Multi-purpose contact lens care compositions

Abstract

Multi-purpose solutions for contact lens care provide substantial lens wearer/user comfort and/or acceptability. Such solutions include an aqueous liquid medium; an antimicrobial component, preferably a biguanide polymer present in an amount of less than about 5 ppm; a surfactant component, preferably a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer surfactant, in an effective amount; a phosphate buffer component in an effective amount; a viscosity inducing component, preferably selected from cellulosic derivatives, in an effective amount; and a tonicity component in an effective amount. Such solutions have substantial performance, comfort and acceptability benefits, which, ultimately, lead to ocular health advantages and avoidance of problems caused by contact lens wear.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multi-purpose solution for contact lens care comprising: 
 an aqueous liquid medium;    an antimicrobial component in an amount effective to disinfect a contact lens contacted with said solution, said non-oxidative antimicrobial component being selected from the group consisting of biguanides, biguanide polymers, salts thereof and mixtures thereof, and being present in an amount in a range of about 0.1 ppm to about 3 ppm;    a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer surfactant in an amount effective in cleaning a contact lens contacted with said solution;    a phosphate buffer component in an amount effective in maintaining the pH of said solution within a physiologically acceptable range;    a viscosity inducing component selected from the group consisting of cellulosic derivatives and mixtures thereof in an effective amount in a range of about 0.05% to about 0.5% (w/v);    a chelating component in an effective amount of less than 0.05%(w/v); and    a tonicity component in an amount effective in providing the desired tonicity to said solution.    
     
     
         2 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 1  wherein said antimicrobial component is selected from the group consisting of polyhexamethylene biguanide, salts thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 1  wherein said surfactant is present in an amount in the range of about 0.01% to about 0.8%(w/v).  
     
     
         4 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 1  wherein said phosphate buffer component includes a combination of sodium hydrogen phosphate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate.  
     
     
         5 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 1  wherein said phosphate buffer component is present in an amount in a range of about 0.01% to about 0.5%(w/v).  
     
     
         6 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 1  wherein said viscosity inducing component is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         7 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 1  wherein said tonicity component includes a combination of sodium chloride and potassium chloride and is present in a range of about 0.4% to about 1.5%(w/v).  
     
     
         8 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 1  wherein said chelating component is EDTA.  
     
     
         9 . A multi-purpose solution for contact lens care comprising: 
 an aqueous liquid medium;    an antimicrobial component selected from the group consisting of biguanides, biguanide polymers, salts thereof and mixtures thereof, and being present in an amount in a range of about 0.1 ppm to less than 5 ppm;    a surfactant component in an amount effective in cleaning a contact lens contacted with said solution;    a phosphate buffer component in an amount effective in maintaining the pH of said solution within a physiologically acceptable range;    a viscosity inducing component in an amount effective in increasing the viscosity of said solution; and    a tonicity component in an amount effective in providing the desired tonicity to said solution.    
     
     
         10 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 9  wherein said antimicrobial component is selected from the group consisting of polyhexamethylene biguanide, salts thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 9  wherein said viscosity inducing component is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         12 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 9  wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymers and mixtures thereof, and is present in an amount in a range of about 0.01% to about 0.8%(w/v).  
     
     
         13 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 9  wherein said tonicity component includes a combination of sodium chloride and potassium chloride and is present in a range of about 0.4% to about 1.5%(w/v).  
     
     
         14 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 9  which further comprises an effective amount of EDTA in a range of less than 0.05%(w/v).  
     
     
         15 . A multi-purpose solution for contact lens care comprising: 
 an aqueous liquid medium;    an antimicrobial component in an amount effective to disinfect a contact lens contacted with said solution;    a surfactant component in an amount effective in cleaning a contact lens contacted with said solution;    a phosphate buffer component in an amount effective in maintaining the pH of said solution within a physiologically acceptable range;    a viscosity inducing component selected from the group consisting of cellulosic derivatives and mixtures thereof and being present in an effective amount in a range of about 0.05% to about 0.5%(w/v);    a chelating component in an effective amount of less than 0.05%(w/v); and    a tonicity component in an amount effective in providing the desired tonicity to said solution.    
     
     
         16 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 15  wherein said viscosity inducing component is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         17 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 15  wherein said chelating agent is EDTA.  
     
     
         18 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 15  wherein said antimicrobial component is selected from the group consisting of biguanides, biguanide polymers, salts thereof and mixtures thereof, and is present in an amount in a range of about 0.1 ppm to less than 5 ppm.  
     
     
         19 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 18  wherein said antimicrobial component is selected from the group consisting of polyhexamethylene biguanide, salts thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The multi-purpose solution of  claim 15  wherein said surfactant is present in an amount in a range of about 0.01% to about 0.8%(w/v).