JP2669690B2 - Contact lens cleaning method and cleaning sterilization method - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a novel method for cleaning contact lenses and a method for aseptic cleaning.

[Prior Art] Contact lenses (hereinafter, referred to as lenses) adhere to dirt in the environment, microorganisms, proteins in tears, and the like as they are worn, and may cause eye damage if worn for long periods of time. is there. Therefore, it needs to be cleaned and sterilized regularly, preferably daily.

As a cleaning method, a solution containing a surfactant has been conventionally used for cleaning with fingers.With this cleaning method, it is possible to remove surface stains, but it is possible to remove proteins such as proteins entering the lens. Dirt cannot be removed. In addition, when the product is boiled and sterilized in this state, denaturation and coagulation of the protein that has entered inside the lens progresses, and the denatured protein and the coagulated protein further strongly adhere to the lens, resulting in cloudiness on the lens. There is a problem that occurs.

Further, conventionally, a detergent containing a proteolytic enzyme has been known as a detergent for reusing a lens contaminated with protein. However, in the cleaning method using this cleaning agent, it is necessary to decompose the protein that is a contamination source and then boil it to inactivate the enzyme. That is, since the lens is boiled in the state that the protein degradation product and the enzyme that remain naturally diffused inside the lens are contained, denaturation and coagulation due to heat of the protein degradation product and the enzyme cannot be avoided. There is the same problem as described above, and it is impossible to completely remove dirt.

On the other hand, as a sterilization method for soft contact lenses,
In addition to the boiling disinfection described above, JP-A-56-68454,
A method of immersing a lens in saline as disclosed in JP-A-57-153653 and generating hypochlorite by passing an electric current to disinfect it, and JP-A-58-38559. The lenses disclosed in JP-A-60-68858 and JP-A-60-217333 are immersed in a H ₂ O ₂ aqueous solution for sterilization, and a metal catalyst, a reducing agent, an enzyme catalyst or the like is used. H ₂ O ₂
There is a method of decomposing and detoxifying.

However, in the method of generating hypochlorite by electrolysis, it takes time for the hypochlorite remaining in the treatment tank to spontaneously disappear after the disinfection treatment, and the hypochlorite remains in the lens. Since it has to be reduced so that it does not remain, its operation is complicated, and when the treatment applied to the color contact lens or the lens marked by dyeing is performed, the color and mark of the lens are decolorized by the above treatment. Problem. Also H ₂
In the method using an O ₂ aqueous solution, the H ₂ O ₂ remaining in the lens must be decomposed, so that the operation takes a long time, and the H ₂ O ₂ remaining inside the lens is completely decomposed. If it is not used, it will not be an appropriate sterilization method because it will give a stimulus such as seeing into eyes when worn.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present inventor has conducted diligent research to solve the problems, and as a result, the surface of the lens and / or Alternatively, the present inventors have found, for the first time, a method of cleaning dirt such as proteins inside the lens and sterilizing the lens, and have completed the present invention.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is a method for cleaning proteins adsorbed on a lens, which comprises immersing the lens in an electrolyte solution that does not generate hypohalite by electrolysis and passing a direct current. After immersing the lens in an electrolyte solution that does not generate hypohalite by electrolysis and a method of cleaning the lens to remove protein from the lens, and removing DC and microorganisms from the lens by passing a direct current, the electrolyte solution is removed. The present invention relates to a method for cleaning and sterilizing a lens, which sterilizes the lens by increasing a temperature.

[Actions and Examples] The present invention is directed to a method in which a microcurrent is applied to an electrolyte solution in a state where microorganisms such as undenatured proteins and bacteria which are released in a colloidal state are charged in the electrolyte solution and are charged. Utilizing the property of moving to the anode and cathode (electrophoresis),
In addition to the lens cleaning method and the above-mentioned cleaning method, proteins and microorganisms existing in the lens immersed in the electrolyte solution are removed by moving them to the outside of the lens system by applying a direct current (hereinafter referred to as "current"). This is a method for cleaning and sterilizing lenses by removing temperature and microorganisms and then sterilizing the lenses by raising the temperature of an electrolyte solution.

In the cleaning method of the present invention, a lens is placed in a processing tank, the processing tank is filled with a predetermined electrolyte solution, and then the lens is cleaned by passing an electric current.

The material of the electrode is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used material, for example, metal such as stainless steel, carbon rod, platinum, gold, copper, nickel, etc., plating treatment such as gold or platinum on synthetic resin or Examples include those that have been subjected to vapor deposition treatment. Among these, platinum or platinum is considered to have a high ionization tendency and to be difficult to dissolve when formed into an electrode, considering the dissolution of the electrode in the electrolytic reaction that occurs at each electrode. A synthetic resin that has been subjected to plating treatment or vapor deposition treatment such as is preferable.

In the cleaning process, the current flowing through the electrolyte solution is 0.001 to 0.5 A in order to remove proteins inside the lens.
It is more preferably 0.05 to 0.2 A in order to remove stains such as proteins attached by ordinary wearing. If the current is less than 0.001 A, the effect of removing the protein by passing the current tends to be small, and if it exceeds 0.5 A, the temperature of the electrolyte solution is too high before the protein is electrophoresed. Proteins tend to be denatured by heat and cannot be removed.

Further, the energization time is preferably about 1 to + several hours when the current value is lower than 0.10 A, and about several minutes to 4 hours when it is higher than 0.10 A.

Examples of the electrolyte solution that does not generate hypohalite such as hypochlorite by the electrolysis include veronal buffer solution, veronal acetate buffer solution, Tris.
Glycine buffer, Tris-citrate buffer, alanine
Acetate buffer, glycillin / acetate buffer, borate buffer,
A buffer such as phosphate buffer, citrate buffer, acetate buffer, oxalate buffer, Tris-EDTA buffer, succinate buffer, tartrate buffer, or CaCO, for example.
Electrolyte solutions such as ₃ aqueous solution, Na ₂ CO ₃ aqueous solution, Na ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution and (NH ₄ ) ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution can be used, and it is needless to say that these may be used in combination. Among these, phosphate buffer solution and acetate salt are suitable because they do not adversely affect the lens material, standard and shape even if the lens is dipped, and are safe even if they enter the eye due to electrolyte solution. Buffers such as buffers are particularly preferred.

Also, the charge of proteins in the electrolyte solution is the pH of the electrolyte solution.
Depending on the pH of the electrolyte solution, the protein may not move at all even when an electric current is applied. The pH at such a time is referred to as the isoelectric point (hereinafter referred to as pI) of the protein, but the electrolyte solution used in the present invention is essentially the pI of the protein which is a main constituent of tear fluid, such as albumin (pI4 .7 to 5.0), globulin (pI5.2 to 5.4), lysozyme (pI10.5 to 11.4) and the like.
That is, the electrolyte solution has a pH of 1.0 to 4.7 or a pH of 5.4 to 10.5.
Alternatively, it is desirable that the pH is 11.4 to 14, and considering the adverse effects on the lens and the safety to the eyes as described above, the pH is preferably 5.5 to 8.0, and particularly preferably pH 6.0 to
7.5 is desirable.

The concentration of the electrolyte in the electrolyte solution is 0.001 ~ 0.5M /,
Preferably 0.05 to 0.2 M /, particularly preferably 0.1 to 0.2 M
/ Is desirable. When the concentration is less than the above range, there is a tendency that a large voltage must be applied to obtain a desired current value, and when the concentration exceeds the above range, the osmotic pressure increases and the lens size changes. Also, when the lens is taken out of the electrolyte solution as it is after the cleaning treatment and worn, the eyes tend to be clogged.

The liquid temperature of the electrolyte solution is not particularly limited as long as the electrolyte solution does not freeze, but it is preferably maintained at 50 ° C or lower, more preferably 10 to 30 ° C, and particularly preferably 15 to 25 ° C. If the liquid temperature exceeds 50 ° C., the protein adsorbed on or contained in the lens is denatured and it tends to be difficult to remove it.

In order to sufficiently remove dirt such as resin adhering to the lens, the lens may be washed with a cleaning solution containing a surfactant before dipping the lens in the processing bath or after the cleaning process, or the electrolyte solution may be used. A surfactant may be contained therein. Specific examples of such surfactants include, for example, anionic surfactants such as sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfonates and sulfosuccinates of higher alcohols and liquid fatty oils, and cationic surfactants such as alkylamine salts and alkylammonium salts. Nonionic surfactants such as ionic surfactants, alkyl ethers, alkyl phenyl ethers, polyoxypropylene ethers, alkyl esters, glycerin fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters. When using such a surfactant, the concentration of the surfactant in the electrolyte solution is 0 in order to exert the effect of using the surfactant.
It is desirable to adjust it to 05 to 2.0% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 0.5% by weight.

Further, in the case where the denatured protein is present inside the lens, the denatured protein may be easily removed by an electric current by including a proteolytic enzyme in the electrolyte solution.

Specific examples of the protease include, for example, plant proteases such as papain, chymopapain, pancreatin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin, fusin, caleboxypeptidase, aminopeptidase, and bromelin; Examples thereof include proteolytic enzymes derived from microorganisms such as Bacillus, Streptomyces bacteria, and Aspergillus filamentous fungi.

The concentration of the protease in the electrolyte solution is preferably adjusted so that the activity of the protease in the electrolyte solution is 300 to 1000 units / ml.

In practicing the present invention, a gel or membrane is sandwiched in an electrolyte solution to trap the proteins removed from the lens by an electric current such that the lens is isolated between the electrode and the lens. It may be installed in. In this case, the gel or membrane plays a role of separating the electrode and the lens, and the inside of the gel or membrane is energized by the impregnated electrolyte solution. Examples of the material of such gel or film include gelatin, agar gel, filter paper, silica gel, starch granules, starch gel, methylcellulose / agar gel, cellulose powder, porous sponge rubber, cellulose acetate, polyacrylamide gel, agarose, Examples thereof include polyvinyl alcohol gel and nitrocellulose membrane.

In the present invention, while the current is flowing, the protein is kept moving to the anode side or the cathode side, but it is not necessary to remove the lens from the processing tank immediately after the current is turned off, and otherwise. In some cases, protein is diffused in the electrolyte solution after the current is cut off, and the lens which has been cleaned by energization may be again contaminated by the diffused protein. Therefore, by placing the gel or the membrane in the electrolyte solution as described above, the gel or the membrane is used to prevent re-adhesion of the protein that diffuses after the current is cut off. It is preferable to capture the proteins that are retained and prevent the lens from being recontaminated.

The washing sterilization method of the present invention is capable of removing the proteins and microorganisms attached to the lens to the outside of the lens system by the same operation as the above washing method, and further increasing the temperature of the electrolyte solution. It also sterilizes.

Microorganisms such as bacteria present in the electrolyte solution have an electric charge (generally a negative electric charge) on the cell surface thereof, and thus, when an electric current is passed, they move to the cathode and the anode similarly to the protein. For this reason, microorganisms existing in the lens are removed by passing an electric current through the electrolyte solution in the same manner as in the above-described cleaning method. Therefore, the lens is sterilized and kept in a sterilized state while the electrolytic solution is energized. However, if the lens is removed from the electrolyte solution after turning off the current and leaving the lens for a while, the lens may not be sterilized due to the current and diffuse and adhere to the lens again. It is preferably sterilized.

In addition, by passing an electric current through the electrolyte solution in the same manner as in the above-described cleaning treatment, most of the microorganisms present in the lens are sterilized due to movement of proteins in the living body of the microorganisms, but are not sterilized only by the electric current. Since microorganisms may be present in the lens, it is preferable to perform sterilization by raising the temperature of the electrolyte solution. However, if the sterilization treatment is performed by raising the temperature of the electrolyte solution at the same time as the washing treatment, heat denaturation of the protein attached to or in the lens occurs, and the protein adheres to the lens, which makes removal difficult. It is preferable to perform a sterilization treatment after the washing treatment.

As the method of the sterilization treatment, for example, by heating using a heater or the like, the temperature of the electrolyte solution is 80 ~
Although there is a method of performing sterilization at 100 ° C., the present invention is not limited to such a method, the temperature of the electrolyte solution is set to 80 to 10
Any method may be used as long as it can raise the temperature to 0 ° C.

In the cleaning and sterilization method of the present invention, for example, the type of the processing tank used, the material of the electrode, the current value, the energizing time, the current density, the type of the electrolyte solution, the pH of the electrolyte solution, the concentration of the electrolyte in the electrolyte solution , The temperature of the electrolyte solution, the type of surfactant when the surfactant is used and its concentration in the electrolyte solution, the type of proteolytic enzyme when the protease is used and its concentration in the electrolyte solution, etc. The conditions are the same as in the case of the cleaning method.
Further, as described above, microorganisms such as bacteria diffuse after the lens is sterilized and the current is cut off, but a gel or membrane similar to that used in the above-mentioned washing method is used in the same manner as in the above-mentioned washing method. It is preferable to prevent the redeposition of such microorganisms on the lens by placing the microorganism in the solution.

The lens which has been cleaned or sterilized as described above is taken out of the electrolyte solution, and is worn as it is, or if the electrolyte solution is irritating, washed with a physiological saline solution and then worn. be able to.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to only these examples.

Example 1 Each component was blended so as to have the composition shown below, and about 1 artificial tear (pH 7.0) was obtained.

Two soft contact lenses containing N-vinylpyrrolidone as a main component and having a water content of about 70%
The protein was adsorbed on the lens by immersion at 25 ° C. for a day.

(Artificial Composition of tears) Albumin 3.88 g .gamma.-globulin 1.61g lysozyme _{1.2 g NaCl 9.0 g CaCl 2 ·} 2H 2 O 0.15g NaH 2 PO 4 · 2H 2 O 1.04g distilled water 1.0 It should be noted that artificial tears daily new Replaced with something.

This lens was washed with fingers using a soft contact lens cleaning agent Meniclean (manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd.), and then measured by FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer) to measure 1580 to 1500 cm ^-1 . The amount of protein adsorbed on the lens was determined by calculating the peak area of the amide absorption band.

Next, one of the soft contact lenses was dipped in 100 ml of 0.05 M / phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at about 20 ° C. for 2 hours.

Next to the other soft contact lens first
A cleaning process was performed using the apparatus shown in the figure. A method of such a cleaning process will be described with reference to FIG.

A treatment layer (1) equipped with a platinum electrode (2) (electrode plate area: 1.6 cm ² ) connected to a DC power supply (4) by a lead wire (3) was used as an electrolyte solution (5). Fill 100 ml of phosphate buffer solution, immerse the lens (6) in the electrolyte solution (5) and cover the lid (7), keep the electrolyte solution (5) at 20 to 25 ° C., and apply a direct current of 0.096 A to 2
It was treated for a time.

After each of the above treatments, both lenses were promptly taken out of the buffer solution, and the protein adsorption amount was measured again by FT-IR. Although there was no difference in the amount of protein adsorbed, no protein adsorption was observed in the sample washed by passing an electric current. From this, it is understood that the protein was completely removed from the surface of the lens by immersing the lens in the electrolyte solution and passing an electric current through the electrolyte solution.

The water content of the lens was calculated according to the following formula.

(Water content) Example 2 In the same manner as in Example 1, the same two lenses as those used in Example 1 were allowed to adsorb protein, and the lenses were washed with fingers using Meniclean and measured by FT-IR. The amount of protein adsorbed was determined.

Subsequently, one lens was immersed in 100 ml of 0.05 M acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5) at about 15 ° C. for 24 hours.

Next, another lens was washed using the apparatus shown in FIG. This cleaning method is the second
Description will be made based on the drawings.

As a solution of electrolyte (5), a treatment tank (1) equipped with a platinum electrode (2) (electrode plate area: 1.6 cm ² ) connected to a DC power supply (4) by a lead wire (3) was used as the above solution. Fill the same acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer solution (100 ml), immerse the lens (6) in the electrolyte solution (5), and place the gel (8) between the lenses (6) so that the lens (6) is isolated. A 3% agar gel (height: 3 cm, thickness: 0.8 cm) was set, and the lid (7) was closed. The electrolyte solution (5) was kept at 15 to 20 ° C., a current was passed at 0.05 A for 4 hours, the current was stopped, and the solution was left for 16 hours.

After each of the above treatments, both lenses were taken out of the buffer solution and measured by FT-IR in the same manner as before treatment, and there was no difference in the amount of protein adsorbed in the lens treated only by immersion. However, no protein adsorption was observed in the sample washed by passing an electric current. From this, it is understood that the protein was completely removed from the surface of the lens by immersing the lens in the electrolyte solution and passing an electric current through the electrolyte solution.

Example 3 In the same manner as in Example 1, the protein was adsorbed on two sheets of the same lens used in Example 1, the lens was washed with fingers using Meniclean, and the measurement was performed by FT-IR. The amount of adsorbed protein was determined.

Next, one of the lenses was subjected to a treatment of immersion in 100 ml of 0.2 M / borate buffer (pH 8.0) at about 20 ° C. Further, the other lens was immersed in the same buffer solution, washed as in Example 1, by maintaining the buffer solution at 20 to 25 ° C., and applying a current at 0.025 A for 16 hours.

After the above treatment, both lenses were immediately taken out from the buffer solution and measured by FT-IR in the same manner as in Example 1, and there was no difference in the amount of protein adsorbed in the lens subjected to only the immersion treatment. However, no protein adsorption was observed in the sample washed by passing an electric current.
From this, it was confirmed that the protein was completely removed from the surface of the lens by immersing the lens in the electrolyte solution and passing a current through the electrolyte solution.

Example 4 Four soft contact lenses containing N-vinylpyrrolidone as a main component and having a water content of about 78% were immersed in 40 ml of the same artificial lacrimal fluid used in Example 1 for 10 days at 25 ° C. However, the artificial tears were replaced with new ones every day.

Take out the above four lenses, and leave one lens at about 20 ℃
After immersing in 100 ml of 0.1M / phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8) for 3 hours and washing one sheet with Meniclean with fingers,
Immerse in the same buffer as above for 3 hours, 1 sheet for 3 hours in the protein remover Hydrocare F (product name of Santen Allagan, trade name) for 3 hours, wash with Meniclean, and leave 1 sheet as it is It was immersed in a liquid, washed in the same manner as in Example 1 by keeping the buffer solution at 20 to 25 ° C. and applying an electric current at 0.1 A for 3 hours.

Next, use 1% Amido Black 10B for each lens.
It was immersed in 10 ml of a staining solution (in a 7% acetic acid aqueous solution) for 1 hour. After that, each lens was washed with 7% acetic acid aqueous solution 5 times (100 ml / 1 time
After washing (liquid exchange every 0 minutes), washing was carried out 5 times by immersing in methanol (liquid exchange every 30 minutes at 100 ml / time), and further immersed in 100 ml of fresh methanol for 1 day.
Next, each lens was again immersed in 50 ml of a 7% acetic acid aqueous solution for 1 day.

When the coloring of the four lenses was examined, the one washed by passing an electric current was not colored at all, but the other three lenses were all colored blue. The degree of such coloring indicates how much protein or proteolytic enzyme remains inside the lens. From this result, it was found that the protein was completely removed from the surface and the inside of the lens by the washing treatment by applying a current.

Example 5 Two soft contact lenses (manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd., trade name: Soft M) having a water content of about 38% were immersed in 20 ml of the same artificial lacrimal fluid used in Example 1 for 5 days at 25 ° C. . However, the artificial tears were replaced with new ones every day.

Then, one of the two lenses was immersed in 100 ml of 0.1 M / phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at about 30 ° C. for 3 hours, and the other lens was immersed in the same buffer. Example 1
Keep the buffer at about 30 ° C as in
A cleaning process was performed by applying an electric current for an hour.

Immediately after the above treatment, each lens was taken out from the buffer solution and a sterility test medium (thioglycollate medium,
(Manufactured by Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd.) and cultured at 30 ° C. for 7 days.

As a result, growth of microorganisms (bacteria) was observed in the medium that had been subjected only to the immersion treatment in one day because the medium became cloudy, but the medium that had been washed by applying an electric current was Since it was not cloudy and was transparent, growth of microorganisms was not recognized. From this, it was found that the lens was sterilized (sterilized) by passing an electric current.

When the viable cell count of the artificial tear used in this experiment was examined by the plate pour method, the viable cell count was 1.64 × 10 ⁷ cells / ml.
After immersion in artificial tears, approximately 1.0 × 1
0 ⁴ cells of bacteria were attached.

Example 6 1.8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 in 0.2 M / Na ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution
A bacterial solution of × 10 ³ cells / ml was prepared, and two lenses each having a water content of about 60% were placed in 50 ml of the bacterial solution and left for 1 day.

Then, one of the lenses was subjected to a treatment in which the bacterial solution was kept at about 20 ° C. and a current of 0.1 A was applied to the bacterial solution for 2 hours in the same manner as in Example 1, the current was stopped, and then the lens was left for 1 hour.
The other lens was subjected to a treatment for standing in a bacterial solution for 3 hours. Each lens was taken out from the bacterial solution, inoculated into a sterility test medium in the same manner as in Example 5, and cultured at 30 ° C. for 7 days.

As a result of the above-mentioned culture, the lenses that had been left to stand in the bacterial solution showed growth of microorganisms due to the turbidity of the medium in one day. Since the culture medium was transparent without turbidity, growth of microorganisms was not observed. From this, it was found that the lens was sterilized (sterilized) by passing an electric current as described above.

Example 7 1.24 × 10 ⁵ cell using Staphylococcus aureus 209P in 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution
Prepare a s / ml bacterial solution, and have a water content of about 38% in 15 ml of the bacterial solution.
2 lenses (manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd., trade name: Soft M) were put and left for 1 day.

Remove each of the lenses from the bacterial solution, and place one lens in 100 ml of 0.1 M / phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at about 20 ° C.
After immersion in the buffer for 4 hours, the other lens was placed in the same buffer, and the buffer was maintained at about 25 ° C. and a current of 0.16 A was passed for 4 hours in the same manner as in Example 1. Each lens was immediately taken out, inoculated in a sterility test medium in the same manner as in Example 5, and cultured at 30 ° C. for 7 days.

As a result of carrying out the above-mentioned culture, growth of microorganisms was observed in the medium which had been treated only by soaking because the medium became cloudy within 1 day, but in the medium which had been subjected to the current application, the medium became cloudy. Since it was not transparent, the growth of microorganisms was not recognized. From this, it was found that the lens was sterilized (sterilized) by the above-described current flowing process.

Example 8 Escherichia coli (Escheri coli) was added to a 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution.
chia coli) ATCC 8739 was used to prepare a 2.70 × 10 ⁶ cells / ml bacterial solution, and two lenses (product name: Breathau, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) with a water content of about 78% were prepared in 15 ml of the bacterial solution. Put one
Left for days.

Each of the lenses was removed from the bacterial solution, and one lens was immersed in 100 ml of 0.1 M / phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at about 20 ° C. for 4 hours, and the other lens was placed in the same buffer. Thereafter, in the same manner as in Example 1, the buffer was maintained at about 20 ° C., a current of 0.1 A was passed for 4 hours, and then the mixture was further heated by an external heater and sterilized at 100 ° C. for 20 minutes.

Each lens was taken out, inoculated into a sterility test medium in the same manner as in Example 5, and cultured at 30 ° C. for 7 days.

As a result, the product that has been treated only by dipping is 1
Although the growth of microorganisms was observed because the medium became cloudy in days, the ones that were subjected to the sterilization treatment by applying an electric current as described above and further heated were microbial cells because the medium was not cloudy and transparent. No growth was observed, indicating that the contact lens was sterilized (sterilized).

Example 9 2 of Bochrom Optima 38 (manufactured by BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED, trade name) and HYDRON soft color contact lens (manufactured by Hydron Japan, trade name: 114 Rhodes) 2
Each type of soft color contact lens was cut into two pieces by cutting with a razor blade, and one half of each lens was stored in saline. The remaining halves were each 0.1 M / phosphate buffer (pH 6.
8) After immersion in 100 ml, use the same device as in Example 1.
A treatment of continuously applying a current of 1 A for 1000 hours was performed. However, the buffer solution was replaced with a new buffer solution every 24 hours.

Each of the halves subjected to the energizing process was taken out, and the degree of fading was examined by comparing the same type and each half that had been stored in saline, respectively, but the half subjected to the energizing process was examined. Was not faded at all. From this, it was found that the cleaning method and the sterilization method of the present invention can be sufficiently applied to a color contact lens.

Example 10 Two hard contact lenses named Menicon EX (trade name, manufactured by Menicon Co., Ltd.) were immersed in the same artificial tear solution used in Example 1 at 25 ° C. for 5 days. However, the artificial tears were replaced with new ones every day.

These lenses oxygen permeability hard contact lens cleaning storage solution O ₂ Care (Co. Menicon Ltd., trade name) After washing with fingers using, in the same manner as in Example 1 FT-
The amount of protein adsorbed was determined by measuring by IR. Then, one lens was immersed in 100 ml of 0.1 M / phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at about 20 ° C. for 2 hours, and the other lens was immersed in the same phosphate buffer, as in Example 1. The cleaning process was performed by applying a current of 0.10 A for 2 hours using the apparatus described in (1).

Next, when both the lenses were measured again by FT-IR to determine the amount of protein adsorbed, there was no difference in the amount of protein adsorbed from those treated only by immersing in the buffer solution. The protein that had been subjected to the washing treatment had a considerably small amount of adsorbed protein. This indicates that the protein adhering to the surface of the lens was considerably removed by immersing the lens in the electrolyte solution and passing a current through the electrolyte solution.

Comparative Example 1 The same Bausch & Lomb Optima 38 and HYDRON soft color contact lenses used in Example 9 were divided into two pieces in the same manner as in Example 9, and one of the half pieces of each lens was used. Each was stored in saline.

On the other hand, in 100 ml of distilled water, the remaining half pieces are each immersed in 3.0 ml of an aqueous solution of about 20 ° C with a trisodium citrate concentration of 0.562%, a citric acid concentration of 0.006%, and a sodium chloride concentration of 0.90%. Then, a current of 0.006 A was applied for 25 seconds using the same apparatus as in Example 1 to produce sodium hypochlorite having a concentration of about 5 ppm in the aqueous solution and disinfect it. After being left as it was at room temperature for 60 minutes, each half was taken out, the aqueous solution was replaced with a new one, and each half was immersed again, and electricity was supplied to generate sodium hypochlorite. Each half was immersed in the aqueous solution to generate sodium hypochlorite, left at room temperature for 60 minutes, then taken out, and the system for replacing the aqueous solution was defined as one cycle, and this cycle was repeated 50 times.

As a result of comparing the color of each half disinfected as described above with the same type of color of each half stored in saline, the degree of bleaching and bleaching of the lens was examined, Color contact lenses were completely decolorized in just two cycles, and HYDRON's color contact lenses began to fade after about 20 cycles.

From these results, it was found that when a sterilization system in which hypohalite is applied to a color contact lens is applied, the color contact lens is discolored or decolorized.

[Effect of the invention] The lens cleaning method and cleaning sterilization method of the present invention are
All have no adverse effect on the material, standard, or shape of the lens,
The protein can be easily removed from the lens with excellent detergency without requiring complicated operations, and the lens sterilization method according to the present invention has an effect that the lens can be sterilized.

Further, any of the methods of the present invention has the effect that when applied to a color contact lens or a lens marked by dyeing, the lens is never faded or decolorized.

Furthermore, in any of the methods of the present invention, the electrolyte solution used is one that does not generate hypohalite by electrolysis, and does not require H ₂ O _2. It has the effect of being extremely safe for the eye tissue, with no harmful components remaining inside.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are cross-sectional views showing an example of an apparatus used for the contact lens cleaning method and the cleaning sterilization method of the present invention, respectively. (Main symbols in the drawing) (5): Electrolyte solution (6): Contact lens (8): Gel

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for washing proteins adsorbed on a contact lens, which comprises immersing the contact lens in an electrolyte solution that does not generate hypohalite by electrolysis and passing a direct current to remove the protein from the contact lens. How to clean contact lenses. 2. A gel or membrane that can be impregnated with the electrolyte solution to trap proteins is placed in the electrolyte solution across the contact lens so that the contact lens is isolated. 1. The method for cleaning a contact lens according to 1. 3. The method for cleaning a contact lens according to claim 1, wherein a direct current to be applied is 0.001 to 0.5 A. 4. A method of immersing a contact lens in an electrolyte solution which does not generate hypohalite by electrolysis, removing proteins and microorganisms from the contact lens by passing a direct current, and then raising the temperature of the electrolyte solution. A method for cleaning and sterilizing a contact lens by sterilizing the contact lens. 5. The contact according to claim 4, wherein a gel or a membrane capable of being impregnated with the electrolyte solution is placed between the contact lenses so as to isolate the contact lenses in order to capture proteins and microorganisms. Cleaning and sterilizing method of lens. 6. The method for cleaning and sterilizing a contact lens according to claim 4, wherein a direct current to be applied is 0.001 to 0.5 A.