Method and kits for sterilizing and storing soft contact lenses

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a container for sterilizing a soft contact lens and for providing a sterilized storage package of the soft contact lens maintained in a packaging solution. By using the method and container of the invention, deformations of soft contact lenses during autoclave can be substantially reduced.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A container for autoclaving and storing a soft contact lens having a core polymeric material and a hydrophilic coating in a packaging solution, comprising a base and a cover, wherein the cover is detachably sealed to the base, wherein the base includes a cavity for receiving a sterile packaging solution and the contact lens, wherein the cavity has a cavity surface which is modified by surface treatment to hydrophilic so that deformations of the contact lenses caused during autoclaving by air bubbles formed between the cavity surface and the hydrophilic coating due to mismatch in surface hydrophilicity and/or by adherence of the soft contact lens to the cavity surface can be substantially reduced. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the surface treatment is plasma treatment, plasma coating, corona discharge, LbL coating, flame treatment, or acid surface etching treatment. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the surface treatment is corona discharge, plasma treatment or LbL coating. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the core polymeric material is a silicon hydrogel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the silicone hydrogel is prepared by curing in a mold a polymerizable composition comprising a siloxane-containing macromer and/or a siloxane-containing monomer. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the silicon hydrogel is prepared by curing in a mold a formulation for making soft contact lenses selected from the group consisting of the formulations of lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, etafilcon A, genfilcon A, lenefilcon A, acquafilcon A, and balafilcon. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the cavity surface has a hemisphere shape. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the base is made from a hydrophobic plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic plastic material is polypropylene. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is a laminate material comprising a metal foil layer and at least one polymer layer. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the metal foil layer is aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the core polymeric material is a silicone elastomer, a fluorohydrogel, or a fluorosilicone hydrogel. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the cavity surface has a hemisphere shape, wherein the base is made from a hydrophobic plastic material. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the packaging solution is a water-based solution. 
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 36 , wherein the packaging solution is a buffered saline solution having a pH of from about 6.0 to 8.0 and includes buffer agents selected from the group consisting of acetates, phosphates, borates, citrates, nitrates, sulfates, tartrates, lactates, carbonates, bicarbonates, tris, tris derivative, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 36 , wherein the packaging solution includes one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of suitable buffer agents, tonicity agents, water-soluble viscosity builders, surfactants, antibacterial agents, preservatives, and lubricants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the packaging solution comprises cellulose derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The container of  claim 39 , wherein the packaging solution comprises cellulose derivatives. 
     
     
         41 . The container of  claim 39 , wherein the packaging solution comprises polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         42 . The container of  claim 39 , wherein the packaging solution comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         43 . The container of  claim 36 , wherein the packaging solution an osmotic value of from 200 to 400 mOsm/kg. 
     
     
         44 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the container comprises a base which includes the cavity and is made from a hydrophobic plastic material. 
     
     
         45 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the packaging solution comprises cellulose derivatives. 
     
     
         46 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the packaging solution comprises polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         47 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the packaging solution comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         48 . The container of  claim 47 , wherein the hydrophobic plastic material comprises polypropylene.