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contact
lens care
Taking
a Closer Look at Hydrogen Peroxide Products
BY SUSAN J. GROMACKI,
OD, MS, FAAO
In my last column, I discussed the
characteristics of hydrogen peroxide disinfection and its mechanism of action. This
month I will highlight the various products available at the present time.
Then
and Now
Experienced practitioners
remember the days of two-step hydrogen peroxide systems. Two separate bottles of
solution were required: one H2O2 bottle to disinfect the lenses
and the second to neutralize the H2O2, thus preventing peroxide
keratitis.
All of today's systems are one-step;
that is, the disinfection and neutralization (with either a catalytic disc or catalase
tablet) occur simultaneously.
What's Available
AOSept (CIBA Vision),
the original one-step system, debuted in the United States in 1982. This three-bottle
system combines a potent daily cleaner with H2O2 disinfection.
MiraFlow, its isopropyl alcohol-based daily cleaner, emulsifies lipids as well as
provides some disinfection. The third bottle, Softwear saline, is for rinsing off
Miraflow before disinfection. Neutralization, performed with a platinum-coated plastic
disc, takes six hours. Once disinfected, patients can safely store lenses for 30
days. Along with UltraCare, it provides the most thorough cleaning/disinfection
available. Despite this, its market share is decreasing. One reason: CIBA no longer
gives sample care kits to practitioners.
UltraCare (Advanced Medical
Optics, 1986) is a three-bottle system: Lens Plus Daily Cleaner, Lens Plus
Sterile Saline (to rinse off the daily cleaner) and hydrogen peroxide. An advantage
to this system is the presence of a wetting agent (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose,
HPMC) in the neutralization tablet. It is recommended that the lens not be rinsed
prior to insertion to take advantage of the built-in lubricant. The catalase tablet
also includes cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), which creates a pink hue
just before total neutralization (six hours) to indicate that the tablet was placed
into the solution. Maximum storage time is seven days.
Clear Care (CIBA Vision,
2001) system combines a cleaner, Pluronic 17R4, and H2O2
in one bottle. With a five-second rinse, it's FDA-approved for no rub. It has a
six-hour neutralization period and is approved for 30 days of storage. It's the
only H2O2 system indicated by the FDA for silicone hydrogel
lenses. Another advantage: samples are provided to practitioners.
Sauflon One-Step (Sauflon
USA, January 2006) is the newest offering. A one-bottle peroxide system,
Sauflon One-Step contains a built-in cleaner and has no-rub approval with a five-second
per side (20 seconds total) rinse prior to disinfection.
It has two advantages. First, it's
the only one-bottle H2O2 system with a rewetting agent, important
for dry eye patients. Second, Sauflon is provided only to practitioners, not to
retailers. This may improve patient brand loyalty and compliance, as well as provide
income to the practice. Samples are banked, based on retail size purchases. Neutralization
with the catalytic disc takes six hours; storage time shouldn't exceed 24 hours
before re-disinfecting.
Dr. Gromacki is
a Diplomate in Cornea and Contact Lenses in the American Academy of Optometry. She
has a specialty contact lens and post-surgical co-management practice as part of
a multi-subspecialty ophthalmology group in Ann Arbor, MI.
Contact Lens Spectrum, Issue: February 2007