Patent ID: 6440366
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: A61L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for packaging and storing a Group II or Group IV hydrogel contact lens, with a water content of greater than 50 weight percent, comprising, prior to delivery of the contact lens to the customer-wearer, immersing the contact lens in an aqueous contact lens packing solution inside a package and heat sterilizing the solution, wherein the contact lens packing solution comprises a sterile ophthahnically safe aqueous solution comprising:a) from about 0.005 to about 2.0 weight percent of a non-ionic surfactant that is a compound comprising at least 90 weight percent of poly(oxyethylene) and poly(oxypropylene) segments, in one or more block copolymer chains, wherein the weight average molecular weight of said surfactant is from about 4000 to about 30,000 and wherein at least 40 percent of said segments are poly(oxyethylene) segments; b) an effective amount of a tonicity adjusting agent such that the solution has an osmolality of 200 to 400 mOsm/kg; wherein the solution has a pH of about 6 to 8 and does not contain an effective disinfecting amount of a disinfecting agent.