New “smart” case safely disinfects contact lenses

The two main approaches to disinfecting contact lenses currently rely on the user manually undertaking the sometimes-tedious task, which can lead to inconsistent results and higher chances of infection.{{quote-A:R-W:500-I:2-Q:“Hydrogen peroxide is considered the gold standard for disinfecting contact lenses,”-WHO:Dr David Stroman, Senior Vice President of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals}}Immersion of lenses in multipurpose disinfection solution can leave chical on the lenses that irritate the eyes, which can deter some people from following the proper cleanliness procedures, while the alternative – hydrogen peroxide – is also difficult to use.Hydrogen peroxide disinfection systs contain a catalyst that neutralises the hydrogen peroxide over time. But, if too much has been neutralised, the lenses may not be fully sterilised. On the other hand, if the peroxide has not been sufficiently neutralised before the lens gets used it can be painful.To combat the risk of potential non-compliance, the intelli-Case syst uses sophisticated sensors that can analyse the neutralisation of hydrogen peroxide and alert the user when the lenses are ready to use through a series of light-itting diodes.The lens wearer places the lenses inside the case and a red LED lights up when there is an issue with the peroxide solution. The yellow LED indicates an ongoing disinfection process and green when the cleaning process is completed and the lenses are ready to use.“Hydrogen peroxide is considered the gold standard for disinfecting contact lenses,” Dr David Stroman, NovaBay’s senior vice president for ophthalmic product development told CEOCFO Magazine, adding: “The intelli-Case has great potential to really help contact lens wearers, so there should be a strong market for it.”NovaBay is now looking for partners to commercialise the device, and has started talks with major companies.