Patent Application
20190111174
The subject matter herein generally relates to a method for sterilizing an ophthalmic lens.
Contact lenses are commonly worn by users to correct vision, or for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. Each contact lens after hydration is usually placed in a polypropylene cup containing a care solution. The polypropylene cup is then sealed by an aluminum film. When a number of such polypropylene cups after packaging are collected, the polypropylene cups are placed in an autoclave for moist heat sterilization, which should cause destruction of micro-organisms on the contact lenses.
However, it usually takes a long time (one hour or two hours) for performing the moist heat sterilization. Furthermore, micro-organisms propagate rapidly when the contact lens is immersed in an aquatic environment, especially after a number of such polypropylene cups after package are collected. Also, the sealing interface between the polypropylene cup and the aluminum film may split at high temperature during the moist heat sterilization. Improvement in the art is preferred.
Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to illustrate details and features of the present disclosure better.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”
The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.
At block 101, referring to
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the container 10 is a polypropylene cup. The photocatalytic agent 11 is nanosized particles of titanium dioxide (TiO2).
At block 102, referring to
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the ophthalmic lens 100 is a contact lens after hydration.
At block 103, referring to
Taking the TiO2 for example, the photocatalytic reaction is carried out as follows:
Electron and hole pairs are generated when the ultraviolet light strikes the surface of the TiO2. The electron and hole pairs respectively reduce and oxidize adsorbates on the surface, thereby producing radical species such as hydroxyl icons (.OH) and radical superoxide icons (.O2). The hydroxyl icons and the radical superoxide icons can destroy micro-organisms on the ophthalmic lens 100. Because of its bandgap, TiO2 requires ultraviolet light with less than 387.5 nm wavelength for the photocatalytic reaction.
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the ultraviolet light has a wavelength less than 387.5 nm.
The above method only takes several seconds to several minutes for sterilization. Thus, it takes less time compared to the moist heat sterilization. Furthermore, it can prevent the generation of micro-organisms for a long period of time. Also, since the method does not need high temperature, it can prevent the sealing interface between the container 10 and the aluminum film 20 from splitting. Finally, an ultraviolet illumination device is cheaper than the autoclave.
Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps of methods hereinbefore described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps.
It is to be understood, even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 106135566 | Oct 2017 | TW | national |
