A method of operating a sterilization system having a vacuum chamber for sterilizing instruments, the chamber connected to a reservoir of sterilant by a valve in a closed state, is disclosed. The method comprises placing the instruments in a non-sterile state in a sterilization pack, opening the chamber, placing the pack into the chamber, closing the chamber, withdrawing a first volume of air from the chamber, changing a volume of liquid water into vapor, opening the valve, introducing the sterilant into the chamber, withdrawing the sterilant from the chamber, introducing a second volume of air into the chamber, opening the chamber, removing the pack from the chamber, and removing the instruments in a sterile-state from the pack. The method may also include taking a baseline humidity measurement while the pressure within the chamber is a first pressure, lowering the pressure within the chamber to a conditioning pressure, maintaining the conditioning pressure for a dwell time, increasing the pressure within the chamber, acquiring a second humidity measurement from within the chamber, and comparing the baseline humidity measurement to the second humidity measurement.

The present invention relates to a lens care solution having 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of a low molecular weight amine of the general formula:

##STR00001##

where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are H or low molecular weight radicals, and R.sub.5 is a low molecular weight radical, or salt thereof; an effective amount of a tonicity agent; and the balance water.

A container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2). The mounting element (3) further comprises an access opening (37) arranged at a proximal end of the mounting element (3) remote from the containment element (2). The retaining element (4) is fixedly arranged in between the containment element (2) and the mounting element (3), the retaining element (4) being configured to prevent the ophthalmic lens from being washed out of the containment element (2) and to permit access for a gripper through the access opening (37) of the mounting element (3) into the containment element (2) for insertion and removal of the ophthalmic lens.

The present invention relates to a lens care solution having 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of a low molecular weight amine of the general formula: ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are H or low molecular weight radicals, and R.sub.5 is a low molecular weight radical, or salt thereof; an effective amount of a tonicity agent; and the balance water.

The present invention relates to a lens care solution having 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of a low molecular weight amine of the general formula:

##STR00001##

where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are H or low molecular weight radicals, and R.sub.5 is a low molecular weight radical, or salt thereof; an effective amount of a tonicity agent; and the balance water.

The present invention relates to a lens care solution having 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of a low molecular weight amine of the general formula: ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are H or low molecular weight radicals, and R.sub.5 is a low molecular weight radical, or salt thereof; an effective amount of a tonicity agent; and the balance water.

The present invention is generally related to a lens care system and method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses. A lens care system or method of the invention is based on electrolysis of an aqueous chloride solution for generating germicide species (e.g., chlorine, hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite, or combinations thereof) and subsequent in-situ electrolysis of hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite in the aqueous solution for neutralizing the generated germicide species.

A method of removing a liquid from a container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic contact lens, in particular a soft contact lens, during transporting the container (1) from a liquid bath (13) to a subsequent processing station (14), the method including the steps of: transporting the container (1) from the liquid bath to the subsequent processing station, generating suction (20), and applying the suction (20) to a bottom (11) of the container (1) during the step of transporting the container (1) from the liquid bath to the subsequent processing station, thereby removing the liquid from the container (1).

The present invention relates to a lens care solution having 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of a low molecular weight amine of the general formula: ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are H or low molecular weight radicals, and R.sub.5 is a low molecular weight radical, or salt thereof; an effective amount of a tonicity agent; and the balance water.

A container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2). The mounting element (3) further comprises an access opening (37) arranged at a proximal end of the mounting element (3) remote from the containment element (2). The retaining element (4) is fixedly arranged in between the containment element (2) and the mounting element (3), the retaining element (4) being configured to prevent the ophthalmic lens from being washed out of the containment element (2) and to permit access for a gripper through the access opening (37) of the mounting element (3) into the containment element (2) for insertion and removal of the ophthalmic lens.