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Title: Ultraviolet radiation for the sterilization of contact lenses

Abstract

Two sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation with peak wavelengths in the UV-C or UV-B ranges were compared for their ability to sterilize contact lenses infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acanthamoeba castellani, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Also examined was the effect of prolonged UV light exposure on soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. The UV-C lamp (253.7 nm, 250 mW/cm2 at 1 cm) was germicidal for all organisms within 20 minutes but caused destruction of the soft lens polymers within 6 hours of cumulative exposure. UV-C caused damage to RGP lenses in less than 100 hours. The UV-B lamp (290-310 nm, 500 mW/cm2 at 1 cm) was germicidal for all organisms tested (except Aspergillus) with a 180-minute exposure and caused less severe changes in the soft lens polymers than did the UV-C lamp, although cumulative exposure of 300 hours did substantially weaken the soft lens material. RGP materials were minimally affected by exposure to 300 hours of UV-B. Ultraviolet light is an effective germicidal agent but is injurious to soft lens polymers; its possible utility in the sterilization of RGP lenses and lens cases deserves further study.

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles (USA)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6271316
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Clao Journal; (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 16:4; Journal ID: ISSN 0733-8902
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; EYES; PROSTHESES; RADIOSTERILIZATION; ASPERGILLUS; BACTERIA; CANDIDA; PSEUDOMONAS; STREPTOCOCCUS; ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION; BODY; BODY AREAS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; EUMYCOTA; FACE; FUNGI; HEAD; MEDICAL SUPPLIES; MICROORGANISMS; ORGANS; PLANTS; RADIATIONS; SENSE ORGANS; STERILIZATION; YEASTS; 560130* - Radiation Effects on Microorganisms

Citation Formats

Gritz, D C, Lee, T Y, McDonnell, P J, Shih, K, and Baron, N. Ultraviolet radiation for the sterilization of contact lenses. United States: N. p., 1990. Web.
Gritz, D C, Lee, T Y, McDonnell, P J, Shih, K, & Baron, N. Ultraviolet radiation for the sterilization of contact lenses. United States.
Gritz, D C, Lee, T Y, McDonnell, P J, Shih, K, and Baron, N. 1990. "Ultraviolet radiation for the sterilization of contact lenses". United States.
@article{osti_6271316,
title = {Ultraviolet radiation for the sterilization of contact lenses},
author = {Gritz, D C and Lee, T Y and McDonnell, P J and Shih, K and Baron, N},
abstractNote = {Two sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation with peak wavelengths in the UV-C or UV-B ranges were compared for their ability to sterilize contact lenses infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acanthamoeba castellani, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Also examined was the effect of prolonged UV light exposure on soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. The UV-C lamp (253.7 nm, 250 mW/cm2 at 1 cm) was germicidal for all organisms within 20 minutes but caused destruction of the soft lens polymers within 6 hours of cumulative exposure. UV-C caused damage to RGP lenses in less than 100 hours. The UV-B lamp (290-310 nm, 500 mW/cm2 at 1 cm) was germicidal for all organisms tested (except Aspergillus) with a 180-minute exposure and caused less severe changes in the soft lens polymers than did the UV-C lamp, although cumulative exposure of 300 hours did substantially weaken the soft lens material. RGP materials were minimally affected by exposure to 300 hours of UV-B. Ultraviolet light is an effective germicidal agent but is injurious to soft lens polymers; its possible utility in the sterilization of RGP lenses and lens cases deserves further study.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6271316}, journal = {Clao Journal; (USA)},
issn = {0733-8902},
number = ,
volume = 16:4,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}