Contact lens holder

Abstract

A novel contact lens holder for retaining contact lenses and their storage solution is provided. The contact lens holder provides at least two compartments for retaining each contact lens and its storage solution, each compartment providing protection against leakage of the storage solution. There is provided a contact lens holder including a first compartment with at least one substantially fluid-tight seal to retain the storage solution, and a second compartment encompassing the first compartment. There is also provided a contact lens holder including a lid that is pivotally moveable such that the lid can be positioned at an angle to provide a user with an ergonomically comfortable position when using the contact lens holder. The lid can also include a mirror on its inside surface.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 29 / 196,041 filed Dec. 22, 2003, and U.S. application Ser. No. 29 / 196,042 filed Dec. 22, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to contact lens holders for retaining contact lenses and their storage solution. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The proper care and handling of contact lenses requires a holder or case for storing the contact lenses in their storage solution, and for protecting the contact lenses from contamination by dirt or germs. In addition, when traveling, a contact lens user will require a portable case to store and carry the contact lenses between wearing times. There are different types of contact lens holders available, some of which are portable and include separate receptacles for holding each of the left and right contact lenses. [0004] Although these contact lens holders are...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a contact lens holder that obviates or mitigates at least one of the above identified disadvantages.

[0008] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a contact lens case comprising at least two compartments for retaining each contact lens and its storage solution, each compartment providing protection against leakage of the storage solution. The contact lens case comprising a first compartment for housing a contact lens and its storage solution, the first compartment including at least one substantially fluid-tight seal to retain the storage solution; and a second compartment encompassing the first compartment, the second compartment including at least one seal to provide additional protection against leakage of the storage solution.

Problems solved by technology

Although these contact lens holders are useful for storing and carrying the contact lenses in separate receptacles, contact lens users often encounter problems in the handling and storing of their contact lenses.

Problems include leakage of the storage solution from the receptacles; damage or scratches to the contact lenses when removing them from the contact lens holder; accumulation of dirt and germs that may contaminate the contact lenses and their storage solution; damage or loss of a cover or lid; and interchange of left and right covers such that the user mistakes the left contact lens for the right contact lens.

However, such contact lens holders often provide an unsatisfactory level of protection against leakage or evaporation of storage solution.

The seal ring can fall out or dry and crack and lead to a break in the seal and thus leakage of storage solution.

There is no additional protection to prevent leakage or evaporation of storage solution by the covers being accidentally opened or the single seal being broken.

An additional shortcoming of known contact lens holders is that the receptacle covers are not readily detachable and interchangeable, and typically are not readily distinguishable from each other.

Dirt or germs may accumulate more easily in the hinges of contact lens holders with non-detachable covers or other non-detachable parts, which can lead to contamination of the contact lenses and or storage solution.

A further shortcoming with certain known contact lens holders is that the left and right receptacles are not easily identifiable, and as a result, a user may more easily interchange or mix up the left compartment and the right compartment.

This can be inconvenient for users when they are inserting or removing their contact lenses without corrected vision.

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