Method and composition for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses

Abstract

Contact lenses are simultaneously cleaned and disinfected by contacting the lenses with an aqueous system containing an antimicrobial agent and a proteolytic enzyme for a period sufficient to clean and disinfect the lenses. The aqueous solutions have suitable osmotic values which do not substantially inhibit the activity of the antimicrobial agent.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses comprising contacting the lenses with an aqueous system containing an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, benzalkonium halides, and biguanides and a proteolytic enzyme for a time sufficient to clean and disinfect the lenses and wherein the osmotic value of said aqueous system does not substantially inhibit the activity of said antimicrobial agent.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antimicrobial agent and said proteolytic enzyme are in an aqueous solution.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antimicrobial agents are used in the absence of thimerosal.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antimicrobial agent and said proteolytic enzyme are contacted with the lenses at ambient temperatures.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said aqueous solution contains a tonicity adjusting agent.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the osmotic value is less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications and biguanides.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said antimicrobial agent is a biguanide.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said biguanide is hexamethylene biguanide polymer having molecular weights of up to about 100,000.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said osmotic value is from about 200 to about 600 mOsm./kg. water.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said proteolytic enzyme is in a powder or tablet form and is dissolved in a disinfecting solution containing water and said antimicrobial agent to prepare said aqueous system.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said proteolytic enzyme is a subtilisin enzyme.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said aqueous solution additionally contains a buffering agent.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said aqueous solution additionally contains a surfactant.  
     
     
         15 . A method of simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses comprising the steps of: 
 dissolving a proteolytic enzyme in a disinfecting solution containing, as the antimicrobial agent, from about 0.00001 to about 0.5 percent by weight/volume of a non-oxidative chemical selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, benzalkonium halides, and biguanides and from about 0.01 to about 2.5 percent by weight/volume of a buffering agent and wherein said solution has a final osmotic value of less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water, and    contacting said lenses with said solution for a period of time sufficient to clean and disinfect said lenses.    
     
     
         16 . An improved method for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses with proteolytic enzymes and antimicrobial agents in the absence of thimerosal, the improvement comprising contacting the lenses with an aqueous system containing said enzyme and said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, benzalkonium halides, and biguanides, and maintaining the osmotic value of the system at a level which does not substantially inhibit the activity of the antimicrobial agent.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said osmotic value is less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water.  
     
     
         18 . A composition for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses said composition comprising water, a disinfecting amount of an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts used in ophthalmic applications, and biguanides and an effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme, wherein the final osmotic value of the composition is less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein said composition is prepared by mixing said proteolytic enzyme in a disinfecting solution containing said antimicrobial agent.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19  wherein said antimicrobial agent is present in an amount ranging from about 0.00001 to about 0.5 percent by weight/volume.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20  wherein said proteolytic enzyme is in tablet or powder form.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21  wherein a tonicity adjusting agent is present.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein said proteolytic enzyme is a subtilisin enzyme.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 20  wherein said antimicrobial agent is a biguanide.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24  wherein said biguanide is a polymer of hexamethylene biguanide.  
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 16  wherein a surfactant is present.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 16  wherein a buffering agent is present.  
     
     
         28 . An aqueous composition for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses, said composition having a pH of about 6.5 to about 8.5 and comprising about 0.00003 to about 0.05 percent by weight/volume of a hexamethylene biguanide polymer, an effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme, and wherein the final osmotic value of said composition is less than about 800 mOsm./kg. water.