Process of soaking and sterilizing hydrophilic soft contact lens with chlorhexidine

Abstract

Chlorhexidene solutions are employed to sterilize and soak both hard and soft contact lenses.

I claim: 
     
       1. The process of soaking and sterilizing hydrophilic soft contact lenses comprising placing a lens in an aqueous solution containing from about .Badd..[.0.001.]. .Baddend..Iadd.0.004 .Iaddend.percent to .Badd..[.0.1.]. .Baddend..Iadd.0.01 .Iaddend.percent of chlorhexidene for a time sufficient to sterilize said lens. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the chlorhexidene is, employed as a salt selected from the group consisting of digluconate, diacetate and dihydrochloride. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution is an isotonic solution containing an isotonic agent. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 3 wherein the isotomic agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium citrate, boric acid, sodium nitrate, propylene glycol, glycerine and mannitol. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 wherein The aqueous solution has a pH of 4.5 to 8.5. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 5 wherein the pH is about 7.4. .Iadd. 7. The process according to claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic soft contact lenses are consisting essentially of polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate cross-linked with hydroxyethyl dimethacrylate..Iaddend..Iadd. 8. A process according to claim 2, wherein said hydrophilic soft contact lenses are consisting essentially of polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate cross-linked with hydroxyethyl dimethacrylate. .Iaddend.