EP0360063B1 - Contact lens storing and inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/CH89/00160 Sec. 371 Date May 7, 1990 Sec. 102(e) Date May 7, 1990 PCT Filed Sep. 1, 1989 PCT Pub. No. WO90/02496 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 22, 1990.A device for storing and examining contact lenses comprises a (1) with at least two cavities (2) in each of which one contact lens can be stored. The cavity (2) can be sealed by an air-tight, water-tight lid (3) and has a base specially shaped (21) to allow storage of the contact lenses. A liquid container (4,6) which communicates with the cavities through channels (5, 7) is arranged in the body. To examine the contact lenses stored in the cavities, the body (1) is held with the mat surface of the lid (3) pointing toward a light and the observer facing the lower surface of the body (1). At least one convex lens (10) which magnifies the image of the contact lens can be mounted on the lower surface (9). The contact lens can also be examined directly in the storage container (contact lens case) under focal illumination.

Description

The invention relates to a device defined in the preamble of claim 1.

It is necessary for the user or wearer to keep his contact lenses in a safe place; be it at night, due to external circumstances, e.g. Type of activity (swimming, surfing, sailing, martial arts) or by reducing the wearer's comfort or by deteriorating the optical properties due to deposits, microorganisms on the contact lens surface or damage to these surfaces or during cleaning times. The known storage cases consist of a flat, opaque piece in which the recesses for the contact lenses are provided, which recesses are closed with a screw cap. Both hydrophilic and gas permeable contact lenses should be kept moist. When it dries out, a hydrophilic contact lens can be destroyed and a gas-permeable contact lens changes shape. The moist storage enables asepsis of the lens through antiseptic additives in the storage medium.

The object of the invention is at the same time to enable the contact lens to be stored and examined in the storage container. The contact lens can be viewed or examined in transmitted light or with focal lighting.

As is known, the contact lenses have to be examined for deposits, microorganisms, fungi, mechanical damage and age changes which adversely affect their wearing comfort and their optical properties and can lead to eye complications.

These examinations are carried out by the ophthalmologist or optician. The importance of such regular examinations of the contact lenses is briefly outlined below.

As is well known, organic and inorganic deposits form on the surfaces of the contact lenses and microorganisms and fungi are deposited. The organic deposits are components (proteins, mucins, lipids) of the tear fluid. The inorganic deposits (metal, iron, rust) come from work-related circumstances (air pollution, street dust, metal abrasion, etc.). The inorganic deposits also include those of calcium salts, which are also referred to as hard water deposits. They arise as a result of rinsing the contact lenses with tap water or by changing the pH of the tear fluid (medication, physiological influences). The microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) and fungi belong to the normal microflora of the conjunctiva, the conjunctival sac and the tear-evacuating pathways. This changes as soon as the balance of the microflora is disturbed, which happens due to the transmission of germs from hands, improper cleaning and disinfection, illness or metabolic disorders (diabetic) of the lens wearer or contact of the contact lenses with the environment. It is also known that the contact lenses are subject to changes, damage and aging to their material in the course of their use. The material changes (e.g. discoloration) are based on environmental influences (cigarette smoke, color vapors, cosmetics, discolouration of storage containers), aging and also normal cleaning measures. The damage (hairline cracks, abrasions, scratches, edge breakouts) are due to improper handling, drying out and cleaning of the lenses. These changes in the contact lenses cause a number of complications for the user or wearer.

Serious complications with adverse consequences for the affected person. Eye have been described. For this reason, every wearer of contact lenses is instructed to have their eyes and contact lenses examined at regular intervals. It must also be assumed that wearing contact lenses after a certain period of time often leads to a disturbance in the sensitivity of the cornea. Because of this, contact lens wearers sometimes feel complications late and it takes valuable time before they go to the ophthalmologist. Because of this, a device that allows any wearer to easily examine their contact lens could prevent complications in some cases.

US-A-4 545 479 proposes a device in which contact lenses can be stored and observed. Since there is no liquid and no fixation, the soft and hard contact lenses are dried out and damaged during storage due to unintentional movements in their housings. Because of the lack of fixation, the daily observations of the contact lenses are made more difficult by the fact that the contact lenses as a whole can only be observed at a certain position of the entire device. With any other device position, the contact lenses move in an unforeseeable manner out of the observation field, following the effect of gravity. Another disadvantage can be seen in the fact that an external lighting source, for example a punctiform light source or a window, against which the device for observing the contact lens is held, overlaps undesired contours with the image of the contact lens due to the optical structure of the device, which the significance of the observation worsen. The observer cannot move between the rubbers or mechanical Differentiate damage on the contact lens surfaces and the undesired contours, e.g. light reflections.

GB-A-2 033 605 describes a device for centering contact lenses of different parameters in the position favorable for the optical examination. A mechanical lever mechanism moves the contact lens provided in a liquid back and forth several times until its concave inner surface comes to rest on an examination window. As a result of the disadvantageous design of the device, this contact takes place in a dry state, which under certain circumstances can lead to damage to the concave inner surface of the contact lens. The device is not used to store contact lenses.

Various cleaning options are used, which are not listed here since they are not the subject of the invention. The wearer could examine his contact lenses himself if he had an easy-to-use and inexpensive device at his disposal. The self-examination does not replace the examination by the contact lens specialist.

The object of the invention is to provide the contact lens user with an improved storage case and a simple examination device, the two devices being integrated in one piece. The wearer is therefore able to examine his contact lenses during storage. This prevents the contact lenses from drying out, which leads to destruction. As a result of the high humidity, the advantage of examining the contact lenses is that contamination, reflections and artifacts cannot occur.

Such a combination of storage and examination of the contact lenses according to the invention is defined in the characterizing part of the patent claim.

Figur 1

den Querschnitt der Vorrichtung zum Aufbewahren und Untersuchen von Kontaktlinsen;

Figur 2

die Draufsicht der gleichen Vorrichtung.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Figure 1

the cross section of the device for storing and examining contact lenses;

Figure 2

the top view of the same device.

The device shown in FIG. 1 contains a body 1 made of optically transparent material, in which two cavities 2 are provided for storing one contact lens per cavity. Each cavity is closed watertight by means of a cover 3 made of transparent material. A thread is preferably provided on the cavity and cover, so that the cover is screwed into the cavity. Another detachable connection is readily applicable, e.g. Bayonet or plug connection. The bottom 21 of the cavity 2 is shaped like a paraboloid or a cone. As a result, a contact lens comes into contact with its convex side in such a way that there is only a line contact between it and the floor. The lid 3 can only be screwed so deep into the cavity 2 that it does not necessarily touch the contact lens, but it limits its freedom of movement. This and with the linear support in the cavity ensure that all parts of the contact lens, including the edge, can be viewed without gaps.

To maintain the moisture required for the contact lens in the cavity 2, a reservoir or container 4, 6 is provided. One container 4 is attached in the edge zone of the body 1 and has a large volume for an aqueous solution. Such solutions are known as contact lens storage media. The container 4 is in the immediate vicinity of the small chamber in which the contact lens is fixed. In the present embodiment, the container 4 is circular. It can also be elliptical if the body has this shape. There is a gap between cover 3 and bottom 21 about 0.5 to 1 mm, which allows enough liquid to circulate and prevents the lens from being damaged when the case is closed. The cavities 2, which are closed in a liquid-tight manner by the covers 3 and contain the contact lenses, are filled with liquid in the same way. If this is not the case at the beginning, a slight shaking of the body 1 is sufficient. Instead of the container 4, another container 6 can be arranged in the central zone of the body 1, which is shown in dashed lines. The surrounding containers 4, 6 can communicate with the cavities 2 via communicating channels 7 and ensure that the contact lenses are adequately supplied with liquid. The lid 3 screwed or inserted into the cavities has grooves or cutouts on its side so that the liquid container 4 or 6 can communicate with the cavities 2 via the channels 5 or 7 even when the lid exits the upper channel 5 or 7 should affect. 1 shows a conical bevel in the lower part of the cover 3.

The top view of FIG. 2 shows the same things of FIG. 1 and better reflects the spatial arrangement of the liquid containers 4, 6 and the communicating channels 5, 7. The edge zone of the body 1 shown is circular. However, it can also be elliptical or approximately square. Four cavities 2 can also be provided, which have corresponding channels to the containers 4, 6. The channels can also be arranged differently, as was shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the liquid containers 4, 6 which can supply the contact lenses in the cavities 2 with sufficient liquid. New liquid can be brought into the container by directing the liquid into the cavities and through the channels 5, 7 or into a special filling opening 8 directly into the container. The old liquid is replaced by the new one in the same way. For reasons of sterility, the storage fluid is usually exchanged daily.

With the devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the contact lenses stored in the cavities 2 can be examined or observed. This is done in such a way that the observer holds the cover 3 against a light source and looks at the underside 9 of the body 1. The surface of the lid is matted, whereas the underside 9 of the body 1 is smooth and transparent. It should also be noted that the refractive indices of the optical transparent material of body 1, cover 3 and liquid in the cavity 2 should be in a narrow range, so that no undesirable refractions of the light rays can occur. The matt finish of one surface should allow a uniformly illuminated background against which the contact lens can be viewed.

The image of the contact lens viewed against the frosted background can be magnified, e.g. a converging lens 10 are enlarged, which is glued to the correspondingly shaped surface 9 at the points close to the floors 21. For the sake of simplicity, only one converging lens 10 is drawn. The converging lens has a larger diameter than the contact lens to be considered, so that the entire surface of the contact lens can be examined. It is also possible to glue a single large magnifying lens or converging lens 10 onto the entire surface 9. It is only necessary to ensure that the contact lens stored in the cavity 2 has a certain distance from the converging lens 10. At a distance smaller than the focal length of the lens, a virtual, enlarged image of the contact lens is created. A distance between the single and double lens focal length creates a real, enlarged image of the contact lens.

In another exemplary embodiment, the magnification optics or converging lens is arranged in or on the cover 3. In this case the cover 3 is smooth and the underside 9 of the body 1 is matted.

So far, the transmitted light method has been described for the examination of the contact lenses. The contact lenses can also be used with so-called focal lighting, i.e. by means of a slit lamp.

With the present combined device, contact lenses can be stored and examined at the same time. The device is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.

Claims (7)

1. Storage and examination device for contact lenses, each contact lens being accommodated in a hollow space (2) which is closed by a closure (3) consisting of optically transparent material, characterised in that the hollow spaces (2) and at least one liquid container (4, 6), which communicates with said hollow spaces via channels (5, 7), are arranged in a body (1) consisting of optically transparent material, the bottom (21) of each hollow space (2) having a special shape for fixing the contact lens in operative connection with the closure (3) inserted in the hollow space (2), such that the contact lens retained in its storage position can be observed over its entire surface.
2. Device according to Patent Claim 1, characterised in that a liquid container (4) is arranged in the edge zone of the body (1) to supply the contact lenses provided in the hollow spaces (2) with storage liquid.
3. Device according to Patent Claim 1, characterised in that another liquid container (6) is arranged in the central zone of the body (1) to supply the contact lenses provided in the hollow spaces (2) with storage liquid.
4. Device according to Patent Claim 1, characterised in that two liquid containers (4, 6) are arranged in the body (1) to supply the contact lenses provided in the hollow spaces (2) with storage liquid.
5. Device according to Patent Claim 1, characterised in that the surface of the closure (3) has a matt finish for examining the contact lens stored in the hollow space (2), and the base area (9) of the body (1) is smooth and transparent.
6. Device according to Patent Claim 5, characterised in that the surface of the closure (3) has a matt finish, and the base area (9) of the body (1) is smooth and contains at least one magnifying lens system (10).
7. Device according to Patent Claim 6, characterised in that the base area (9) of the body (1) is smooth and is shaped accordingly at the places for receiving the collecting lens (10), said places being located nearest to the bottom (21) of the hollow space (2).

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