Contact Lens Treatment Solution

Abstract

The contact lens treatment solution comprises: (a) from about 0.005 to about 2% by weight of hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) from about 0.01 to about 1% by weight of erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; (d) sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or any combination thereof; and (e) one or more buffering agents.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] Priority claims This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 159,097, entitled "Ophthalmic Solutions," filed March 10, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] During normal use, contact lenses become soiled or contaminated with a wide variety of compounds that can degrade lens performance. For example, contact lenses can become soiled with biological materials, such as proteins or lipids, that are present in tear fluid and adhere to the lens surface. Handling contact lenses can also cause sebum (skin oils), cosmetics, or other materials to soil the contact lens. These biological and external contaminants can affect vision and patient comfort. Therefore, it is advantageous to use a lens care solution to remove any debris from the lens surface to ensure continued comfortable use. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a contact lens treatment solution comprising: (a) about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; (d) one or more of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and (e) one or more buffering agents.

[0004] According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses comprises immersing a contact lens in a contact lens treating solution for at least about two hours, the contact lens treating solution comprising: (a) from about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treating solution; (b) from about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treating solution; (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; (d) one or more of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and (e) one or more buffering agents.

[0005] According to a further exemplary embodiment, a method of rewetting a contact lens comprises administering a contact lens treatment solution to the contact lens while it is worn on the eye, the contact lens treatment solution comprising: (a) from about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) from about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) one or more non-ionic surfactants; (d) one or more of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and (e) one or more buffering agents.

[0006] According to yet another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a use of a contact lens treatment solution for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses for at least two hours, the contact lens treatment solution comprising: (a) from about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) from about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; (d) one or more of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and (e) one or more buffering agents.

[0007] According to still yet further exemplary embodiments, there is provided a use of a contact lens treatment solution for rewetting a contact lens while it is being worn on the eye, the contact lens treatment solution comprising: (a) from about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) from about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) one or more non-ionic surfactants; (d) one or more of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and (e) one or more buffering agents. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to ophthalmic solutions, including, for example, contact lens treatment solutions, rewetting drops, and eye drops, and uses thereof. Various exemplary embodiments described herein include, for example, ophthalmic solutions, such as contact lens treatment solutions, that are useful for treating the surface of a contact lens intended for direct contact with bodily tissue or fluid. Thus, exemplary embodiments described herein can be directed to contact lens treatment solutions for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, and / or rewetting the surface of a contact lens intended for direct contact with bodily tissue or fluid.

[0009] Many biopolymers are sensitive to common sterilization procedures, such as heat sterilization, which can often cause significant changes in the physicochemical properties of the biopolymer, rendering the resulting sterilized biopolymer unsuitable for its intended use.

[0010] Sterilization methods currently applied to medical materials include, for example, heat treatment, high-pressure steam sterilization (e.g., autoclave sterilization), ethylene oxide gas (EOG) sterilization, supercritical carbon dioxide sterilization, and radiation sterilization. Available sterilization methods are typically evaluated in relation to the robustness of the particular biopolymer being sterilized. For example, high-pressure steam sterilization can only be used on a biopolymer to the extent that the biopolymer can withstand high temperatures and pressures. However, very few biopolymers, including hyaluronic acid, can withstand such high temperatures and pressures.

[0011] Hyaluronic acid is a non-immunogenic substance, and due to its viscoelastic and hydrophilic properties, hyaluronic acid has been used for many years as a vitreous humor or synovial fluid replacement agent in ophthalmic surgery, or as a support medium. In synovial fluid, hyaluronic acid solution functions as a lubricant to provide a protective environment for cells, and is therefore used to treat inflamed knee joints. For consumer use of products containing hyaluronic acid, manufacturers must sterilize the consumer product, and if used as an open multi-dose formulation, additional steps must be taken to preserve the formulation product.

[0012] Hyaluronic acid is a type of biopolymer known to be relatively sensitive to heat sterilization processes.Heat sterilization of hyaluronic acid is known to accelerate the hydrolysis or oxidation of hyaluronic acid, thereby causing a significant and often harmful decrease in the average molecular weight of the biopolymer.In many pharmaceutical applications, a relatively low molecular weight form of hyaluronic acid in the formulation is undesirable.Typically, low molecular weight forms of hyaluronic acid do not provide the desired rheological properties of high molecular weight forms of hyaluronic acid.To compensate for the degradation of hyaluronic acid in the above-mentioned heat sterilization method, it is possible to start with hyaluronic acid with a molecular weight higher than the desired molecular weight.However, this adjustment causes process inefficiency, since the product yield of hyaluronic acid decreases as the average molecular weight of the biopolymer increases.

[0013] The exemplary embodiments described herein overcome this and other problems by formulating improved sterile contact lens treating solutions of hyaluronic acid or its salts that can be subjected to sterilization without substantial degradation of the hyaluronic acid or its salts. In particular, by combining hyaluronic acid or its salts with erythritol in the ophthalmic solutions disclosed herein, the molecular weight reduction of the hyaluronic acid or its salts over time when subjected to sterilization conditions, such as autoclaving, is statistically significantly better than that of contact lens treating solutions containing hyaluronic acid or its salts in the absence of erythritol. Thus, contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein that have improved molecular weight reduction of hyaluronic acid or its salts advantageously exhibit fewer pH problems, fewer efficacy problems, improved viscosity, and less oxidation and thermal degradation, thereby resulting in greater stability and a longer shelf life. Additionally, the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein also advantageously exhibit a higher tolerance to any iron contained in the water used to prepare the solutions, achieved by combining hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof with erythritol, thereby providing a more robust solution.

[0014] In one or more non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the contact lens treatment solution comprises: (a) about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; (d) one or more of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and (e) one or more buffering agents.

[0015] The contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein contain at least about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. Hyaluronic acid is a well-known, naturally occurring, water-soluble, biodegradable polymer composed of two alternatively linked sugars, D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, linked via alternating β-(1,4) and β-(1,3) glycosidic bonds. Hyaluronic acid is distinguished from other glycosaminoglycans by its lack of covalent bonds to proteins and sulfonic groups. Hyaluronic acid is ubiquitous in animals, with the highest concentrations found in soft connective tissues. It plays important roles for both mechanical and transport purposes within the body, for example, providing elasticity to joints and rigidity to vertebrate intervertebral discs, and is also an important component of the vitreous body of the eye.

[0016] Hyaluronic acid polymers are hydrophilic and have high viscosity in aqueous solution at relatively low solute concentrations. Hyaluronic acid polymers often occur naturally as the sodium salt, sodium hyaluronate. Methods for preparing commercially available hyaluronan and its salts are well known. Hyaluronan can be purchased from, for example, Seikagaku Company, Clear Solutions Biotech, Inc., Pharmacia Inc., Sigma Inc., HTL Biotechnology, Contipro, Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation, and many other suppliers. Hyaluronic acid has a repeating unit structure represented by the following formula: [ka] Thus, the repeating units in hyaluronic acid can be: [ka]

[0017] Generally, hyaluronic acid or its salts, such as sodium hyaluronate and potassium hyaluronate, may have from about 2 to about 1,500,000 disaccharide units. In some embodiments, the hyaluronic acid or its salts may have a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 10,000 to about 3,000,000 Daltons (Da), with lower limits of about 10,000, about 20,000, about 30,000, about 40,000, about 50,000, about 60,000, about 70,000, about 80,000, about 90,000, about 100,000, about 200,000, about 300,000, about about 400,000, about 500,000, or about 600,000 Da, with upper limits of about 200,000, about 300,000, about 400,000, about 500,000, about 600,000, about 700,000, about 800,000, about 900,000, about 1,000,000, or up to about 2,800,000 Da, and any of the lower limits may be combined with any of the upper limits.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof is present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof is present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.2 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution.

[0019] The contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein further contain erythritol. In an exemplary embodiment, erythritol is present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, erythritol is present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.05 to about 0.5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, erythritol is present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.08 to about 0.4 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution.

[0020] The contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein further contain one or more nonionic surfactants. In exemplary embodiments, suitable one or more nonionic surfactants include, for example, one or more end-functionalized surfactants. Suitable nonionic surfactants include, for example, one or more polyethers. Useful polyethers to be end-functionalized include one or more chains or polymeric moieties having one or more (-OR-) repeating units, where R is an alkylene or arylene group having from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms. Polyethers can be derived from block copolymers formed from different ratios of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) moieties. Such polyethers and their respective component segments can contain different attached hydrophobic and hydrophilic chemical functional moieties and segments.

[0021] One non-limiting representative example of a suitable polyether that can be end-functionalized is a poloxamer block copolymer. One particular type of poloxamer block copolymer is available under the trademark Pluronic (BASF Wyandotte Corp., Wyandotte, Mich.). Poloxamers include Pluronics and reverse Pluronics. Pluronics generally have the formula (I): HO(C2H4O) a (C3H6O) b (C2H4O) a H (I) (wherein a is independently at least 1 and b is at least 1), and

[0022] Reverse Pluronics generally have the formula (II) HO(C3H6O) b (C2H4O) a (C3H6O) b H (II) The series is a series of BAB block copolymers, each composed of a poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) block represented by the formula: (where a is at least 1 and b is independently at least 1). The poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block is hydrophilic, while the poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) block is essentially hydrophobic. Each series of poloxamers has a different ratio of PEO to PPO, which ultimately determines the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of the material; i.e., the different HLB values ​​are based on different values ​​of a and b, where a represents the number of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) units (PEO) present in the molecule and b represents the number of hydrophobic poly(propylene oxide) units (PPO) present in the molecule.

[0023] Poloxamers and reverse poloxamers have terminal hydroxyl groups that can be end-functionalized. One example of an end-functionalized poloxamer is poloxamer dimethacrylate (e.g., Pluronic® F127 dimethacrylate), as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0044468 and U.S. Patent No. 9,309,357, as discussed herein below. Other examples include glycidyl-terminated copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,517,933.

[0024] Another non-limiting representative example of a suitable polyether is a poloxamine block copolymer. While poloxamers and reverse poloxamers are considered to be difunctional molecules (based on the terminal hydroxyl groups), poloxamines are in tetrafunctional form, i.e., these molecules are tetrafunctional block copolymers terminated with primary hydroxyl groups and linked by a central diamine. One particular type of poloxamine block copolymer is available under the trademark Tetronic (BASF). Poloxamines include Tetronics and reverse Tetronics. Poloxamines have the following formula (III): [ka] wherein a is independently at least 1 and b is independently at least 1.

[0025] Poloxamers and / or poloxamines can be functionalized to provide the desired reactivity at the ends of the molecule. The functionality can vary and is determined based on the intended use of the functionalized PEO- and PPO-containing block copolymers. As used herein, the term block copolymer should be understood to mean a poloxamer and / or poloxamine having two or more blocks in the polymer backbone(s).

[0026] In exemplary embodiments, the contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein contain one or more of a poloxamer and a poloxamine as the one or more nonionic surfactants. In exemplary embodiments, the contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein contain a poloxamine, such as Poloxamine 1107 (Tetronic 1107), having a molecular weight of about 7,500 to about 27,000, with at least about 40% by weight of the adduct being a poly(oxyethylene) and a poloxamer, such as Poloxamer 181.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more nonionic surfactants are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.05 to about 5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more nonionic surfactants are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more nonionic surfactants are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 1.5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution.

[0028] The contact lens treatment solution disclosed herein further contains an effective amount of one or more tonicity-adjusting components. Suitable tonicity-adjusting components include those conventionally used in contact lens care products, such as various inorganic salts. In an exemplary embodiment, suitable tonicity-adjusting components include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and combinations thereof. The amount of one or more tonicity-adjusting components is an amount effective to provide the solution with the desired degree of tonicity.

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more tonicity-adjusting components are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more tonicity-adjusting components are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more tonicity-adjusting components are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.08% by weight, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution.

[0030] The contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein further contain one or more buffering agents. The terms "buffering agent" and "buffer system" are understood to mean compounds that, alone or in combination with at least one other compound, provide a buffering system in a solution that exhibits buffering capacity (i.e., the ability to neutralize, within limits, either acids or bases (alkali) with relatively little or no change in the original pH). The term "buffering capacity" is understood to mean the number of millimoles (mM) of strong acid or base (or hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions, respectively) required to change the pH by one unit when added to one liter (standard unit) of buffer solution. Buffering capacity will depend on the type and concentration of the buffering agent components. Buffering capacity is measured from a starting pH of about 6 to about 8, or about 7.4 to about 8.4.

[0031] Suitable buffering agents include boric acid and its salts, such as sodium borate or potassium borate. Borate buffers also include buffer compounds, such as potassium tetraborate or potassium metaborate, which generate boric acid or its salts in solution. Borate buffers are known to enhance the effectiveness of certain polymeric biguanides. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,758,595 describes a contact lens solution containing poly(hexamethylene biguanide), also known as PHMB or PAPB, which can exhibit enhanced effectiveness when combined with a borate buffer. Other suitable buffering agents include diglycine (glycylglycine) and sodium citrate.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more buffering agents are present in the contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% (w / w). In another exemplary embodiment, one or more buffering agents are present in the contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 5% (w / w). In another exemplary embodiment, one or more buffering agents are present in the contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.75 to about 2% (w / w).

[0033] In exemplary embodiments, the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein contain one or more antimicrobial agents. Various antimicrobial agents are known for use as preservatives in ophthalmic compositions. For example, suitable known ophthalmically acceptable antimicrobial agents include biguanides or their salts or free bases, quaternary ammonium compounds or their salts or free bases, terpenes or derivatives thereof, branched glycerol monoalkyl ethers, branched glycerol monoalkyl amines, branched glycerol monoalkyl sulfides, fatty acid monoesters (fatty acid monoesters containing an aliphatic fatty acid moiety having 6 to 14 carbon atoms and an aliphatic hydroxyl moiety), amidoamine compounds, and the like, and combinations thereof.

[0034] Biguanide antimicrobial agents suitable for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, any biguanide or salt thereof known in the art. In exemplary embodiments, representative examples of biguanides include non-polymeric biguanides, polymeric biguanides, salts thereof, free bases thereof, and the like, and mixtures thereof. In exemplary embodiments, representative examples of non-polymeric biguanides include bis(biguanides), such as alexidine, chlorhexidine, salts of alexidine, such as alexidine HCl, salts of chlorhexidine, alexidine free base, and the like, and mixtures thereof. The alexidine and chlorhexidine salts may be either organic or inorganic and are typically disinfectant nitrates, acetates, phosphates, sulfates, halides, and the like.

[0035] In exemplary embodiments, representative examples of polymeric biguanides include polymeric hexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) (commercially available from Zeneca, Wilmington, Del.), polymers, and water-soluble salts thereof. In certain embodiments, the water-soluble polymeric biguanides for use herein may have a number-average molecular weight of at least about 1,000, or from about 1,000 to about 50,000. Suitable water-soluble salts of the free base include, for example, hydrochloride, borate, acetate, gluconate, sulfonate, tartrate, and citrate. Hexamethylene biguanide polymers, also commonly referred to as polyaminopropyl biguanide (PAPB), may have a number-average molecular weight of up to about 100,000. Such compounds are known and are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,595, incorporated herein by reference.

[0036] PHMB, or polyhexamethylene biguanide, is best described as a polymeric biguanide composition containing at least three, and preferably at least six, biguanide polymers, which are designated PHMB-A, PHMB-CG, and PHMB-CGA, the general chemical structures of which are shown below. [ka]

[0037] For each of these polymers, "n" represents the average number of repeating groups. A distribution of polymer lengths will exist for each of the polymers shown. Traditional synthetic routes to PHMB provided polymeric biguanide compositions with approximately 50% by weight of the polymeric composition as PHMB-CGA, i.e., with a cyanoguanidino endcap at one end and an amine at the other, approximately 25% by weight of PHMB-A, and approximately 25% by weight of PHMB-CG. Given this approximate weight ratio of the three major PHMB polymers, the proportion of cyanoguadino endcaps is also approximately 50% of the total number of endgroups. In this application, this traditional polymeric biguanide composition is referred to as poly(hexamethylene biguanide) or PHMB.

[0038] 13 Polymeric biguanide compositions containing less than 18 mol% of terminal amine groups as measured by C NMR can also be used. The polymeric biguanide compositions can also be characterized by a relative increase in the molar concentration of terminal guanidine groups or terminal cyanoguarugino groups. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the biguanide composition contains less than about 18 mol% of terminal amine groups and greater than or equal to about 40 mol% of terminal guanidine groups. In another exemplary embodiment, the biguanide composition contains less than about 18 mol% of terminal amine groups and greater than or equal to about 55 mol% of terminal guanidine groups.

[0039] In this application, this biguanide composition is referred to as PHMB-CG*. Additionally, the polymeric biguanide composition in the general sense is referred to as "hexamethylene biguanide," which one of skill in the art will recognize as including both PHMB and PHMB-CG*.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the biguanide antimicrobial agent may be present in the contact lens treatment solution in an amount of from about 0.5 ppm to about 10 ppm, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, the biguanide antimicrobial agent may be present in the contact lens treatment solution in an amount of from about 0.5 ppm to about 5 ppm, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution.

[0041] Suitable quaternary ammonium compounds for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, poly[(dimethyliminio)-2-butene-1,4-diyl chloride] and [4-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio]-2-butenyl-w-[tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio]-dichloride (Chemical Registry Number 75345-27-6), commonly available as Polyquaternium-1 under the trade name ONAMER® M (Stepan Company, Northfield, Ill.), and mixtures thereof. Quaternary ammonium compounds are commonly referred to in the art as "polyquaternium" disinfectants and are identified by a specific number after the name, such as Polyquaternium-1, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-42, etc.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, the quaternary ammonium compound may be present in the contact lens treatment solution in an amount of from about 0.5 ppm to about 10 ppm, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, the quaternary ammonium compound may be present in the contact lens treatment solution in an amount of from about 0.5 ppm to about 3 ppm, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution.

[0043] Terpene antimicrobial agents suitable for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, any monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and / or diterpene, or derivatives thereof. Acyclic, monocyclic, and / or bicyclic mono-, sesqui-, and / or diterpenes, as well as those with higher numbers of rings, can be used. As used herein, a "derivative" of a terpene should be understood to mean a terpene hydrocarbon having one or more functional groups, such as a terpene alcohol, terpene ether, terpene ester, terpene aldehyde, terpene ketone, etc., and combinations thereof. Both trans and cis isomers are suitable herein. The terpene moiety in the terpenes and derivatives can contain from 6 to about 100 carbon atoms, or from about 10 to about 25 carbon atoms.

[0044] Terpene alcohol antimicrobial agents suitable for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, verbenol, trans-pinocarveol, cis-2-pinanol, nopol, isoborneol, carveol, piperitol, thymol, α-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, menthol, 1,8-terpine, dihydro-terpineol, nerol, geraniol, linalool, citronellol, hydroxycitronellol, 3,7-dimethyloctanol, dihydro-myrcenol, tetrahydro-alloocimenol, perillic alcohol, falcarindiol, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

[0045] Suitable terpene ether and terpene ester antimicrobial agents for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, 1,8-cineole, 1,4-cineole, isobornyl methyl ether, rosopyran, α-terpinyl methyl ether, menthofuran, trans-anethole, methyl chavicol, allocimene diepoxide, limonene monoepoxide, isobornyl acetate, nonyl acetate, α-terpinyl acetate, linalyl acetate, geranyl acetate, citronellyl acetate, dihydro-terpinyl acetate, meryl acetate, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

[0046] Terpene aldehyde and terpene ketone antimicrobial agents suitable for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, myrtenal, campholenic aldehyde, perillaldehyde, citronellal, citral, hydroxycitronellal, camphor, verbenone, carbenone, dihydrocarvone, carvone, piperitone, menthone, geranyl acetone, pseudoionone, α-ionine, isopseudo-methylionone, n-pseudo-methylionone, iso-methylionone, n-methylionone, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof. Any other terpene hydrocarbons having functional groups known in the art may be used in the compositions of the present invention herein.

[0047] In one embodiment, terpenes or derivatives thereof suitable as antimicrobial agents include tricyclene, α-pinene, terpinolene, carveol, amyl alcohol, nerol, β-santalol, citral, pinene, nerol, β-ionone, caryophyllene (from clove), guaiol, anisaldehyde, cedrol, linalool, d-limonene (orange oil, lemon oil), longifolene, anisyl alcohol, patchouli alcohol, α-cadinene, 1,8-cineole, ρ-cymene, 3-carene, ρ-8-menthane, trans-menthone, borneol, α-fenchol, isoamyl acetate, terpines, These include, but are not limited to, cinnamaldehyde, ionones, geraniol (derived from roses and other flowers), myberry wax (derived from bayberry wax, bay laurel, and verbena oil), nerol, citronellol, carbachol, eugenol, carvone, alpha-terpineol, anethole, camphor, menthol, limonene, nerolidol, farnesol, phytol, carotene (vitamin A1), squalene, thymol, tocotrienols, perillyl alcohol, borneol, cymene, carene, terpenes, linalool, 1-terpene-4-ol, zingiberene (derived from ginger), and mixtures thereof.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the antimicrobial agent may include a branched glycerol monoalkyl ether. In another exemplary embodiment, the antimicrobial agent may include a branched glycerol monoalkyl amine. In another embodiment, the antimicrobial agent may include a branched glycerol monoalkyl sulfide. In yet another embodiment, the antimicrobial agent may include a mixture of any one of a branched glycerol monoalkyl ether, a branched glycerol monoalkyl amine, or a branched glycerol monoalkyl sulfide.

[0049] In one embodiment, the branched glycerol monoalkyl ether is 3-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-1,2-propanediol (EHOPD). In another embodiment, the branched glycerol monoalkylamine is 3-[(2-ethylhexyl)amino]-1,2-propanediol (EHAPD). In another embodiment, the branched glycerol monoalkyl sulfide is 3-[(2-ethylhexyl)thio]-1,2-propanediol (EHSPD). In yet another embodiment, the contact lens treating solution comprises a mixture of any one of EHOPD, EHAPD, and EHSPD. The chemical structures of EHOPD, EHAPD, and EHSPD are set forth below. [ka]

[0050] EHOPD, also known as octoxyglycerin, is sold under the trade name Sensiva® SC50 (Schulke & Mayr). EHOPD is a branched glycerol monoalkyl ether that is mild to the skin and known to exhibit antibacterial activity against various gram-positive bacteria, such as Micrococcus luteus, Corynebacterium aquaticum, Corynebacterium flavescens, Corynebacterium callunae, and Corynebacterium nephredi. Therefore, EHOPD is used in various skin deodorant formulations at concentrations of approximately 0.2 to 3 weight percent. EHAPD can be prepared from 2-ethylhexylamine and 2,3-epoxy-1-propanediol using chemistry well known to those skilled in the art. EHSPD can be prepared from 2-ethylhexylthiol and 2,3-epoxy-1-propanediol using chemistry well known to those skilled in the art.

[0051] Fatty acid monoesters suitable for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, fatty acid monoesters comprising an aliphatic fatty acid moiety having 6 to 14 carbon atoms and an aliphatic hydroxyl moiety.

[0052] The term "aliphatic" refers to a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon having 6 to 14 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, the aliphatic fatty acid moiety is a straight chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon having 8 to 10 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the aliphatic fatty acid moiety is a branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon having 8 to 10 carbon atoms.

[0053] The aliphatic hydroxyl moiety of the fatty acid monoester can be any aliphatic compound having at least one hydroxyl group. In an exemplary embodiment, the aliphatic hydroxyl moiety has 3 to 9 carbons. The aliphatic hydroxyl moiety can include, but is not limited to, propylene glycol, glycerol, polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol, cyclic polyols such as sorbitan, glucose, mannose, sucrose, fructose, fucose, and inisitol, and derivatives thereof, and linear polyols such as mannitol and sorbitol, and derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.

[0054] Suitable amidoamines for use in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include, for example, amidoamines of the general formula: R 15 -(OCH2CH2) m -X-(CH2) n -Y (In the formula, R 15 is C6~C 30 It is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, examples of which include a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkylaryl, or alkoxyaryl group, m is 0 to 16, n is 2 to 16, and X is -C(O)-NR 16 -or-R 16NC(O)- and Y is -N(R 17 )2 and R 16 and R 17 wherein each is independently hydrogen, C1-C8 saturated or unsaturated alkyl, or hydroxyalkyl), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0055] Some of the amidoamines utilized in the present invention are available from commercial sources. For example, myristamidopropyl dimethylamine is available from Alcon Inc. (Fort Worth, TX) under the trade name Aldox®, lauramidopropyl dimethylamine is available from Inolex Chemical Company (Philadelphia, PA) under the trade name LEXAMINE® L-13, and stearamidopropyl dimethylamine is also available from Inolex Chemical Company as LEXAMINE® S-13. The above-mentioned amidoamines can be synthesized according to known techniques, including those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,726.

[0056] The amount of one or more antimicrobial agents can vary depending on the particular agent used. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more antimicrobial agents are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 10 ppm, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more antimicrobial agents are present in the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 5 ppm, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution. These antimicrobial agents are included when the contact lens treatment solution is used, for example, to disinfect contact lenses.

[0057] The antimicrobial agent is desirably used in an amount that at least partially reduces the microbial population in the formulation in which it is used. Optionally, the antimicrobial agent can be used in a disinfecting amount that reduces the microbial bioburden by at least 2 log orders in 4 hours, and more preferably by 1 log order in 1 hour. In some embodiments, the disinfecting amount is an amount that eliminates the microbial load on contact lenses when used in the recommended soaking time regimen (FDA Chemical Disinfection Efficacy Test - July, 1985 Contact Lens Solution Draft Guidelines).

[0058] In addition to the aforementioned components, the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein may further contain one or more amphoteric surfactants, comfort agents, pH adjusters, chelating agents, viscosity modifiers, demulcents, etc. Amphoteric surfactants are surface-active compounds that have both acidic and alkaline properties. Amphoteric surfactants for use herein include the class of compounds known as betaines. Betaines are characterized by fully quaternized nitrogen atoms and do not exhibit anionic properties in alkaline solutions, meaning that they exist as zwitterions only at about neutral pH. In some embodiments, suitable amphoteric surfactants have the structure of formula (IV): [ka] where R 1 is hydroxyl or -(CH2) n C8-C optionally substituted with -NHC(O)R 30 alkyl, and R is a C-C optionally substituted with hydroxyl. 30 alkyl, n is 2, 3, or 4, and R 2 and R 3 are each independently hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl, and R 4 is a C2-C8 alkylene optionally substituted with hydroxyl, and Y is CO2 - or SO3 - is.

[0059] Betaines are characterized by a fully quaternized nitrogen. In alkyl betaines, one of the alkyl groups on the quaternized nitrogen is an alkyl chain with 8 to 30 carbon atoms. One type of betaine is the sulfobetaine or hydroxysulfobetaine, in which the carboxylic acid group of the alkyl betaine is replaced with a sulfonate. In hydroxysulfobetaines, the hydroxy group is located on one of the alkylene carbons extending from the quaternized nitrogen to the sulfonate. In alkylamido betaines, the amide group is a hydrophobic C8-C 30 It is inserted as a linkage between the alkyl chain and the quaternized nitrogen.

[0060] In an exemplary embodiment, the amphoteric surfactant of formula IV is represented by formula (V): [ka] wherein R 1 is C8~C 30 alkyl, and R 2 and R 3 are each independently a C1-C4 alkyl, and R 4 is a C2-C8 alkylene. Certain sulfobetaines of general formula V are preferred over others. For example, Zwitergent® 93-10, available from Calbiochem Company, has R 1 is a linear saturated alkyl having 10 carbons, and R 2 and R 3 are each methyl, and R 4 and i is -CH2CH2CH2- (3 carbons, (3)). Other sulfobetaines that can be used in contact lens treatment compositions include, for example, the corresponding Zwitergent® 3-08 (i.e., R 1 is a straight chain saturated alkyl having 8 carbons), Zwitergent® 3-12 (i.e., R 1 is a linear saturated alkyl having 12 carbons), Zwitergent® 3-14 (i.e., R1 is a straight chain saturated alkyl having 14 carbons), and Zwitergent® 3-16 (i.e., R 1 is a straight chain saturated alkyl having 16 carbons. In one embodiment, the sulfobetaine is a sulfobetaine of formula V, where R 1 is C8~C 16 alkyl, and R 2 and R 3 is methyl.

[0061] In another embodiment, the amphoteric surfactant of formula IV is a compound of formula (VI): [ka] wherein R 1 is a C8-C substituted with at least one hydroxyl 30 alkyl, and R 2 and R 3 are each independently a C1-C4 alkyl, and R 4 is a C2-C8 alkylene substituted with at least one hydroxyl.

[0062] In another embodiment, the amphoteric surfactant is represented by formula (VII): [ka] wherein R 1 is C8~C 30 alkyl, m and n are independently selected from 2, 3, 4, or 5; R 2 and R 3 are each independently a C1-C4 alkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, and R 4 is a C2-C8 alkylene optionally substituted with hydroxyl, and Y is CO2 - or SO3 -In exemplary embodiments, representative examples of alkylamidobetaines include alkylamidopropyl betaines, such as cocoamidopropyl dimethyl betaine and lauroylamidopropyl dimethyl betaine.

[0063] The contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein may further contain one or more comfort or cushion components. The comfort component may enhance and / or prolong the cleaning and wetting activity of the surfactant component and / or condition the lens surface, making it more hydrophilic (more lipophilic), and / or function as an ocular demulcent. The comfort component is also believed to cushion the ocular surface during lens placement and help reduce eye irritation.

[0064] Suitable comfort ingredients include, for example, water-soluble natural gums, cellulose-derived polymers, and the like. Useful natural gums include guar gum, tragacanth gum, and the like. Useful cellulose-derived comfort ingredients include cellulose-derived polymers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, and hydroxyethylcellulose. Some non-cellulose comfort ingredients include propylene glycol or glycerin. Comfort ingredients may be present in the solution in an amount ranging from about 0.01% to about 1% (w / w).

[0065] In some embodiments, a comfort agent believed to maintain a hydrated corneal surface is polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). PVP is a linear or essentially linear homopolymer containing at least 90% of repeating units derived from 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone monomers, with the remainder of the monomer composition comprising neutral monomers such as vinyl or acrylate. Other synonyms for PVP include povidone, polyvidone, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and 1-ethenyl-2-pyrrolionone (CAS Registry Number 9003-39-8). PVP may have a weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 250,000, or about 30,000 to about 100,000. Such materials are sold under the trademark KOLLIDON®, e.g., KOLLIDON® K-30 or K-90, by BASF, under the trademark PLASDONE® K-29 / 32, and by various companies including ISP Technologies, Inc. It is also preferred to use pharmaceutical grade PVP.

[0066] The contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein may also contain one or more chelating components to aid in the removal of lipid and protein deposits from the lens surface after daily use. Typically, the contact lens treatment solutions will contain relatively small amounts, e.g., about 0.005% to about 0.05% (w / w), of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or its corresponding metal salt, such as the disodium salt NaEDTA.

[0067] In exemplary embodiments, the contact lens treating solutions disclosed herein can have an osmolality ranging from at least about 200 mOsmol / kg to at most about 400 mOsmol / kg, e.g., at least about 250, or at least about 300, or at least about 350, each up to about 400 mOsmol / kg. The contact lens treating solutions are substantially isotonic or hypertonic (e.g., slightly hypertonic) and ophthalmically acceptable.

[0068] In one embodiment, the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include solutions indirectly instilled on the eye, such as contact lens treatment solutions for treating contact lenses before they are inserted on the eye. Generally, the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein can be used to clean and disinfect contact lenses. For example, the contact lens solutions can be used as a daily or every-other-day daycare regimen, known in the art as a "no-rub" regimen. This procedure involves removing the contact lens from the eye, rinsing both sides of the lens with several milliliters of contact lens treatment solution, and placing the lens in a lens storage case containing the contact lens treatment solution disclosed herein or a different contact lens treatment solution. The lens can be soaked in fresh solution in the lens storage case for at least about two hours. The lens is removed from the case, optionally rinsed with more solution, and replaced on the eye.

[0069] Alternatively, a rubbing protocol can be performed in addition to the above steps, adding a few drops of solution to each side of the lens, followed by gently rubbing the surface between the fingers for about 3 to about 25 seconds, or about 3 to about 10 seconds. The lens can then be optionally rinsed and subsequently immersed in the solution in a lens storage case for at least 2 hours. The lens is removed from the lens storage case and replaced on the eye.

[0070] The type of lens that comes into contact with the contact lens treatment solution disclosed herein is not critical, and any lens is contemplated. Representative examples of such lenses include, but are not limited to, soft contact lenses (e.g., soft hydrogel lenses, soft non-hydrogel lenses, etc.), hard contact lenses (e.g., hard gas-permeable lens materials, etc.), rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, intraocular lenses, overlay lenses, etc. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a lens is considered "soft" if it can be folded back on itself without breaking. Any material known to produce contact lenses can be used herein. For example, the contact lens treatment solution can be used with (1) hard lenses formed from materials prepared by polymerization of acrylic esters, such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), (2) RGP lenses formed from silicone acrylates and fluorosilicone methacrylates, and (3) soft hydrogel contact lenses made from hydrogel polymer materials, such as silicone hydrogels, where hydrogels are defined as crosslinked polymer systems containing water in an equilibrium state.

[0071] Generally, hydrogels exhibit excellent biocompatibility, i.e., they are biologically or biochemically compatible by not producing toxic, harmful, or immunological responses in living tissues. Typical conventional hydrogel contact lens materials are made by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing at least one hydrophilic monomer, such as (meth)acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), glyceryl methacrylate, N,N-dimethacrylamide, and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP). In the case of silicone hydrogels, the monomer mixture from which the copolymer is prepared further contains a silicone-containing monomer in addition to the hydrophilic monomer. Typically, the monomer mixture also contains a crosslinking monomer, such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and methacryloxyethyl vinyl carbonate. Alternatively, either the silicone-containing monomer or the hydrophilic monomer may function as a crosslinker.

[0072] In another embodiment, contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein include contact lens treatment solutions for instillation directly on the eye, such as for rewetting contact lenses during wear, as well as solutions for instillation directly on the eye, including those that also qualify as multi-purpose solutions.

[0073] The contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein are physiologically compatible. Specifically, the solutions must be "ophthalmically safe" for use with contact lenses, meaning that contact lenses treated with the solution are generally suitable and safe for direct placement on the eye without rinsing, i.e., the solution is safe and comfortable for daily contact with the eye via a contact lens wetted with the solution. An ophthalmically safe composition has a tonicity and pH that is compatible with the eye and contains materials and amounts thereof that are non-cytotoxic in accordance with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards and U.S. FDA regulations. The solutions should be sterile, in that the absence of microbial contaminants in the product prior to release must be statistically demonstrated to the extent required for such products.

[0074] The contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein may be in the form of drops and are useful as components of contact lens cleaning, disinfecting, or conditioning compositions containing such materials. In some embodiments, the compositions and / or solutions disclosed herein may be formulated as "multi-purpose solutions." Multi-purpose solutions are useful for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, and rinsing lenses, particularly soft contact lenses. Multi-purpose solutions do not preclude the possibility that some wearers, e.g., those who are particularly sensitive to chemical disinfectants or other chemical agents, may prefer to clean or wet their contact lenses with a separate solution, e.g., sterile saline, before lens insertion. The term "multi-purpose solution" also does not preclude the possibility of routine cleaning agents not used daily or supplemental cleaning agents for further protein removal, e.g., enzymatic cleaners typically used weekly. The term "cleaning" means that the solution contains one or more agents in a concentration sufficient to loosen and remove loosely held lens deposits and other contaminants on the surface of the contact lens, and may be used in combination with a finger action (e.g., manually rubbing the lens with the solution) or an accessory device that agitates the solution in contact with the lens, e.g., a mechanical cleaning aid.

[0075] Conventionally, commercially available multi-purpose solutions have required a regimen involving mechanical rubbing of lenses with the multi-purpose solution to provide the necessary disinfection and cleaning. Such a regimen is required under government regulatory authorities (e.g., the FDA, i.e., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) for chemical disinfection systems that do not qualify as chemical disinfecting solutions. In some embodiments, it is possible to formulate a cleaning and disinfecting product that can provide improved cleaning and disinfection without a rubbing regimen and is gentle enough to be used as a wetting agent, such as an eye drop. For example, a product that qualifies as a chemical disinfecting solution must meet the U.S. FDA-established disinfectant performance standards for contact lens care products (May 1, 1997), which do not involve rubbing of the lenses. In some embodiments of the present invention, the composition is formulated to meet the requirements of the FDA or ISO stand-alone procedures for contact lens disinfecting products. Similarly, the compositions disclosed herein can be formulated to provide enhanced cleaning without a rubbing regimen. Such a formulation may ensure higher patient compliance and greater universal appeal than conventional multi-purpose disinfecting and cleaning products. The multi-purpose solution may have a viscosity of less than about 75 cps, or from about 1 to about 50 cps, or from about 1 to about 25 cps, or at least about 95 weight / volume percent water in the total composition.

[0076] The pH of the contact lens treatment solutions and / or compositions disclosed herein may be maintained within a pH range of about 4.0 to about 9.0, or about 5.0 to about 8.0, or about 6.0 to about 8.0, or about 6.5 to about 7.8. In some embodiments, the pH is at most about 7 or greater.

[0077] In exemplary embodiments, a method for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses comprises immersing a contact lens in a contact lens treatment solution disclosed herein for at least about two hours. In some embodiments, a contact lens case includes a lens storage compartment for storing a contact lens, wherein the contact lens is immersed in the contact lens treatment solution disclosed herein and the lens storage compartment is sealed with a suitable lid. The contact lens can be stored in the contact lens case for two hours, for example, for up to 48 hours. The contact lens treatment solution can contain any of the components described above in their respective amounts.

[0078] In another exemplary embodiment, a method for rewetting a contact lens is provided, the method comprising administering a contact lens treating solution to a contact lens while it is worn on the eye, the contact lens treating solution comprising: (a) about 0.005 to about 2 weight percent hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treating solution; (b) about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treating solution; (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; (d) sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or any combination thereof; and (e) one or more buffering agents. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the contact lens treating solution can be applied periodically to a contact lens while it is worn on the eye as needed. The contact lens treating solution can contain any of the components described above in their respective amounts.

[0079] The following examples are provided to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention and are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0080] Example 1 Preparation of a contact lens treatment solution suitable for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses. Amounts are in weight percent or ppm based on the total weight of the solution, using purified water to make up to 100% by weight.

[0081] A first solution was prepared by adding boric acid (0.9 wt%), sodium borate (0.34 wt%), glycylglycine (0.3 wt%), potassium chloride (0.05 wt%), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (0.1 wt%), erythritol (0.2 wt%), poloxamine 1107 (1.0 wt%), and poloxamer 181 (0.006 wt%). The solution was then autoclaved at 121°C for three cycles of 30 minutes.

[0082] A second solution was prepared by adding sodium hyaluronate (0.0125% by weight) and sodium citrate (0.6% by weight). This solution was not autoclaved.

[0083] The first solution was added to the second solution, and then poly(hexamethylene biguanide) (PAPB) (0.5 ppm), polyquaternium-1 (PQ-1) (1.5 ppm), and alexidine (2.5 ppm) were added to the combined solution to form a contact lens treatment solution.

[0084] Comparative Example 1 A solution similar to that in Example 1 was prepared, but lacking erythritol.

[0085] Hyaluronic acid molecular weight reduction test Samples of the contact lens treatment solutions of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were spiked with 5 ppm hydrogen peroxide and then autoclaved at 40°C for 20 and 48 hours. The hydrogen peroxide spiking was performed to expose the formulations to oxidative stress and to evaluate the effectiveness of erythritol in preventing oxidative stress, particularly on hyaluronic acid. Over both the 20-hour and 48-hour autoclave periods, the contact lens treatment solution of Example 1 showed statistically significantly less molecular weight loss of hyaluronic acid than the contact lens treatment solution of Comparative Example 1.

[0086] For brevity, various features of the contact lens treatment solutions disclosed herein are described in the context of a single embodiment, but may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. All combinations of embodiments are specifically embraced by the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, just as if each and every combination were individually and expressly disclosed. In addition, all subcombinations listed in embodiments describing such variables are also specifically embraced by the present compositions and are disclosed herein, just as if each and every such subcombination were individually and expressly disclosed herein.

[0087] It will be understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. For example, the functions implemented as the best mode for operating the invention described above are for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will be able to implement other configurations and methods without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Moreover, those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the features and advantages added herein.

Claims

1. 1. A contact lens treatment solution comprising: (a) 0.005 to 2% by weight of hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) 0.01 to 1 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; and (d) sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or any combination thereof; (e) one or more buffering agents.

2. (a) 0.01 to 0.2% by weight of hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (b) 0.05 to 0.5 weight percent erythritol, based on the total weight of the contact lens treatment solution; (c) 0.05 to 5 weight percent of said one or more non-ionic surfactants, based on the total weight of said contact lens treatment solution; 2. The contact lens treatment solution of claim 1, comprising: (d) 0.1-10% (w / w) of said one or more buffering agents.

3. 10. The contact lens treatment solution of claim 1, wherein the one or more non-ionic surfactants comprise one or more of a poloxamer and a poloxamine.

4. The contact lens treatment solution of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more buffering agents include one or more of glycylglycine, boric acid, sodium borate, and potassium borate.

5. The contact lens treatment solution of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising one or more antimicrobial agents.

6. 6. The contact lens treating solution of claim 5, wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents further comprise one or more biguanide antimicrobial agents and one or more quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agents.

7. 7. The contact lens treating solution of claim 6, wherein the one or more biguanide antimicrobial agents comprise one or more of a polymeric biguanide and a non-polymeric biguanide, and the one or more quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agents comprise a polyquaternary ammonium compound.

8. 8. The contact lens treatment solution of any one of claims 1 to 7, in the form of an eye care product or a contact lens care product selected from the group consisting of a contact lens preserving solution, a contact lens cleaning solution, a contact lens rewetting solution, and a multipurpose contact lens solution.

9. A method for rewetting a contact lens, the method comprising administering a contact lens treatment solution described in any one of claims 1 to 8 to a contact lens worn on an eye.

10. 1. A method for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses, the method comprising:

9. A method comprising soaking the contact lens in a contact lens treatment solution according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for at least 2 hours.