Analysis of deposits on high water content contact lenses.

Deposits on soft contact lenses of high water content were investigated morphologically and chemically and compared with those on conventional soft contact lenses of poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The material of the lenses examined in this investigation was the crosslinked copolymer of methyl methacrylate and N-vinylpyrrolidone with a water content higher than 70%. Morphologically, the deposits on the lenses with high water content were found to have no characteristics distinguishable from those on conventional lenses. By the electron microscopic observation of the cross section of a lens that had become opaque, it was confirmed that the deposit was on the lens surface and that no deposit was within the lens. Some spots on the lenses were recognized as colonies of microorganisms, but the majority of the spots had no involvement by microorganisms. Surface analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) confirmed that the main component of the filmy deposit was protein. Protein was detected in most of the deposits. The amino acid compositions of the proteins were found to be close to that of lysozyme. From the elemental analysis of several spots, silicon, aluminum, iron, and some other elements were detected. The structural analysis of some spots by a laser Raman microprobe (MOLE) revealed the existence of lipids. In several cases, the deposits were found to have grown around a defect of the lens surface. A mechanism for the formation of deposits is suggested.