Ophthalmic and contact lens solutions using bicine

Abstract

where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are —H or low molecular weight radicals, and R5 is a low molecular weight radical, or salt thereof; an effective amount of a tonicity agent; and the balance water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic solution comprising:
 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of bicine;   an effective amount of biologically compatible buffer to maintain the pH of the solution between 5.5 and 8.5 pH; and   the balance water.   
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmic solution of  claim 1 , further comprising an effective amount of a tonicity agent. 
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmic solution of  claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic solution consists essentially of the bicine, the biologically compatible buffer, an effective amount of a tonicity agent, and the balance water. 
     
     
         4 . The ophthalmic solution of  claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic solution consists essentially of the bicine, the biologically compatible buffer, an effective amount of a tonicity agent, and a preservative and the balance water. 
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmic solution of  claim 4 , wherein the preservative is poly[dimethylimino-2-butene-1,4-diyl]chloride, alpha[4-tris(2-hydroethyl)ammonium-dichloride. 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating a contact lens in order to decrease its affinity to protein deposition which comprises the step of:
 soaking a contact lens in an aqueous solution comprising 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of bicine; an effective amount of biologically compatible buffer to maintain the pH of the solution between 5.5 and 8.5 pH; and the balance water.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the aqueous solution further comprises an effective amount of a tonicity agent. 
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic solution of  claim 6 , wherein the aqueous solution consists essentially of the bicine, the biologically compatible buffer, an effective amount of a tonicity agent, and the balance water. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic solution of  claim 6 , wherein the aqueous solution consists essentially of the bicine, the biologically compatible buffer, an effective amount of a tonicity agent, and a preservative and the balance water. 
     
     
         10 . The ophthalmic solution of  claim 9 , wherein the preservative is poly[dimethylimino-2-butene-1,4-diyl]chloride, alpha[4-tris(2-hydroethyl)ammonium-dichloride.