MXPA99002989A - Conditioning solutions for hard contact lens care - Google Patents

Abstract

Contact lens care compositions for the treatment of hardcontact lenses are disclosed. The compositions are useful for rinsing, cleaning, disinfecting and storing of hard contact lenses. The compositions contain a unique gelling system involving galactomannan polysaccharides and borates to allow for the conditioning of the lens when it is reinserted in the eye of the user. Methods of using these compositions are also disclosed.

Description

ACONDITIONING SOLUTIONS FOR THE CARE OF HARD CONTACT LENSES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to compositions for the care of contact lenses, useful for treating hard contact lenses. The compositions of the present invention include a single polymer gelation system comprising a galactomannan polysaccharide and a borate crosslinking compound, which together form a smooth mucin-type gel in the presence of increasing pH and ionic strength. Hard contact lenses are so named because of their stiffness, and are generally made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), siloxane acrylates, fluorine-siloxane acriiates or fluorine polymers. The most common type of hard contact lenses are rigid gas-permeable lenses ("RGP"), which allow soluble gases contained in natural or artificial tears to pass through them and feed the corneal tissues. Hard contact lenses require periodic cleaning and disinfection before they can be reused by the user. Numerous cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and storage solutions have been used in the past. In general, these solutions have contained one or more anitimicrobial agents, salts, pH regulators, surfactants and conditioning agents. Conditioning agents are useful in solutions for the care of hard contact lenses because they help to lubricate the lenses. When hard contact lenses are inserted into the eye they can cause discomfort to the user due to the relatively hydrophobic surface and rigid nature of the lenses. In this way, the cleaning and conditioning solutions that provide lubricating conditioners are particularly useful in the care of hard contact lenses. Conditioning compositions are commonly multifunctional solutions designed to be used to moisten, soak and disinfect hard contact lenses. Hard contact lenses have a limited water retention capacity and do not adequately wet when placed in solutions or inserted into the eye. Current technology teaches that the application of natural or synthetic water-soluble polymers to the surfaces of hard contact lenses not only increases the wetting capacity of the lenses, but also provides a "cushion" layer between the lens and the eye. These polymer adsorption have been equated with an increased wetting capacity, as well as comfort and tolerance for the user. However, the dissipation of the "cushion" layer occurs rapidly in most prior art structures, since there is very little specific interaction between the mobile polymer in this layer and the lens surface. As a result, the user begins to feel discomfort and has to rewet the surface of the lens.

The surfactants have been employed in conditioning solutions in an attempt to solve the problems described above. The active agents are adsorbed on the surface of the lens and allow the easy dispersion of the tears when the lenses are inserted, making them more comfortable to use. Representative wetting agents and viscosity modifiers have included: cellulose derivatives, such as cationic cellulosic polymers, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose and methylcellulose; polyols, such as polyethylene glycol, glycerin and polyethylene oxide (PEO) containing polymers; polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone. Such additives can be used in a wide range of concentrations as is known in the art. However, these types of agents are not adsorbed to a significant level by the lens, and therefore do not provide prolonged comfort. Polymers that provide a longer comfort level typically need to be employed at high concentrations to create a higher viscosity and thus prolong polymer retention. Nevertheless, the use of these high viscosity agents can cause the eyes to become cloudy when the lens is placed first in the eye, also creating a sticky sensation of the lens to the user and making it difficult to insert and handle the lens. More hydrophobic polymers can be more readily adsorbed by the lens, and can be formulated at lower concentrations to provide better lubrication. However, the disadvantage of a more hydrophobic polymer is that the polymer can also act as a substrate for deposits and consequently make the lens more prone to film formation and lipid deposition. Various disinfecting and storage cleaning solutions have been described in the art. For example, the use of antimicrobial agents such as quaternary ammonium polymers and particularly polyquaternium-1, has been described in the US patents. Nos. 4,407,791 (Stark) and 4,525,346 (Stark). The US patents Nos. 4,758,595 (Ogunbiyi) and 4,836,989 (Ogunbiyi) have described the use of polymeric biguanides in disinfection solutions. Several contact lens care solutions containing lubricants to condition hard contact lenses have also been described in the patent literature. For example, the US patent. No. 4,436,730 (Ellis et al.) Discloses compositions for moistening, soaking and lubricating lenses, and US patents. Nos. 4,820,352 (Riedhammer et al.) And 5,310,429 (Chou et al.) Describe compositions for cleaning and lubricating lenses. Various gelation compositions have been described in the art for use in ophthalmic applications. In general, these types of systems have been used for topical application of drugs, wherein the topical solution is partially or completely gelled after its instillation into the eye, to allow a prolonged release of the pharmaceutical agent in the eye. Said agents have included the use of polyvinyl alcohols, euketic gels, xanthan gums and gellan gum. However, polymer systems sensitive to stimuli for treating contact lenses have not been described in the art. The use of current gelling systems has a number of disadvantages for use in contact lens care applications. The US patents Nos. 4,136,173 (Pramoda et al.) And 4,136,177 (Un and others) describe the use of therapeutic compositions containing xanthan gum and locust bean gum, which are administered in liquid form and in gel form after instillation. These descriptions detail a mechanism for the transition from liquid to gel including change in pH. PH sensitive gels such as carbomers, xanthan, gellan and those described above, need to be formulated at or below the pKa of their acid groups (typically at a pH of about 2 to 5). However, compositions formulated at low pH are irritating to the eye. The patent of E.U. No. 4,861, 760 (Mazuel et al.) Describes ophthalmic compositions containing gellan gum and which are administered to the eye as ungelled liquids and gel after instillation thanks to a change in ionic strength. These systems do not include the use of small entanglement molecules, but instead provide gelling characteristics due to self-interlacing during changes in the ionic condition. However, current polymer gel systems have a number of disadvantages. Contact lens conditioning solutions are typically formulated as multifunctional compositions that disinfect and condition the lens simultaneously. These multi-purpose solutions will typically employ a cationic anitimicrobial polymeric agent. The anionic polymers interact electrostatically with polymeric cationic antimicrobials such as polyquatemium-1 and PHMB. This interaction interferes with the disinfection activity of the antimicrobial agents and the disinfecting efficiency of the solutions can therefore be compromised. Ion sensitive gels such as gellan, carrageenan and xanthan are capable of forming gels when used at a relatively high viscosity (high concentration) of about 100 to 1000 centipoise ("cps"). However, this viscosity scale is generally very high to facilitate lens handling and visual clarity. Gels that include the entanglement of polysaccharides with borates are described for use as suitable fracturing fluids in the US patents. Nos. 5,082,579 and 5,160,643. These patents describe the use of borates and polysaccharides for the excavation of industrial oil wells. The use of other gelling systems for contact lens care applications has also had a number of disadvantages. For example, natural polymers such as xanthan gum have the disadvantage of batch-to-batch variability due to variations in the source and / or limited manufacturing controls during processing. These variabilities cause significant undesirable changes in the properties of the compound, such as variable geiification characteristics. Thermogelification systems such as polyethylene oxide / polypropylene oxide block copolymers ("PEO / PPO") lose water to form gels, and as a result result in cloudy gels. Polyvinyl alcohol-borate crosslinking gels have been described in the U.S. patent. No. 4,255,415 (Sukhbir et al.) For the supply of ophthalmic drugs. These compositions are preformed gels, and are therefore difficult to provide. WIPO publication No. WO84 / 10976 (Goidenberg et al.) Discloses a low pH PVA-borate delivery system passing through the transition from liquid to gel. However, this system has the disadvantage, of limited gelling effects and only at certain concentrations of PVA depending on the molecular weight of the PVA used. Moreover, since the entanglement sites are unlimited with this system, the strong local gelation after the addition of the base has limited its manufacture and therefore, polyvinylpyrrolidone has presumably been included in these compositions to overcome the disadvantage. The novel gelling system of the present invention does not have the above limitation. Therefore, what is needed are rinsing, disinfecting, cleaning, storage and conditioning solutions for hard contact lenses that provide the necessary cleaning, disinfecting, rinsing, storage and conditioning efficiencies that provide ease of handling and user comfort. when the lenses are inserted in the eye and used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to solutions for the care of contact lenses useful for treating hard contact lenses. Mspecifically, the present invention is directed to compositions useful for rinsing, disinfecting, cleaning, storing and conditioning hard contact lenses. The compositions of the present invention comprise a unique gelation system that includes galactomannan polysaccharides and a borate source. The compositions of the present invention are transparent solutions of low viscosity and provide excellent characteristics for manual lens handling. Once the lens is immersed in a composition of the present invention, the gaiactomannan polysaccharide is adsorbed onto the lens, and after insertion of the lens into the eye a soft transparent gel is formed which mimics the natural mucin present in the lens. eye. The gel provides a reduced drainage of the polymer through the eye cavities thanks to the intermolecular entanglement of the polymer, by means of the entanglement of the borate. In addition, the polysaccharide-borate gels described herein have a much better lubrication efficiency than that of the non-interlacing polymer systems.

The gelation system of the present invention provides excellent reproducibility in the manufacturing process, as well as excellent gei fi cation characteristics that include ocular clarity of the resulting gei. Mver, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the galactomannans of the present invention (eg, guar gum) demonstrate excellent gel consistency and reproducibility, although the type or source of galactomannan varies. The present invention is also directed to methods for using the compositions of the present invention for rinsing, disinfecting, cleaning and conditioning hard contact lenses. The present invention is also directed to sterilization methods of galactomannans that include autoclaving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a graph illustrating the gelling characteristics of different concentrations of guar gum in the presence of borate, in relation to pH.

Figure 2 is a graph illustrating the gelation characteristics of different borate concentrations in the presence of guar gum, relative to pH. Figure 3 is a graph illustrating the uniformity of the uniformity of the gelling characteristics of three different types / sources of guar gum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to contact lens care compositions comprising one or mgalactomannan polysaccharides and one or mborate compounds. The present invention is also directed to methods of using these compositions for rinsing, disinfecting, cleaning and conditioning contact lenses. The types of gaiactomannans that can be used in the present invention are typically derived from guar gum, locust bean gum and tara gum. As used herein, the term "gaiactomannan" refers to polysaccharides derived from the afentioned natural gums or from similar natural or synthetic gums containing mannose or galactose moieties, or both groups, as the major structural components. The galactomannans which are preferred in the present invention are made up of linear chains of (1-4) -β-D-mannopyranosyl units with α-D-galactopyranosyl units linked via (1-6) bonds. With the preferred galactomannans the ratio of D-galactose to D-mannose varies, but will generally be from about 1: 2 to 1: 4. Mpreferred are galactomannans having a D-galactose: D-mannose ratio of about 1: 2. In addition, other chemically modified variations of polysaccharides are also included in the definition of "galactomannan". For example, substitutions of hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl and carboxymethylhydroxypropyl can be made to the galactomannans of the present invention. Particularly preferred are the non-ionic variations of the galactomannans, such as those containing alkoxy and (C 1 -C 6) alkyl groups (e.g., hydroxylpropyl substitutions). Substitutions at the non-cis hydroxyl positions are the most preferred. An example of a non-ionic substitution of a galactomannan of the present invention is hydroxypropyl guar, which is preferably substituted up to about a 0.6 mole ratio. The borate compounds that can be used in the compositions of the present invention are boric acid and other pharmaceutically acceptable salts such as sodium borate (borax) and potassium borate. As used herein, the term "borate" refers to all pharmaceutically suitable forms of borates. Borates are common excipients in ophthalmic formulations due to their adequate capacity for pH regulation at physiological pH's and well-known safety and compatibility with a wide range of drugs and preservatives. Borates also have inherent bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties that provide improved conservative systems. Since borates have a minimum pH regulation effect below a pH of 7.0, the pH of the contact lens care solution can be easily adjusted by retinal tears, after their instillation into the eye. The compositions of the present invention comprise one or more galactomannans in the amount of about 0.1 to 2.0% w / v ("w / v") and borate in the amount of 0.05 to 2% (w / v). Preferably, the compositions will contain 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) galactomannan and 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) of a borate compound. Most preferably, the compositions will contain 0.2 to 0.5% (w / v) of galactomannan and 0.2 to 0.75% (w / v) of a borate compound. The particular amounts will vary, depending on the particular gelation properties desired. In general, the concentration of borate or galactomannan can be manipulated to arrive at the proper viscosity of the composition after activation of the gel (ie, after administration). As shown in Figures 1 and 2, manipulating the concentration of borate or galactomannan provides a stronger or weaker geiification at a certain pH. If a strong gelation composition is desired, then the concentration of borate or galactomannan can be increased. If a weaker gelation composition is desired, such as a partially gelling composition, then the concentration of borate or galactomannan can be reduced. Other factors may influence the gelling characteristics of the compositions of the present invention, such as the nature and concentration of the additional ingredients in the compositions, such as salts, preservatives, chelating agents and others. In general, the non-gelled conditioning solutions of the present invention that are preferred, ie, conditioning solutions that are not yet gel activated by the eye, will have a viscosity of about 5 to 100 cps. In general, a gelled composition of the present invention will have a viscosity of about 10 to 1000 cps. The galactomannans of the present invention can be obtained from numerous sources. Said sources include guar gum, locust bean gum and tara gum, as those described in more detail below. In addition, galactomannans can also be obtained by classical synthetic routes or can be obtained by chemical modification of naturally occurring galactomannans. Guar gum is the fundamental endosperm of Cyamopisis tetragonolobus (L.) Taub. The fraction soluble in water (85%) is called "guarano" (molecular weight of 220,000), which consists of linear chains of 1-4-d-mannopyranosyl units with aD-galactopyranosyl units linked by bonds (1- 6). The ratio of D-galactose to D-mannose in guarano is approximately 1: 2. Gum has been grown in Asia for centuries and is mainly used in food and personal care products because of its thickening property. It is five to eight times more powerful in thickening than starch. Their derivatives, such as those containing hydroxipopy or hydroxypropionitrile chloride substitutions have been commercially available for more than a decade. Guar gum can be obtained, for example, from Rhone-Poulenc (Cranbury, New Jersey), Hercules, Inc. (Wilmington, Delaware) and TIC Gum, Inc. (Belcamp, Maryland). Locust bean gum or locust bean gum is the refined endosperm of the seed of the carob tree, ceratonia siliqua. The ratio of galactose to mannose for this type of gum is about 1: 4. The cultivation of the carob tree is old and well known in the art. This type of gum is commercially available and can be obtained from TIC Gum, Inc. (Bekamp, Maryland) and Rhone-Poulenc (Cranbury, New Jersey). Tara gum is derived from the refined seed gum of the tara tree. The ratio of galactose to mannose is about 1: 3. Tara gum is not produced in the United States commercially, but it can be obtained from various sources outside the United States. To limit the degree of entanglement and provide a softer gel characteristic, chemically modified galactomannans such as hydroxypropyl guar can be used. Modified galactomannans of varying degrees of substitution are commercially available from Rhone-Poulenc (Cranbury, New Jersey). Particularly preferred is hydroxypropyl guar with low molar substitution (e.g., less than 0.6).

The compositions of the present invention will contain other ingredients. Such ingredients include antimicrobial / preservative agents, tonicity adjusting agents, pH regulators and chelating agents. Other polymeric or monomeric agents such as polyethylene glycol and glyceroi can be added for special processing. Tonicity adjusting agents useful in the compositions of the present invention can include salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride and calcium chloride; nonionic tonicity agents may include propylene glycol and glycerol; the chelating agents may include EDTA and its salts; and the pH adjusting agents may include hydrochloric acid, tris, triethanolamine and sodium hydroxide. Suitable antimicrobial / preservative agents are described in more detail below. The above list of examples is given for illustrative purposes and is not designed to be exhaustive. Examples of other agents useful for the above purposes are well known in the formulation for the care of contact lenses and are contemplated by the present invention. The combination of the gelation system of the present invention with gelation systems of the prior art is also contemplated by the present invention. Such systems may include the inclusion of ionomers, such as xanthan, gellan, carrageenan, carbomers, and thermogels, such as ethylhydroxyethylcellulose. The disinfectant compositions of the present invention will contain an antimicrobial agent. Antimicrobial agents can be monomeric or polymeric antimicrobial agents that derive their antimicrobial activity through a chemical or physicochemical interaction with organisms. As used in the present description, the term "polymeric antimicrobial agent" refers to any polymer or copolymer containing ngen and having antimicrobial activity. Preferred polymeric antimicrobial agents include: polyquatemium-1, which is a polymeric quaternary ammonium compound; and polyhexamethylene biguanide ("PHMB") or polyaminopropyl biguanide ("PAPB"), which are polymeric biguanides. These preferred antimicrobial agents are described in the U.S. Patents. Nos. 4,407,791 and 4,525,346, issued to Stark, and 4,785,595 and 4,836,986, issued to Ogunbiyi, respectively. The complete contents of the previous publications are incorporated in the present description by way of reference. Other suitable antimicrobial agents in the compositions and methods of the present invention include: other quaternary ammonium compounds such as benzalkonium halides and other biguanides, such as chlorhexidine. The antimicrobial agents used herein are preferably employed in the absence of mercury-containing compounds such as thimerosal. Particularly preferred antimicrobial agents of the present invention are polymeric quaternary ammonium compounds of the structure: wherein: Ri and P can be the same or different and are selected from: N + (CH2CH2OH) 3X ", N (CH3) 2 or OH X is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion, preferably chloride, and n = integer from 1 to 50. The most preferred compound of this structure is polyquaternium-1, which is also known as Onamer M ™ (registered trademark of Onyx Chemical Corporation) or as Polyquad® (registered trademark of Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) Polyquatemium-1 is a mixture of the aforementioned compounds, wherein X is chloride and Ri, R 2 and n are as defined above The antimicrobial agents described above they are used in the methods of the present invention in an amount effective to substantially eliminate or significantly reduce the number of viable microorganisms found on contact lenses. , in accordance with the requirements of governmental regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration of the United States. For the purposes of the present descriptionSEE. , that amount is called "an effective amount to disinfect" or "an antimicrobially effective amount." The amount of antimicrobial agent employed will vary, depending on factors such as the type of lens care regimen in which the method is used. For example, the use of an effective daily cleanser in the lens care regimen can substantially reduce the amount of material deposited on the lenses, including microorganisms, and thereby decrease the amount of antimicrobial agent necessary to disinfect lenses. In general, a concentration on the scale of * At about 0.000001% to about 0.05% by weight of one or more of the above-described antimicrobial agents. The most preferred concentration of the quaternary ammonium polymer compounds of the formula (I) is from about 0.0001% to 0.001 by weight. In general, the compositions of the present invention are formulated in two parts. The galactomannan polymer is hydrated and sterilized (Part I). The other ingredients that will be included in the composition are then dissolved in water and sterile filtered (Part II). Then parts I and II are combined and the pH of the resulting mixture is adjusted at the desired level, generally 6.5 and 7.2. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as compositions for various purposes, i.e., compositions that also provide daily cleaning efficacy. Said compositions for various purposes will typically contain surfactant (s), in addition to disinfecting and conditioning agents. Surfactants useful in these compositions include poloxamines, poloxamers, alkyl ethoxylates, phenyl phenyl ethoxylates or other nonionic, anionic and zwitterionic surfactants known in the art. The sterilization of the galactomannan polysaccharide can be achieved by means of autoclaving. Since the polymer is subjected to depolymerization at the extreme conditions of autoclaving, baking in a non-aqueous autoclave is generally preferred. This can be achieved by dispersing the polymer in a suitable organic liquid such as low molecular weight polyethylene glycols. The resulting suspension can then be baked in the autoclave to sterilize the polymer. The sterilized polymer is then hydrated aseptically before mixing it with the other ingredients. Alternatively, the polymer powder can be sterilized by dry heat. The following example illustrates a novel method for sterilizing a galactomannan polysaccharide of the present invention: EXAMPLE 1 This example illustrates a method for preparing the following multi-purpose conditioning solution of the present invention: Preliminarily, a mixing vessel (20 L stainless steel snap drum), a 0.2 micron sterilization filter, a receiving vessel (20 L carboy), a 4.5 micron polishing filter, a sterilization filter are sterilized in an autoclave. 0.2 micron sterilization filter, a ventilation filter and filling equipment. In a beaker equipped with an overhead stirrer, the heavy amount of polyethylene glycol 400 (220g) is added. While mixing, the heavy amount of hydroxypropyl guar gum ("HP") (100 g) is slowly dispersed. Mix until it is completely homogeneous. In a 500 ml Schott bottle equipped with a magnetic stir bar, exactly 120.0 g of the rubber dispersion is weighed guar HP / PEG-400. It is prepared to sterilize by autoclave. In a second identical Schott bottle of 500 ml, exactly 120.0 g of the same dispersion are weighed. It is prepared to be used as a placebo during the baking cycle in the autoclave. 1.3 ml of purified water (equivalent quantity, in volume, of the micro-organism suspension) is added to both bottles used to inoculate the bottles during the validation study). Mix both bottles for 10 minutes using a magnetic stir plate. The HP / PEG-400 guar gum dispersion is baked in the autoclave using the validated time-temperature cycle of 80 minutes at 125 ° C. In a container equipped with a top-head stirrer, the adds purified water equivalent to approximately 70% of the theoretical batch weight (approximately 14 kg). While mixing at moderate speed, the other desired ingredients are added slowly: Tetronic 1304, boric acid, propylene glycol and disodium edetate. Mix for a minimum of 60 minutes, or until it is completely homogeneous. The temperature is checked and, if necessary, cooled to 35 ° C or less. While mixing at low speed, polyquatemium-1 is slowly added. Mix for a minimum of 15 minutes, or until completely homogeneous. Transfer to a mixing vessel with a stirrer fitted with a stirrer through a 0.2 micron sterilization filter (the recommended mixing vessel is a pressure vessel and the agitator recommended is a top-head mixer that can be used in sterile mixing areas). The vessel is rinsed and the assembly is filtered at room temperature WFI: The sterilized HP / PEG-400 guar gum dispersion is aseptically transferred to the sterilized mixing vessel. The contents of the bottle are rinsed with sterilized purified water. The content of the mixing vessel is brought to exactly 95% of the theoretical batch weight (19.0 liters or 19.06 kg) using sterile purified water at room temperature. The HP / PEG guar gum suspension is allowed to hydrate while mixing, at moderate speed, in the mixing vessel for a minimum of 2 hours. The contents of the mixing vessel are transferred through a 4.5 micron pre-sterilized polishing filter into the pre-sterilized receiving vessel equipped with a stir bar. There will be some loss of contents due to the product held in the filter housing and the filter cartridge. (If a pressure drum is used as the mixing vessel, the recommended pressure for clarification filtration is approximately 2.11 kg / cm2). The pH is checked and adjusted, if necessary, to 6.9-7.1 (desired 7.0) using 1 N NaOH or 1 N HCl. Approximately 3-4 ml of 1 N NaOH per 1 liter final lot weight is required to achieve the desired pH. QS to the final lot weight using sterile purified water. Mix at low speed for a minimum of 30 minutes. The methods of the present invention will include the use of one or more compositions of the present invention. If cleaning is desired, the dirty lens is usually placed in the palm of the user's hand, several drops of the composition of various purposes of the present invention or optionally another cleaning composition containing surfactants are added to the lens, and the lens is added. Gently rub with the solution for a short period of time, usually 5 to 20 seconds. The cleaned lens can then be rinsed with a rinsing composition, such as a rinsing, disinfecting, cleaning and conditioning solution of the present invention, and placed in a lens case containing a volume of a rinsing, disinfecting and disinfecting composition. conditioning of the present invention. In general, to disinfect and condition the lenses, they will be stored in a composition of the present invention for a period of about 4 hours through the night. The following examples best illustrate preferred compositions of the present invention: EXAMPLE 2 A preferred conditioning, rinsing and disinfecting solution is described below: The above formulation can be manufactured by first dispersing the polymer (hydroxypropyl guar) with high stirring in about 50% of the volume of water, allowing the polymer to hydrate (Part I). The polymer solution is then baked in an autoclave at 121 ° C for about 30 minutes. The remaining ingredients are then dispersed and dissolved in approximately 40% of the volume of water and sterile filtered using a 0.2 micron filter in a sterile container (Part II). The contents of Parts I and II are then combined aseptically and then the pH is adjusted. The batch is then brought to volume using additional purified water.

EXAMPLE 3 The following is a preferred multi-purpose solution for daily cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and conditioning: The above formulation is prepared by first making a mixture of Part I and Part II. The hydroxypropyl guar is dispersed in PEG-400 and autoclaved as Part I. The other ingredients are then dissolved in approximately 90% of the volume of water and sterile filtered in a receiving vessel such as Part II. Part I is then added to Part I (ase) aseptically. The pH can then be adjusted aseptically, and the batch is then brought to a final weight (volume). The combined solution is then passed through a 1.0 μm polishing filter aseptically to remove any particles. The resulting composition will have an osmotility of about 300 mOsm / kg and viscosity of about 16 cps.

EXAMPLE 4 The following is a preferred multi-purpose solution for daily cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and conditioning: The above formulation can be prepared in a manner similar to the method described in Example 3.

Claims (18)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. A composition for the care of contact lenses comprising one or more galactomannans and a borate compound, further characterized in that the galactomannan and the borate compound are contained in the composition at effective concentrations such as to create a gel or partial gel when the composition is placed on a contact lens and the lens is inserted in one eye.

2. A composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the galactomannan concentration is from about 0.1 to 2.0% (w / v) and the concentration of the borate compound is from about 0.05 to 2.0% (w / v) .

3. A composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the galactomannan is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum and chemically modified derivatives thereof.

4. A composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the borate compound is selected from the group consisting of boric acid, sodium borate, potassium borate and combinations thereof.

5. - A composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the galactomannan is hydroxypropyl guar and the borate compound is boric acid.

6. A composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the galactomannan is guar gum and the borate compound is boric acid.

7. A composition according to claim 5, further characterized in that the composition further comprises hydroxypropyl guar at a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) and boric acid at a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) .

8. A composition according to claim 6, further characterized in that the composition further comprises guar gum at a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) and boric acid at a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) .

9. A composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the composition further comprises Tetronic 1304, boric acid, propylene glycol, disodium edetate, polyquatemium-1 and water.

10. A method for conditioning a contact lens comprising: coating the lens with a conditioning composition by immersing the lens in a composition comprising one or more galactomannans and a borate compound, further characterized in that the galactomannan and the borate compound are contained in the composition at effective concentrations such as to create a gel or partial gel when the composition is placed on a contact lens and the lens is inserted into an eye.

11. A method according to claim 10, further characterized in that the composition comprises a galactomannan at a concentration of about 0.1 to 2.0% (w / v) and a borate compound at a concentration of 0.05 to 2.0% (p / v).

12. A method according to claim 10, further characterized in that the galactomannan is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum and chemically modified derivatives thereof.

13. A method according to claim 10, further characterized in that the borate compound is selected from the group consisting of boric acid, sodium borate, potassium borate and combinations thereof.

14. A method according to claim 10, further characterized in that the galactomannan is hydroxypropyl guar and the borate compound is boric acid.

15. A method according to claim 10, further characterized in that the galactomannan is guar gum and the borate compound is boric acid.

16. A method according to claim 14, further characterized in that the composition comprises hydroxypropyl guar at a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) and boric acid at a concentration of

0. 1 to 1.0% (w / v).

17. A method according to claim 15, further characterized in that the composition comprises guar gum at a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v) and boric acid at a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% (w / v).

18. A method according to claim 10, further characterized in that the composition further comprises Tetronic 1304, boric acid, propylene glycol, disodium edetate, polyquatemium-1 and water.