JPH09154922A - Sterilization washing method for contact lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve electrical safety against electric shock or the like while achieving a convenience to carry by immersing a contact lens into a treating solution containing hypohalogenous acid without containing halide and applying a direct current to the treating solution. SOLUTION: A treating solution containing hypohalogenous acid such as hypochlorous acid without containing halide such as sodium chloride is prepared. The concentration of the hypohalogenous acid is set at 0.1-200ppm. preferably below about 100ppm. A contact lens is immersed into the treating solution and then, fed with a direct current. The value of the direct current is specified to 0.001-0.5A. In this case, treating time is determined by the concentration of the hypohalogenous acid in the treating solution and the current value. Normally, it is about 1-200min. With such an arrangement, the use of a battery or the like is possible thereby achieving a convenience to carry and a safety with a limited power.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses. More specifically, while utilizing the excellent disinfecting and cleaning effect of hypohalous acid, it is possible to quickly detoxify hypohalous acid, and disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses that can be suitably used in a treatment device with a simple structure. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Contact lenses, when worn, are contaminated with dirt, microorganisms, proteins in tears, etc. in the environment, and therefore, if they are worn as they are for a long time, they may damage the eyes. It therefore needs to be cleaned and disinfected regularly, preferably daily.

As a method of disinfecting and cleaning the contact lens, a method of cleaning with a finger using a solution containing a surfactant is conventionally known. However, such a disinfecting and cleaning method cannot remove dirt on the surface. However, when applied to hard contact lenses, for example, they may be damaged or scratched during cleaning,
Further, when applied to a hydrous soft contact lens, it is not possible to completely remove stains such as proteins that have entered the inside of the contact lens.

As a cleaning method for reusing a contact lens contaminated with protein, a method using a cleaning agent containing a proteolytic enzyme is known. However, when such a method is used, the protein attached to the surface of the contact lens can be decomposed, but it takes a long time because an enzyme is used. In particular, when a water-containing soft contact lens is washed with such a detergent, in order to decompose the denatured protein inside the lens, the proteolytic enzyme itself must also enter the inside of the lens. In addition to the need for treatment for a longer period of time than that of the system contact lens, a sufficient protein removing effect cannot be expected.

Further, in US Pat. No. 4,732,185, a boric acid-EDTA buffer solution having a pH of 8 to 9 is used to form an electric field in a certain direction to immerse a contact lens, and proteins are removed by electrophoresis. The method of cleaning and washing is described. If washing is performed by this method, it is possible to remove the protein invading the inside of the hydrous contact lens, but the precondition for carrying out such a method is that the protein is not denatured and is ionized. However, there is a problem in that it is necessary and that the processing time is long.

On the other hand, as a method for disinfecting a hydrous soft contact lens, the contact lens is immersed in hydrogen peroxide solution to disinfect it, and hydrogen peroxide is decomposed using a metal catalyst, a reducing agent and an enzyme catalyst to detoxify it. There are known methods for disinfection, disinfection methods using compounds such as chlorohexidine, and the like.

However, in the method using hydrogen peroxide solution, the hydrogen peroxide remaining in the hydrous soft contact lens must be decomposed, so that the operation takes a long time and the hydrogen peroxide remains inside the contact lens. If the hydrogen peroxide is not completely decomposed, it causes irritation such as eye contact during wearing, so it cannot be said to be an appropriate disinfection method. Further, in the disinfection method using a compound such as chlorohexidine, there is a risk that the compound may be adsorbed on the lens, or the remaining compound may cause an allergic reaction to eyes and the like.

On the other hand, according to the disinfection method using hypochlorous acid, Staphylococcus aureus ( Staphy) at a concentration of several ppm
lococcus aureus ), E. coli ( Esch
erichia coli ), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( Pseudom )
onas aeruginosa ), Candida ( Can
It is possible to disinfect an eye pathogen such as D. albicans ) in a short time, and to remove stains of organic substances such as proteins attached to the lens.

As a method using such hypochlorous acid,
There is a method of producing hypochlorous acid by electrolysis as described in JP-A-56-68454 to disinfect it. However, this method takes time until the hypochlorous acid remaining after treatment spontaneously disappears. Since the contact lens is immersed in the hypochlorous acid solution for a long time, there is a problem that the color of the contact lens is discolored or the mark is detached.

Further, a lens which has been disinfected with hypochlorous acid cannot be worn as it is on the eye, and therefore, a hypochlorite remaining after disinfection using an appropriate metal catalyst or reducing agent. Methods have been proposed for deactivating chloric acid. As such a method, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-19
No. 218, a method of reducing and detoxifying hypochlorous acid with a metal catalyst, and a method of reducing and detoxifying hypochlorous acid with a reducing agent described in JP-A Nos. 50-106492 and 4-190214. There are ways to do it.

However, performing such a reducing operation after the disinfection treatment makes it difficult to maintain the sterility of the lens, and the reducing operation itself is complicated, so that the lens is kept for a long time and high before the reducing operation is completed. There is a problem such as deterioration of the material of the lens and discoloration of the color due to the action of hypochlorite ion at a high concentration, and if the reduction operation is not performed correctly, it may cause eye damage when wearing the lens. There was a problem of harming the organization.

Further, in JP-A-63-254416 and JP-A-63-254417, the electrolytic solution in the cleaning layer is divided into two parts by a partition having an ion exchange membrane, and a direct current is applied to the electrolytic solution. To generate an acidic solution containing hypochlorous acid and an alkaline solution, wash the contact lens with the alkaline solution, and then apply an electric current in the opposite direction to neutralize the alkaline solution in which the contact lens is immersed. Although methods have been proposed, in these methods, liquid (pH)
However, since the generated hypochlorous acid remains in the solution without being reduced, there is a problem that the lens cannot be worn as it is after the treatment.

Therefore, as a method of cleaning and sterilizing a contact lens capable of solving these conventional problems, the inventors of the present invention immerse the contact lens in a treatment liquid containing hypohalous acid or a halide, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-104221 proposes a method in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode of an electrode are repeatedly inverted for a plurality of times to apply a direct current (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-104221). It has been clarified that such hypohalous acid is promptly detoxified with sterilization.

[0014]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an attempt to further improve the above-mentioned method, and disinfects and cleans contact lenses by the excellent disinfecting power and cleaning power of hypohalous acid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses, which can detoxify halogenous acid more quickly.

The present invention further improves the electrical safety against electric shock and leakage by reducing the electric power as much as possible, and makes it possible to provide a contact lens processing device which is convenient to carry by using a battery or battery and has a simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical treatment method for a contact lens, which can be preferably used, can prolong the service life of the electrode of such a treatment device, and can further reduce the cost.

[0016]

The present invention is characterized in that a contact lens is not contained in a halide but is immersed in a treatment solution containing hypohalous acid, and then a direct current is applied to the treatment solution. And a method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As described above, the method of disinfecting and cleaning a contact lens according to the present invention comprises the steps of immersing a contact lens in a treatment solution containing a hypohalous acid, which does not contain a halide. It is characterized in that a direct current is passed through the liquid.

In the present invention, the hypohalous acid is an oxygen acid containing halogen of oxidation number +1 and is represented by the general formula: HXO (wherein X represents Cl, Br or I). , Hypohalous acid ion (XO ⁻ ).

The present invention is capable of promptly detoxifying hypohalous acid after utilizing the disinfecting and cleaning effect of hypohalous acid.

The treatment liquid used in the disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention does not contain a halide, but contains hypohalous acid. Examples of such hypohalous acid include hypochlorous acid and hypobromite. Acids and hypoiodic acid are mentioned. Examples of the halides include chlorides such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride; bromides such as sodium bromide and potassium bromide; iodides such as sodium iodide and potassium iodide.

The concentration of hypohalous acid in the treatment liquid is
In order to prevent the possibility of damaging the contact lens, the amount is 200 ppm or less, preferably 100 ppm or less.
It is desirable that the content be ppm or less, and in order to exhibit a sufficient disinfecting and cleaning effect, it should be 0.1 ppm or more, preferably 1 ppm or more. The concentration of the hypohalous acid is preferably about 2 to 10 ppm when only disinfecting the contact lens, and when disinfecting and cleaning the organic dirt such as protein. However, it is preferably 20 ppm or more.

As a method for obtaining a treatment solution containing the hypohalous acid, for example, hypochlorites such as sodium hypochlorite and potassium hypochlorite; sodium hypobromite and potassium hypobromite. And the like, and a method of adding hypohalite such as hypoiodite such as sodium hypoiodite and potassium hypoiodite to water and the like. When the above method is used in the present invention, usually, after preparing a treatment liquid containing hypohalous acid, the contact lens is immersed in the treatment liquid. Halogite may be added.

In the present invention, after immersing the contact lens in the treatment liquid, a disinfecting and cleaning treatment is carried out by applying a direct current to the treatment liquid. The time required for such treatment is as follows. Concentration of halous acid,
Although it varies somewhat depending on the current value and the like, it is usually about 1 to 200 minutes, preferably about 5 to 150 minutes.

In the present invention, when a direct current is applied to the treatment solution in which the contact lens is immersed, a material having a small ionization tendency that is resistant to deterioration such as elution is preferable as a material for the electrode. Typical examples of the material for such electrodes include noble metals such as gold and platinum, and synthetic resins and ceramics plated or vapor-deposited with these noble metals.

The current value of the direct current supplied to the treatment liquid is
It may be appropriately selected according to the type of treatment liquid and the electrode area, but in order to accelerate the reduction of hypohalous acid, 0.001 A or more, preferably 0.01 A or more is desirable, and When the temperature of the treatment liquid rises and, for example, when disinfecting and cleaning hard contact lenses and high water content soft contact lenses, thermal deformation such as deformation of hard contact lenses and deterioration of the material of high water content soft contact lenses occurs. Cause high quality deterioration, and require high voltage to obtain desired current value,
In order to eliminate the risk of electrical safety such as electric shock and leakage, it is preferably 0.5 A or less, and more preferably 0.2 A or less.

The voltage of the direct current applied between the electrodes is
In order to eliminate the problems such as a decrease in disinfecting and cleaning effect and a long time required for the reduction of hypohalous acid, 1
V or higher, preferably 1.5 V or higher, more preferably 2
It is preferable that the temperature is V or higher, and the temperature of the treatment liquid rises more than necessary, and when disinfecting and cleaning, the contact lens is thermally deteriorated, and electrical safety such as electric shock and leakage is caused. In order to eliminate the risk of reduction, it is desirable that the voltage is 40 V or less, preferably 20 V or less, and more preferably 10 V or less.

The time for applying a direct current to the treatment solution may be longer than the time required for reducing and detoxifying the hypohalous acid present in the solution, and from the viewpoint of safety, it is 30 seconds to 30 seconds. It is preferably about 120 minutes.

The treatment liquid used in the present invention may optionally contain, for example, a buffering agent and an electrolyte.

The buffering agent is a component for stabilizing the pH of the treatment liquid. By using such a buffering agent, the pH of the treatment liquid should be adjusted to a physiologically isotonic level of about 6 to 7.5. Is preferred.

Examples of the buffering agent include phosphate,
Examples thereof include borate, and these can be used alone or in admixture of two or more. The concentration of such a buffering agent in the treatment liquid is, for example, when used in combination with an electrolyte, etc., which will be described later, the combined concentration of the buffering agents becomes high and the osmotic pressure of the treatment liquid becomes too high. Wearing a contact lens that has been subjected to
mol / liter or less, preferably 0.0001-0.
It is preferably 05 mol / liter.

The electrolyte is a component for increasing the electric conductivity of the processing liquid and adjusting the osmotic pressure.

Examples of the electrolyte include sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium phosphate, sodium nitrate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, potassium sulfate, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. it can. The concentration of the electrolyte is preferably adjusted in combination with, for example, the above buffer so that the osmotic pressure of the treatment liquid is 250 to 350 mmol / kg.

In the disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention, for example, a treatment solution containing hypohalous acid is prepared as described above, and a contact lens is immersed in the treatment solution.
A direct current is applied to the treatment liquid to reduce hypohalous acid in the treatment liquid to detoxify it. According to such a disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention, hypohalous acid having a sufficient concentration for disinfection and cleaning can be completely reduced from the treatment liquid in a short time to make it nontoxic.

In the disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention,
In order to sufficiently remove stains such as lipids adhering to the contact lens, a surfactant is contained in the treatment solution before the contact lens is immersed in the treatment solution, or after the disinfection and cleaning, the surface activity of the contact lens is reduced. You may wash a contact lens with the washing | cleaning liquid containing an agent.

Examples of the surfactants include anionic surfactants such as sulfuric acid esters of higher alcohols and liquid fatty oils, alkyl ether sulfuric acid esters, alkyl sulfonates, sulfosuccinic acid esters, sodium alkyl ether sulfonates, and alkyl amine salts. , Cationic surfactants such as alkylammonium salts, nonionic surfactants such as alkyl ethers, alkylphenyl ethers, polyoxypropylene ethers, alkyl ester glycerin fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, etc. These may be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

When the above-mentioned surfactant is used by being contained in the treatment liquid, a surfactant which does not react with the contained hypohalous acid may be used. As such a surfactant, For example, sodium alkyl ether sulfonate and the like can be mentioned. Further, if the concentration of the surfactant is too high, the gas generated by the electrode reaction may cause excessive bubbles in the treatment liquid to overflow the treatment liquid from the container. The concentration of the surfactant in the treatment liquid is preferably 0.1% by weight or less, more preferably 0.05% by weight or less.

If stains of denatured proteins and other proteins that are difficult to remove exist inside the contact lens, the denatured proteins and the like are removed by contact with a solution containing a proteolytic enzyme before the treatment. May be easier.

Examples of the proteolytic enzyme include papain, chymopapain, pancreatin, trypsin,
Chymotrypsin, pepsin, ficin, carboxypeptidase, aminopeptidase, bromelin and other plant proteinases and animal proteinases, Bacillus,
Examples thereof include proteolytic enzymes derived from microorganisms such as Streptomyces bacteria and Aspergius filamentous fungi, and these can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The concentration of the proteolytic enzyme in the treatment liquid is such that the proteolytic enzyme activity in the treatment liquid is 300 to 1000 unit.
It is preferable to adjust it to be / ml.

Thus, by applying a direct current to reduce the hypohalous acid after the disinfecting and cleaning treatment to make it non-toxic, the contact lens that has been subjected to the disinfecting and cleaning treatment is taken out from the treatment liquid and put on the eye as it is. You can

Since the disinfecting and cleaning effect of the contact lens by hypohalous acid appears in a short time, it is necessary to reduce the hypohalous acid as soon as possible after the disinfecting and cleaning treatment to damage the contact lens. It is preferable because it does not exist.

Therefore, for example, in the conventional method using a reducing agent, it takes time until the reducing agent acts after the disinfection / cleaning treatment is completed, and in the method using a reducing catalyst, the reduction takes a long time. Therefore, the contact lens continues to be unnecessarily immersed in a state where the concentration of hypohalous acid remains high until the end of reduction, and there is a problem that the damage is large, whereas in the present invention,
Depending on the treatment liquid used, for example, by setting the time with a timer etc. and energizing while controlling the current, it is possible to reduce the hypohalous acid and detoxify it in a very short time after the disinfection and cleaning treatment. , Does not damage contact lenses.

Further, in the disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention, the contact lens taken out from the processing liquid can be directly worn on the eyes without requiring a complicated operation after the disinfecting and cleaning treatment, and the sterility of the contact lens is extremely high. Since it is maintained well, it is extremely useful as a method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses.

Further, since the disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention need only apply a direct current to the processing liquid, it can be suitably used for a contact lens processing apparatus having a simple structure,
An excellent effect that the service life of the electrode of such a processing apparatus can be made longer and the cost can be further reduced can be exhibited.

[0044]

EXAMPLES Next, the contact lens disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Examples 1 to 7 1.1 × 10 ^-1 mol / liter of sodium sulfate, 8.1 × 10 ^-3 mol / liter of boric acid and 2.4 of borax.
Sodium hypochlorite was added to a solution having a pH of 6.8 containing × 10 ⁻⁴ mol / liter, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid was adjusted to 20 ppm, 50 ppm or 100 ppm to obtain a treatment liquid.

The electrode area of 1.8 ml of the treatment liquid (3 ml)
^{2. A} pair of platinum with an inter-electrode distance of 1 mm is placed in a treatment container having a ceramic-plated electrode, and a soft green colored contact lens (product name software 72, ( (Manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd.) was immersed, and then a direct current was applied at the voltage and current values shown in Table 1 for the time shown in Table 1 to perform a disinfecting and cleaning treatment to reduce hypochlorous acid. Table 1 shows the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the treatment liquid at this time. The concentration of the hypochlorous acid remaining in the treatment liquid was determined by "Physical Hygiene Test Method / Commentary 1990" edited by The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, Kinbara Publishing Co., Ltd., P. It was measured according to the water quality test method described in 949 (quantitative method using orthotolidine).

Comparative Examples 1 and 2 In the same manner as in Example 1, adjustment was made so that the concentration of hypochlorous acid was 50 ppm or 100 ppm, and a treatment liquid was obtained.

3 ml of the treatment liquid was placed in the same treatment container as in Example 1 and allowed to stand as it was, and after 60 minutes,
The concentration of hypochlorous acid remaining in the treatment liquid after 20 minutes was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 2 shows the results.

[0049]

[Table 1]

[0050]

[Table 2]

From the results shown in Table 1 and Table 2, in Examples 1 to 7, it was 2 at the latest after the start of direct current application.
The hypochlorous acid in the treatment liquid was completely reduced within the time, while Comparative Examples 1 and 2 in which no direct current was applied
In Fig. 2, it can be seen that the concentration of hypochlorous acid has dropped to only about half of the initial value even after 2 hours.

Further, the presence or absence of hypochlorous acid in the treated contact lens was checked by using a 0.1% orthotrizine hydrochloric acid solution (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) for the contact lens.
The contact lens was immersed in a solution diluted two times, and it was examined whether the contact lens was colored yellow. As a result, 0.1
The presence of ppm or more of hypochlorous acid should cause the contact lens to be colored yellow, but the contact lens was not discolored at all and it was found that hypochlorous acid was reduced.

No discoloration of the contact lens was observed at all, and there was no problem even if such a contact lens was worn on the eyes as it was.

Next, 6 types of 3 ml of the treatment liquid of Example 1 were prepared for each of the microorganisms shown below, and water containing each of the microorganisms of 0.
1 ml was put into each treatment solution and the same disinfection treatment as described above was performed. Similar processing was performed for Examples 2 to 7.

[0055] For the treatment solution, each microorganism (E. coli (Escherichia Coli, ATCC873
9), Pseudomonas aerugi
nosa , ATCC15442), Serratia ( Serr
atia marcescens , clinical isolates, ATC
C13880), Staphylococcus aureus (Staphyloc
occus aureus , ATCC6538 ), Candida albicans , ATCC10
231), Aspergillus
Fumigatus , ATCC10894) disinfection (sterilization) effect test, 1m treatment liquid by plate dilution method
The measurement was performed by measuring the viable cell count per liter. Table 3 shows the results.
Shown in In Table 3, the numbers in parentheses () show the number of viable bacteria (cells / ml) of each microorganism before direct current application.

[0056]

[Table 3]

From the results shown in Table 3, in any of the examples, the viable bacteria were completely disappeared by the end of the energization with the direct current, or the viable cells were reduced to a very small amount compared with the number before the energization. Therefore, it can be seen that the method of the present invention has an excellent disinfection (sterilization) effect.

Example 8 Assuming the actual wearing of contact lenses, the disinfection (sterilization) effect on the microorganisms adhering to the contact lenses was examined.

Soft-colored contact lenses colored under light blue with a water content of 38% by weight (trade name Soft MA,
20 pieces (lens number: 1-20) manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd.
Then, 1.3 × 10 ⁶ pieces of the same Aspergillus as those used in Examples 1 to 7 were attached to each sheet.

Next, the same treatment liquid as that used in Example 3 was prepared except that hypochlorous acid was not contained,
Each of the contact lenses having the lens numbers 1 to 20 was washed with the treatment liquid for 20 seconds by hand, and then 2
The palm was washed for 0 seconds and again for 20 seconds with fingers.

Next, the water content used in Example 3 was 72.
The contact lens was immersed in the same manner as in Example 3 except that each of the contact lenses washed as described above was used instead of the soft color contact lens colored in a light weight of 10% by weight, and then a direct current was applied for 10 minutes. Was disinfected to reduce hypochlorous acid.

The number of viable bacteria (Aspergillus) remaining on the treatment liquid and the contact lens after completion of energization was measured by the plate dilution method. Table 4 shows the results.

[0063]

[Table 4]

From the results shown in Table 4, the viable cells were completely eliminated in all contact lenses, and the viable cells were completely eliminated in almost all the treatment solutions. It can be seen that the method has an extremely excellent disinfection (sterilization) effect in consideration of actual wearing of contact lenses.

Examples 9 to 15 Water content of N-vinylpyrrolidone as main component 70% by weight
17 soft contact lenses are prepared, and 16 of them are 1.5 ml of artificial tears (pH 7) having the following composition.
It was immersed in this at 37 ° C. for 1 hour.

(Composition of artificial tears) Albumin 11.64 g γ-globulin 4.83 g Lysozyme 3.6 g NaCl 9.0 g CaCl ₂ .2H ₂ O 0.15 g NaH ₂ PO ₄ .2H ₂ O 1.04 g distilled water 1.0 liter Next, among the contact lenses immersed in the artificial tears, 14 pieces were washed with fingers using Meniclean (trade name, manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd.), and then in Examples 1 to 7. Using the same treatment liquid and treatment container as used, dip each two contact lenses in it, and then apply a direct current until the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the treatment liquid becomes 0.1 ppm or less. It was washed. The operation of immersing in these artificial tears and the operation of performing the washing treatment are collectively referred to as cycle test A.

After 100 cycles of the cycle test A, the contact lens was visually observed and its transparency was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 5 together with the concentration of hypochlorous acid before direct current application.
Shown in

(Evaluation Criteria) A: The lens has the same excellent transparency as a contact lens not subjected to the cycle test A.

B: A little cloudiness is recognized as compared with the contact lens which was not subjected to the cycle test A.

C: White turbidity is remarkable.

[0071]

[Table 5]

From the results shown in Table 5, it can be seen that the contact lens after 100 cycles of the cycle test A has excellent transparency and that the protein of the present invention is sufficiently removed by the method of the present invention. Even after 100 cycles of the cycle test A, the contact lens was not damaged at all.

Comparative Example 3 The remaining two lenses out of the 16 contact lenses immersed in the artificial tears in Examples 9 to 15 were washed with Meniclean with fingers and then Menisork (trade name,
The contact lens was immersed in 1.5 ml of Menicon Co., Ltd. and boiled and disinfected using a boiling disinfection device (trade name, Riser E, manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd.). The operation of immersing in these artificial tears and the operation of performing boiling disinfection treatment are collectively referred to as cycle test B.

100 cycles of the cycle test B were carried out, and boiled and disinfected using the riser E 2
It became apparent to the naked eye that the contact lenses became cloudy after about 30 cycles of cycle test B. After 100 cycles, the presence or absence of sulfur (from protein) and phosphorus (from calcium phosphate) was examined with an X-ray microanalyzer to investigate the cause of cloudiness of the contact lens, and a peak indicating the presence of sulfur was detected. Was done.

Therefore, it is presumed that the cloudiness of the contact lens is caused by the protein, and that the protein is accumulated in the contact lens when the treatment by the method of the present invention is not carried out. A peak indicating the presence of phosphorus was not detected.

Example 16 and Comparative Example 4 In the same manner as in Examples 9 to 15, two contact lenses were immersed in 1.5 ml of artificial tear fluid at 37 ° C. for 1 hour and washed with fingers using Meniclean. After that, it was immersed in the same treatment liquid as that used in Example 3 except that it did not contain hypochlorous acid, and was subjected to disinfection treatment with a riser E. Next, the two contact lenses were allowed to cool to room temperature.

The above operation is defined as one cycle, and the operation 5
After 0 cycles, the contact lenses were visually observed, and it became apparent that the two lenses became cloudy after about 30 cycles.

From this, it is understood that the protein cannot be sufficiently removed from the contact lens by the boiling treatment with the riser E using the treatment solution containing no hypochlorous acid (Comparative Example 4).

Further, using the same treatment liquid and treatment container as in Example 3, one of the cloudy contact lenses after 50 cycles was immersed in the treatment liquid and then a direct current of 10 V and 160 mA for 10 minutes. Was energized for disinfection and cleaning treatment. After that, the contact lens was taken out from the processing container and visually observed, and it was returned to a transparent contact lens (Example 16).

From this, it is understood that the protein can be removed by the method of the present invention even in a contact lens in which the protein is fixed by heat denaturation.

[0081]

According to the disinfecting and cleaning method for contact lenses of the present invention, the contact lens is disinfected and cleaned by the excellent disinfecting power and cleaning power of hypohalous acid, and the hypohalous acid is quickly detoxified. The effect of being able to do is exhibited.

Further, since the disinfecting and cleaning method of the present invention only needs to pass a direct current to the treatment liquid, it can be suitably used for a contact lens treatment device having a simple structure, and the durability of the electrodes of such treatment device can be improved. It has an excellent effect that the number of days can be extended and the cost can be further reduced.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for disinfecting and cleaning a contact lens, which comprises immersing a contact lens in a treatment solution containing no halogenide but containing hypohalous acid, and then applying a direct current to the treatment solution. . 2. The concentration of hypohalous acid in the treatment liquid is 0.
The method for disinfecting and cleaning a contact lens according to claim 1, which is 1 to 200 ppm. 3. The disinfecting and cleaning method for a contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the current value of the direct current supplied to the treatment liquid is 0.001 to 0.5 A.