic) . After that the lens should be cleansed and rinsed with physiological serum and be put away immediately in their proper box and its respective compartments should be filled with physiological serum and after hydration the lens can be put back on the eyes.
Cleaning is performed through abrasion as well as through chemical action of the product. The substances resulting from the action of the product are not harmful to the eyes because they are biologically compatible.
The product was tested by users of gelatinous contact lens for up to 18 (eighteen) months.
The main clinical and laboratorial results were: a. The product removes pellicles, deposits and residues. b. The product removes proteins, mucus, lipids, bacteria and mineral salts. c. The product can be employed to clean gelatinous contact lens (hydrophilic) of daily use as well as prolonged use.
d. The gelatinous contact lens (hydrophilic) treated and cleaned with the product did not show problems relating to reduction of their durability or their life time. No damage (such as turbidity or scratches) was observed on the surfaces of the contact lens cleaned with the product. e. The product eliminates the need of periodic use of enzymatic cleaners. f. The product eliminates the necessity of disinfection. g. The product can be used whenever the contact lens are removed from the eyes and no time limit is required between cleaning. h. The product has bactericide action being especially effective for E.coli, P.aeruginosa, Proteus sp and Candida.
Users of gelatinous contact lens (hydrophilic) that tested the product did not complain about any kind of discomfort relating to their use after cleaning. None of the following problems were reported: burning, eye discomfort, shedding tears, changes of the vision, redness of the eyes, irritation, itching, abnormal eye secretion, reduction eye acuity, darkening of the vision, sensibility to light (photophobia) , dry eyes. So far, no allergic reaction due to the use of the product has been registered.
Advantages of the product are: (a) satisfactory removal of pellicles, mucus, lipids, and microorganisms from the surfaces of gelatinous contact lens; (b) easy-to-apply product; (c) safe handling product; (d) biological and clinical safe product; (e) highly stable product if adequately stored in a dry place or properly packed in a sealed vial.