Cleaner for contact lens

Abstract

An in-eye method for cleaning contact lenses comprises use of a cleaner using water-containing beads. The water-containing beads are prepared such that the bead size is smaller than the punctal opening. They are easily flushed from the ocular environment by normal tear flow. The cleaner may also be used to clean contact lenses, with the cleaner applied directly to the lens and digitally rubbed to remove accumulated debris on the lens.

1 . A composition for cleaning contact lenses, said composition comprising water-containing beads having a mean particle size of less than 100 μm but greater than about 13 μm, wherein at least 75 weight percent of said water-containing beads have a major diameter of less than 50 μm.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said water-containing beads having a mean particle size of less than 50 μm, wherein at least 75 weight percent of said water-containing beads have a major diameter of less than 30 μm.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said water-containing beads having a mean particle size of less than 40 μm, wherein at least 75 weight percent of said water-containing beads have a major diameter of less than 30 μm.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising 
 a) a thickening agent; and  
 b) at least one surfactant.  
 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said water-containing beads comprise polyHEMA or HEMA copolymer.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-containing beads are present in the amount of from about 0.05 to about 1.5 weight percent of the composition.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein said water-containing beads are present in the amount of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 weight percent of the composition.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein said water-containing beads are present in the amount of from about 0.25 to about 0.75 weight percent of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said water-containing beads are present in the amount of from about 0.4 to about 0.6 weight percent of the composition.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising a preservative.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the preservative is PAPB.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a thickening agent.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the thickening agent is a carbomer.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the thickening agent comprises at least one carboxy vinyl polymer.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said carboxy vinyl polymer further comprises a carbomer-type gelling agents.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein said thickening agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) with a molecular weight distribution of from about 400 to about 4000, poly(ethylene oxide), hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyHEMA, poly(vinyl alcohol), and PVP.  
     
     
         17 . A method of cleaning a contact lens in the eye of a wearer comprising applying to said contact lens an ophthalmically compatible contact lens cleaning solution comprising water-containing beads having a mean particle size of less than 30 μm but greater than about 13 μm, wherein at least 90 weight percent of said water-containing beads have a major diameter of less than 50 μm.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said ophthalmic solution further comprises at least one surfactant.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said method further comprising the sequential steps of blinking and then rinsing the eye and the contact lens with an ophthalmic rinsing solution to dilute or substantially remove the contact lens cleaning solution from the eye.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said method is carried out in the absence of a rinsing step.