METHOD AND CASE FOR DISINFECTION OF CONTACT LENSES

Abstract: A method and a case (2) for disinfection of contact lenses is described, where the contact lenses are placed in a double chamber (4) filled with cleaning fluid, for instance hydrogen peroxide, the case (2) comprises a third chamber (6) or position connected with the double chamber (4), and which is adapted to take up or hold a tablet (7) containing a neutralization agent (catalase), so that the hydrogen peroxide in the double chamber (4) is neutralized suitably slowly by the admission to dissolve the tablet (7). By the dissolution of the catalase tablet (7) oxygen is generated, and an oxygen bubble is formed around the tablet, so that the hydrogen peroxide alternately is kept away from the tablet (7) and alternately gets admission to the tablet (7).

Description: Method and case for disinfection of contact lenses The present invention relates to a method for disinfection of contact lenses of the type described in the introductory part of claim 1. Users of contact lenses, particularly soft contact lenses, are familar with the fact that contact lenses frequently, preferably daily, have to be cleaned to avoid inconveniences by the use of contact lenses. Normally hydrogen peroxide is used for disinfection of the contact lenses, which for this purpose is placed in special cases, which may be used for the keeping of the contact lenses as well as for disinfection of these. The contact lenses are kept in the cleaning fluid (hydrogen peroxide) until next use, for instance through the night. In order to neutralize the hydrogen peroxide before next use of the contact lenses, it is known to neutralize the hydrogen peroxide - by using of a "platinum star", which acts as a catalyst, or by using an enzyme tablet - containing for instance catalase or pyrovat - to neutralize the hydrogen peroxide. To ensure that there will be time enough for the hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the contact lenses for micro organism and virus before the neutralization, it is furthermore known to delay the effect of the catalase by using a special tablet, where the catalase is coated with methyl-cellulose or a PVP-film. Catalase is an enzyme, which is capable to convert the hydrogen peroxide into water and free oxygen. In practise the used tablet contains a salt with catalase, so that the hyd- rogen peroxide is converted into physilogical salt water. The purpose of the invention is to provide a method enabling a further improvement by disinfection of the contact lenses cf. the method as mentioned introductorily. SUBSTITUTE SHEET ISA/SE The method according to the invention is distinctive in that disinfection of the contact lenses and neutralization of the cleaning fluid, respectively, are controlled by means of a tablet preferably containing the enzyme catalase, and which is not coated, as the tablet is placed in a separate chamber or in a special position, and that the admission for the cle- aning fluid to this chamber or this position is controlled by the generation of oxygen by the reaction between cleaning fluid and enzyme, preferably catalase. In a simple manner it hereby becomes possible to control the duration of the disinfection as well as the neutralization of the cleaning fluid by using a simple catalase tablet, which does not need any coating, that is that a rather cheap catalase tablet may be used for control of a slowly, delayed neutralization of the cleaning fluid. The invention furthermore relates to a case for use by carrying out the method accor¬ ding to the invention, which case is distinctive in that it comprises a chamber with a room for a right contact lense and a room for a left contact lense, and a chamber or a special position, which is adapted to receive a catalase tablet. Expediently the case is such provided, that a opening is provided between said chamber for the contact lenses and said chamber for the catalase tablet, said opening for free access of fluid being placed in a level just under the tablet in the chamber, the position of said opening being adapted to control the speed of the neutralization by controlling the air stream between the chamber for the contact lenses and the said chamber or said special position, respectively. The invention is described in the following with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a sectional view through a preferred embodiment for a case according to the invention - shown with contact between tablet and cleaning fluid, Fig. 2 shows a similar sectional view cf. Fig. 1, but shown in a situation, where the cleaning fluid because of the air generation is forced away from the tablet, SUBSTITUTE PH E Fig. 3 shows the case - seen from above and without a lid part, Fig. 4 shows a side sectional view of a lid part with a holding cavity for the neutrali¬ zation tablet, Fig. 5 shows a sectional view through another embodiment for a case according to the invention, shown in a situation, where an air bubble is keeping the cleaning fluid away from the tablet, Fig. 6 shows a similar sectional view cf. Fig. 5, but shown in a situation, where the air bubble is escaping and permits access of fresh cleaning fluid to the tablet, Fig. 7 shows the case cf. Figs. 5 and 6 - seen from above and without a lid part, Fig. 8 shows an end view of a known case for keeping and cleaning contact lenses and provided with a combined lense and tablet holder using the method according to the invention, and Fig. 9 shows a side view of the combined lense and tablet holder cf. Fig. 8. A case 2, shown in Figs. 1 - 3, consists of a lower part 3 with a chamber with a room A for a right contact lense and a room B for a left contact lense and a lid part 5 (Fig. 4) with a chamber 6 or a special position adapted to keep or fix a tablet 7 containing catalase or another enzyme for instance pyrovat. A pair of contact lenses 10 to be cleaned or disinfected is placed in the double chamber 4, and cleaning fluid, preferably hydrogen peroxide (Fig. 1), is filled in. A catalase tablet 7 is squeezed in the chamber 6 or the special position of the lid part. The chamber 6 has for that purpose a projecting, lower edge 11, behind which the tablet 7 is squee- zed, before the lid part 5 is again placed on the lower part 3. SUBSTITUTE SHEET ISA/SE By contact between the catalase tablet 7 and the hydrogen peroxide free oxygen is gene¬ rated, and an air bubble (Fig. 2) is formed around respectively under the tablet 7, so that the generation of oxygen is reduced. In the side of the chamber 6 an opening 8 is provided into the double chamber 4, through which opening 8 the oxygen bubble may escape. Afterwards the hydrogen peroxide gets re-admission to the catalase tablet 7, and a new portion of oxygen is generated and escaping through the opening 8 or escapes ot¬ herwise - and this procedure continues until the tablet 7 is dissolved. Eventually the lower part 3 on level with the chamber 6 in the lid part 5 may comprise a complementary part, which is provided with a side opening 9 in order to improve the circulation between the rooms of the double chamber - around the contact lenses 10 (Figs. 1 and 2). An other embodiment of a case 12 according to the invention - shown in Figs. 5 - 6 - comprises a lower part 13 having a double chamber 14 with two positions for a pair of soft contact lenses and a lid part 5 with a similar configuration as that of the lid part 5 shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 8 is shown a known case 15 comprising a lower part 16 and a screw lid 17 with a central socket 18 for a top end portion 19 of a holding member 20 with two basket¬ like chambers 21 adapted to keep a pair of contact lenses - as the holding member 20 is submerged into cleaning fluid. At the bottom end of the holding member 20 a special cavity 22 or position with a collar 23 adapted to receive and fix a catalase tablet 7 is provided. The holding member 20 is shown from the side in Fig. 9. SUBSTITUTE SHEET ISA/SE

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A method for disinfection of contact lenses, preferably soft contact lenses, and by which the contact lenses are placed in a cleaning fluid, preferably hydrogen peroxide, in a case, and where neutralization of the cleaning fluid is carried out by means of a tablet containing a neutralization agent such as catalase, characterized in that disinfection of the contact lenses and neutralization of the cleaning fluid, respectively, are controlled by means of a tablet preferably containing the enzyme catalase, and which is not coated, as the tablet is placed in a separate chamber or in a special position, and that the admission for the cleaning fluid to this chamber or this position is control¬ led by the generation of oxygen by the reaction between cleaning fluid and enzyme, pre- ferably catalase. 2. A case for use by carrying out the method according to claim 1, characteri¬ ze d in that it comprises a chamber (4) with a room (A) for a right contact lense and a room (B) for a left contact lense, and a chamber (6) or a special position, which is adapted to receive a catalase tablet. 3. A case according to claim 2, characterized in that a channel (8) is provided between said chamber (4) for the contact lenses and said chamber (6) for the catalase tablet, said opening (8) for free access of fluid being placed in a level just under the tablet in the chamber (6), the position of said opening (8) being adapted to control the speed of the neutralization by controlling the air stream between the chamber (4) for the contact lenses and said chamber (6) or said special position, respectively. SUBSTITUT E SHEET iSA/se

Inventors: NIELSEN TOM BURIS, NIELSEN, TOM, BURIS
Applicants: NIELSEN TOM BURIS, NIELSEN, TOM, BURIS
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G02C13
IPC codes: A01N59, A01N63, A45C11, A61L2, A61L12, C11D7, G02C13