JP2002006274A - Container for preserving contact lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container for preserving a contact lens which surely and safely cleans the contact lens to get rid of its dirt without carrying out troublesome cleaning work and disinfects the contact lens. SOLUTION: This container 1 for preserving the contact lens 6 preserves the contact lens by immersing the contact lens into a preserving liquid and is formed by adhering a photocatalyst function substance to the inside of a preserving part 2 in which the contact lens 6 is preserved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a storage container for storing contact lenses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Contact lenses are removed from the eyes,
Until the next mounting, it is immersed in a storage solution and stored in a dedicated storage container. Such storage containers that have been used in the past are simply for storing contact lenses without drying them.

On the other hand, in order to wash dirt and proteins adhering to contact lenses, it is necessary to scrub the contact lenses daily with a cleaning solution before storing them. In addition, water-containing soft contact lenses need to be boiled or disinfected daily with a chemical disinfectant.

As a disinfectant used for chemical disinfection, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ), podronium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide and the like are used.

[0005]

However, boiling disinfection damages the lens. Further, since heating is performed, there is a possibility that a fire may be caused if there is a flammable material around. On the other hand, it is difficult to disinfect sufficiently even if the above-mentioned chemical disinfectants are immersed in the immersion, and there is a concern that such chemical disinfectants may induce an allergic reaction.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a contact lens storage container for reliably and safely cleaning dirt attached to a contact lens and disinfecting the contact lens without performing a troublesome cleaning operation.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a contact lens storage container for storing contact lenses by immersion in a storage solution, wherein the surface of the storage section in which the contact lenses are stored is provided. A photocatalyst functional body was attached to the sample.

According to the present invention, the coating of the photocatalytic functional body attached to the inside of the storage unit decomposes organic substances such as proteins attached to the contact lens. Clean contact lenses. Further, since the photocatalytic function body sterilizes bacteria adhered to the contact lens, disinfection can be performed only by storing the bacteria in the storage container.

Here, the photocatalyst can be attached by any method of spraying without using a binder, or a method of mixing the binder with the binder and attaching the entire binder to the inner surface.

[0010] In the contact lens storage container, at least a part thereof is formed to be light-transmitting so as to transmit light into the storage portion, so that light is stored inside the storage portion even when the storage portion is capped. It can be taken in and exerts the action of the photocatalyst functional body very effectively.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a storage case 1 of a soft contact lens 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The storage case 1 is formed by integrally forming two cylindrical storage portions 2 and 2 arranged side by side and a plate-shaped member 3 connecting them. Screw caps 4 and 4 for closing the upper portions are provided in 2 and 2, respectively. These storage units 2 and 2 are for separately storing the lens 6 for the right eye and the lens 6 for the left eye, respectively. In the center of the upper surface of the cap, a circular light capturing portion 5 made of a transparent member is provided.
5 are formed to transmit light into the storage unit.

On the inner surfaces of the storage sections 2 and 2, a film of a photocatalytic function body is formed. In this storage case 1,
Preservation solutions 7, 7 made of fresh saline are stored in the storage units 2, 2, and the contact lenses 6, 6 are immersed in the preservation solutions 7, 7, and the contact lenses 6, 6 are preserved. While the contact lenses 6 and 6 are stored in this way, the photocatalytic functional body adsorbs and degrades proteins, bacteria, and the like attached to the contact lenses 6, 6 and proteins and bacteria melted in the preservation solutions 7, 7. Contact lenses 6,6 and preservatives 7,7
Wash and disinfect. The film of the photocatalyst functional body may be formed on the back surfaces of the caps 4 and 4 together with the inner surfaces of the storage units 2 and 2.

In the storage case 1 shown in FIG. 1, the light capturing portions 5, 5 are formed at the center of the caps 4, 4, but the entire caps 4, 4 may be formed of a transparent member. The entire case 1 may be formed of a transparent member, and light may be transmitted through the storage units 2 and 2. If the light transmissive portion is formed in at least one portion of the storage case 1 as described above, the action of the photocatalytic function body can be extremely effectively exerted with the caps 4 and 4 left as they are.
The photocatalyst can act at about room temperature without specially providing such a light intake section.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows a storage case 10 for hard contact lenses 17 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown. The storage case 10 includes a cylindrical case main body 11 whose both ends in the axial direction are open,
And caps 14, 14 screwed to both ends in the axial direction.

The case body 11 is entirely formed of a transparent resin material, and its center in the axial direction is partitioned by a partition plate 13. Both sides of this partition plate 13 are contact lenses 1
Reference numerals 7 and 17 denote storage units 12 and 12, respectively. on the other hand,
The caps 14 are formed in a cylindrical shape with one side open, and lens holding portions 15 protruding from the back surfaces of the caps 14 are provided inside the caps 14, respectively. The lens holding portions 15, 15 are formed in a substantially Y-shape, and the contact lenses 17, 17 are fitted into and held in the forked portions of the tip.

When the hard contact lenses 17, 17 are stored in the storage case 10, each storage portion is filled with a storage solution. The contact lenses 17, 17 are fitted into the tips of the lens holding portions 15, 15 of the caps 14, 14, and the lens holding portions 15, 15 are attached to the storage portions 12, 15.
The contact lenses 17 are immersed in a preservative solution and stored.

Also in this storage case 10, a film of a photocatalytic function body is formed on the inner surface of each of the storage portions 12, 12, and
The stored contact lenses 17, 17 and the storage solution are washed and disinfected. In addition, the photocatalyst functional body is stored in the storage unit 12,
It may be attached to the inner surface of the cap 12 and to the back surfaces of the caps 14 and the surfaces of the holding portions 15.
Further, in the storage case 10 shown in this figure, the entire case body 11 is formed of a transparent resin material. However, the caps 14 and 14 may be formed of a transparent member, or the case body or the cap may be formed of a transparent material. It is sufficient to provide a window for taking in light in the section. As described above, if at least a portion of the storage case 10 is formed with a light transmissive portion that transmits light inside the storage portion, the effect of the photocatalyst can be extremely effectively exerted. It is not necessary to form a sex part.

Next, the photocatalyst functional body attached to the surface of the storage case will be described.

The photocatalyst functional body is composed of photocatalyst particles for decomposing organic substances and the like, and an adsorbing material for adsorbing organic substances around the photocatalyst particles. The photocatalyst particles are composed of photo-semiconductor particles forming one electrode and the other electrode. And fine particles forming Then, as a method of attaching the photocatalyst function body to the storage portion surface of the storage case, a method of spraying and attaching without a binder, mixing the photocatalyst function body into the binder, forming a film of the binder on the surface, There is a method of attaching to the surface of the storage unit.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which a photocatalyst functional body is adhered to the storage portion surface 23 of the storage case by thermal spraying.
Titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ) as optical semiconductor particles 20a
And photocatalyst particles 20 composed of silver particles, which are metal fine particles 20b, are coated with hydroxyapatite as an adsorbent material 21. In the thermal spraying method employed in the present invention, fine particles of TiO ₂ (5 to 50 μm) and fine particles of silver (1 to 10 μm) are subjected to gas spraying at 2900 to 3000 ° C. using oxygen, acetylene or the like. Is melted, and the storage case is moved relative to the torch for spraying the melted particles and the storage case.
Perform so that the temperature does not rise above ℃.

The photocatalyst particles 20 form an electrochemical cell, and after thermal spraying, form flat laminated particles of 30 to 40 μm and adhere to the surface 23 of the storage case by an anchor effect. This thermal spraying method is generally suitable for forming a film of a photocatalytic functional body on the surface of a metal material. On the other hand, contact lens storage cases are generally formed of resin materials and have lower heat resistance than metal materials.However, by suppressing the surface temperature, resin contact lens storage cases can be sprayed onto the photocatalyst functional body by spraying. It is possible to adhere. Adjusting the relative speed between the torch and the storage case also enables plasma spraying. In the case of gas spraying, the melting point of the raw material used is 2
Although it is limited to a temperature of 000 ° C. or less, plasma spraying can spray materials having a melting point of about 3500 ° C. of a raw material used.

In the case of thermal spraying, with regard to the storage case of the soft contact lens shown in FIG. 1, with the cap opened, the injection torch is positioned above the case to direct the particles of the photocatalytic functional body toward the storage unit. Can be easily sprayed.
On the other hand, in the case of the hard contact lens storage case shown in FIG. 2, it is difficult to form a film of the photocatalytic function body on the inner surface of the storage portion by a normal thermal spraying method. It is good to spray using a torch.

In general, in thermal spraying, powder is deposited on a base material by an anchor effect.
A lump having a diameter of 5 μm or more is suitable, and a spray powder in which all anatase is transferred to rutile is used. TiO _{2 in the} anatase crystal form has a strong photocatalytic effect, but after thermal spraying, all photocatalytic particles 2
When 0 is an anatase crystal, the catalytic action is so strong that the base material is attacked, so that it may not be practical. However, the particle size of the anatase crystal particles, the thermal spraying temperature, the substrate surface temperature, and the heating source used were 5 to 25 μm and 2900 μm, respectively.
By adjusting the temperature to 3000 ° C., 40-50 ° C. and gas, 10-40% of anatase crystals can be synthesized. That is, if the temperature exceeds the transformation point of anatase and rutile of about 750 ° C., all the crystals become rutile crystals,
In the above-described thermal spraying method, when all rutile crystal particles are prepared and sprayed, 10 to 40% of anatase crystals are generated, and the rest are rutile crystals. According to various experiments, X-ray analysis revealed that the mass ratio of anatase to rutile after thermal spraying was preferably 1: 3.

Here, as the optical semiconductor particles 20a, T
In addition to iO ₂ , CdS, CdSe, WO ₃ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , Sr
TiO ₃ , KNbO _{3 and the} like can be mentioned. Among them, TiO ₂ is chemically stable without being attacked by most acids, bases, and organic solvents, and it has been confirmed by animal experiments that TiO ₂ has no toxicity or carcinogenicity. TiO ₂ is most preferred from the above points.

Further, as the fine particles 20b as electrodes, metal fine particles are usually used in many cases. As the metal fine particles 20b forming such an electrode, various metal fine particles such as gold, platinum, and copper can be used in addition to silver. Since water is required as one of the indispensable elements for the photocatalyst to perform its essential function, the metal fine particles 20 forming the electrode are required.
b is required to be stable without change over time in the presence of water, and platinum is the most preferable among the metal fine particles 20b. In addition, silver is preferable because it itself has bactericidal properties.

The electrode used may be silicon fine particles instead of metal. By using silicon instead of metal, the photocatalyst function itself becomes inexpensive, and when the photocatalyst function body is used in water such as a storage case for a contact lens, `` the ions and electrodes contained in the water Metal reacts and the photocatalytic function is lowered ".

In addition to silicon, carbon and the like (group 4) which are the same as silicon in the periodic table can be used as an electrode because they have similar properties.

Here, the electrode is not always necessary for the photocatalytic function body. As will be described later, when TiO ₂ is used as the optical semiconductor particles, the crystal structure of TiO ₂ includes an anatase type and a rutile type, and the anatase type has a photocatalytic function. The electrodes serve to help the photo-semiconductor particles 20a decompose organic substances and the like. However, when a large amount of anatase-type TiO ₂ is present in the photocatalyst functional body, the photocatalyst is sufficient only with TiO _2. This is because fine particles that function as electrodes are not required because they have a function.

The adsorbing material 21 adsorbs substances to be treated such as bacteria, viruses, molds, malodorous substances and harmful substances.
It is used for holding. Examples of the adsorbing material 21 include one or more selected from the group consisting of ceramic particles such as apatite (apatite), zeolite or sepiolite, activated carbon, and a material containing silk fiber. Can be used in combination. Here, as the apatite, hydroxyapatite [Ca ₁₀ (PO ₄ ) ₆ (OH) ₂ ] that selectively adsorbs proteins such as bacteria, viruses, and molds is preferable. Examples of the silk fiber-containing material include, in addition to the silk fiber powder, a granulated material, a gel material, and the like. The particle size of these adsorbing materials (when the silk fiber-containing material is powder) is preferably 0.001 to 1.0 μm, and more preferably 0.1 to 1.0 μm, in consideration of a good surface area and good workability of application.
It is preferably from 0.01 to 0.05 μm. The mixing ratio of the optical semiconductor particles 20a and the adsorbing material 21 is preferably 1 to 50 parts by mass, more preferably 1 to 50 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the optical semiconductor particles.
0 to 30 parts by mass is preferred.

Here, the adsorbing material 21 has a function of protecting the base material, and is not always necessary when the base material is a strong material. However, when the photocatalyst functional body is used as a paint as described below, a binder is present in the paint and the photo-semiconductor particles (TiO ₂ )
In a state in which the binder and the binder are in direct contact with each other for a long time, the optical semiconductor particles (TiO ₂ ) may decompose the binder. In order to prevent such a decomposition of the binder, it is necessary to wrap the photo-semiconductor particles (TiO ₂ ) with an adsorbing material so as not to come into direct contact with the binder. Therefore, it is preferable to use an adsorbing material to protect the binder.

In the case of the contact lens storage case according to the present invention, which is a resin-formed product, the storage case is dipped by holding the storage case in a paint described later, or the paint is sprayed on the inner surface of the storage case. It is preferable to spray and adhere.

FIG. 4 shows a coating material 27 formed by mixing a coating material 27 as a binder with a photocatalyst functional body and dipping the storage case of the contact lens into a storage case. Photocatalyst particles 25 composed of titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ) as optical semiconductor particles 25a and silver particles as metal fine particles 25b are coated with hydroxyapatite as an adsorbent material. The photocatalyst particles 25 can have the same structure as the particles in the case of the thermal spraying method shown in FIG.

Further, titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ), all of which is in the form of anatase crystal, has an extremely strong oxidizing power and may cause the base material 28 to be ragged. The mass ratio of anatase to rutile is preferably 20 to 50%: 50 to 80%. If the ratio of anatase is less than this, the photocatalytic action is weak, and if it is higher, the photocatalytic action is too strong to decompose the binder. The paint 27 is immediately decomposed. Most preferably, the mass ratio of anatase to rutile is about 3 to 7.

The titanium raw material does not necessarily need to be anatase and rutile, and an appropriate photocatalyst can be obtained by adjusting the comparison between an anatase having a strong catalytic activity and an anatase having a weak catalytic activity.

The coating material 27 contains at least a film-forming component as a binder and a dispersant in addition to the optical semiconductor particles 25a, the metal particles 25b and the adsorbing material 26, and other components as necessary. is there.

The coating film forming components include cellulose derivatives, phthalic acid resins, phenol resins, alkyd resins, amino ald resins, acrylic resins, epoxy resins, urethane resins, vinyl chloride resins, silicone resins, fluorine resins, emulsions, and water-soluble resins. And the like. Examples of the dispersant include petroleum solvents, aromatic solvents, alcohol solvents, ester solvents, ketone solvents, cellosolve solvents, inorganic silicon solvents, water and the like. When a powder coating is used, a solvent as a dispersant is not required. Other components include pigments, for example, inorganic pigments such as titanium dioxide, graphite, red iron oxide, chromium oxide, and carbon black; organic pigments such as Hansa Yellow, Nova Palm Orange, quinacridone violet, and copper phthalocyanine; Examples include extender pigments such as calcium, barium sulfate, talc, clay, and white carbon, and special functional pigments represented by anticorrosive pigments such as zinc chromate, strontium chromate, zinc phosphate, and aluminum phosphate. Further, in addition to the above components, as auxiliary materials, desiccants for imparting coating film accelerating properties, pigment dispersants, anti-flooding agents, pigment sedimentation inhibitors, and additives for adjusting the fluidity of paints. Viscous agent, thixotropic agent, anti-drip agent, leveling agent for the purpose of coating surface adjustment, defoamer,
In addition to anti-repellent and anti-floating agents, plasticizers,
An anti-skinning agent, an auxiliary for electrostatic coating, an anti-scratch agent, an anti-blocking agent, an anti-UV agent, an anti-staining agent, an antiseptic, a fungicide and the like can be added. There is no special mixing ratio of each of these components, and the same mixing ratio as that of a commercially available paint can be applied.

The total amount of the optical semiconductor particles 25a, the metal particles 25b and the adsorbing material 26 in the paint 27 is
Demonstrates the effects of deodorization, etc., and ensures appropriate paintability.
It is preferably from 3 to 55% by mass of the total amount of the paint, and particularly preferably from 15 to 35% by mass.
% By mass is preferred.

Incidentally, optical semiconductor particles and metal particles (Ag)
The mass ratio of the adsorption material (hydroxyapatite) to 7
Preferred is 0-80% by weight to 10-20% by weight.

The method of applying such a paint is not limited to dipping, and a method such as brush coating, air spray coating, electrostatic coating, powder coating, electrodeposition coating, curtain flow coating and the like may be applied. it can.

The composition ratio of the paint used by the applicant is as follows.

1) Acrylic lacquer paint

[Table 1]

2) Liquid urethane paint (in the coating film when dried) Photocatalyst 30%, binder solid content 7
0%.

[Table 2]

3) Baking acrylic paint (in the coating film when dried) Photocatalyst 30%, binder solid content 7
0%.

[Table 3]

4) Water-based acrylic paint (in the coating film when dried) 50% photocatalyst, solid content of binder 5
0%.

[Table 4]

The above-mentioned photocatalyst functional body is generally a non-eluting system, and the metal carried on the photo-semiconductor particles acts as an electrode, which does not elute in the liquid to sterilize it, but contains water. It exerts a bactericidal effect by OH ^- radicals generated below. In contrast, conventional elution antibacterial agents,
For example, a mixture obtained by applying a mixture of an antibacterial agent made of zeolite carrying a metal such as silver, copper, and zinc having an antibacterial property and a binder to a necessary portion and then drying the mixture, as shown in FIG. Immediately elutes into the liquid and shows immediate effect,
The effect is reduced in a short time, and the part where the metal is eluted becomes a nest of bacteria, and causes harm instead.

As shown in FIG. 5, the photocatalyst functional body of the present invention adhered by the above-mentioned method or the like may be inferior to the conventional antibacterial agent in terms of immediate effect, but is a non-eluting type. Hardly dissolves in the liquid, and the effect lasts for a long time.

Therefore, a conventional antibacterial agent, for example, zeolite fine particles carrying metal ions (Ag, Cu, Zn) having an antibacterial effect is mixed with photocatalyst particles (TiO ₂ + Ag) and subjected to low-temperature spraying. If zeolite fine particles carrying the above metal ions are mixed in a binder and used as a printing ink or paint, it can be used as a quick-acting and long-lasting antibacterial and bactericidal agent.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the contact lens can be cleaned and disinfected without performing the scrubbing that is performed every day. Also, it is safe because no chemical disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container for a soft contact lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage container for a hard contact lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a coating state diagram of a photocatalytic functional state by a thermal spraying method.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of a film of a photocatalytic function body made of a paint.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a comparison between the effect of a conventional photocatalyst and the effect of the present invention as a photocatalyst.

[Description of Signs] 1 Storage case (contact lens storage container) 2 Storage unit 4 Cap 5 Light intake unit 6 Soft contact lens 10 Storage case (Contact lens storage container) 11 Case body 12 Storage unit 14 Cap 15 Lens holding unit 17 Hard Contact lens 20 Photocatalyst particles 20a Photo semiconductor particles 20b Metal fine particles 21 Adsorption material 25 Photocatalyst particles 25a Photo semiconductor particles 25b Metal fine particles 26 Adsorption material 27 Paint

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tsukasa Sakurada 1391-3 Ogiwarakawa Mukaiharahara, Kamimatsucho, Kiso-gun, Nagano F-term in Shinshu Ceramics Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H006 DA08 3E096 AA11 BA21 BB04 CA05 CB01 CC02 DA26 DC01 EA02X FA01 GA03 4C058 AA09 BB02 BB07 BB10 JJ04 JJ24 4G069 AA15 BA04B BA48A CD10 DA05 EA07

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A contact lens storage container for storing a contact lens by immersing the contact lens in a storage solution, wherein a photocatalyst functional body is attached inside a storage portion in which the contact lens is stored. container. 2. The contact lens storage container according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the contact lens storage container is formed so as to transmit light to the inside of the storage unit.