JPH01192360A - Cleaning and storage system for sight measuring soft or hard contact lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To clean contact lenses, by circulating fluid using directional flow of the fluid, forming a spray and colliding it with surfaces of lenses. CONSTITUTION: A cleaning, sterilization and storage system 10 of contact lenses composes of a vessel 12 with outer side of a circle. In the vessel 12, a vacant cleaning room 18 is disposed to accommodate a pair of lens supporter 20. The lens supporter 20 is hung from a cap by a connection with two pieces of support strands 22. This system has a base/pump housing 40 fixed tightly with a base part 42 of the vessel 12 which is elastic and flexible. Therefore, the base/pump housing can be compressed inside to the vessel 12 and the fluid is propelled from a vacant inner room 46 into the clean room 18 and on the lenses via plural holes 48 in a wall of the vessel 12 and in the top part. The lenses can be cleaned by a directional flow of a solution formed by circulating the fluid in the clean room 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method for improved cleaning, sterilization and storage of commonly used soft and rigid contact lenses.
Concerning new, unique and original methods. The present invention improves solution dosage to meet cleaning requirements. This device overcomes many of the existing problems and inconveniences resulting from multiple handling and overcomes the ineffective cleaning resulting from systems currently available to users.

A typical problem is frequent tearing of soft lenses resulting from excessive or improper handling by the user. Another problem with existing manual systems is that particles become embedded within the lens during hand washing. Also, hand washing may be ineffective due to variation in user procedures or lack of compliance with cleanliness requirements. Damage occurs as a result of very small particles physically contacting the lens during hand washing and can cause scratches on the lens. By reducing the amount of handling by the user, there is less chance of dropping the lens and contaminating or damaging it.

Another significant advantage is the fact that since lens cleaning is facilitated as a result of the present invention, the user can more easily comply with cleaning requirements, thereby reducing eye injuries as a result of dirty lenses. It is. Eye infections can occur as a result of improper cleaning or contamination of lenses. The increasing popularity and use of soft contact lenses has led to an epidemic of giant mastoid conjunctivitis resulting from contaminated lenses. Also, the reduction in tedious cleaning procedures will encourage more people to use contact lenses who are disappointed with currently available cleaning methods.

The problem of ineffective or incomplete cleaning with current manual lens cleaning methods is that the lens is held within the lens support during cleaning and - angled within the cleaning chamber structure. or through an aperture arranged in other ways.
/ as a result of recirculation of the clean fluid within a delimited and closed clean chamber by manual or mechanical compression of an elastic chamber which propels the clean fluid into the clean chamber by means of a pump housing; Washing (i
This problem is overcome by the present invention by cleaning the lens by irrigation. The lens supports are rotatably attached to the support strands so that they rotate around the support strands as they are bombarded with multiple streams of cleaning solution, thereby increasing exposure of the entire lens to the flow of cleaning fluid. is guaranteed. An internal accessory container is available for storage, soaking or sterilization of lenses within the lens support for longer periods.

In one embodiment, a plurality of angled holes in the structure of the clean chamber generate a plurality of individual flows of fluid,
A helical spray of cleaning fluid is created that impinges on the lens support and rotates them around the support strands to improve cleaning circulation of the cleaning fluid to the lens.

An electrically driven pump actuator can be utilized to automatically operate the lens pumping unit and cleaning.

The present invention uses cleaning solutions of varying viscosities and chemical compositions to provide easy portability and convenience of use.

The solution and lens can remain stored within the unit device and can be transported during storage without leakage or contamination until the lens is next consumed.

One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning hard or soft contact lenses by circulating a cleaning fluid to clean the surface of the lens.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for circulating cleaning fluid within a clean room.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for circulating fluid in a directed flow to form a spray that impinges on the surface of a lens.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a spray of cleaning fluid that is helical in shape.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a spiral spray of cleaning fluid upwardly from the floor of the clean room.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of holes for angularly curved cleaning fluid to product fluid to form a helical spray.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning system having a clean chamber and a pump/reservoir for containing a cleaning fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning system having a resilient pump section that can be manually compressed to supply compressed fluid to a cleaning chamber.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning system having means for retaining lenses in their clean curved configuration and exposing the surfaces of the lenses to circulating cleaning fluid.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning system having lens retention means suspended within the cleaning chamber by support means to expose the lens to a spray of cleaning fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning system in which the lens holding means rotates around the support means to expose all surfaces of the lens to a spray of cleaning fluid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning system having an electrically driven compressor that cyclically compresses pump means for cleaning lenses.

The invention primarily consists of a container with two chambers for cleaning and storage: an internal clean chamber and another chamber for storing fluid. A lid is provided for the container, which holds support strands for rotatably suspending the lens support. The lid attaches to the container in a watertight connection, providing holes in the reservoir cap that allow air to escape from the clean chamber and fluid to drip back into the clean chamber during compression or wash cycles.

The lens supports are suspended within the chamber by support strands from the cap and are generally parallel and offset from each other within the chamber.

This offset positioning allows each lens support to rotate about its support strand. A resilient base/pump housing is connected to the bottom of the container. Place the base/base so that the cleaning solution is almost flush with the floor of the container.
located inside the pump housing. The floor or other portion of the vessel's clean chamber structure has a plurality of holes so that when the base/pump housing is manipulated to force the clean fluid through the holes, a spray of fluid impinges on the lens. provide. In one embodiment, the holes are located in the bed and are angled to form a spiral supply of cleaning fluid, providing cleaning by circulation of the fluid and impacting the lens in the support. and cleaning the lens by splashing. The ideal impact angle for the lens spray is 90° to the plane of the surface, but the rotation of the support and the angle of the spray will result in multiple impact angles. However, impact sprays with varying angles will provide efficient cleaning of the lens for cleaning even between rotations. Rotation of the support will increase the exposure of the lens surface to the spray. This helical shaped impact rotates the lens support around the support strands, so that all of the surfaces of the lens held within the lens support are exposed to cleaning, thereby washing (W
ashing). The cleaning and washing action is
It begins by compressing the flexible base/pump housing to force the liquid therein through the angled holes and into the clean chamber.

Air is released through holes in the lid and fluid is injected into the clean chamber by the force of compression of the base/pump housing. When the compression on the base/pump is released, the flexible housing returns to its original shape and drains the fluid from the clean chamber back into the base/pump housing for the next compression and cleaning cycle. You will be able to do it.

Also, in the floor hole embodiment, fluid that may have been propelled into and onto the lid falls onto the lens and then into the storage container.

In FIG. 1, a contact lens cleaning, sterilization and storage system is indicated generally by the numeral IO. The system IO consists of an outer container 12, which can be circular as shown in FIG. Container 12 is open at the top and has a floor 14. A lid 16 is provided for the opening in the top of the container 12 and is secured by a snap connection to the container 12 by a cap 17 as shown in FIG. 1 to form a generally watertight fit. A cavity clean chamber 18 is defined within the container 12 for accommodating a pair of lens supports 20 . The lens support 20 is suspended from the lid 16 by connection with two support strands 22 that extend from the lid 16 into the clean chamber 18 and are connected to the lens support 20. . The lens supports 20 are rotatably connected to the end of each strand 22 that is connected to the lid 16 (generally during molding) so that the pairs of lens supports 20 are generally parallel but offset from each other. This allows each to rotate freely about their respective support strands 22 without contacting the other lens (as shown in Figure 5). The lens support consists of two parts 24 and 25 having two generally parallel concave open mesh surfaces 26 and 27 with a soft or hard surface between them. Connectable for holding contact lenses (not shown).

Surface 26 is part of section 24 and surface 27 is part of section 25. two support parts 26 and 27
are connected by hinge means 28 so that they can be easily opened and closed to facilitate insertion and removal of the lens. Hinge means 28 includes portions 24 and 25
A segment of material that connects the supports and is flexible to allow bending for opening and closing of the parts of the support. This kind of hinge is called "living hinge".
It is technically well known as The two parts 24 and 25 of each support are curved so that when in the closed position (
3) to accommodate the curvature of the lens between them. These supports are connected at 308 and 31 to the ends of each flexible support strand 22 by conventional snap-on connections 31 well known in the art, such that the supports The six supports that can rotate around the strands as shown in Figures 3 and 5 allow their rotation without interfering with the rotation of the other support when in the cleaning mode. It is positioned so that A ball 34 is provided at each end of the strand 22 to prevent the lens support 20 from slipping off the strand. The bulb 35 can be positioned (shaped) above the support 20 on the strand 22 to prevent movement of the support along the strand 22. Surfaces 26 and 27 of the support have a plurality of openings 29 to form surfaces 26 and 27.
A spray of fluid can enter onto the surface of the lens held between 7 and 7. These openings are easily visible in support 20 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. In the storage mode, the inner container 36 (FIGS. 2 and 2A) can fit within the clean chamber 18 and is filled to a certain level with a predefined cleaning or sterilizing solution. Both lens supports 20 are operated with elastic flexible support strands 22 so that they are now parallel and adjacent and fit within an inner container 36, as shown in FIG. Vessel 36 is smaller than the clean chamber of the system, reducing the amount of fluid required. The inner container is shaped for a snap-in, watertight connection with a portion of the lid 16, as shown in FIG. When the lens is prepared for use,
Remove the inner container and discard the liquid within. At this time, the lens held within the lens support can be cleaned, sterilized or rinsed again, if appropriate.

As shown in FIG.
2 and a base/pump housing 40 attached in a watertight connection. Because this housing 40 is resilient and flexible, it can be compressed inwardly toward the container 12 to direct fluid 44 from its hollow interior chamber 46 into the floor 49 or even into the walls or top of the container 12. through the hole 48 into the clean chamber 18 and over the lens. Although no embodiments are shown that demonstrate the use of holes in the structure of the container 12 (other than the floor 49), it is possible to provide the container 12 with passages in the walls or to direct fluid to the container 1.
It would be simple to provide other means of transport to the hole in the wall or lid of 2.

These holes will provide directed flow of solution to circulate and recirculate fluid within the cleaning chamber to clean the lens. Perhaps a simpler and more practical implementation is the use of holes in the floor as shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the system IO,
The lens support 20 is shown suspended in the cleaning position, prepared for the cleaning stage. As shown, pace/pump housing 40 is filled with a suitable cleaning solution.

FIG. 18 is another view of the lens support 20 within the clean chamber 18, with the lens support 20 being parallel but capable of rotating about the strands 22 upon impact of the fluid.
Indicates that it is in an off-center position.

FIG. 2 shows that for storing the lens support 20 in solution,
A system IO is shown having an internal container 36 (FIG. 2A) located within a clean room 18. Inner container 36 is in watertight connection with lid 16 by a conventional snap-on connection. The lens supports are manipulated into parallel and adjacent positions on their support strands to fit within the reduced cavity of the inner container 36. This is possible due to the flexible nature of the support strands of the lens support and their offset position.

FIG. 2 shows lens support 20 stored within inner container 36 within container 12. FIG.

3 and 3A show two generally parallel concave portions 26 and 27 of lens support 20. FIG.

These two parts are connected by a hinge so that they can be opened and closed for lens insertion and removal. The generally curved and parallel oval surfaces 26 and 27 of the two portions 24 and 25 provide a gap for holding a curved contact lens. Lens support 20 is rotatably connected to support strand 22 by a conventional snap-on connection 31. The strand 22 snaps into the generally C-shaped segment of the connection 31 and is held there by impingement contact, but is not impinged by the helical spray of fluid resulting from the multi-angular fluid flow ejecting from the reciprocal 48. Due to the rotation during , the strand 22 is rotatable within the C-shaped segment. Lens support 20 has a plurality of apertures 29 in the oval surface so that the surface of the retained lens is exposed and in contact with a spray of cleaning fluid for rinsing cleaning.

FIG. 3A shows lens support 20 in the open position.

FIG. 4 shows a lid 16 with downwardly extending flexible support strands.

FIG. 5 shows the clean room 1 located above the floor 49 of the container 12.
8 is an overhead view of the lens support 20 in FIG. The floor 49 has a plurality of holes 48 which, upon manipulation and compression of the base/pump housing 40, allow the lens support 20 to
positioned at an angle to provide a spiral spray of cleaning fluid upwards. These flows of fluid 50 (fifth
(indicated by arrows in the Figure) impinges on the lens support 20, as shown in Figure 5, very similar to the spray in the dishwasher, thereby impacting the lens support and causing the lens support to collapse. It begins to rotate around the strand 22. This rotation of the lens support is driven and maintained by a cyclic spray of water provided by cyclic operation of the base/pump housing. In this way, the lens support rotates continuously around the support strand during the cleaning operation, so that the entire surface of the lens to be cleaned is exposed to cleaning by circulation of the cleaning solution. In this way, the invention provides complete circulation, washing and cleaning of the contact lens.

FIG. 6 shows an electrically driven device 54 for compressing the housing 40 and injecting cleaning fluid into the cleaning chamber 18. Platform 52 is cyclically driven upwardly to compress housing 40. This device 54 electrically performs manual compression, which is typically performed by a user cyclically compressing the housing 40 with his hands and fingers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a side, partial cutaway view of the present invention showing a lens support suspended within a clean chamber. FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the invention with the internal storage container installed. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the inner container. FIG. 3 is a side view of the lens support. FIG. 3A is a side view of the lens support in the open position. FIG. 4 is a side view of the lid of the invention with the support strand of the lens support. FIG. 5 is an overhead cross-sectional view of the clean chamber showing the location of the angled holes and lens support. FIG. 6 is a side view of the electrically driven manipulator compressing the pump housing. 10 Contact lens cleaning, sterilization and storage system 12 Outer container 14 bed 16 Lid 17 Cap 18 Clean chamber 20 Lens support 22 Support strand 24 Section 25 Section 26 Open mesh surface, concave section 27 Open mesh surface, concave portion 28 hinge means 29 opening 31 snap-on connection 34 ball 35 bulb 36 inner container 40 base/pump housing 42 bottom 44 cleaning solution, fluid 46 hollow inner chamber 48 holes 49 floor 50 fluid flow 52 platform 54 Electrically driven device FIG, 5 FIG, 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Storage for soft and rigid contact lenses;
A cleaning and sterilization system comprising: a lens support means;
said lens support means retains one or more contact lenses within a cavity for exposure to circulating fluid for cleaning by washing; cleaning means, said cleaning means connected to said lens support means; cleaning the lens by cleaning the lens by circulating a cleaning fluid within the cleaning means, the cleaning fluid being directed in a flow to impinge on a surface of the lens to clean the lens and rotate the lens; , thus essentially the entire surface of the lens is exposed to the washing action of the flow; and means for releasing at least part of the atmosphere within the cavity therefrom. 2. The lens support means includes a lens retention means and a lid means, the lens retention means being connected in fluid communication with the cleaning means to provide circulation to fluid for cleaning and drainage of contact lenses within the chamber. and the cavity is generally watertight; the lens retaining means is connected to the lid means to retain and hold each contact lens within the lens cleaning means for exposure to cleaning by the cleaning means. The system of claim 1 which is suspended. 3. said lens support means comprising a container means, said container means being connectable to said lid means, said lens retaining means being substantially immersed in said amount of fluid; said container means being connected to said cleaning means; 3. The system of claim 2, having a volume smaller than the volume of . 4. The cleaning means includes a cleaning means connected in fluid communication with the lens support means for cyclically circulating a fluid through the lens support means to clean the contacts in the lens support means. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is impinged onto a lens. 5. The cleaning means includes pump means and fluid circulation means, the pump means being connected in fluid communication with the lens support means and cyclically supplying a quantity of fluid under pressure to the fluid circulation means. , said fluid circulation means is connected in fluid communication to said pump means for circulating a directed flow of pressurized fluid over said lens support means in a helical manner to displace a contact lens in said lens support means. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the system collides with the top of the vehicle. 6. The circulation means includes fluid directing means in fluid communication with the lens support means connected in fluid communication to the pump means for spraying a plurality of directed streams of fluid. 6. The system of claim 5 which is directed onto the lens. 7. The fluid directing means includes a plurality of aperture means, the aperture means being in fluid communication between the pump means and the support means, for individually directing a plurality of fluids forming a predetermined spray. 7. The system according to claim 6, which creates a flow of water. 8. Storage for soft and rigid contact lenses;
A cleaning and sterilization system comprising: a lens support means for holding one or more contact lenses, said lenses being rotatably disposed within a cavity and exposed to a circulating fluid for cleaning by irrigation; means, said cleaning means connected to said lens support means for cleaning said lens by cleaning said lens by circulating a cleaning fluid within said cleaning means, said cleaning fluid being directed in a flow onto a surface of said lens; impingement, effecting cleaning of said lens and rotating said lens, so that essentially the entire surface of said lens is exposed to the cleaning action of said flow; said cleaning means comprises cleaning means, said cleaning means is fluidly connected to said lens support means for cyclically circulating a fluid through said lens support means to impinge upon a contact lens in said lens support means; and said pump means compressing resilient housing means, said housing means being in generally watertight connection with said lens cleaning means in fluid communication with said housing means to store said fluid, and by compression and elastic expansion of said housing means; The system comprising: propelling the fluid through the fluid directing means, the cavity including means for releasing at least a portion of the atmosphere within the cavity therefrom. 9. Storage for soft and rigid contact lenses;
A cleaning and sterilization system comprising: a lens support means for holding one or more contact lenses, said lenses being rotatably disposed within a cavity and exposed to a circulating fluid for cleaning by irrigation; means, said cleaning means connected to said lens support means for cleaning said lens by cleaning said lens by circulating a cleaning fluid within said cleaning means, said cleaning fluid being directed in a flow onto a surface of said lens; impingement, effecting cleaning of said lens and rotating said lens, so that essentially the entire surface of said lens is exposed to the cleaning action of said flow; said cleaning means comprises cleaning means, said cleaning means is fluidly connected to said lens support means for cyclically circulating a fluid through said lens support means to impinge upon the contact lens in said lens support means; said cleaning means includes a pump means; and fluid circulation means, said pump means being connected in fluid communication with said lens support means for cyclically supplying a quantity of fluid under pressure to said fluid circulation means, said fluid circulation means being connected to said pumping means. connected in fluid communication to means for circulating a directed flow of pressurized fluid in a helical manner over said lens support means to impinge upon said contact lens in said lens support means; said circulation; The means includes fluid directing means, the fluid directing means being in fluid communication with the lens support means connected in fluid communication to the pumping means for directing sprays of a plurality of directed streams of fluid onto the lens. said pump means includes a compressible resilient housing means, said housing means connected in fluid communication with said lens support means; said housing means stores said fluid; and said housing means stores said fluid, and said housing means comprises a compressible resilient housing means; and elastic expansion propels said fluid into said fluid directing means; said fluid directing means includes a plurality of angled hole means in the floor of said cleaning means, said hole means having a plurality of upper providing a flow of fluid propelling the flow, said flow forming a spray in the shape of a spiral;
The spray impinges on the contact lens in the lens support means, and the fluid directing means expels the fluid back into the pumping means during elastic expansion of the housing means, and the cavity The system further comprises: means for releasing at least a portion of the atmosphere within the cavity. 10. The lens retaining means includes support strand means, the support strand means being connected to the lid means and rotatably connected to the lens retaining means such that the lens retaining means is rotatable within the cavity. 3. A system as claimed in claim 2 depending on the invention. 11. said lens holding means includes two pairs of lens supporting means, said lens supporting means being connected to said support strand means to hold the lenses in their concave position; said lens supporting means being flexible; a pair of parallel concave surfaces connected by hinge means, said concave surfaces having a plurality of apertures, said concave surfaces connecting to shape the lens during cleaning and storage; defining a receiving and retaining space, said opening being of sufficient size to allow passage of fluid to the lens during cleaning and storage, and said lens support means being rotatably connected to said support strand means. 11. The system of claim 10. 12. The lens support means comprises a container means, the container means being connectable to the lens support means and storing the lens support means in a cavity smaller than the cavity of the container. System described in section. 13. A storage, cleaning and sterilization system for soft and rigid contact lenses, the container having an internal cavity, a perforated floor, and an opening above;
a lid connectable to said upper opening, generally having a watertight connection, said lid having means for venting atmosphere from said internal cavity; one or more supports, said supports connected to said lid; a cage and rotatably suspended above the floor within the interior cavity, the support having at least one pair of generally parallel concave surfaces connected together by hinge means; the paired surfaces may connect to form a generally curved concave cavity in the shape of a contact lens, and the contact lens may be retained within the concave cavity; a pump/base housing; The pump/base housing has a compressible and elastically expandable outer surface and a storage volume, the housing has a generally watertight attachment connectable to the bottom of the container, and the housing includes: The hole is in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the container through the hole in the bed, the hole being in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the container so that fluid directed through the hole and into the interior cavity impinges on the contact lens. , configured to rotate the contact lens and the support. 14. A storage, cleaning and sterilization system for soft and rigid contact lenses, the lens support holding one or more contact lenses within a cavity and exposing them to circulating fluid for cleaning by irrigation. means; cleaning means connected to the lens support means for cleaning the lens by cleaning the lens by circulating a cleaning fluid within the cleaning means; the cleaning means comprising cleaning means; means are fluidically connected to said lens support means for cyclically circulating fluid through said lens support means to impinge on contact lenses in said lens support means; said cleaning means includes a pump; means and fluid circulation means, said pump means being connected in fluid communication with said lens support means for cyclically supplying a quantity of fluid under pressure to said fluid circulation means, said fluid circulation means said connected in fluid communication to pump means for circulating a directed flow of pressurized fluid in a helical manner over said lens support means to impinge upon said contact lens in said lens support means; The circulation means includes fluid directing means in fluid communication with the lens support means connected in fluid communication to the pump means for directing sprays of a plurality of directed streams of fluid onto the lens. turn towards;
The fluid directing means includes a plurality of angled hole means in the bed of the cleaning means, the hole means providing a plurality of upwardly propelled streams of fluid, the streams forming a spiral shaped spray. forming, said spray impinging on a contact lens in said lens support means, and said fluid directing means expelling said fluid back into said pumping means during elastic expansion of said housing means; and A system as described above, characterized in that it comprises: means for releasing at least a portion of the atmosphere within the cavity therefrom. 15. A storage, cleaning and sterilization system for soft and rigid contact lenses, comprising lens support means and cleaning means for holding one or more contact lenses and exposing them to circulating fluid for cleaning by washing. , the cleaning means is connected to the lens support means and cleans the lens by cleaning the lens by circulating a cleaning fluid within the cleaning means; the lens support means includes a lens holding means and a lid means; A lens retaining means is connected in fluid communication to the cleaning means and is exposed to circulation of a fluid to clean and drain the contact lens within a generally watertight cavity during cyclic circulation with the fluid; means are connected to said lid means for retaining and suspending each contact lens within said lens support means for exposure to cleaning by said cleaning means; said lens retaining means includes support strand means; Support strand means are connected to said lid means, rotatably connected to said lens retaining means, rotatably suspending said lens retaining means within said cavity, and further adapted to control at least a portion of the atmosphere within said cavity. and means for releasing therefrom. 16. said lens holding means comprises two pairs of lens supporting means, said lens supporting means being connected to said support strand means to hold the lenses in their concave position; said lens supporting means comprising a flexible a pair of parallel concave surfaces connected by hinge means, said concave surfaces having a plurality of apertures, said concave surfaces connecting to shape the lens during cleaning and storage; a receiving and retaining space can be defined, the opening being of sufficient size to allow passage of fluid to the lens during cleaning and storage, and the lens support means being rotatable to the support strand means. Claim 15 which can be connected to
System described in section. 17. Steps: (a) providing cleaning means for generating at least one flow of cleaning fluid; (b) retaining and rotatably disposed within the cavity at least one contact lens; providing a lens support means for exposure to a flow of cleaning fluid; (c) generating at least one flow of cleaning fluid in the cleaning means to impinge on the contact lens held by the support means; A method of cleaning a contact lens comprising rotating the contact lens and simultaneously releasing at least a portion of the atmosphere in the cavity. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of collecting and recycling the cleaning fluid effluent from step (c). 19. A storage, cleaning and sterilization system for soft and rigid contact lenses, comprising lens support means and cleaning means for holding one or more contact lenses and exposing them to circulating fluid for cleaning by washing. , the cleaning means is connected to the lens support means and cleans the lens by cleaning the lens by circulating a cleaning fluid within the cleaning means; the lens support means includes a lens holding means and a lid means; A lens retaining means is connected in fluid communication to the cleaning means and is exposed to circulation of a fluid to clean and drain the contact lens within a generally watertight cavity during cyclic circulation with the fluid; means are connected to said lid means for retaining and suspending each contact lens within said lens support means for exposure to cleaning by said cleaning means; said lens retaining means includes support strand means; Support strand means are connected to said lid means and are rotatably connected to said lens retaining means to rotatably suspend said lens retaining means within said cavity; said lens retaining means having two pairs of lens supports; means, said lens support means being connected to said support strand means for retaining the lenses in their concave position, said lens support means having a pair of parallel support strand means connected by flexible hinge means; a concave surface, the concave surface having a plurality of apertures, and the concave surfaces connecting to provide for cleaning and storage during cleaning and storage;
A space may be defined for accommodating and retaining the shape of a lens, said opening being of sufficient size to allow passage of fluid to the lens during cleaning and storage; and said lens support means said support strands. and means for releasing at least a portion of the atmosphere within the cavity therefrom.