Antimicrobial lenses, processes to prepare them and methods of their use

Abstract

This invention relates to solutions for packaging ophthalmic devices comprising at least one antimicrobial metal salt which prevent the loss of said antimicrobial metal salt during autoclaving and storage.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said packaging solution salts has an osmolality of about 230 mOsm/kg or greater. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said packaging solution has a conductivity of at least about 4 mS/cm or greater. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said packaging solution has a conductivity of at least about 5 mS/cm or greater 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said ophthalmic device is a contact lens. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging solution method of  claim 19  wherein said antimicrobial metal salt comprises at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Al +3 , Co +2 , Co +3 , Ca +2 , Mg +2 , Ni +2 , Ti +2 , Ti +3 , Ti +4 , V +2 , V +3 , V +5 , Sr +2 , Fe +2 , Fe +3 , Ag +2 , Ag + , Au +2 , Au +3 , Au +1 , Pd +2 , Pd +4 , Pt +2 , Pt +4 , Cu +1 , Cu +2 , Mn +2 , Mn +3 , Mn +4 , Zn +2  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said antimicrobial metal salt comprises at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Mg +2 , Zn +2 , Cu +1 , Cu +2 , Au +2 , Au +3 , Au +1 , Pd +2 , Pd +4 , Pt +2 , Pt +4 , Ag +2 , Ag +1  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . method of  claim 19  wherein said antimicrobial metal salt is a silver salt. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said ophthalmic device loses less than about 20% by weight of the antimicrobial salt during autoclaving and storing. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for reducing loss of an antimicrobial metal from an ophthalmic lens comprising at least one antimicrobial metal salt having a K sp  packaged in a packaging solution comprising the step of packaging said ophthalmic lens in a packaging solution having an osmolality of about 220 mOsm/kg or greater which is substantially free from packaging solution salts which have anions which when combined with cations from said antimicrobial metal form a salt having a K sp  between the Ksp of said antimicrobial metal salt and about 10 −6 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said solution is a borate buffered solution comprising at least one packing solution salt selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfate, sodium lactate, sodium citrate, sodium chloride and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . An article comprising
 (a) an ophthalmic device comprising at least one antimicrobial metal salt having a K sp  of less than about 10 −10      (b) stored in a packaging solution having an osmolality of about 220 mOsm/kg or greater and comprising only packaging solution salts which, upon autoclaving and storage of said ophthalmic device in said packaging solution, result in said ophthalmic device losing less than about 30% by weight of said antimicrobial metal salt.   
     
     
         22 . A solution for packaging an ophthalmic device comprising at least one antimicrobial metal salt having a K sp  wherein said solution has an osmolality of about 220 mOsm/kg or greater and comprises packaging solution salts, wherein said packaging solution salts have at least one anion which when combined with a cation from said antimicrobial metal salt forms a second salt having a K sp  which is at least about six orders of magnitude greater than said K sp  of said antimicrobial metal salt.