Biocide uptake in contact lenses and loss of fungicidal activity during storage of contact lenses.

Purpose: With recent outbreaks of Fusarium keratitis related to contact lens wear, studies were conducted to determine the biocide uptake during lens storage, and the resulting effect on antifungal activity of related products.

Methods: ACUVUE 2 (etafilcon A) soft, hydrophilic contact lenses (group IV) were soaked from 1 hour to 7 days in OPTI-FREE Express and OPTI-FREE RepleniSH multipurpose disinfecting solutions with POLYQUAD (polyquaternium-1) and ALDOX (myristamidopropyl dimethylamine) biocides and multipurpose solutions, Bausch & Lomb ReNu with MoistureLoc (Alexidine), ReNu MultiPlus (polyhexamethylene biguanide [PHMB]), and AMO Complete MoisturePLUS (PHMB). Storage solutions were tested to evaluate the effect of preservative uptake on the residual biocide activity against Fusarium solani.