Patent ID: 6432217
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B29D,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of treating a contact lens disposed in a well containing hydration fluid, such that a concave surface of the lens faces upwardly and the lens is submerged in the hydration fluid, thereby allowing contaminants to leach out of the lens into the hydration fluid, comprising the step of:introducing, after hydration of the lens is complete, a washing fluid into the well and removing contaminated hydration fluid from the well so as to replace at least some of the contaminated hydration fluid in the well with the washing fluid in a predetermined fluid-exchange procedure, wherein the washing fluid is introduced into the well so as to be directed against the concave surface of the lens and the contaminated hydration fluid is removed at a removal location remote from where the washing fluid impinges against the lens, such that the action of the introduced washing fluid serves to oppose movement of the lens towards the removal location, and further wherein the contaminated hydration fluid is removed in at least two separate steps during which removal of the contaminated hydration fluid takes place at a greater rate than introduction of the washing fluid, the removal and introduction being timed so that sufficient fluid remains in the well to ensure that the lens remains submerged.