Methods and ophthalmic devices used in the treatment of ocular allergies

Abstract

Ophthalmic devices and methods of treating allergic conjunctivitis are disclosed herein.

1 . An ophthalmic device comprising a sterile contact lens sealed in a contact lens package said contact lens comprising about a minimum effective amount of an anti-allergic agent selected from the group consisting of olopatadine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein, the ophthalmic device is formed by
 adding the anti-allergic agent to a contact lens solution,   placing the contact lens in a contact lens package with said contact lens solution and anti-allergic agent,   sealing the contact lens package containing the contact lens, contact lens solution and anti-allergic agent; and   sterilizing the contact lens package,   
       wherein said contact lens releases between about 10% and about 90% of its contained anti-allergic agent between administering the contact lens to the eye and about 60 minutes. 
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 1  wherein the ophthalmic device is selected from the group consisting of acofilcon A, alofilcon A, alphafilcon A, amifilcon A, astifilcon A, atalafilcon A, balafilcon A, bisfilcon A, bufilcon A, comfilcon, crofilcon A, cyclofilcon A, darfilcon A, deltafilcon A, deltafilcon B, dimefilcon A, drooxifilcon A, epsifilcon A, esterifilcon A, etafilcon A, focofilcon A, galyfilcon A, genfilcon A, govafilcon A, hefilcon A, hefilcon B, hefilcon D, hilafilcon A, hilafilcon B, hioxifilcon B, hioxifilcon C, hixoifilcon A, hydrofilcon A, lenefilcon A, licryfilcon A, licryfilcon B, lidofilcon A, lidofilcon B, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, mafilcon A, mesifilcon A, methafilcon B, mipafilcon A, nelfilcon A, netrafilcon A, ocufilcon A, ocufilcon B, ocufilcon C, ocufilcon D, ocufilcon E, ofilcon A, omafilcon A, oxyfilcon A, pentafilcon A, perfilcon A, pevafilcon A, phemfilcon A, polymacon, senofilcon A, silafilcon A, siloxyfilcon A, tefilcon A, tetrafilcon A, trifilcon A, vasurfilcon, vifilcon, and xylofilcon A. 
     
     
         7 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 1  wherein the ophthalmic device is selected from the group consisting of genfilcon A, lenefilcon A, comfilcon, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, and balafilcon A. 
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 1  wherein the ophthalmic device is selected from the group consisting of comfilcon, etafilcon A, galyfilcon A, senofilcon A, nelfilcon A, hilafilcon, tetrafilcon A, vasurfilcon, vifilcon, and polymacon. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 1  wherein the ophthalmic device is etafilcon A. 
     
     
         10 . The ophthalmic device of  claim 1  wherein the ophthalmic device is formed from a silicone hydrogel. 
     
     
         11 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of alleviating the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis comprising administering to a patient an ophthalmic device comprising a sterile contact lens sealed in a contact lens package said contact lens comprising about a minimum effective amount of an anti-allergic agent selected from the group consisting of olopatadine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein, the ophthalmic device is formed by
 adding the anti-allergic agent to a contact lens solution,   placing the contact lens in a contact lens package with said contact lens solution and anti-allergic agent,   sealing the contact lens package containing the contact lens, contact lens solution and anti-allergic agent; and   sterilizing the contact lens package,   
       wherein said contact lens releases between about 10% and about 90% of its contained anti-allergic agent between administering the contact lens to the eye and about 60 minutes. 
     
     
         15 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ophthalmic device is selected from the group consisting of acofilcon A, alofilcon A, alphafilcon A, amifilcon A, astifilcon A, atalafilcon A, balafilcon A, bisfilcon A, bufilcon A, comfilcon, crofilcon A, cyclofilcon A, darfilcon A, deltafilcon A, deltafilcon B, dimefilcon A, drooxifilcon A, epsifilcon A, esterifilcon A, etafilcon A, focofilcon A, galyfilcon A, genfilcon A, govafilcon A, hefilcon A, hefilcon B, hefilcon D, hilafilcon A, hilafilcon B, hioxifilcon B, hioxifilcon C, hixoifilcon A, hydrofilcon A, lenefilcon A, licryfilcon A, licryfilcon B, lidofilcon A, lidofilcon B, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, mafilcon A, mesifilcon A, methafilcon B, mipafilcon A, nelfilcon A, netrafilcon A, ocufilcon A, ocufilcon B, ocufilcon C, ocufilcon D, ocufilcon E, ofilcon A, omafilcon A, oxyfilcon A, pentafilcon A, perfilcon A, pevafilcon A, phemfilcon A, polymacon, senofilcon A, silafilcon A, siloxyfilcon A, tefilcon A, tetrafilcon A, trifilcon A, vasurfilcon, vifilcon, and xylofilcon A. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ophthalmic device is selected from the group consisting of genfilcon A, lenefilcon A, comfilcon, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, and balafilcon A. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ophthalmic device is selected from the group consisting of comfilcon, comfilcon, etafilcon A, galyfilcon A, senofilcon A, nelfilcon A, hilafilcon, tetrafilcon A, vasurfilcon, vifilcon, and polymacon. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ophthalmic device is etafilcon A. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ophthalmic device is formed from a silicone hydrogel. 
     
     
         24 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim  27  wherein the minimum effective amount is exceeded by about 20% and about 1000%, in a volume of solution that is between about 500 μL and about 5000 μL. 
     
     
         29 . The method of claim  27  wherein the minimum effective amount is exceeded by between about 50% and about 500%, in a volume of solution that is between about 500 μL and about 3000 μL. 
     
     
         30 . The method of claim  27  wherein the minimum effective amount is exceeded by about 50% in a volume of solution that is about 1000 μL. 
     
     
         31 - 50 . (canceled)