Method for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses using a mixture of peroxide and proteolytic enzyme

Abstract

A one step method for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses is accomplished by immersing the lenses in a solution containing peroxide and a peroxide-active enzyme.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for the simultaneous cleaning and disinfecting of contact lenses which method comprises contacting the lenses with a solution comprised of a disinfecting amount of peroxide and an effective amount of peroxide-active proteolytic enzyme for a time sufficient to remove substantially all protein accretions and to disinfect the lenses. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the solution is prepared by combining the enzyme and peroxide at the time the lenses are contacted with the solution. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the enzyme is in a powder or tablet form and is dissolved in the peroxide solution. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein the solution is prepared by dissolving a dry peroxide and dry enzyme in an aqueous solution. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein both components are combined in powder or tablet form. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 2 wherein the enzyme is present in an amount between 0.001 and 5 Anson units and the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide and is present in an amount between 0.02 and 10% by weight/volume. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 6 where the proteolytic enzyme is subtilisin. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, potassium persulfate, sodium percarbonate, diperisophthalic acid, peroxydiphosphate salts or sodium aluminum aminohydroperoxide. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 where the .[.aqueous composition.]. .Iadd.solution .Iaddend.comprises 3% hydrogen peroxide and 0.30% subtilisin A by weight/volume. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  The method of claim 1 wherein said contact lenses have a hydrophilic surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The method of claim 10 wherein said peroxide-active proteolytic enzyme is a subtilisin enzyme. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The method of claim 11 wherein said subtilisin enzyme is subtilisin A. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The method of claim 10 wherein said peroxide is hydrogen peroxide in an amount between 0.02 and 10% by weight/volume. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The method of claim 13 wherein said hydrogen peroxide is present in an amount of about 3% by weight/volume. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The method of claim 10 wherein said peroxide-active proteolytic enzyme is subtilisin A and said peroxide is hydrogen peroxide. .Iaddend.