Cleaning hydrophilic contact lenses: an overview

The composition of the major, critical component of the amorphous deposits forming on hydrophilic lenses during wear was identified and reported by Karageozian as basically proteinaceous in nature. The research surrounding the identification has produced animal and laboratory models for testing the parameteres involved in the protein deposition, as well as in its removal. A standardized system for classifying the protein deposits during and after formation, along with the experimental animal and laboratory models allows a relatively complete development of the predictive tests required for a compound or a product intended for use as a cleaner of hydrophilic lenses. These predictive tests have been run on several available cleaning systems as well as on a new one; the results indicate clearly that, unlike the available systems, the new system will safely remove deposits from hydrophilic lenses. The laboratory predictive test results have been borne out by clinical trial; the clinical results indicate the suitability of the new formulation and the predictive capability of the test models developed.