Process for maintaining a contact lens

Abstract

The aqueous maintenance solution according to the invention is characterized by the presence of an effective amount of polyethylene glycol 120 methylglucose dioleate. Application: to aqueous maintenance solutions for hard contact lenses.

1 . An aqueous maintenance solution for contact lenses comprising polyethylene glycol 120 methylglucose dioleate of formula:  
                   
       in which x+y =120.  
     
     
         2 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1   , wherein the concentration of polyethylene glycol 120 methylglucose dioleate is between 0.05 and 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the solution.  
     
     
         3 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1    further comprising a decontaminating agent.  
     
     
         4 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 3   , wherein the decontaiminating agent is selected from the group consisting of chlorhexidine and the water-soluble salts thereof; polyhexamethylene biguanide and the water-soluble salts thereof; alkylammonium halides; benzalalkonium halide; quaternary ammonium salts; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 4   , wherein the decontaminating agent is a mixture of polyhexamethylene biguanide or a water-soluble salt thereof and one or more alkylammonium halides.  
     
     
         6 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 5   , wherein the alkylammonium halide is cetrimonium bromide.  
     
     
         7 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 3   , wherein the decontaminating agent represents from 10 -6  to 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the solution.  
     
     
         8 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 7   , wherein the decontaminating agent represents from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the solution.  
     
     
         9 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1   , further comprising at least one surfactant chosen from the group consisting of nonionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants.  
     
     
         10 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1   , wherein the surfactant consists of one or more nonionic surfactants.  
     
     
         11 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 10   , wherein the nonionic surfactant is a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block polymer.  
     
     
         12 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 9   , wherein the surfactant represents 0.01 to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         13 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 12   , wherein the surfactant represents 0.05 to 1% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         14 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1   , further comprising water-soluble cellulose polymer.  
     
     
         15 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1   , further comprising a sequestering agent.  
     
     
         16 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 15   , wherein the sequestering agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, the salts of these acids, and polyphosphate complexes.  
     
     
         17 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1   , further comprising a buffer.  
     
     
         18 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 17   , wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting of phosphate buffers, borate buffers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The aqueous maintenance solution of    claim 1   , further comprising a tonicity agent.  
     
     
         20 . An aqueous maintenance solution for contact lenses comprising: 
 polyethylene glycol 120 methylglucose dioleate of formula:  
                 
   in which x+y=120;    a decontaminating agent;    a surfactant;    a sequestering agent; and    a buffer.