JPH0511222A - Washing method for hard contact lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate use and to improve detergency as well as to obviate the exertion of an adverse influence on the hard contact lens by immersing the lens into a soln. mixture composed of an aq. soln. of permanganate and an aq. soln. of a mild reducing material. CONSTITUTION:The hard contact lens is immersed into the soln. mixture composed of the aq. soln. of the permanganate and the aq. soln. of the mild reducing material. This permanganate may be either alkaline metal salts, such as sodium salt and potassium salt and alkaline earth metal salts, such as calcium salt and magnesium salt. Above all, the potassium salt is advantageously used. Any reducing materials are conveniently usable, insofar as the materials having a mild reducing effect; above all, org. acids, such as citric acid, tartaric acid or succinic acid, having the mild reducing property or saccharides, such as xylose, glucose, mannose, galactose, and ribose, having the mild reducing property, are preferably used. These materials may be used alone or in combination of >=2 kinds.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for cleaning contact lenses. More specifically, the present invention is a method for cleaning a hard contact lens, which comprises immersing the hard contact lens in a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and an aqueous solution of a mild reducing substance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hard contact lenses are roughly classified into conventional hard contact lenses made of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and oxygen permeable hard contact lenses made of silicon resin, fluororesin, cellulose or the like. To be done. Oxygen-permeable hard contact lenses have come to be used as hard contact lenses that are one step ahead of conventional hard contact lenses, but they are superior in wearability compared to conventional hard contact lenses. However, there are drawbacks such that various stains tend to adhere. Even in conventional hard contact lenses, even though the adhesion of dirt is less than in oxygen permeable hard contact lenses, if worn for a long period of time, eye oil secreted from the eye, proteins, sugars, mucopolysaccharides, inorganic substances, etc. It is unavoidable that dirt adheres. Not only causing eye irritation when continuing to wear such stains, but also bacteria and molds that adhere to them proliferate with these as nutrient sources, causing various serious damage to the eyes. It has been known. Therefore,
Various cleaning agents have been proposed and used to remove stains on hard contact lenses and prevent adverse effects on the eyes. These cleaning agents have the drawback that they damage the lens and it is very difficult to tell when the cleaning is completed. Further, it is difficult to say that many of these cleaning agents have a sufficient cleaning effect for hard contact lenses with large stains, and in particular, a cleaning method for sufficiently removing stains caused by proteins is known to be known. No, there is no place.

[0003]

Under these circumstances, there is a demand for a method for cleaning a hard contact lens that is easy to use, has excellent cleaning power, and has no adverse effect on the hard contact lens. There is.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As a result of investigations by the present inventors to establish a method for cleaning a hard contact lens that exerts stronger cleaning power and does not adversely affect the hard contact lens, Surprisingly, the inventors have completed the present invention by discovering that a hard contact lens can be advantageously cleaned by using a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and a mild aqueous solution of a reducing substance.

That is, the present invention is a method for cleaning a hard contact lens, which is characterized in that the hard contact lens is immersed in a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and an aqueous solution of a mild reducing substance. Some hard contact lenses have oxygen permeability and some do not, but the cleaning method of the present invention can be applied to any of these types of hard contact lenses.

In the cleaning method of the present invention, a hard contact lens is immersed in a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and an aqueous solution of a reducing substance. The cleaning treatment in the cleaning method of the present invention can be carried out usually at room temperature, and it is not necessary to carry out heating, stirring or the like.

The permanganate used in the cleaning method of the present invention is an alkali metal salt such as sodium salt or potassium salt,
Any salt such as an alkaline earth metal salt such as a calcium salt or a magnesium salt may be used, and an appropriate salt may be used, but a potassium salt is particularly preferably used.
The concentration of permanganate in the aqueous solution is appropriately selected depending on the type of salt, the type of target hard contact lens, the type of stain, the degree, etc.
5%, preferably 0.015 to 1.5%.

On the other hand, any mild reducing substance can be conveniently used as long as it has a mild reducing action, but especially it has a mild reducing property such as citric acid, tartaric acid or succinic acid. Organic acid or xylose,
Glucose, mannose, galactose, ribose and the like sugars having a mild reducing property are preferably used, and these can be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.
The concentration of the mild reducing substance in the aqueous solution is preferably a concentration at which an amount sufficient to reduce the permanganate used is dissolved, and such amount is easily calculated from the chemical equivalent, You can decide. The pH of the aqueous solution of the mild reducing substance used here is about 2 to 7, preferably 2 to 7.
It is preferable to adjust the pH to about 5. further,
If necessary, a preservative such as benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine hydrochloride or chlorobutanol can be added.

Further, in the method of the present invention, a surfactant can be used in combination. When a surfactant is used, it has an advantage over the time when it is not used, such that dirt due to lipids such as oil can be washed at the same time. As the surfactant, it is desirable to use a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant or an amphoteric surfactant. Examples of nonionic surfactants include polyglycerin fatty acid esters such as decaglycer monolaurate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene (25) lauryl ether, and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene cetyl ether. The use of oxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether or polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether such as polyoxyethylene (30) octylphenyl ether is preferred, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester or polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester Oxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether and the like can also be used.
Examples of the anionic surfactant include alkyl sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate, N-acyl amino acids such as sodium N-lauroylsarcosine, and N such as sodium N-cocoylmethyl taurine.
-Acylmethyl taurine salt is preferably used, and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether acetate, polyoxyalkyl ether sulfate, alkylsulfocarboxylate and the like can also be used. As the amphoteric surfactant, betaine acetate or imidazolinium betaine can be advantageously used.

These surfactants are preferably added to the solution of the mild reducing substance, but a solution of the surfactant is prepared separately, and the solution of the permanganate is prepared for use.
It can also be used as a mixture with a solution of a mild reducing substance. The concentration of the surfactant used here is appropriately selected depending on the type of the surfactant, the type of stain on the target hard contact lens, the degree, etc., but is usually about 0.
05 to 5%, preferably 0.2 to 2%.

The hard contact lens washed by the washing method of the present invention is immediately put on the eye by rinsing away the washing agent with purified water, tap water, a hard contact lens preservative solution or the like according to a conventional method. , Can be used.

As the hard contact lens preservative solution used here, any known preservative solution can be used for convenience as long as it is a non-irritating preservative solution.

The use of an aqueous solution of permanganate for cleaning soft contact lenses has already been described, for example, in Showa 5
Although it is described in Patent Application Publication No. 8333, etc. for 6 years, there is no known method for cleaning hard contact lenses with an aqueous solution of permanganate.
As described above, the hard contact lens and the soft contact lens have different chemical compositions and also different behaviors against permanganate, which is a representative of strong oxidants. Therefore, the behavior of permanganate with respect to a hard contact lens was clarified for the first time by the study by the present inventors, it was found that it did not adversely affect the material, and it was confirmed that it can be used as a cleaning agent for hard contact lenses. It is a thing.

In the cleaning method of the present invention, a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and an aqueous solution of a mild reducing substance is used. As is well known, since permanganate is a strong oxidant, it is expected that if the solution and an aqueous solution of a reducing substance are mixed, the reaction immediately proceeds between them and the aqueous solution is neutralized. However, when a mild reducing substance is selected as this reducing substance, both components in this mixed solution are stably present as a mixed aqueous solution of both components for the time required for cleaning the hard contact lens. Therefore, it was possible to obtain the unexpected result that the oxidation and the neutralization can be performed at once with the mixed liquid.

In addition, it is preferable to add a surfactant for cleaning the hard contact lens having lipid attached,
Above all, the selection of nonionic or anionic surfactant is effective.

For the cleaning of hard contact lenses that are heavily soiled by calcium deposition, it is preferable to mix an organic acid as a mild reducing substance and adjust the pH of the aqueous solution of the mild reducing substance to be acidic. Especially pH 2-5
Is effective.

When an aqueous solution of permanganate and an aqueous solution of a mild reducing substance are used separately,
First, the hard contact lens is dipped in an aqueous solution of permanganate, which is a strong oxidant, and treated with a reducing substance that is a neutralizing agent after the cleaning is completed. It is difficult to know the end of cleaning of hard contact lenses immersed in manganate, and it is necessary to set the cleaning time from the beginning of cleaning in consideration of the type of hard contact lens and the degree of dirt, It was difficult to sufficiently avoid the change in the material of the hard contact lens caused by continuing the immersion for an extra time. According to the cleaning method of the present invention, when a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and a mild reducing substance is used, the ratio of the two is appropriately selected so that the mixed solution containing the end of the treatment is used. There is an advantage that it can be easily known from the color tone. That is, the end of washing can be known when the color tone of the mixed solution due to permanganate disappears.
Therefore, it will be obvious that setting and management of the cleaning time will be extremely easy.

Further, in the cleaning method of the present invention, since the cleaning treatment is carried out with a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and an aqueous solution of a mild reducing substance, the treatment of permanganate which is a strong oxidant is carried out. The influence of the inside can be stopped to the minimum,
As compared with the case where the hard contact lens is immersed only in the aqueous solution of permanganate, there is an advantage that deterioration of the material of the hard contact lens is so small that it does not become a problem.

[0019]

[Experimental example]

[Experimental Sample] A cleaning agent for contact lenses was prepared according to the following formulation. 1st liquid Potassium permanganate 0.66% Purified water proper amount Second liquid Citric acid 2.0% Glucose 1.0% Disodium hydrogen phosphate 0.5% Sodium hydroxide proper amount Purified water proper amount (pH 3.5) Experiment The following four types of hard contact lenses were used.

[0020]

[Table 1]

[Experimental Method] 2 ml each of the first liquid and the second liquid were placed in a 5 ml vial and mixed, and the contaminated hard contact lens used in the human eye was immersed in this mixed liquid to make the liquid colorless. After that, the hard contact lenses were rinsed with preservative. The diameters and base curves of four untreated hard contact lenses were measured in advance, and the above treatment was repeated 50 times for each hard contact lens. After the treatment of 50 times, the diameter and the base curve were measured once again, and the following results were obtained.

[Experimental Results]

[Table 2]

As can be seen from these results, in the experiment using the cleaning liquid whose concentration was extremely higher than that in the actual use, and in spite of the harsh test of continuous treatment 50 times, which kind It was found that even the hard contact lens of No. 3 had no adverse effect on the diameter and the base curve. No change was observed in the external appearance, contact angle, or lens power by macroscopic observation.

[0024]

[Example] Example 1   First liquid potassium permanganate 0.3%           Purified water Suitable amount   Second liquid citric acid 2.0%           Tartaric acid 2.0%           Succinic acid 2.0%           Sodium hydroxide suitable amount           Purified water Suitable amount                                                         (PH 3.5)

2 ml each of the first and second liquids were placed in a 5 ml vial and mixed, and one hard contact lens (product name: Elcon Ex-O ₂ ) that was contaminated by using this mixture with human eyes was used. Dip, and after the liquid becomes colorless,
Hard contact lenses were rinsed with preservative. By visual observation, it was confirmed that the hard contact lens treated in this example was sufficiently removed of stains and was transparent.

Example 2   First liquid potassium permanganate 0.2%           Purified water Suitable amount   Second liquid glucose 1.0%           Citric acid 0.5%           Disodium hydrogen phosphate 0.5%           Sodium hydroxide suitable amount           Purified water Suitable amount                                                         (PH 3.5)

2 ml each of the first liquid and the second liquid were placed in a 5 ml vial and mixed, and one hard contact lens (product name: Elcon Ex-O ₂ ) contaminated by using this mixture with the human eye. Dip, and after the liquid becomes colorless,
Hard contact lenses were rinsed with preservative. By visual observation, it was confirmed that the hard contact lens treated in this example was sufficiently removed of stains and was transparent.

Example 3   First liquid potassium permanganate 0.03%           Purified water Suitable amount   Second liquid citric acid 0.2%           Tartaric acid 0.1%           Disodium hydrogen phosphate 0.05%           Sodium hydroxide suitable amount           Purified water Suitable amount                                                         (PH 3.5)

2 ml each of the first and second liquids were placed in a 5 ml vial and shaken, and the hard contact lens artificially contaminated by immersing the mixture in 0.1% lysozyme chloride (trade name: Elcon One piece of Ex-O ₂ ) was immersed in the solution, and after the solution became colorless, the hard contact lens was rinsed with a storage solution. By visual observation, it was confirmed that the hard contact lens treated in this example was sufficiently removed of stains and was transparent.

Example 4   First liquid potassium permanganate 0.03%             Purified water Suitable amount   Second liquid [A] Citric acid 0.2%               Tartaric acid 0.1%               Polyoxyethylene (25) lauryl ether 0.5%               Disodium hydrogen phosphate 0.05%               Sodium hydroxide suitable amount               Purified water Suitable amount                                                           (PH 4.5)

Polyoxyethylene (2
5) decaglyceryl monolaurate (0.5%), polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene cetyl ether (0.5%), polyoxyethylene (30) octiphenyl ether (0. 5
%), Sodium lauryl sulphate (1.0%), N-lauroyl sarcosine sodium (0.5%) or N-cocoylmethyl taurine sodium (2.0%), respectively replaced with the second liquid [B], The second liquid [C], the second liquid [D], the second liquid [E], and the second liquid [F] were used.

In a 5 ml vial, the first liquid and the second liquid [A], the second liquid [B], the second liquid [C], the second liquid [D],
2 ml each of the second liquid [E] or the second liquid [F] was mixed and shaken, and each mixed liquid was artificially contaminated with artificial dirt (Note). Hard contact lenses (trade name: Elcon Ex
-O ₂ ) Dip one by one, and after the mixture becomes colorless, drop 2 to 3 drops of the colorless mixture on both sides of the lens, wash by gently rubbing, and rinse with water. It is.
By visual observation, it was confirmed that the hard contact lens treated in this example was sufficiently removed of stains and was transparent.

Example 5   First liquid potassium permanganate 0.03%             Purified water Suitable amount   Second liquid citric acid 0.2%             Tartaric acid 0.1%             Decaglyceryl monolaurate 0.5%             N-lauroyl sarcosine sodium 0.5%             N-cocoyl methyl taurine sodium 2.0%             Disodium hydrogen phosphate 0.05%             Sodium hydroxide suitable amount             Purified water Suitable amount                                                           (PH 4.5)

A hard contact lens (product name: artificially contaminated with artificial dirt (Note) in a mixed solution containing 2 ml each of the first solution and the second solution in a 5 ml vial and shaking them.
Erkon Ex-O ₂ ) One by one is soaked, and after the mixture becomes colorless, a few drops of the colorless mixture are dropped on both sides of the lens and lightly rubbed to clean.
Rinse with water. By visual observation, it was confirmed that the hard contact lens treated in this example was sufficiently removed of stains and was transparent.

[Note] Artificial dirt                                                 Mixing ratio (parts by weight)         Myristic acid 1.5         Oleic acid 1.5         Tristearin 1.5         Cholesterol stearate 1.5         Cholesterol 0.2         Squalene 0.8

[0036]

As described in detail above, according to the cleaning method of the present invention, a method for cleaning a hard contact lens is provided which can minimize the deterioration of the material of the hard contact lens and can be easily and surely carried out. To be done. That is, according to the cleaning method of the present invention, stains on hard contact lenses, particularly organic stains such as proteins and lipids, and inorganic stains such as calcium can be effectively removed by a simple means. The hard contact lens can be washed without impairing the physical properties such as transparency, base curve and diameter of the hard contact lens to be treated.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for cleaning a hard contact lens, comprising immersing the hard contact lens in a mixed solution of an aqueous solution of permanganate and an aqueous solution of a mild reducing substance. 2. The method for cleaning a hard contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the mild reducing substance is an organic acid having a mild reducing property. 3. The method for cleaning a hard contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the organic acid having a mild reducing substance is one or more organic acids selected from citric acid, tartaric acid and succinic acid. 4. The method for cleaning a hard contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the mild reducing substance is a saccharide having a mild reducing property. 5. The method for cleaning a hard contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the saccharide having a mild reducing substance is one or more saccharides selected from xylose, glucose, mannose, galactose or ribose. 6. The method for cleaning a hard contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the mixed solution of the aqueous solution of permanganate and the aqueous solution of a mild reducing substance contains a surfactant. Law. 7. The method for cleaning a hard contact lens according to claim 6, wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 8. The nonionic surfactant is one or more selected from polyglycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether and polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether. Claim 7
The method for cleaning hard contact lenses according to. 9. The method for cleaning a hard contact lens according to claim 6, wherein the surfactant is an anionic surfactant. 10. The cleaning of a hard contact lens according to claim 9, wherein the anionic surfactant is one or more surfactants selected from alkyl sulfates, N-acyl amino acids or N-acyl methyl taurine salts. Law.