FI84521B - SKOETSELTILLBEHOER FOER KONTAKTGLAS. - Google Patents

Description

84521

Contact lens service equipment

The invention relates to contact lens maintenance equipment.

The maintenance equipment for soft and hard contact lenses is suitable for cleaning, disinfecting and stabilizing the optical properties and improving the comfort of use. The importance of hydrogen peroxide, as an antimicrobial agent, has recently increased in the disinfection and cleaning of contact lenses. Compared to chlorhexidine or organic mercury compounds such as thiomersal, which are also used to disinfect contact lenses, hydrogen peroxide has better antimicrobial efficacy, especially against relatively resistant Aspergillus species. Known hydrogen peroxide solutions used for cleaning contact lenses are 3% peroxide solutions (German Patent 2,425,714). After contact lenses are treated with these solutions, relatively large amounts of residual hydrogen peroxide solution adhere to the lens. When the treated lenses are then placed in place, these residual amounts lead to varying degrees of mucosal irritation. Therefore, after treatment with a hydrogen peroxide solution, it is necessary to treat the lens with a neutralizing solution, as a result of which the hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen. The elimination of residual amounts of hydrogen peroxide after sterilization treatment by decomposition, in particular by means of heavy metal catalysts, is known from the aforementioned German patent 2,425,714. containing a catalyst. The handling of the lens during maintenance and cleaning operations is therefore relatively complex. The choice of suitable catalysts to be used in the decomposition of residual amounts of hydrogen peroxide also presents difficulties.

The use of peroxidase enzymes, in particular catalase, is known from EP-A-82798 as catalysts for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide used for the disinfection and shaking of contact lenses after cleaning and disinfection treatments. However, also in this case, the hydrogen peroxide solution is poured off after its disinfection treatment and replaced with a neutralizing solution containing a peroxide neutralizing catalyst or catalysts (i.e. peroxidases). Therefore, here too, two different successive processing steps are used, so that the maintenance processing of the lens remains complicated.

In both cases, maintenance treatment of the contact lenses using hydrogen peroxide and a neutralizing solution with, for example, a decomposing catalyst has been impossible, because in such a case the hydrogen peroxide decomposes into oxygen and water into a neutralizing solution, for example through a decomposition catalyst. microbes on the surface, which requires about one to about four hours, especially for a soft lens.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide contact lens maintenance equipment which, in one step, retains hydrogen peroxide active long enough to at least substantially sterilize the lens and then at least substantially neutralize residual hydrogen peroxide on the lens surface so that the lens can then be used, at least generally. .

The invention therefore relates to contact lens maintenance equipment comprising two treatment agents, one of which is a sterilizing hydrogen peroxide and the other a catalyst-containing neutralizing agent for neutralizing and decomposing hydrogen peroxide after a contact lens sterilization treatment, characterized in that the neutralizing agent and / or a retarding agent which controls time-delayed release, provided that when the retarding agent is a coating which is gradually soluble in hydrogen peroxide, said coating 3 84521 (a) if soluble in an acidic medium, is a polymer of dimethylaminomethacrylate and neutral methacrylate or is soluble in a neutral medium, it is ba) a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate polymer or it is bb) a polymer selected from the group consisting of soluble cellulose ethers, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropylcellulose phthalate, a polymer of methacrylic acid and methacrylic esters, a copolymer of methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters, a copolymer of methyl vinyl ethers and maleic anhydride, and polyvinyl alcohols to which a polyalcohol is added.

The invention thus provides a contact lens maintenance kit comprising at least two substances: hydrogen peroxide and a neutralizing agent. Hydrogen peroxide is effective enough to at least substantially sterilize at least one second, hard or soft contact lens, and preferably both. The neutralizing agent is effective enough to at least decompose any residual hydrogen peroxide on the lens into oxygen and water after the hydrogen peroxide is thus sterilized, at least to a substantial extent, so that the lens can then be used, at least generally, without harm. The neutralizing agent comprises at least two components: a catalyst or enzyme, preferably to decompose the residual hydrogen peroxide, and a retarding agent. The retarding agent delays the release time of the neutralizing agent, which decomposes the residual hydrogen peroxide, e.g., the catalyst, into the hydrogen peroxide until the hydrogen peroxide has thus sterilized the lens.

The invention therefore substantially facilitates the maintenance of the contact lens, either hard or soft, because only a one-step treatment is required. A lens and a neutralizing agent with a catalyst and a retarding agent that controls the time-delayed release of at least a portion of the neutralizing agent, such as a catalyst, are placed in a sterilizing hydrogen peroxide solution. The retardant that comes into contact with the hydrogen peroxide during immersion then releases at least a neutralizing portion of the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent after the hydrogen peroxide has applied to the contact lens, which is to be treated for a time sufficient to sterilize the lens.

For this purpose, the neutralizing agent can be coated with its retarding agent for immersion in hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution with a contact lens. The delayed release time can then be controlled (especially up to four hours), for example by the thickness of the coating soluble in the hydrogen peroxide solution. As a result of the release of the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent, as the coating dissolves, the neutralizing agent automatically acts on the hydrogen peroxide solution without further assistance from the contact lens wearer who maintains the contact lenses. The hydrogen peroxide solution is acidic (at a pH below four) in a stable state to effect both sterilization and dissolution. The catalyst, for example inside the coating, therefore then decomposes the sterilizing hydrogen peroxide solution in the treatment vessel, into which the lens to be treated and the neutralizing agent are also placed at the same time.

Examples of the composition of a hydrogen peroxide solution and a neutralizing agent containing a catalyst or enzyme are given in German application 3,410,400.

In addition, the following composition is suitable as a neutralizing agent: 5 84521 0r05% by weight of catalase concentrate, 260,000 units / ml

0.05% by weight of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose USP XX

5 0.05 wt% NaH2PC> 4 x 2H2O DAB B

0.25% by weight Na2HPC> 4 x 2H2O

0.75% by weight of sodium chloride EP I In addition, a suitable neutralizing agent composition is suitable: 3-12 mg of a suitable buffer wave or substances or mixture, for example alkaline phosphate, borate or citrate, glycine 40-70 mg of neutral electrolyte (for example NaCl, KCl) 5-10 mg of alkaline bicarbonate 5-10 mg of a water-soluble polymer, for example polyvinyl-15 lipyrrolidone 0.2-1 mg of catalyst (catalase, peroxidase) per dose.

This amount is sufficient to decompose, neutralize and adjust the osmolarity to 270-320 mosmoles in 7 ml of hydrogen peroxy-20 dilute solution. These 7 ml correspond to the volume of a standard contact lens case or contact lens handling case.

An example of a further special neutralizing agent composition is as follows: 5.6 mg potassium hydrogen phosphate 25 8 mg disodium hydrogen phosphate 52.4 mg NaCl 7 mg sodium hydrogen carbonate 4.8 mg polyvinylpyrrolidone K 25 0.3 mg catalyst 30 The above neutralizing agent compositions can be used as capsule fillings. being formed as a retarding agent surrounding the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent. The capsule comprises a water-soluble polymer, especially polyvinyl alcohol.

The neutralizing agent may also be formulated as a tablet with a water-soluble coating for time-delayed tablet dissolution. The water-soluble coating may comprise a polymer soluble in an acidic medium, such as a polymer of dimethylaminomethacrylate and neutral methacrylate esters. The coating may also comprise a pH-neutral, soluble polymer. Polymers suitable for this purpose include, for example, soluble cellulose ethers such as methylcellulose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcelluloses; cellulose acetate phthalate; hydroxy-sipropyylimetyyliselluloosaftalaatti; polymers of methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters; coating an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer of methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters; coating an aqueous dispersion of cellulose acetate phthalate; copolymers of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride and polyvinyl alcohols. Suitable polyalcohols, especially in an amount of 0.2 to 1 mg / tablet, may be added to these polymers to control the time delay, with 1,2-propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols and citrate esters being suitable polyalcohols and.

The coating can be made of a water-soluble polymer by known methods, for example, by spray-coating the film in a coating tray, by a fluidized bed method (Wurster method) or in closed systems. The preferred amount of polymer for tablet coating is 2.0-5.0 mg.

The following is an example of a tablet composition forming a catalyst-containing neutralizing agent: 11.2 mg disodium hydrogen phosphate 55.8 mg NaCl 4.8 mg polyvinylpyrrolidone K25 0.2 mg catalyst (catalase, peroxidase) The following is an example of an acid-soluble polymer suitable for coating; 1.9 mg methacrylate ester 0.4 mg hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 0.2 mg polyethylene glycol (1000) 35 The following is an example of a cover film of a neutral soluble polymer; 2.2 mg of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate 0.3 mg of polyethylene glycol (1000) 7 84521

It is also possible to encapsulate the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent from which the tablet is formed in a water-soluble film, such as polyvinyl alcohol, which acts as a retardant. Polyhydric alcohols and plasticizers in water are added in an amount of 3.5% to 5% to the polyvinyl alcohol film, resulting in a time-delayed dissolution of the film. The films can be 30-150 mm thick and have a gas permeability (DIN 53,380) of 0.9-1.4 cc / m 2 / d / bar. The films can be fused together at temperatures of 10 ° C to 190 ° C at a contact pressure of 4-5 bar.

The catalyst-containing neutralizing agent formed into a tablet can also be coated with an insoluble but semipermeable membrane. This membrane can also be formed by known coating processes, such as spray coating of a film, in a fluidized bed process or in closed systems, and in addition in an amount of 3-10 mg / tablet. The semipermeable membrane may be formed, for example, from an organic solution of ethylcellulose, an aqueous dispersion of ethylcellulose, a copolymer of acrylate-20 t / methacrylate esters with trimethylammonium methacrylate, a mixture of methyl methacrylates and ethyl methacrylate as described below; to control the diffusion rate, suitable plasticizers may be added, especially in an amount of 1.0-5.0 mg / tablet. Plasticizers include 1,2-propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols and citrate esters. An example of a semi-permeable membrane composition is as follows: 3.8 mg ethylcellulose N22 1.2 mg polyethylene glycol (6,000) 30 , in particular in the form of a tablet in which a neutralizing agent containing a catalyst 35 has been applied. The catalyst-containing neutralizing agent may have one of the above compositions incorporated into a matrix which may contain natural or semi-synthetic polymers.

8 84521

The matrix, especially in tablet form, can be prepared by conventional methods, for example by granulating or compressing the starting materials. Of course, it is also possible to process the mixture of starting materials directly into a tablet without prior granulation. Polymers suitable for matrix formation include soluble cellulose ethers, for example those given above as an example, alkaline salts of alginic acid, methacrylic acid derivatives, especially acrylate / methacrylate esters, acrylic acid derivatives, dextrans (MP 1,000-75,000 alcohols) and polyvinyl alcohols. The following is an example of a matrix incorporating a neutralizing agent containing a catalyst: 0.3 mg of catalyst (catalase, proxidase) 10.2 mg of disodium hydrogen phosphate 55.8 mg of NaCl 4.7 mg of polyvinylpyrrolidone K25 15 mg of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose for example, a weight of 86 mg and a round shape of 6 mm.

It is also possible to incorporate the catalyst and neutralizing agent components into a highly concentrated aqueous polymer solution and, after casting and drying, to produce easily cut films 1.0-3.0 mm thick. By cutting the film to a suitable size, 25 suitable dosage units can be produced in pre-calculated external dimensions. Water-soluble polymers act as a retardant through which a time-delayed release of the catalyst and neutralizing agent is achieved. Suitable polymers include water-soluble cellulose ethers, for example those given by way of example above, alkaline alginates, dextrans and polyvinyl alcohols.

It is known in the medical field of drug delivery that therapeutic systems can be used in the form of tablets, semipermeable membranes, and matrices that are applied to a particular target area of the biosystem to provide a constant dose of drug over an extended period of time. In contrast, the invention provides that a hydrogen peroxide degrading catalyst, 9,84521 in combination with sterilizing hydrogen peroxide, can be used simultaneously in the treatment of contact lenses without the adverse effect of the peroxide degrading catalyst on the desired sterilizing activity of hydrogen peroxide for four hours. The decomposing effect of the catalyst on hydrogen peroxide only begins at the end of the desired treatment time.

Delayed release of the catalyst can also be achieved by immobilizing the catalyst on particulate supports, in particular acrylic plastic pellets, for example by binding to reactive oxirane groups. Carriers with the catalyst immobilized therein, in particular an enzymatic catalyst, are placed in a sufficient amount, for example in the bottom of a contact lens treatment vessel or contact lens box or in a 15-threaded lid, separated from the treatment solution containing pH neutralizing agents and neutral salts together with hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide by means of a sieve net. In this version, the catalyst is placed in a part of the treatment vessel without mixing it with the treatment solution. These means 20 avoid the risk of the catalyst material accumulating or accumulating in the soft lens material when handling soft contact lenses. For example, an amount of carriers and immobilized enzyme catalyst sufficient for repeated use for 30 days may be placed in 25 portions of the container.

The treatment solution in which the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent is released may have a pH of about 7-7.5 and especially 7.3 and an osmolarity of about 300 mosmoles.

A change in color, in particular the use of a color indicator (pH / redox-30 indicator) which changes color at pH 7.0-7.5 and in particular at 7.3, indicates to the user that the hydrogen peroxide used in the sterilization treatment has decomposed . For this purpose, colors with a high molecular weight and which do not penetrate the lens material are particularly suitable.

In order for the catalyst, which is preferably an enzymatic catalyst, to function only after disinfecting or sterilizing the lens, this catalyst additive, together with the auxiliaries present in the neutralizing agent and acting to neutralize the hydrogen peroxide, can be packaged in a coating which that the catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is released only after the required treatment time (up to four hours). There are a number of possibilities to accomplish this.

The coating or package of the catalyst and excipients has the form of a capsule which is water soluble at a pH where the hydrogen peroxide solution is stable, i.e. at pH 4 to about 5, but does not flocculate or precipitate in a neutral solution, i.e. at about pH 7.3.

In addition, it is preferred that the capsule be provided with one or two or optionally even more laser holes through which the excipients are released in contact with the hydrogen peroxide solution, with the capsule completely dissolving when a pH of about 7 is reached to release the catalyst.

The catalyst may also be present as an enzyme sphere, which together with the excipients is filled inside a capsule which has the above-mentioned dissolution properties.

The catalyst-containing neutralizing agent may also be formed into a coated tablet from which, upon delayed dissolution of the coating, above all, the excipients are released to change the pH of the hydrogen peroxide solution, and then at about pH 7, the catalyst is released.

In addition, the neutralizing agent containing a suitable catalyst has a bilayer tablet, the second layer of which contains soluble salts acts as a neutralizer of the hydrogen peroxy-30 solution, and the second layer of which contains the catalyst, allowing the release of either the excipients or the catalyst first.

The neutralizing agent may also be present as a base gel in a coating that is soluble at pH 7. The catalyst may also be present as a viscous solution in the coating surrounding the excipients.

Furthermore, the neutralizing agent may be coated with a semipermeable membrane through which the water dissolving the 11,84521 excipients penetrates and from which the dissolved salts escape due to the osmotic pressure. For this purpose, the semipermeable membrane can be perforated, or it can be destroyed by osmotic pressure, in which case the auxiliaries and the catalyst are then released. The catalyst may be present herein as an encapsulated enzyme product.

Further, a two-layer system with a soluble and semipermeable membrane is suitable for time-dissipated release of excipients and cat-10 lysator. The insoluble membrane system could be replaced again in use.

A suitable two-layer system can be constructed so that the catalyst shell has a semipermeable membrane outside which the excipients are present. The coating, which is water-soluble at the pH of a stable hydrogen peroxide solution (below 4), is further around the excipients and the semipermeable membrane encloses the catalyst.

The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide can be expressed by a color indicator. In this context, it is a question of adding a pH / redox-in-20 indicator which does not penetrate soft, hydrophilic contact lenses and which is physiologically safe. The color indicator may also be designed to stain at pH 7 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and to be colorless at pH 7 in the absence of hydrogen peroxide.

The container in which the contact lens maintenance or treatment is performed may have means for ventilation, for example in the form of a Bunsen valve or the like, through which the oxygen released during the neutralization and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide can escape.

The accompanying figures further illustrate the invention.

Figures 1-5 show various examples of systems containing hydrogen peroxide and a decomposing catalyst.

Figure 6 shows the time course of contact lens processing 35 as an example of the operation of a contact lens service device.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the processing vessel.

Figure 8 is a top view of a container portion that can be circulated to a treatment vessel and that contains particulate 12,84521 supports to which an enzymatic hydrogen peroxide decomposing catalyst is bound.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the catalyst 2 cleaving the auxiliary 1 and the hydrogen peroxide, for example in the form of a kata-5 glass, are randomly distributed inside the outer casing 3. The outer coating 3 may be water-soluble or semipermeable after being exposed to hydrogen peroxide for a period of time during which the hydrogen peroxide has a sterilizing effect on the contact lens to be treated in the maintenance of the contact lens 10. The thickness of the coating regulates the length of time (up to four hours) that hydrogen peroxide acts on the lens before sufficient catalase and excipients are released when the outer coating 3 dissolves or the semipermeability of this coating so that sterilizing hydrogen peroxide 15 is neutralized and eliminated by catalytic decomposition. In this working example, the excipients and the catalyst can be released simultaneously.

In the example shown in Figure 2, the excipients 1 are first released, as a result of which the sterilizing hydrogen peroxide-20 solution is neutralized. Thereafter, the hydrogen peroxide-destroying catalyst 2, for example in the form of catalase, becomes available. For this purpose, an outer coating 3 is formed which, after being exposed to hydrogen peroxide for a certain period of time, is soluble or suitably semi-permeable and which surrounds the auxiliaries 1. The auxiliaries 1 surround the catalyst 2, which in turn is surrounded by an inner coating 4 which may also be constructed to be soluble or semipermeable.

In the example shown in Figure 3, the catalyst 2 and the auxiliaries 1 are in parallel and surrounded by a common outer cover 3 which is water-soluble or semipermeable. In this case, the auxiliaries 1 and the catalyst 2 can be separated by a partition 5.

In the example shown in Figure 4, the catalyst 35, which may be present in the form of a viscous solution, is first released, after which the auxiliaries 1 are released. The catalyst 2 is here surrounded by the outer cover 3 and the auxiliaries 1 by the inner cover 4. In this version, the auxiliaries 1 are located on the inner side and are surrounded by the catalyst 2.

In the example shown in Figure 5, the catalyst 2 as a catalyst piece and the auxiliaries 1 are randomly distributed inside the outer cover 3, which may be soluble 5 or semipermeable.

Figure 6 shows graphically the time course of treatment of a contact lens with hydrogen peroxide and the subsequent destruction of hydrogen peroxide after it has operated for the desired time t] _. The length of time that the hydrogen peroxide is affected can be determined, for example, by the thickness of the coating or by the appropriate choice of material for the coating. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide is given by the ordinate, the initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide remaining substantially constant until the end of the exposure time t- ^. After the release of the auxiliaries and / or the catalyst, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the treatment vessel decreases rapidly.

Figures 7 and 8 schematically show a functional example of a treatment vessel 1, in the bottom part 2 of which particulate carriers 3 immobilized on the surface of an enzymatic hydrogen peroxide decomposing catalyst are placed in the recess 4 of the base part 2. The base part 2 can be threaded, for example as disclosed, for example, in German application 3,410,400. The carriers 3, covered with a catalyst, are separated from the inner part 7 of the vessel by means of an inert sieve net 6a-25a which does not pass through the treatment solution present in the inner part 7 of the container. The lid 8, which is also rotatable and to which the cups 9 for the contact lenses to be treated are attached, as disclosed in German application 3,410,400, may be different in color from the rotatable base part 2, 30 so that the risk of interference is ruled out.

It is to be understood that the description and examples are illustrative but not limiting of the present invention, and that other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention are possible to one skilled in the art.

Claims (23)

Contact lens maintenance apparatus comprising two treatment agents, one of which is a sterilizing hydrogen peroxide and the other a catalyst-containing neutralizing agent for neutralizing and decomposing hydrogen peroxide after sterilizing treatment of the contact lens, characterized in that the neutralizing agent and / or the catalyst a substance which controls time-delayed release, provided that when the retardant is a coating which is gradually soluble in hydrogen peroxide, said coating (a) if soluble in an acidic medium, is a polymer of a dimethylaminomethacrylate and a neutral methacrylate ester, or b) if in the medium, it is ba) a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate polymer or it is bb) a polymer selected from the group consisting of soluble cellulose ethers, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropylcellulose phthalate, methacrylic acid and methacrylic acid. a polymer of ryl esters, a copolymer of methacrylic acid and methacrylate ester, a copolymer of methyl vinyl ethers and maleic anhydride, and polyvinyl alcohols to which a polyalcohol is added. Contact lens maintenance kit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the neutralizing agent, in addition to the hydrogen peroxide-decomposing catalyst, contains auxiliaries which neutralize the acidic hydrogen peroxide solution. Contact lens maintenance kit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hydrogen peroxide decomposing catalyst is released before or after the neutralization of the hydrogen peroxide solution. A contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the retardant is formed as a water-soluble coating for a catalyst-containing neutralizing agent and comprises a polymer which is water-soluble in an acidic medium and which is a methacrylate of dimethylaminomethacrylate and neutral methacrylates. A contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the retarding agent is formed as a water-soluble coating on the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent and comprises a polymer which is water-soluble in a neutral medium and which is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate. Contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the retarding agent is formed as a water-soluble coating for the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent and comprises a polymer which is water-soluble in a neutral medium selected from the group consisting of soluble cellulose ethers, cellulose hydroxypropyl methylcellulose naphthalate, a polymer of methacrylic acid and methacrylic esters, a copolymer of methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters, a copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, and polyvinyl alcohols to which a polyalcohol is added. Contact lens maintenance kit according to Claim 6, characterized in that the polyalcohol is 1,2-propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or citrate ester. Contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the retarding agent is in the form of a semipermeable membrane surrounding a catalyst-containing neutralizing agent and containing ethylcellulose or a copolymer of acrylate and methacrylate esters of trimethylammonyl methacrylate methacrylate or methacrylate methacrylate Contact lens maintenance equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that plasticizers i6 84521 are added to control the diffusion rate of the membrane. Contact lens care equipment according to Claim 9, characterized in that the plasticizers are 1,2-propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols or citrate esters. Contact lens maintenance equipment according to Claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliaries are NaH 2 PO 4, Na 2 HPO 4 and NaCl buffers, film-forming agents and wetting agents. Contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the retarding agent is formed as a sparingly soluble or insoluble matrix in which the neutralizing agent containing the catalyst is distributed. A contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the retarding agent is formed as a film made of a highly concentrated polymer solution in which a neutralizing agent containing a catalyst is incorporated into the film. A contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent is formed into a tablet provided with a coating such that when the coating dissolves in slow motion, excipients are first released by changing the pH of the hydroxyperoxide solution and about 7. catalyst. Contact lens maintenance kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the catalyst-containing neutralizing agent is formed into a coated tablet and, when the coating dissolves in a slow manner, the catalyst is released first and then the excipients are released. Contact lens maintenance kit according to Claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the neutralizing agent is formed as a bilayer tablet, one layer containing soluble salts neutralizing the hydrogen peroxide solution and the other layer being a catalyst. i7 84521 Contact lens maintenance kit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the neutralizing agent is surrounded by a semipermeable membrane through which water penetrates and dissolves the excipients and from which the dissolved salts escape under the influence of osmotic pressure. Contact lens maintenance equipment according to Claim 17, characterized in that the semipermeable membrane has one or more perforations. Contact lens maintenance kit according to Claim 18, characterized in that the semipermeable membrane is degradable by osmotic pressure. Contact lens maintenance kit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the retarding agent is formed in the form of finely divided supports in which the hydrogen peroxide-decomposing catalyst is immobilized. Contact lens maintenance equipment according to claim 20, characterized in that the carrier bodies are arranged in a removable part of the treatment container and are separated from the interior of the container to which the treatment solution containing hydrogen peroxide has been added by means of an inert sieve. Contact lens treatment device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide can be detected by means of a color indicator. Contact lens care kit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the catalyst is an enzyme, in particular a catalase.