System for disinfecting contact lenses

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a hydrogen peroxide-based lens care system for disinfecting contact lenses. Unlike hydrogen peroxide-based system known in the prior art, a lens care system of the present invention involves electrochemically neutralizing of hydrogen peroxide after any desired period of disinfection time for which contact lenses have been immersed in a hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A lens care apparatus for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses, comprising:
 a container for holding a hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution having a pH of from about 6 to about 8 and comprising from about 0.30% to about 1.4% by weight of one or more chloride salts and a tonicity of from about 150 to about 400 mOsm/kg as measured by osmolality at 25° C. of the solution;   one pair of electrodes for electrochemically neutralizing hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution, wherein the pair of electrodes consists of one cathode and one anode having an ion selective membrane (ISM) thereon so as to prevent chloride ions from approaching the electrode to form chlorine and/or hypochlorite and so as to ensure an electrolytically-induced change in pH, designated as ΔpH, being about 1.0 or less (preferably about 0.5 or less), wherein ΔpH=|pH o −pH f | in which pH o  is the initial pH of the lens care solution and pH f  is the final pH of the lens care solution after electrochemical neutralization of hydrogen peroxide; and   a control unit operatively connected to the electrodes and to a power source for automatically controlling the electrode polarity and potential of the electrodes, as well as the timing and duration of electrochemically neutralizing of hydrogen peroxide, so that optimum disinfection and cleaning efficacy is obtained,   
       wherein the container comprises a container cup defining an interior chamber accessible through an opening bounded by a rim and for receiving the hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution, a cap for removable attachment onto the container cup to cover the opening, and a lens holder for retaining the contact lenses immersed in the hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution in the container cup, wherein the electrodes are located in the interior chamber and immersed in the hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution when in use. 
     
     
         10 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lens holder comprises one or more closable baskets, which open to receive the contact lenses to be disinfected and cleaned and close to retain the lenses during treatment. 
     
     
         11 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit comprises an electronic circuitry for operatively connecting the electrodes with the power source and microprocessors and/or embedded systems for automatically controlling the electrode polarity and potential of the electrodes, as well as the timing and duration of the electrochemical neutralization process. 
     
     
         12 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit comprises a power pack, an automatic switching mechanism, indicator, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the power pack is an AC-DC converter or DC battery. 
     
     
         14 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit comprises an electronic circuitry for operatively connecting the electrodes with the power source and microprocessors and/or embedded systems for automatically controlling the electrode polarity and potential of the electrodes, as well as the timing and duration of the electrochemical neutralization process. 
     
     
         15 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the control unit comprises a power pack, an automatic switching mechanism, indicator, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the power pack is an AC-DC converter or DC battery. 
     
     
         17 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit comprises a power pack, an automatic switching mechanism, indicator, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The lens care apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the power pack is an AC-DC converter or DC battery.