Hands-free systems offer patients another alternative for cleaning contact lenses

Issue: September 2000

---Ultrasonic: Generated by ultrasonic waves, the formation, expansion and collapse of microscopic bubbles clean the lens of dirt and residue.

Several new “hands-free” cleaning systems have made their way to the marketplace, giving contact lens wearers an alternative to digital cleaning.

These compact systems rely on either ultrasonic or subsonic waves to clean protein build-up, oils, pollen and dust from lenses, eliminating the need for rubbing the lens between the thumb and forefinger. In addition to the ease of cleaning these systems provide, another benefit is the reduced risk of tearing a soft contact lens, which may occur with digital cleaning.

A patient’s failure to comply with the lens cleaning regimen can result in not only discomfort, but also ocular infections such as giant papillary conjunctivitis, corneal infiltrates and inflammatory reactions. With the hands-free systems, noncompliance is, theoretically, less of an issue.

John L. Schachet, OD, one of the clinical investigators for the Purilens (Purilens, Tampa, Fla.) system, sees a trend among solution companies toward getting away from digital cleaning. “We’ll see new Food and Drug Administration protocols on no-rub with most of the products, especially when you start looking at some of the more fragile lenses. Not having to handle the lens is a great thing,” said Dr. Schachet.

These hands-free systems also have the potential to attract former wearers — those who may have given up on contacts because of the tedious regimen associated with digital cleaning — now that there is an easier, more convenient alternative.

As another benefit, these systems are relatively small and require little counter space, according to Kai W. Wai, OD. “Hands-free systems are compact and also clean really well,” he said. “All the features are automatic, so you don’t have to worry about switching the unit on and off. I have tried it on many patients, and the majority of them can feel an improvement over cleaning their lenses digitally.”

How they work

--- Subsonic: Following removal of debris through a whirlpool effect, microorganisms are then killed by germicidal light.

The hands-free cleaning systems consist of a small unit with a compartment that houses the contact lenses. The user then fills the chamber with a designated amount of solution, closes the lid and pushes the activation button. The unit automatically shuts off when finished.

Two systems use ultrasonic cleaning: LenSoClean (Alpha Vista, Novato, Calif.) and Lens Comfort (Lens Comfort, Elizabeth, N.J.). When ultrasonic waves of a sufficiently high frequency and power pass through the liquid, cavitation occurs. Cavitation is the rapid formation, expansion and collapse of microscopic bubbles within the liquid. Dirt and residue then fall away from the lens. This process removes oils, dirt and the deeply bound protein that can be a significant problem for heavy protein depositors.

“Ultrasound is a tried and true method of cleansing,” according to Barry Farkas, OD. “It’s very simple, and it’s effective against most kinds of dirt and residue on the lens.”

The PuriLens system uses a combination of subsonic cleaning and UV-C light. Solution shear waves create a whirlpool effect to remove debris from the lens surface, and germicidal light then kills the microorganisms. The lens case shields the lenses from the UV light, which actually disinfects the materials that come off the lens, not the lens itself.

Who will benefit?

Patients who tend not to comply with their cleaning regimens and those who deposit heavy amounts of protein are most likely to benefit from a hands-free system. “I think these systems really work best for patients who are heavy protein depositors,” said Dr. Schachet. “Protein deposits can create a variety of problems. Even though many hands-free system patients use lenses that are disposed of more frequently, I would still like the lenses to be as clean as possible between the time they start wearing them and when they dispose of them. Hands-free systems definitely add something to our armamentarium of cleaning regimens.”

For Your Information:

John L. Schachet, OD, is in private practice and is a former adjunct professor at the Southern California College of Optometry. He can be reached at Eyecare Consultants, 8586 E. Arapahoe Rd., Ste. 100, Englewood, CO 80112; (303) 771-4221; fax: (303) 721-7759; e-mail: Jschachet@aol.com. Dr. Schachet has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is he a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.

Kai W. Wai, OD, is in private practice in New York City. He can be reached at 17 Elizabeth St., Ste. 401, New York, NY 10013; (212) 226-3937; fax: (212) 226-3372. Dr. Wai has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is he a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.

Barry Farkas, OD, is in a private practice limited to contact lenses. He can be reached at 30 E. 60th St., Ste. 201, New York, NY 10022; (212) 355-5145; fax: (212) 308-3262. Dr. Farkas has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is he a paid consultant for any companies mentioned. The PuriLens System is available from PuriLens Inc., 12170 Race Track Road, Tampa, FL 33626; (877) 787-5367; fax: (813) 814-4545; Web site: www.purilens.com.

The Lens Comfort Ultrasonic Cleaning and Disinfecting System is available from Lens Comfort Inc., 912 N. Broad St., Elizabeth, NJ 07208; (908) 558-0699; fax: (908) 354-3482; e-mail: info@lenscomfort.com; Web site: www.lenscomfort.com.

The LenSoClean ultrasonic cleaner is available from Alpha Vista Inc., 42 Digital Drive, Novato, CA 94949; (800) 761-4242; fax: (415) 382-9148; Web sites: www.alphavista.com, www.lensoclean.com.