WO2024134381A1

WO2024134381A1 - Compositions for ophthalmologic devices

Info

Publication number: WO2024134381A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/062628
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Neely; Donald E. Riederer; Justin Scott Jacobs
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc
Priority date: 2022-12-21
Filing date: 2023-12-13
Publication date: 2024-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-21
Also published as: TW202439973A; WO2024134380A1; TW202439971A

Abstract

The present invention relates to chlorous acid compound and phosphate compound containing compositions, especially eye care compositions, achieving physiologically compatible pH and tonicity as well as good bacteriostatic properties. Methods of using the compositions of the present invention are also disclosed.

Description

Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 COMPOSITIONS FOR OPHTHALMOLOGIC DEVICES RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/476,537, filed December 21, 2022; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/476,553, filed December 21, 2022; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/492,288, filed March 27, 2023, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY The present invention relates to chlorous acid compound and phosphate buffer containing compositions, especially eye care compositions, achieving physiologically compatible pH and tonicity as well as good bacteriostatic properties. Methods of using the compositions of the present invention are also disclosed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Contact lenses are generally provided to consumers as individually packaged products. The single unit containers which package such contact lenses typically use buffered saline as storage or packaging solutions. Such packaging solutions should provide for, at least in some cases, a short-term period – e.g., between solution preparation and sterilization of the end-staged packaged product - an environment that does not facilitate the growth of harmful or undesirable microorganisms. Such undesirable microorganisms include Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus brasiliensis. Moreover, the packaging solutions should be gentle to the eye since at least some of the packaging solution will, most likely, remain on a contact lens once it is removed from the packaging solution and placed directly on (i.e., by direct application to) the eye. 1 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The contact lens (or other ophthalmic device) packaging solution should also be compatible with the materials forming the contact lens (or other ophthalmic device) and the contact lens packaging. A challenge in preparing packaging solutions for ophthalmic devices is formulating solutions which do not negatively affect eye comfort or the solution’s compatibility with the material(s) forming the ophthalmic device. One important component of ophthalmic compositions, including packaging solutions, is the buffer incorporated, which helps to maintain the pH of the composition within an acceptable physiological range. Phosphates are known to be capable buffers, but, unfortunately, phosphates are also known promoters of microbial growth. The present inventors have found that by appropriately combining chlorous acid compounds and phosphate buffers, adequately buffered, bacteriostatic compositions (e.g., packaging solutions) can be achieved. More specifically, such buffered solutions can be achieved by combining chlorous acid compounds with phosphates at specific ratios of chlorous acid compounds to phosphates buffers – as detailed below. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Figure 1 is reproduction of “Influence of concentration of phosphate on NaCl effect on phosphate pH” illustration from Robinson, H., W., The Influence of Neutral Salts on the pH of Phosphate Buffer Mixtures, J. Biol. Chem., LXXXII (3), 775-802, (1929)). Figure 2 is a graph showing the microbial log reduction for test microorganisms at Days 0-3 when using a composition of the present invention. Figure 3 is a graph showing percent (%) microbial population count reduction for test microorganisms at Day 3 when using a composition of the present invention. Figures 4A-E are graphs showing the microbial population count for test microorganisms in the composition of Example 2 over time. Figures 5-7 are graphs showing the inhibition of growth of the yeast Candida albicans, the fungus Aspergillus brasiliensis and the bacteria Bacillus subtilis – subspecies spizizenii, 2 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 respectively, when each microorganism was spiked into the composition of Table 8 containing varying concentrations of chlorite. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sealed ophthalmologic product or kit, comprising: a) a composition for storing contact lenses as an admixture or mixture: i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound buffer; iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound, provided that, after the reductant’s admixture to the composition, the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for a period of time; and iv. an ophthalmologically acceptable carrier comprising one or more tonicity agents at least one contact lens sealed in a container with the composition and b) a container comprising a sealed compartment comprising at least one contact lens in the presence of the composition. The present invention also relates to a method of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in a composition for a period of time occurring from preparation of the composition to sterilization of the composition in sealed a container, comprising the steps of: a. mixing a composition comprising: 3 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound buffer; and iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound after admixture to the composition ; b. storing the composition for the period of time during which time there is an inhibition of growth of microorganisms; c. placing the composition in a container; d. sealing the container of step c.; e. sterilizing the container of the d; optionally, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. The present invention further relates to a method of packaging and sterilizing a composition in sealed a container, comprising the steps of: a. mixing a composition comprising: i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound buffer; and iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound after admixture to the composition; b. placing the composition in a container; c. sealing the container of step b.; d. sterilizing the container of the c. 4 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 optionally, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using the disclosed compositions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As indicated above, the present invention relates to compositions comprising one or more chlorous acid compounds and one or more phosphate compound as an ophthalmologically acceptable carrier. The compositions may be useful for storing or as a packaging solution for ophthalmic devices. Specifically, the present invention provides ophthalmic solutions comprising a transient microbial growth inhibiting compound that is bacteriostatic from the formulation of the composition through heat sterilization, such as autoclaving, but substantially or entirely neutralized during sterilization providing a non-preserved ophthalmic solution after sterilization. The present invention further provided hermetically sealed contact lens packages comprising a contact lens and an ophthalmic solution of the present invention. The compositions may be useful for direct application to the eyes for an eye care benefit such as relieving eye discomfort. The compositions and methods of the present invention can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the steps, essential elements and limitations of the invention described herein, as well any of the additional or optional ingredients, components, or limitations described herein. The term “comprising” (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of.” The terms “a” and “the” as used herein are understood to encompass the plural as well as the singular. 5 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Unless otherwise indicated, all documents cited are incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, all documents incorporated herein by reference are only incorporated herein to the extent that they are not inconsistent with this specification. The citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with response to the present invention. The present invention as disclosed herein may be practiced in the absence of any compound or element (or group of compounds or elements) which is not specifically disclosed herein. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable”, as used herein, means biologically tolerable, and otherwise biologically suitable for application or exposure to the eyes and surrounding tissues of the eyes without undue adverse effects such as toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like. The term, “ophthalmically acceptable and/or compatible”, as used herein, means the composition or component(s) is pharmaceutically acceptable and is not or substantially is not, detrimental, negative, or harmful to any part of the eye (or surrounding tissues) or the other ingredients (including actives) in the composition itself. The term “water soluble” as used herein, means that the components, either alone or in combination with other components, do not form precipitates or gel particles visible to the human eye at the concentrations selected and across the temperatures and pH regimes common for manufacturing, sterilizing and storing the ophthalmic solution. The term “cationic preservatives”, as used herein, means net positively charged compounds having antimicrobial properties and include, without limitation thereto, one or more of polymyxin B sulfate, quaternary ammonium compounds, poly(quaternary ammonium) compounds, benzalkonium chloride, cetylpridinium chloride, benzethonium chloride, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, chlorhexidine, poly(hexamethylene biguanide), and mixtures thereof. Poly(quaternary ammonium) compounds are compounds that are positively charged surface active agents (i.e., cationic surfactants ) which act to compromise the cell walls and membranes , and examples include BUSAN 77, ONAMERM, MIRAPOLA15, IONENES A, 6 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 POLYQUATERNIUM 11, POLYQUATER NIUM 7, BRADOSOL, AND POLYQUAT D-17- 1742. The term “effective to inhibit”, as used herein means an amount which causes an inhibition in the growth of microorganisms. The term “lidstock”, as used herein means, a flexible film or sheet which is heat sealed to the concave side of the plastic blister packaging to form a sealed cavity. Lidstock is generally multilayered and comprises a support layer and a peelable seal layer. The lidstock may further comprise additional layers including print layers, lamination layers, foil layers and combinations thereof and the like. The term “inhibition of growth of microorganisms” in the composition occurs where, and means that, there is a less than a 0.5 log, less than 0.3 log, less than 0.2 log, increase, or no increase in the count of any microorganism present in the composition after 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 8 days, 10 days, 13 days, 14 days, 15 days, 20 days, 21 days or 22 days from date of preparation of the compositions of the present invention. The term "hydrogels" means polymeric networks that swell in water or aqueous solutions, typically absorbing at least 10 weight percent water. "Silicone hydrogels" are hydrogels that are made from at least one silicone-containing component with at least one hydrophilic component. Hydrophilic components may also include non-reactive polymers. All percentages, parts and ratios are based upon the total weight of the composition of the present invention, unless otherwise specified. All such weights as they pertain to the listed ingredients are based on the active level and, therefore, do not include carriers or by-products that may be included in commercially available materials, unless otherwise specified. The Chlorous Acid Compound The compositions of the present invention, at the time of mixing, comprise one or more chlorous acid compounds or salts thereof. The chlorous acid compounds and salts thereof are ophthalmically compatible with the eyes and surrounding tissue and are compatible with the ingredients in compositions of the present invention. Upon degradation (e.g., sterilization or 7 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 storage conditions), the chlorous acid compounds and salts degrade to ophthalmically compatible degradants. The degradants of chlorous acid compounds and salts thereof do not interact with the contact lens stored or packaged therewith nor the storage/packaging containers (including the lidstock). The chlorous acid compound may be an anhydride or a hydrate. The salts of chlorous acid may be a mono or a double salt. Examples of the chlorous acid compounds suitable for use in the compositions or methods of the present invention include (selected from or selected from the group consisting of), but are not limited to, chlorous acid; an alkali metal salt of chlorous acid including lithium chlorite, sodium chlorite, sodium chlorite trihydrate, or potassium chlorite and the like; an alkali earth metal salt of chlorous acid including magnesium chlorite, magnesium chlorite trihydrate, calcium chlorite, calcium chlorite trihydrate, barium chlorite, or barium chlorite dihydrate and the like; an earth metal salt of chlorous acid such as aluminum chlorite; a zinc-family salt of chlorous acid such as zinc chlorite dihydrate; a transitional metal salt of chlorous acid such as copper chlorite (II), copper chlorite (III), silver chlorite, nickel chlorite dihydrate or manganese chlorite; ammonium chlorite; a quaternary ammonium salt of chlorous acid such as tetramethylammonium chlorite; a quaternary phosphonium salt of chlorous acid such as (2,4- dinitrophenyl) triethylphosphonium chlorite; an amine salt of chlorous acid such as a methyl amine salt of chlorous acid, a tripropyl amine salt of chlorous acid, a hydrazine salt of chlorous acid, a pyridine salt of chlorous acid, a 4-methyl pyridine salt of chlorous acid, a 2,4-dimethyl pyridine salt of chlorous acid or a quinoline salt of chlorous acid; a double salt such as KClO2 ^NaClO2, Cu (ClO2)2 ^2KClO2 ^2H2O, Cu(ClO2)2 ^Mg (ClO2)2 ^8H2O, or Cu(ClO2)2 ^Ba (ClO2) 2 ^4H2O and the like, but are not limited thereto. Also useful in the compositions of the present invention are sources of chlorous acid compounds such as stabilized oxychloro complex, (Purite, Bio-Cide International Inc., Ok, USA) and/or stabilized chlorite peroxide (SOC - Oxyd Tubilux.). Mixtures of any the above-mentioned chlorous acid compounds or sources of chlorous acid compounds may also be used. Salts of chlorous acid compounds which are particularly preferred for use herein are ophthalmically compatible salts including but not limited to, sodium chlorite, sodium chlorite trihydrate, or potassium chlorite and the like; an alkali earth metal salt of chlorous acid including magnesium chlorite, magnesium chlorite trihydrate, calcium chlorite, calcium chlorite trihydrate, 8 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 or aluminum chlorite, ammonium chlorite; a quaternary ammonium salt of chlorous acid such as tetramethylammonium chlorite; a quaternary phosphonium salt of chlorous acid such as (2,4- dinitrophenyl) triethylphosphonium chlorite; an amine salt of chlorous acid such as a methyl amine salt of chlorous acid, a tripropyl amine salt of chlorous acid, a pyridine salt of chlorous acid, a 4-methyl pyridine salt of chlorous acid, a 2,4-dimethyl pyridine salt of chlorous acid or a quinoline salt of chlorous acid and mixtures of any of the above. Chlorite compounds suitable for use in the present invention include chlorite compounds and salts thereof, including (selected from or selected from the group consisting of), but are not limited to, water soluble alkali metal chlorites, water soluble alkaline metal chlorites and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of chlorite compounds include (selected from or selected from the group consisting of) potassium chlorite, sodium chlorite, calcium chlorite, magnesium chlorite and mixtures thereof. The chlorite compound comprises sodium chlorite. The chlorous acid compound is incorporated into the compositions of the present invention to provide bacteriostatic properties for inhibiting microbial growth in the compositions. The bacteriostatic properties for inhibiting microbial growth may occur for and are in effect during a period of time, which may be from the preparation or manufacture of the compositions of the present invention up to the time of performing at least one sterilization method on the composition, which may be sterilization of the composition in a sealed package with at least one contact lens as described below. The period of time period may be up to two weeks, during which the solution is stored in a sealed container at ambient temperature. Upon sterilization, and particularly heat sterilization, such as autoclaving the chlorous acid compound concentration is substantially or entirely neutralized, for example by at least about 50%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90% or 100% neutralized. If the chlorous acid is not completely neutralized upon autoclaving it may be fully neutralized during storage of the lens after autoclaving and before use. Suitable concentrations for the chlorous acid compound include concentrations from 0.0020% (or about 0.0020%) to 0.2000% (or about 0.2000%), or from 0.0020% (or about 0.0020%) to 0.1000% (or about 0.1000%), or from 0.0050% (or about 0.0050%) to 0.1000% (or about 0.1000%), or from 0.0075% (or about 0.0075%) to 0.1000% (or about 0.1000%), or from 9 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 0.0080% (or about 0.0080%) to 0.0500% (or about 0.0500%), or from 0.0090% (or about 0.0090%) to 0.0200% (or about 0.0200%), or from 0.0095% (or about 0.0095%) to 0.0150% (or about 0.0150%), or 0.01% (or about 0.01%), based on the total weight of the composition upon formulation. The chlorous acid compound provides chlorite anion concentrations of from 0.0015% (or about 0.0015%) to 0.1500% (or about 0.1500%), or from 0.0015% (or about 0.0015%) to 0.0750% (or about 0.0750%), or from 0.0037% (or about 0.0037%) to 0.0750% (or about 0.0750%), or from 0.0056% (or about 0.0056%) to 0.0750% (or about 0.0750%), or from 0.0060% (or about 0.0060%) to 0.0370% (or about 0.0370%), or from 0.0067% (or about 0.0067%) to 0.0150% (or about 0.0150%), or from 0.0071% (or about 0.0071%) to 0.0110% (or about 0.0110%), based on the total weight of the composition upon formulation. By the phrase “period of time” as used in association with the bacteriostatic properties of the chlorous acid compound, it is meant up to or at least one day, two days, three days, four days, five days , six days, seven days eight days, ten days, twelve days, fourteen days, fifteen days, 18 days, 20 days, 21 days or 22 days from date of preparation of the compositions of the present invention. The period of time may be up two weeks, during which the solution is stored in a sealed container at ambient temperature. The Phosphate Compound The compositions of the present invention, at the time of mixing, comprise a phosphate compound. As used herein, the term "phosphate" shall refer to phosphoric acid, anions and/or salts of phosphoric acid and other pharmaceutically acceptable phosphates, or combinations thereof. Suitable phosphates may be incorporated as one or more monobasic phosphates, dibasic phosphates and the like. Examples of phosphate compounds useful in the compositions are those selected from pharmaceutically acceptable phosphate salts of alkali and/or alkaline earth metals. The phosphate compound may include one or more of phytic acid (or salts thereof such as their potassium or sodium salts), sodium dibasic phosphate (Na2HPO4), sodium monobasic phosphate (NaH2PO4), and potassium monobasic phosphate (KH2PO4) salts. 10 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The phosphate compound is present in an amount effective to buffer the composition to a pH of from about 6.0 to a pH of about 8.0, or a pH of from about 6.5 to a pH of about 8.0, or a pH of from about 6.5 to a pH of about 7.5, or a pH of about 7.0 to a pH of about 7.5, or a pH of greater than 7.2 (or about 7.2) to a pH of 7.5 (or about 7.5) and can be present in the compositions at concentrations of from 0.3% (or about 0.3%) w/v to 0.9% (or about 0.9%) w/v, or from 0.4% (or about 0.4%) w/v to 0.85% (or about 0.85%) w/v, or from 0.5% (or about 0.5%) w/v to 0.8% (or about 0.8%) w/v or from 0.6% (or about 0.6%) w/v to 0.75% (or about 0.75%) w/v, based on the total composition upon formulation. In certain embodiments, the phosphate compound may be a combination of salts of the dibasic phosphate anion (HPO₄)^2- and salts of the monobasic phosphate anion (H₂PO₄)- where the concentration, prior to sterilization of the composition, of the dibasic phosphate anion (HPO4)^2- is from about 0.700% to about 0.900% and the concentration, prior to sterilization of the composition, the monobasic phosphate anion (H₂PO₄)- is from 0.500% to about 0.710%, by weight of the composition when present as the sodium salt mono- and heptahydrates, respectively. The compositions of the present invention may also contain neutral salts (e.g., sodium chloride) to meet human physiologic osmolality requirements. It is well known that the presence of such neutral salts affects the pH of phosphate buffers. Increasing the concentration of neutral salts results in a negative shift in pH (i.e., resulting in more acidic environment). Without being limited by theory, it is believed that these departures from ideal behavior result from electrostatic interactions of the cations of the neutral and phosphate salts. This is illustrated in Figure 1 (reproduced from Robinson, H., W., The Influence of Neutral Salts on the pH of Phosphate Buffer Mixtures, J. Biol. Chem., LXXXII (3), 775-802, (1929)). The neutral salt (e.g., sodium chloride) is present at a concentration of from 0.62% (or about 0.62%) to 0.66% (or about 0.66%), or from 0.58% (or about 0.58%) to 0.75% (or about 0.75%, or from 0.10% (or about 0.10%) to 0.28% (or about 0.28%), or from 0.00% to 0.35% (or about 0.35%), by weight, of the composition of the present invention. Depending on the concentration of such neutral salt of the composition, the compositions of the present invention 11 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 comprise monobasic phosphate anions (H2PO4)- and dibasic phosphate anions (HPO4)^2- at following ratios: Neutral salt (e.g., sodium Monobasic phosphate anions (H₂PO )-/ Dibasic 2- ₄ chloride) Concentration (%) phosphate anions (HPO₄) Ratio 0.45% to 1.20% 0:1 to 0.45:1 0.50% to 0.90% 0.02:1 to 0.44:1 0.55% to 0.85% 0.10:1 to 0.34:1 0.60% to 0.80% 0.12:1 to 0.30:1 0.65% to 0.75% 0.14:1 to 0.24:1 The Reductant The compositions of the present invention, optionally, comprise a reductant for quenching (or reducing) the chlorous acid compound so as to neutralize it from the composition. Suitable reductants include, but are not limited to, the following salts or (metal ions thereof): iron (II), bisulfite such as sodium metabisulfite, tin metal, formate, phosphite, hypophosphite, sulfur, thiosulfate (such as sodium thiosulfate), zinc metal, dithionite, manganese metal, aluminum metal, magnesium metal, dithiothreitol, NADH2, ascorbate, ferricyanide, hydroquinone, tyrosine, tyrosine copolymers, aldehydes (such as cinnamic aldehyde), N-acetylcysteine, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and ophthalmically compatible salts thereof, Cellobiose (a disaccharide with the formula (C₆H₇(OH)₄O)₂O classified as a reducing sugar) and analogs thereof, glucose (L and D isomers), reducing carbohydrates capable of reacting with oxidants (such as L isomers of glucose, fructose, ribose, xylose, galactose, lactose, maltose and the like and mixtures thereof), vanillin and analogs thereof, phenols (such as butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, tertbutylhydroquinone and propyl gallate), polymeric aldehydes (such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)) and polymeric phenols such as lignans and copolymers of tyrosine acrylamide and N’N-dimethyl acrylamide (such as poly methyl acryloyltyrosinate co N,N-dimethylacrylamide), copolymer of NORBLOC and N’N-dimethyl acrylamide (such as poly Norbloc (2-(2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-4-(2- hydroxyethyl)phenol) co N,N-dimethylacrylamide) and/or mixtures thereof. The reductant may comprise from 15:85 or 10:90 polymethyl acryloyltyrosinate co N,N-dimethylacrylamide, L- 12 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 glucose, 4-nitrophenol, vanillin, hydroquinone, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Cellobiose, PVP and mixtures thereof. The reductant may comprise 15:85 or 10:90 polymethyl acryloyltyrosinate co N,N-dimethylacrylamide, L-glucose, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Cellobiose, PVP and mixtures thereof. The reductant may comprise EDTA. The EDTA may be used in a molar excess compared to the chlorous acid compound. The EDTA may be used in concentrations of about 0.01 to about 0.075 wt% EDTA, or about 0.05 to about 0.075 wt% EDTA. In certain embodiments, the reductant and the chlorous acid compound are present such that the ratio, in molar equivalents, of the chlorous acid compound to the reductant is from 1:1 to 1:20, or 1:1 to 1:15, or 1:1 to 1:10, or 1:1 to 1:5, or greater than 1:1 to 1:1.5. Where the reductant is EDTA the molar equivalents of chlorous acid compound to EDTA may be greater than 1.1 to 1.5, 1:2 to 1:5, or 1:3 to 1:5 or 1:4. Where the reductant is EDTA and the chlorous acid compound is a chlorite the molar equivalents of chlorite to EDTA may be 1:2 to 1:5, or 1:3 to 1:5 or 1:4. In some embodiments the composition comprising the chlorous acid compound and reductant remains colorless or lightly colored, even after autoclaving, which can be determined visually or measured via known methods such as APHA color technique. The solution after autoclaving may have a APHA color value of less than about 180, or less than about 40. An Ophthalmologically Acceptable Carrier The compositions of the present invention comprise an ophthalmologically acceptable carrier. The ophthalmologically acceptable carrier may be water or an aqueous excipient solution. The term “aqueous” typically denotes a formulation wherein the excipient is at least about 50%, or at least about 75% or at least about 90% and up to about 95%, or about 99%, by weight, water. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the present invention are free of oils or oily substances (e.g., medium-chain triglycerides, castor oil, flaxseed oil and the like or mixtures thereof). The term “substantially free”, as used with respect to the oil or lipid compounds, means the present compositions contain less than 0.05%, or less than 0.025%, or less than 0.01%, or 13 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 less than 0.005%, of such oils or oily components, by weight, based on the total composition. Hence, in certain embodiments, the compositions are not multiphasic compositions such as oil in water emulsions. The water is preferably distilled water. in certain embodiments, the carrier is free of C1-4 alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, and the like which can sting, irritate, or otherwise cause discomfort to the eye. The water may be present in the ophthalmologically acceptable carrier at concentrations of from about 96% to about 99.9%, or from about 98% to about 99.5%, or from about 99.0% to about 99.5%, by weight of the total composition. The ophthalmologically acceptable carrier may be present at concentrations of from about 96% to about 99.5%, or from about 98% to about 99.5%, or from about 98.5% to about 99.2%, by weight of the total composition. The compositions may be sterile, namely such that the absence of microbial contaminants in the product prior to release or use are statistically demonstrated to the degree necessary for such products. The compositions may be selected to have no or substantially no detrimental, negative, harmful effect on the contact lens being therein or on the eye (or on the region around the eye). The compositions according to the present invention are physiologically compatible with the eye and ophthalmic devices. Specifically, the composition should be “ophthalmologically safe” for use with an ophthalmic device such as a contact lens, meaning that a contact lens treated with the solution is generally suitable and safe for direct placement on or direct application to the eye without rinsing, that is, the solution is safe and comfortable for ophthalmic devices, of any frequency of application, wetted with the solution, including contact lenses of any wear frequency. An ophthalmologically safe composition has a tonicity and pH that is compatible with the eye and includes materials, and amounts thereof, that are ophthalmologically compatible and non-cytotoxic according to ISO standards and U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. The compositions of the present invention may be adjusted with tonicity agents, to approximate the osmotic pressure of normal lacrimal fluids, which is equivalent to a 0.9 percent 14 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 solution of sodium chloride. The compositions may be made substantially isotonic with physiological saline used alone or in combination with other tonicity agents such as dextrose, otherwise if simply blended with sterile water and made hypotonic or made hypertonic the ophthalmic devices such as contact lenses may lose their desirable optical parameters. Correspondingly, excess saline may result in the formation of a hypertonic composition, which will cause stinging, and eye irritation. The osmolality of the composition may be at least about 200 mOsm/kg to less than 500 mOsm/kg, or from about 200 to about 450 mOsm/kg, or from about 205 to about 380 mOsm/kg, or from about 210 to about 360 milliosmoles per kilogram (mOsm/kg), orfrom about 250 to about 350 mOsm/kg, or from about 270 to about 330 mOsm/kg, as measured using osmolality measurement method USP <785> (current as of November, 2022). The ophthalmic compositions will generally be formulated as sterile aqueous compositions or as non-sterile compositions which are subsequently sterilized. Examples of suitable tonicity adjusting agents include (selected from or selected from the group consisting of), but are not limited to, sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium chloride, alkali metal halides, dextrose, and the like and mixtures thereof. These agents may be used individually in amounts ranging from about 0.01 to about 2.5% w/v or from about 0.2 to about 1.5% w/v, based on the total composition. The tonicity adjusting agent may be sodium chloride which can be incorporated at concentrations of from about 0.4 to about 0.9% w/v, or from about 0.4 to about 0.7% w/v, or from about 0.5% to about 0.6% w/v. The ophthalmologically acceptable carrier can contain one or more of the above- mentioned tonicity agents. The compositions of the present invention may have a pH of from about 6.0 to a pH of about 8.0, or a pH of from about 6.5 to a pH of about 8.0, or a pH of from about 6.5 to a pH of about 7.5, or a pH of about 7.0 to a pH of about 7.5, or a pH of about 7.2 to a pH of about 7.4. Compositions (as noted above) may have a pH matching the physiological pH of the human tissue to which the composition will contact or be directly applied. The pH of the ophthalmic composition may be adjusted using acids and bases, such as mineral acids, such as, but not limited to hydrochloric acid and bases such as sodium hydroxide. 15 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The compositions of the present invention are also useful as packaging solutions for packaging of ophthalmic devices and for storing such ophthalmic devices. The packaging solutions of the present invention may have a viscosity of less than about 5.2 cP at 25ºC. As used herein, "ophthalmic device" refers to an object that resides in or on the eye. These devices can provide optical correction, cosmetic enhancement, light blocking (including UV, HEV, visible light and combinations thereof) glare reduction, therapeutic effect, including preventing the progression of myopia, wound healing, delivery of drugs or neutraceuticals, diagnostic evaluation or monitoring, or any combination thereof. Ophthalmic devices include (selected from or selected from the group consisting of), but are not limited to, soft contact lenses, intraocular lenses, overlay lenses, ocular inserts, punctual plugs, and optical inserts. The ophthalmic device may be a contact lens. Contact lenses (or “contacts”) are placed directly on the surface of the eyes (e.g., placed on the film of tears that covers the surface of the eyes). Contact lenses include soft contact lens (e.g., conventional or silicone hydrogel), rigid contact lenses or hybrid contact lenses (e.g., with soft skirt or shell). Soft contact lenses may be formed from hydrogels. Contact lenses useful with the compositions can be manufactured employing various conventional techniques, to yield a shaped article having the desired posterior and anterior lens surfaces. Spincasting methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,408,429 and 3,660,545; static casting methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,113,224, 4,197,266, and 5,271,875, each of which are herein incorporated by reference. Contact lens polymer materials useful for manufacturing suitable contact lenses include (selected from or selected from the group consisting of), but are not limited to, acofilcon A, alofilcon A, alphafilcon A, amifilcon A, aquafilcon A, astifilcon A, atalafilcon A, balafilcon A, bisfilcon A, bufilcon A, comfilcon, crofilcon A, cyclofilcon A, darfilcon A, deltafilcon A, delefilcon, deltafilcon B, dimefilcon A, drooxifilcon A, epsifilcon A, esterifilcon A, etafilcon A, fanfilcon A, focofilcon A, galyfilcon A, genfilcon A, govafilcon A, hefilcon A, hefilcon B, hefilcon D, hilafilcon A, hilafilcon B, hioxifilcon B, hioxifilcon C, hixoifilcon A, hydrofilcon A, lenefilcon A, licryfilcon A, licryfilcon B, lidofilcon A, lidofilcon B, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, mafilcon A, mesifilcon A, methafilcon B, mipafilcon A, narafilcon A, narafilcon B, nelfilcon A, netrafilcon A, ocufilcon A, ocufilcon B, ocufilcon C, ocufilcon D, ocufilcon E, ofilcon A, omafilcon A, oxyfilcon A, pentafilcon A, perfilcon A, pevafilcon A, phemfilcon A, polymacon, 16 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 riofilcon A, samfilcon A, senofilcon A, senofilcon C, serafilcon, silafilcon A, siloxyfilcon A, somofilcon A, stenfilcon A, tefilcon A, tetrafilcon A, trifilcon A, vasurfilcon, verofilcon, vifilcon, and xylofilcon A. The contact lenses may be manufactured using polymer materials selected from (or selected from the group consisting of) comfilcon, etafilcon A, galyfilcon A, senofilcon A, senofilcon C, nelfilcon A, hilafilcon, samfilcon, serafilcon, tetrafilcon A, vasurfilcon, vifilcon, and polymacon. Conventional hydrogel contact lenses do not contain silicone containing components, and generally have higher water content, lower oxygen permeability and moduli than silicone hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels are prepared from monomeric mixtures predominantly containing hydrophilic monomers, such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”), N-vinyl pyrrolidone (“NVP”) or polyvinyl alcohols. United States Patents Nos.4,436,887, 4,495,313, 4,889,664, 5,006,622, 5,039,459, 5,236,969, 5,270,418, 5,298,533, 5,824,719, 6,420,453, 6,423,761, 6,767,979, 7,934,830, 8,138,290, and 8,389,597 disclose the formation of conventional hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels may be ionic or non-ionic and include (selected from or selected from the group consisting of) polymacon, etafilcon, genfilcon, hilafilcon, nesofilcon, nelfilcon, ocufilcon, omafilcon, lenefilcon and the like. The oxygen permeability of these conventional hydrogel materials is typically below 20-30 barrers. Silicon hydrogel formulations may include aquafilcon, balafilcon, samfilcon, lotrafilcon A and B, delefilcon, galyfilcon, senofilcon A, B and C, narafilcon, comfilcon, formofilcon, riofilcon, fanfilcon, stenfilcon, somofilcon, serafilcon, kalifilcon, verofilcon and the like. "Silicone hydrogels" refer to polymeric networks made from at least one hydrophilic component and at least one silicone-containing component. Examples of suitable families of hydrophilic components that may be present in the reactive mixture include (meth)acrylates, styrenes, vinyl ethers, (meth)acrylamides, N-vinyl lactams, N-vinyl amides, N-vinyl imides, N- vinyl ureas, O-vinyl carbamates, O-vinyl carbonates, other hydrophilic vinyl compounds, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of hydrophilic components include N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), N-vinyl acetamide (NVA), N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide (VMA), and mixtures thereof. Silicone- containing components are well known and have been extensively described in the patent literature. For instance, the silicone-containing component may comprise at least one 17 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 polymerizable group (e.g., a (meth)acrylate, a styryl, a vinyl ether, a (meth)acrylamide, an N- vinyl lactam, an N-vinylamide, an O-vinylcarbamate, an O-vinylcarbonate, a vinyl group, or mixtures of the foregoing), at least one siloxane group, and one or more linking groups (which may be a bond) connecting the polymerizable group(s) to the siloxane group(s). The silicone- containing components may, for instance, contain from 1 to 220 siloxane repeat units, from 3 to 100, from 3 to 40, or from 3 to 20 siloxane repeat units. The silicone-containing component may also contain at least one fluorine atom. The ophthalmic devices may also include a polymeric wetting agent, which may be incorporated into the ophthalmic device in a number of ways including, but not limited to, as a non-reactive polymer and become entrapped in the hydrogel upon polymerization forming a semi-interpenetrating network, may be polymerized (with or without crosslinking) in a preformed contact lens to form a fully or semi-interpenetrating network respectively or may be added to the packaging solution of the present invention and up-taken into the contact lens during sterilization Examples of these are disclosed in US6,367,929, US10,935,695, US8,053,539, US10,371,865, US10,370,476, US6,822,016, US7,431,152, US7,841,716 and US7,262,232. Alternatively, the polymeric wetting agent may be polymerizable, for example as polyamide macromers or prepolymers, and in this case, are covalently incorporated into the silicone hydrogels. Mixtures of polymerizable and non-polymerizable polyamides may also be used. Examples of suitable wetting agents include cyclic and linear polyamides, and specific examples include polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylmethyacetamide (PVMA), polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA), polyvinylacetamide (PNVA), poly(hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylamide), polyacrylamide, and copolymers and mixtures thereof. The polymeric wetting agent may be PVP, a mixture of PVP (e.g., PVP K90) and PVMA (e.g., having a M_w of about 570 KDa). When the polyamides are incorporated into the reactive monomer mixture they may have a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 daltons; greater than about 150,000; between about 150,000 to about 2,000,000 daltons; between about 300,000 to about 1,800,000 18 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 daltons. Higher molecular weight polyamides may be used if they are compatible with the reactive monomer mixture. The hydrogel or silicone hydrogel formulations may also contain additional components such as, but not limited to, diluents, initiators, light absorbing compounds, including UV, HEV or visible light absorbers, photochromic compounds, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, antimicrobial substances, tints, pigments, copolymerizable dyes, nonpolymerizable dyes, release agents, and combinations thereof. When light absorbing compounds, photochromic compounds tints or dyes (polymerizable or non-polymerizable) are used they are preferably stable in the presence of the microbial growth inhibiting compound at the selected microbial growth inhibiting compound concentrations. An example of a UV absorber which is stable in the presence of chlorous acid compound is Norbloc. Silicone hydrogel lenses may contain a coating, and the coating may be the same or different material from the substrate. Silicone hydrogels may have moduli in the range of 60-200, 60-150 or 80 -130 psi, water contents in the range of 20 to 60% and contact angles less than about 100˚, less than about 80˚, and less than about 60˚. Examples of silicone hydrogels include acquafilcon, asmofilcon, balafilcon, comfilcon, delefilcon, enfilcon, fanfilcon, formofilcon, galyfilcon, lotrafilcon, lehfilcon, kalifilcon, narafilcon, riofilcon, samfilcon, senofilcon, serafilcon, somofilcon, stenfilcon, unifilcon, and verofilcon including all of their variants, as well as silicone hydrogels as prepared in US Patent Nos.4,659,782, 4,659,783, 5,244,981, 5,314,960, 5,331,067, 5,371,147, 5,998,498, 6,087,415, 5,760,100, 5,776,999, 5,789,461, 5,849,811, 5,965,631, 6,367,929, 6,822,016, 6,867,245, 6,943,203, 7,247,692, 7,249,848, 7,553,880, 7,666,921, 7,786,185, 7,956,131, 8,022,158, 8,273,802, 8,399,538, 8,470,906, 8,450,387, 8,487,058, 8,507,577, 8,637,621, 8,703,891, 8,937,110, 8,937,111, 8,940,812, 9,056,878, 9,057,821, 9,125,808, 9,140,825, 9156,934, 9,170,349, 9,244,196, 9,244,197, 9,260,544, 9,297,928, 9,297,929 as well as WO03/22321, WO2008/061992, US2010/0048847, US2023/0037781, US2021/0109255, US10,935,695, US8,053,539, US10,371,865, and US10,370,476. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. The contact lens polymer material may be a silicone hydrogel polymer. The silicone hydrogel may be selected from (or selected from the group consisting of) acquafilcon, 19 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 asmofilcon, balafilcon A, comfilcon, delefilcon, enfilcon, fanfilcon, galyfilcon, lotrafilcon, senofilcon, samfilcon, somofilcon, stenfilcon, riofilcon, lehfilcon, kalifilcon, serafilcon, unifilcon, verofilcon. The compositions may also be useful for direct application to eye as a wetting or rewetting eye drop for providing relief to eye discomfort (e.g., burning sensations relating to the eye or general eye irritation). Once manufactured, the compositions of the present invention are not further mixed with another or separate composition(s) prior to direct application to the eye or for storing of (or as packaging solution for) ophthalmic devices (e.g., contacts) – namely the compositions of the present invention (or products thereof) are not in the form of 2- or multi- compositions or products. The compositions described herein may, at the time of mixing, be free of or substantially free of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives (especially cationic preservatives), peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and/or derivatives thereof. As used herein, the term "borate" refers to salts of boric acid and other pharmaceutically acceptable borates, or combinations thereof. Suitable borates include, but are not limited to, boric acid; pharmaceutically acceptable salts, such as alkaline metal salts such as sodium borate, potassium borate; alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium borate, magnesium borate; transition metal salts such as manganese borate; and mixtures thereof. However, recent EU member state proposals for limiting the concentration boric acid and/or borates in eye care formulations reduces the desirability of incorporating such compounds in the compositions of the present invention. (See CLH REPORT FOR BORIC ACID AND BORATES, Proposal for Harmonised Classification and Labelling Based on Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation), Annex VI, Part 2, Swedish Chemicals Agency Nov.2, 2018.) The term “non-chlorous acid preservative” means compounds, which are not chlorous acid compounds, but have antimicrobial properties. Examples of specific preservatives include, but are not limited to, 4-chlorocresol, 4-chloroxylenol, benzalkonium, benzalkonium chloride (BAK), benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, chlorhexidine, chlorobutanol, imidurea, m-cresol, 20 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 methylparaben, phenols 0.5%, phenoxyethanol, sorbate, propionic acid, propylparaben, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, thimerosol, polyquaternium compounds (such as polyquarternium-42 and polyquarternium-1), biguanide compounds ( e.g., polyhexamethylene biguanide or polyaminopropyl biguanide). Non-chlorous acid preservatives, especially cationic preservatives, can be irritating to eye and/or cause allergic reactions, undesirably affecting consumers’ use of the eye care compositions or contact lens which contain (on its surface) such non-chlorous acid preservative due to the storage of the contact lens with such compounds. For example, see: ^ ^ Baudouin See C, Labbé A, Liang H, Pauly A, Brignole-Baudouin F. Preservatives in eyedrops: the good, the bad and the ugly. Prog Retin Eye Res.2010 Jul;29(4):312-34 (concluding that cationic preservative “BAK may cause or enhance harmful consequences on the eye structures of the anterior segment, the tear film, cornea, conjunctiva, and even trabecular meshwork.”) ^ ^ Lakshman Subbaraman, Contact lens material properties that influence preservative uptake, Contact Lens Update, October 1, 2013 (https://contactlensupdate.com/2013/10/01/contact-lens-material-properties-that- influence-preservative-uptake/) (Noting particular concern when contact lens are involved - “when a lens care product interacts with a contact lens, components such as preservatives present in the solution will be taken up by the lens material. When these preservatives are released from contact lenses into the eye during lens wear, it can have a significant impact on comfort during lens wear.”) As used herein, the term “sources of peroxides”, as used herein, means a compound or material that releases (or can release peroxide or hydrogen peroxide) in aqueous solution and includes, but are not limited to, barium peroxide, sodium peroxide, zinc peroxide, magnesium peroxide, calcium peroxide, strontium peroxide, lithium peroxide, butanone peroxide, cyclohexanone peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, urea hydrogen peroxide (carbamide peroxide, carbamide perhydrate, or percarbamide), percarbonates such as calcium percarbonate or magnesium percarbonate, tert-butylhydroperoxide, perborate salts such as sodium perborate, peroxy acids such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, mixtures thereof and derivatives. Peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) and/or sources of peroxides can be harsh and irritating to eye and can 21 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 undesirably affect consumers’ use of contact lens which contain (on its surface) the peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) and/or sources of peroxides due to the storage of the contact lens with such compounds. As used herein, the term "persulfates", as used herein, means persulfate anions or salts of such persulfates and other pharmaceutically acceptable persulfates, or combinations thereof. Suitable persulfates include, but are not limited to, sodium peroxymonosulfate, potassium peroxymonosulfate, sodium persulfate , ammonium persulfate potassium persulfate and mixtures thereof. Persulfates can be harsh and irritating to eye and can undesirably affect consumers’ use of contact lens which contain (on its surface) the persulfates due to the storage of the contact lens with such compounds. Humectants and/or demulcents such as carboxy vinyl polymers (e.g., carbomers), natural gums (e.g., guar gum, gum tragacanth), glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and/or derivatives thereof are well known thickening agents which, when present on surface of contact lenses, can undesirably affect consumers’ vision through contact lens, causing blurring or otherwise reducing vision clarity by either interacting with the surface of the contact lens or slowly diffusing from the tear fluid trapped between the eye-facing side of the contact lens and the corneal surface. Though the latter effect is generally temporary, dissipating within several minutes post insertion with trapped fluid being cleared by repetitive blinking, such visual impairing effects may be undesirable. The term “substantially free” as related to compounds selected from boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers (e.g., carbomers), natural gums (e.g., guar gum, gum tragacanth)glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and/or derivatives means that such compounds are present in the compositions of the present invention as impurities which are not intentionally added or are at a concentration of less than 2% (or about 2%), or less than 1.5% (or about 1.5%), or less than 1% (or about 1%), or less than 0.5% (or about 0.5%), or less than 0.1% (or about 0.1%), or less than 0.05% (or about 0.05%), or less than 0.01% (or about 0.01%), or less than 0.005% (or about 0.005%) by weight of the total composition. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the present invention may be free of such compounds. 22 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 As mentioned above, contact lenses can be immersed in a composition of the present invention and stored in a suitable packaging container, in certain embodiments, a packaging container for single contact lens unit. Generally, a packaging container for the storage of a contact lens includes at least a sealing layer sealing the container containing an unused contact lens immersed in the composition of the present invention. The sealed container may be hermetically sealed packaging container and may have any form that creates a sealed space to contain the composition and contact lens. The hermetically sealed packaging container may have any suitable form include sealed packets formed from two sheets of plastic, metal or multilayer structures or a blister pack in which a base with a concave well containing a contact lens is covered by a metal, plastic or laminate sheet adapted for peeling in order to open the blister-pack. The sealed container may be formed from any suitable, generally inert packaging material providing a reasonable degree of protection to the lens. The packaging material may be formed of plastic material such as polypropylene, polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PESU), polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), polyamides, including nylons, polyolefins including polypropylene, polymethylpentene, (PMP), and olefin co-polymers, including COPs (Cyclic Olefin Polymer) and COCs,(Cyclic Olefin Co-polymers), acrylics, rubbers, urethanes, fluorocarbons, polyoxymethylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyphenylsulfide (PPS), polycarbonate copolymers, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and the like and copolymers and blends of the foregoing. Blends include polybutylene terephthalate polyester blends, including PBT and PC blends, PC/polyester blends, and polypropylene blended with COPs or COCs. In one embodiment the plastic material may be selected from polypropylene, COPs (Cyclic Olefin Polymer) and COCs, (Cyclic Olefin Co-polymers) and blends thereof. Except for the specific demulcents mentioned above, any water soluble, demulcent (or demulcent like – e.g., having demulcent properties such as viscosity increasing capabilities) polymer may also be employed in the composition of this invention provided that it has no (or no substantial) detrimental effect on the contact lens being stored or on the wearer of the contact lens (e.g., blurring or otherwise reducing vision clarity) at the concentrations used in the composition of the present invention or on the eye (or on the region around the eye). Particularly useful components are those, which are water soluble, for example, soluble at the concentrations used in the presently useful liquid aqueous media. Suitable water soluble demulcent polymers include, but are not limited to, demulcent polymers, such as block copolymer surfactants (e.g., 23 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 block copolymers of polyethyleneoxide (PEO) and polypropyleneoxide (PPO)); polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone; polyacrylic acid; polyethers such as polyethylene glycols (e.g., polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400) and polyethylene oxides; hyaluronic acid, and hyaluronic acid derivatives such as sodium hyaluronate) ; chitosan; polysorbates such as polysorbate 80, polysorbate 60 and polysorbate 40); dextrans such as dextran 70; cellulosic derivatives such as carboxy methyl cellulose methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and methyl ethyl cellulose; acyclic polyamides such as those having a weight average molecular weight of 2,500 to 1,800,000 Daltons as disclosed in US7,786,185, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety; salts of any of the above and mixtures of any of the above. The block copolymers of PEO and PPO include poloxamers and poloxamines, including those disclosed in US6,440,366, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In certain embodiments, the water-soluble demulcent polymer is selected from polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. Water-soluble demulcent polymers may have molecular weights in excess of 100,000. When propylene glycol and/or 1,3-propanediol are used as water-soluble demulcent polymers, they may have molecular weights lower than 100,000. When any water-soluble polymer is used in the packaging solutions of the present invention, it may be included and present in amounts up to about 0.5, 1 or 2 weight %, or between about 0.001 and about 2%, or between about 0.005 and about 1 weight %, or between about 0.01 and about 0.5 weight %, or between about 100 ppm by weight and about 0.5 weight %, all based upon the weight of total composition. When any water soluble polymer is used in the direct application eye care formulation, such as an eye drop of the present invention, it may be included and present in amounts up to about 2, 5 or 10 weight %, or between about 0.001 and about 10 weight %, or between about 0.005 and about 2 weight % , or between about 0.01 and about 0.5 weight %, or between about 100 ppm by weight and about 2 weight%, all based upon the weight of total composition. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the water-soluble demulcent polymer aids in preventing the ophthalmic device from sticking to the packaging container and may 24 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 enhance the initial (and/or extended) comfort of the contact lens, packaged in the composition, when placed on the eye after removal from the packaging container. The demulcent polymer may be a cellulosic derivative. The cellulosic derivative may be present at concentrations of from about 0.002% to about 0.01%, or from about 0.004% to about 0.006%, by weight of the total composition of the present invention. Various other materials may be included with the compositions described herein. In the case of compositions of the present invention for direct application to the eye, surfactants may be included. Surfactants suitable for such use include, but are not limited to, ionic and nonionic surfactants (though nonionic surfactants are preferred), RLM 100, POE 20 cetylstearyl ethers such as Procol® CS20, poloxamer block copolymers (such as Pluronic® F68, and block copolymers such as poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) compounds set forth in US2008/0138310 (which publication is herein incorporated by reference). The poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer may have the formula (EO)_m(BO)_n, wherein EO is oxyethylene and BO is oxybutylene, and wherein m is an integer having an average value of 10 to 1000 and n is an integer having an average value of 5 to 1000, as disclosed in US8,318,144; m may also be 10 and n may be 5. Surfactants may be present at concentrations of from about 0.01 to about 3%, or from about 0.01 to about 1%, or from about 0.02 to about 0.5%, or from about 0.02 to about 0.1%, by weight of the total composition of the present invention. It should be appreciated that some of the components may perform more than one function, for example, some demulcents may also function as surfactants (e.g., PEO-PPO and PEO-PBO block copolymers). If desired, one or more additional components may be, optionally, included in the composition. Such optional component(s) are chosen to impart or provide at least one beneficial or desired property to the composition. Such additional, but optional, components may be selected from components that are conventionally used in ophthalmic device care compositions. Examples of such optional components include (or, are selected from or selected from the group consisting of) cleaning agents (for example in direct application eye drops or cleaning [or eye care solution]), wetting agents, nutrient agents, therapeutic agent, sequestering agents, viscosity builders, contact lens conditioning agents, antioxidants, and the like and mixtures thereof. These 25 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 optional components may each be included in the compositions in an amount effective to impart or provide the beneficial or desired property to the compositions such the beneficial or desired property is noticeable to the user. For example, such optional components may be included in the compositions in amounts similar to the amounts of such components used in other eye or ophthalmic device care compositions products. In one embodiment the ophthalmic solution comprises about 0.01 to about 0.02 wt% sodium chlorite, a phosphate buffer, about 0.01 to about 0.075 wt% EDTA, or about 0.05 to about 0.075 wt% EDTA, about 0.005 to about 0.01 wt% methyl ethyl cellulose and optionally up to about 1, about 1.5 or about 2 wt% PVP K30, K60 or K90, K60 preferred), all based on the ophthalmic solution as formulated, prior to autoclaving. The ranges may be combined in any permutation. The ophthalmic solution may be used as a packaging solution with contact lenses, including silicone hydrogel contact lenses, comprising PVP. All components in the ophthalmic solution of the present invention should be water- soluble. One or more therapeutic agent may also be incorporated into the ophthalmic solution. A wide variety of therapeutic agents may be used, so long as the selected active agent is inert in the presence of chlorous acid compounds (e.g., chlorites) or oxidating agents generally. Suitable therapeutic agents include those that treat or target any part of the ocular environment, including the anterior and posterior sections of the eye and include pharmaceutical agents, vitamins, nutraceuticals combinations thereof and the like. Suitable classes of active agents include antihistamines, antibiotics, glaucoma medication, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, anti-viral agents, anti-inflammatory agents, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, antifungal drugs, anesthetic agents, miotics, mydriatics, immunosuppressive agents, antiparasitic drugs, anti- protozoal drugs, combinations thereof and the like. When active agents are included, they are included in an amount sufficient to produce the desired therapeutic result (a “therapeutically effective amount”). Useful optional sequestering agents include, but are not limited to, citric acid, sodium citrate and the like and mixtures thereof. 26 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The method of packaging and storing a contact lens (or other ophthalmic device) comprises immersing the device in the compositions described above in a suitable container. The method may include immersing the device in the composition prior to delivery to the customer/wearer, directly following manufacture of the contact lens. Alternately, the incorporation and storing of the device in the compositions (all in the packaging) may occur at an intermediate point before delivery to the ultimate customer (wearer) but following manufacture and transportation of the device in a dry state, wherein the dry device is hydrated by immersing the device in the compositions. Consequently, a package for delivery to a customer may comprise a hermetically sealed container containing one or more unused devices (e.g., contact lenses) immersed in the compositions. The steps for packaging the ophthalmic device in the composition of the present invention may include: (1) molding an ophthalmic device (e.g., contact lens) in a mold comprising at least a first and second mold portion, (2) removing the device from the mold portions and removal of unreacted monomer and processing agents, (3) introducing the composition and the device into the packaging (or container), and (4) sealing the packaging. The method may also include the step of sterilizing the contents of the packaging. Sterilization may take place prior to, or most conveniently after, sealing of the container and may be performed by any suitable method known in the art, e.g., by autoclaving of the sealed container at temperatures of about 120° C. or higher (autoclave or steam sterilization method), or by using ultraviolet (UV) sterilization or gamma electron beam sterilization methods. Preferably, the compositions of the present invention are sterilized by autoclave sterilization. The packaging may be a plastic blister packaging (or package), including a recess for receiving an ophthalmic device and the composition, where the recess is hermetically sealed with lidstock prior to sterilization. 27 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The following examples are provided to enable one skilled in the art to practice the compositions and are merely illustrative of the invention. The examples should not be read as limiting the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 28 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 EXAMPLES The compositions of the present invention as described in following examples illustrate specific embodiments of compositions of the present invention but are not intended to be limiting thereof. Other modifications can be undertaken by the skilled artisan without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Materials used in the following Examples are provided as listed below: Material Supplier Sodium chloride J. T. Baker Sodium chlorite, anhydrous (80% sodium chlorite /20% sodium Spectrum chloride) Disodium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) Sigma-Aldrich Methyl ether cellulose Fisher Water JJVC House DI Hydrogen peroxide, 3% solution EMD Sodium malate, monobasic Sigma-Aldrich Sodium maleate, dibasic Sigma-Aldrich Sodium phytate Sigma-Aldrich Citric acid Sigma-Aldrich PVP K-60 Chempilots Sodium hydroxide Fluka Tyrosine Sigma-Aldrich L-glucose Sigma-Aldrich Vanillin Sigma-Aldrich Glutathione Sigma-Aldrich Cellobiose Sigma-Aldrich Example 1 Table 1 shows the formulation for a composition useful as a solution for storing (or as packaging) solution for ophthalmic devices (e.g., contact lenses) or direct application eye drop solution, which composition can be prepared using conventional mixing technology. Table 1 Component Weight % (the balance is water) Sodium Chloride 0.85% Monobasic sodium p_hosphate*H2O ^0.10% 29 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Dibasic sodium phosphate*7H₂O 0.63% Sodium Chlorite (anhydrous)* 0.013% EDTA 0.01% Methyl ethyl cellulose (MEC) 0.005% Composition Properties pH range 7.1 - 7.3 Osmolality range (mOsm/kg) 300 – 330 * Provided as stabilized sodium chlorite 80% with 20% sodium chloride. Nominal chlorite content in the composition of Table 1 was about 78 µg/mL The composition of Table 1 was prepared and filter sterilized through a 0.22 μm membrane using a 150-mL Analytical Filter Unit. The filtered composition was then aseptically transferred into new individual sterile specimen cups for storage and testing. The following microorganisms were used to assess microbial activity: ^ ^ (SA) Staphylococcus aureus (Quanti-Cult™) - ATCC 6538 (Remel Inc.) ^ ^ (EC) Escherichia coli (BioBall® Multishot 550) - NCTC 12923 (ATCC 8739) (bioMérieux) ^ ^ (BS) Bacillus subtilis (Quanti-Cult™) - ATCC 6633 (Remel Inc.) ^ ^ (PA) Pseudomonas aeuroginosa ((Quanti-Cult™)) - ATCC 9027 (Remel Inc.) ^ ^ (CA) Candida albicans ((Quanti-Cult™)) - ATCC 10231 (Remel Inc.) ^ ^ (ST) Salmonella typhimurium (KWIK-STIK™) - ATCC 14028 (Microbiologics, Inc.) ^ ^ (AB) Aspergillus brasiliensis ((Quanti-Cult™)) - ATCC 16404 (Remel Inc.) ^ ^ (FK) Fusarium keratoplasticum (KWIK-STIK™) - ATCC 36031 (Microbiologics, Inc.) The test microorganisms were resuspended following manufacturers’ instructions and approximately 0.5mL aliquots were spread plated onto two separate tryptic soy agar (TSA) media and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plates. The TSA and SDA plates were incubated at 30-35ºC and 20-25ºC respectively, for 2-7 days. Sterile filtered deionized (DI) water and inoculating loops were used to resuspend the designated test microorganisms from the plate surfaces and the suspensions were aseptically transferred with a sterile pipette into individual 50mL centrifuge tubes. 30 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The Aspergillus brasiliensis (AB) and Fusarium keratoplasticum (FK) spore suspensions were prepared in the same manner. The FK spore suspension was harvested from the plates following the full 7 days of plate incubation at 20-25ºC. The test microorganism suspensions were diluted until their population counts could be estimated using a hemocytometer. A population count of approximately 1.0 x 107 cells/mL was targeted for each final test microorganism suspension. Depending on the test microorganism targeted suspension count, an aliquot ranging from 2.5 μL to 100 μL) was inoculated into 20mL of the composition of Table 1 to obtain an average starting microorganism population count of approximately 7000 CFU/mL. Each inoculated sample of the composition of Table 1 containing the designated test microorganism was stored at room temperature and at Day 0, Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 samples were pour-plated in duplicate (Day 0 only) or triplicate with either molten TSA or SDA containing chloramphenicol as required. The aliquot volumes were bracketed to increase the chances of the pour plate count results to be within the 25 CFU – 300 CFU countable range. All pour plate sample volumes were adjusted to 1mL using sterile water for injection (WFI) (i.e.50μL + 950μL WFI) to allow for sufficient sample dispersion. The initial results for PA showed a low recovery count at Day 0, so the experiment was repeated and a separate PA delivery count was determined using the starting test suspension before addition to the experimental packaging solution for the Day 0 time-point. This result is captured in Figure 2 showing a log reduction for PA at Day 0. AB was pour-plated with both TSA and SDA + chloramphenicol. When pour plated in parallel, the counts of A. brasiliensis were similar for the TSA and SDA+chloramphenicol. 31 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Consequently, TSA enabled the enumeration of A. brasiliensis on plates without interference due to sporulation. In the case of FK, SDA + chloramphenicol was found to inhibit growth so spread plating onto prepared SDA plates without chloramphenicol was performed. The TSA plates and SDA were incubated at 30-35ºC and 20-25ºC respectively, for 2-7 days to quantitate the designated test microorganism population counts following room temperature (i.e., 25ºC) incubation in the composition of Table 1. The study results in Figure 2 showed a significant population count reduction for the yeast (CA), all gram-negative bacteria (EC, PA, and ST) and for one of the gram-positive bacteria (SA) challenge microorganisms when spiked into the composition of Table 1. In the case of PA, an immediate reduction of an about 1.3 log reduction was found at Day 0 (see Figure 2). To determine the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of an antimicrobial agent a starting inoculum of ≥ 5x10⁵ CFU/mL and a subculture volume of 0.1 mL is required to accurately predict a ≥ 99.9% bacterial kill (≥ 3-log reduction) after 18-24 hours of incubation (Pankey, G.A. and Sabath, L.D. (2004). Clinical relevance of bacteriostatic versus bactericidal mechanisms of action in the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 38, 864-870). The test microorganism inoculum population counts used in this study weren’t targeted to meet this MBC methodology criteria, but Figure 2 shows that the composition of Table 1 exhibited a bactericidal effect towards EC, PA, ST and SA, ≥ 99.9% bacterial kill (≥ 3-log reduction) after 1 day of incubation. In addition, Figure 2 also shows that the composition of Table 1 has a fungicidal effect (99.9% bacterial kill [≥ 3-log reduction]) towards CA following 3 days of incubation. Figure 1 also shows bacteriostatic/fungistatic response for mold spores (AB and FK) and the gram-positive BS vegetative cells due to incubation in composition of Table 1. Example 2 The composition of Table 2 shows the formulation for a composition useful as a solution for storing (or as packaging) solution for ophthalmic devices (e.g., contact lenses) or direct application eye drop solution, which composition can be prepared using conventional mixing technology. 32 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Table 2 Component Weight % (the balance is water) Sodium Chloride 0.830% Monobasic sodium 0.100% phosphate*H₂O Dibasic sodium phosphate*7H₂O 0.630% Disodium EDTA 0.010% Sodium chlorite (anhydrous)*** 0.0125% Methyl ethyl cellulose (MEC) 0.005% *** Provided as stabilized sodium chlorite 80% with 20% sodium chloride. Nominal chlorite content in the composition of Table 2 was about 75 µg/mL One liter of the composition of Table 2 was prepared. The one-liter sample was, then, divided into two equal portions - the first portion was sterile filtered through a 0.22 μm membrane using a 150-mL Analytical Filter Unit and the other (second) portion was utilized as the base control sample. These portions were held at room temperature (i.e., about 25ºC) for the duration of the testing described below. Aliquots of the two filtered portion of the composition of Table 2 were evaluated for microbial enumeration of the following microorganisms per USP <61> Examination of non- sterile Products: Microbial Enumeration Tests: ^ ^ (SA) Staphylococcus aureus (Epower™) - ATCC 6538 (Microbiologics^®) ^ ^ (BS) Bacillus subtilis – subspecies spizizenil (Epower ™) - ATCC 6633 (Microbiologics^® ^ ^ (PA) Pseudomonas aeuroginosa (Epower ™) - ATCC 9027 (Microbiologics^®) ^ ^ (CA) Candida albicans (Epower ™) - ATCC 10231 (Microbiologics^®) ^ ^ (AB) Aspergillus brasiliensis (Epower ™) - ATCC 16404 (Microbiologics^®) During the USP <61> test, the above-listed microorganisms were resuspended in samples of the respective sterile filtered and non-filtered portions of the composition of Table 2 - in accordance with the following manufacturer’s instructions for each microorganism: 1. Each vial of microorganism pellets were removed from refrigerated storage and allowed to equilibrate to room temperature (about 30 minutes). 33 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 2. Prior to use, hydration and dilution fluids provided by manufacturer were warmed to 34°C–38°C. Sterile pH 7.2 phosphate buffer is recommended for hydration of the lyophilized preparation. 3. Microorganism pellet(s) were transferred, using sterile forceps, to the hydration fluid and serially diluted to a target of target 100 CFU/mL. 4. The prepared microorganism suspension was placed into a 34°C–38°C incubator for 30 minutes to assure complete hydration. 5. Promptly after incubation, the hydrated material is vortexed until a homogeneous suspension is achieved. 6. The microorganism suspensions were then resuspended in filtered and unfiltered solutions of the compositions of Table 2. 7. A sample of each of microorganism “sterile filtered” resuspension and “non-filtered” resuspension was next plated, respectively, onto two types of growth media - tryptic soy agar (TSA) and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). 8. Steps 1-7 were repeated for each microorganism. The TSA and SDA plates were incubated, each, at 25ºC for duration of testing. The number of microbial colonies present on the respective plates of sterile filtered and non-filtered samples were then manually counted (using backlighting) at 0 hours, 24 hours, 120 hours, 168 hours and 456 hrs and the results are calculated. The results of the study for the composition of Table 2 are summarized as trending analysis in Figures 4A-E. Except for the fungi Aspergillus brasiliensis, Figures 4A-E shows that there was no significant microbial growth seen over the testing period. While a 0.26 log (16%) increase in Aspergillus brasiliensis was observed during the testing period, such 0.3 log increase is not considered significant (as anything less than 0.5 log is within experimental variability). Moreover, there are life cycle phases that fungi go through: lag phase, exponential phase, stationary phase, and death phase. As can be seen with Aspergillus brasiliensis, the growth is in the exponential phase, indicating that Aspergillus brasiliensis will consume available nutrients 34 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 and continue to grow in number, but once such nutrients are depleted, the fungus will eventually starve and will die off. Examples 3-7: Quenching of Chlorite with L-Glucose Solutions of 0.01% sodium chlorite in phosphate buffer were spiked with varying concentrations of L-glucose as shown in Table and subjected to autoclave conditions. Following autoclave, the samples were allowed to remain at room temperature for 7 days prior to analysis. The concentrations of glucose ranged from 0 to approximately 4 equivalents. The solutions remained clear following autoclave, indicating that any oxidation products formed, presumably the corresponding carboxylic acid, lacked a visible wavelength chromophore. The solutions were analyzed for chlorite anion concentration by ion chromatography and the results are summarized in Table 3. The reduction of chlorite varied inversely with L-glucose concentration in a non-linear manner, thereby demonstrating the reactivity of chlorite with L-glucose. Table 3. Summary of Solution Analysis with L-Glucose Reductant. Ex # L-glucose Post-Autoclave^b Equivalents^a Color [ClO2]-, % % of initial [ClO₂]- 3 0 (control) Clear 0.00501 100.0% 4 0.47 Clear 0.00295 58.9% 5 0.93 Clear 0.00193 38.5% 6 1.86 Clear 0.00034 6.8% 7 3.73 Clear None detected N/A ^a Molar equivalents of L-glucose relative to chlorite anion. ^b Vials were autoclaved and held at room temperature 7 days prior to analysis. Example 8 Pot Life Experiments (L-glucose) The pot life of the experimental packaging solution with 0.01% chlorite was evaluated by adding 5 equivalents of L-glucose and analyzing the resultant solutions for chlorite content as a function of time for approximately 24 hours at room temperature. Controls with no reductant and blank solutions were included in the sample queue to facilitate spacing of the injections over time. The pot life samples were prepared as follows. About 10 mL of the composition of experimental packaging solution was placed into several 20 mL glass screw cap scintillations vials. The vials of step 1 were sealed with gray butylene caps and stored at room temperature in 35 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 a light blocking container and placed in refrigerator at as function of time (typically 1 vial every day for 5 days). Samples were analyzed for chlorite concentration at each day for 5 days via ion chromatography with conductivity detection. The separation was performed using a Dionex AS9-HC column, 4 mm diameter X 250 mm length with a matching guard column. The mobile phase was 9 mmol.L sodium bicarbonate and the suppressor eluent was 500 mL sulfuric acid. The injection volume and flow rate parameters were generally set at 20 μL and 1 mL/min, respectively. Standardization was performed using certified chlorite reference standards diluted to the applicable concentration regime, typically 0.1 – 20 μg/mL. The chlorite peak area of standard solutions was fitted to a least-squares fit with the corresponding chlorite concentrations. The equation of the least-squares regression was used to calculate the chlorite concentration of test solutions. No meaningful decrease in chlorite content was observed for the control and L-glucose solutions, indicating sufficient chlorite concentration remains through the packaging process to sterilization. Examples 9-13 Examples 3-7 were repeated using tyrosine as the reductant. Substantial discoloration (yellow to amber) of the packaging solution was observed even when tyrosine was present in a sub-stoichiometric amount. The vials were autoclaved and they held at room temperature for 7 days prior to chlorite anion concentration analysis, measured by ion chromatography as described in Examples 3-8. The results are summarized in Table 4. As with L-glucose, tyrosine was an effective reductant, however the extent of discoloration observed may be difficult to mask in some packaging solutions. Table 4. Summary of Solution Analysis with Tyrosine Reductant. Ex # Equivalents^a Post-Autoclave Color [ClO2]-, % 9 0 (control) Clear 0.00469 % of initial [ClO2]- 10 0.48 Amber 0.00165 35.2 11 0.96 Amber 0.00103 22.0 12 1.93 Amber 0.00057 12.2 36 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 13 3.85 Amber 0.00051 10.9 ^a Molar equivalents of tyrosine relative to chlorite anion. Examples 14-18 of para-substituted benzaldehydes and vanillin were evaluated as potential

reductants. The para-substituents were selected to maximize the range of inductive effect from the highly electron-withdrawing chloro substituent to the highly electron-donating methoxy substituent. Vanillin was also selected as it is a naturally occurring aldehyde. Additionally, vanillin contains a phenol moiety para to the aldehyde functional group, as shown below:

A phosphate-buffered saline solution containing 0.01% sodium chlorite was spiked with approximately 8 equivalents of each of the benzaldehydes. Half of the samples were immediately autoclaved and then all solutions were incubated at room temperature for two weeks. At the two-week mark, the samples were frozen to stop further reaction and submitted for chlorite analysis. The samples were thawed and mixed thoroughly prior to analysis by ion chromatography using the method described above. Table 5 provides a summary of the results. With the exception of vanillin, which exhibited a mild vanilla scent in dilute solution, the model benzaldehydes displayed an intense odor unacceptable for packaged contact lenses. Upon autoclave and two weeks of incubation at room temperature, the solutions of the para-substituted benzaldehydes remained clear and colorless. In contrast, the vanillin solution assumed a faint rose color immediately upon autoclave, consistent with oxidation to produce a more highly conjugated π system. Incubation at room temperature alone produced no color. Greater than 90% reduction of the initial chlorite concentration was observed for 4-fluoro-, 4-methyl-, and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, but the rate of reduction at room temperature may be too fast to provide the desired pot life and maintain a solution hostile to bacteria during lens packaging. In contrast, the amount of chlorite remaining 37 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 in the vanillin solution after two weeks at room temperature may be sufficient to provide a desirable pot life and maintain a solution hostile to bacteria during lens packaging. Table 5. Summary of Model Benzaldehydes Evaluated Ex Benzaldehyde Substituent Odor Color [chlorite], %^a # Constant 2 Autoclave + 2 weeks Autoclave + weeks 2 weeks R.T.^d 2 weeks R.T.^d R.T.^c R.T.^c 14 4-chloro 0.227 intense Clear clear 45 48 benzaldehyde^b 15 4-fluoro 0.062 intense Clear clear none 2.0 benzaldehyde detected 16 4-methyl -0.17 intense Clear clear none 6.0 benzaldehyde detected 17 4-methoxy -0.268 strong Clear clear 1.0 none benzaldehyde detected 18 Vanillin N/A mild Clear faint rose 42 26 ^a Percent of initial nominal concentration 60.0 µg/mL ^b 4-chlorobenzaldehyde exhibited poor solubility. ^c Autoclave and two weeks of aging at room temperature. ^d 2 weeks of aging at room temperature. Examples 19- 22 Additional reductants evaluated included sodium iodide, glutathione, methionine, and cellobiose at a concentration of 5-8 equivalents were made as follows. A buffer solution containing approximately 0.01% sodium chlorite was prepared using the buffer solution in Table 6 and the weights of cellobiose, glutathione, and methionine listed in Table 7 were added to 100 mL of the buffer to prepare the test solutions. These yielded solution concentrations of 0.16%, 0.18%, 0.079%, and 0.094%, respectively. 38 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Table 6 Component Weight, g Weight % NaCl 8.32 0.84 Monobasic sodium phosphate, monohydrate 1.03 0.64 Dibasic sodium phosphate, heptahydrate 6.31 0.10 Disodium EDTA 0.0968 0.0098 Methyl ether cellulose 0.0498 0.0050 Sodium chlorite 0.1058 0.107 Water 976.22 N/A Glutathione and methionine represent the thiol functionality and exhibited an objectionable odor even in dilute solution. All four of these reductants were soluble in the packaging solution and produced a solution that was clear with no hint of color. Upon autoclave, the cellobiose reacted with chlorite to produce a faint rose color. The color was sufficiently faint that it likely would not be observed in a blister package, but it was noticeable when placed against a white background. The iodide, glutathione, and methionine were essentially consumed within two weeks of sitting at room temperature too fast to provide the desired pot life and maintain a solution hostile to bacteria during lens packaging. The amount of chlorite remaining in the Cellbiose solution after two weeks at room temperature may be sufficient to provide a desirable pot life and maintain a solution hostile to bacteria during lens packaging. Table 7. Summary of Additional Reductants Evaluated. Ex# Compound Gm Odor Color [chlorite], %^a 2 Autoclave 2 weeks Autoclave + weeks + 2 weeks R.T.^d 2 weeks R.T.^c R.T.^d R.T.^c 19 sodium iodide 0.0945 none Clear Clear none none detected detected 20 glutathione 0.180 slight Clear Clear none none detected detected 21 methionine 0.0788 faint Clear Clear 1.8 1.4 musty 22 cellobiose 0.160 none Clear faint rose 12.5 none detected ^a % of nominal initial concentration of 63.6 µg/mL. ^b Glutathione in reduced form. ^c Autoclave and two weeks of aging at room temperature. ^d 2 weeks of aging at room temperature. 39 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Examples 23-27 Table 8 shows the formulations for compositions having a range of chlorite concentrations useful as a solution for storing (or as packaging) solution for ophthalmic devices (e.g., contact lenses) or direct application eye drop solution, which composition was prepared using conventional mixing technology. Table 8 Component Weight % (the balance is water) Ex.23 Ex.24 Ex.25 Ex.26 Ex.27 (15µg/mL (7.6 µg/mL (3.7 µg/mL (1.7 µg/mL (0.84 µg/mL Chlorite ion) Chlorite ion) Chlorite ion) Chlorite ion) Chlorite ion) Sodium Chloride 0.58% 0.58% 0.58% 0.58% 0.58% Monobasic sodium 0.09% 0.09% 0.09% 0.09% 0.09% phosphate*H₂O Dibasic sodium p_{hosphate*7H2O} ^{0.70% 0.70% 0.70% 0.70% 0.70%} Sodium Chlorite (_anhydrous)* ^{0.00252% 0.00126% 0.00062% 0.00028% 0.00014%} EDTA 0.075% 0.075% 0.075% 0.075% 0.075% Methyl ethyl c_{ellulose (MEC)} ^{0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%} PVP K-60 1^{.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5%} * Provided as stabilized sodium chlorite 80% with 20% sodium chloride. Once prepared, samples of each of the compositions of Examples 23-27 were poured from the original specimen cup containers and filter sterilized through a 0.22 μm membrane using a 150-mL Analytical Filter Unit. The filtered individual compositions were then aseptically transferred into new individual sterile specimen cups for storage and testing. The following microorganisms were used to assess microbial activity: ^ ^(AB) Aspergillus brasiliensis ((Quanti-Cult™)) - ATCC 16404 (Remel Inc.) ^ ^(BS) Bacillus subtilis – subspecies spizizenil (Epower ™) - ATCC 6633 (Microbiologics®) ^ ^(CA) Candida albicans (Epower ™) - ATCC 10231 (Microbiologics^®) 40 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The test microorganisms were resuspended following manufacturers’ instructions and approximately 0.5mL aliquots were spread plated onto two separate tryptic soy agar (TSA) media and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plates. The TSA and SDA plates were incubated at 30-35ºC and 20-25ºC respectively, for 2-7 days. Sterile filtered deionized (DI) water and inoculating loops were used to resuspend the designated test microorganisms from the plate surfaces and the suspensions were aseptically transferred with a sterile pipette into individual 50mL centrifuge tubes. The test microorganism suspensions were diluted until their population counts could be estimated using a hemocytometer. A population count of approximately 1.0 x 10⁷ cells/mL was targeted for each final test microorganism suspension. Depending on the test microorganism targeted suspension count, an aliquot ranging from 2.5 μL to 100 μL) was inoculated into 20mL of each of the samples of the test compositions of Table 3 to obtain an average starting microorganism population count of approximately 7000 CFU/mL. Each inoculated sample of the compositions of Table 8 containing the designated test microorganism was stored at room temperature and at Day 0, Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 samples were pour-plated in duplicate (Day 0 only) or triplicate with either molten TSA or SDA containing chloramphenicol as required. The aliquot volumes were bracketed to increase the chances of the pour plate count results to be within the 25 CFU – 300 CFU countable range. All pour plate sample volumes were adjusted to 1mL using sterile water for injection (WFI) (i.e., 50μL + 950μL WFI) to allow for sufficient sample dispersion. AB was pour-plated with both TSA and SDA + chloramphenicol. When pour plated in parallel, the counts of A. brasiliensis were similar for the TSA and SDA+chloramphenicol. Consequently, TSA enabled the enumeration of A. brasiliensis on plates without interference due to sporulation. The results are shown for Aspergillus brasiliensis and the bacteria Bacillus subtilis – subspecies spizizenii. Log counts for Candida Albicans are shown in Table 9, below. 41 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Table 9 C. Albicans Log Counts Time Conc ClO2-, (ug/mL) (Days) 0.84 1.7 3.7 7.6 15.0 0 1.40 1.43 1.40 1.40 1.40 2 1.11 1.26 0.95 0 0.85 8 0 0.48 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 The study results show significant inhibition of the growth of microorganisms across all concentrations evaluated. The microorganism growth was less than a 0.2 log, or no increase in the count throughout the test period, including after 2, 8, 13 and 22 days from spiking for the yeast Candida albicans, the fungus Aspergillus brasiliensis and the bacteria Bacillus subtilis – subspecies spizizenii, respectively. Candida albicans and the bacteria Bacillus subtilis – subspecies spizizenii decreased over the test period for all chlorite concentrations evaluated, when each microorganism was spiked into the composition of Table 8 containing at least 0.84 µg/ml of chlorite. The fungus Aspergillus brasiliensis count remained the same (within test limits) at the lowest chlorite concentrations (0.84 and 1.7 µg/ml) and decreased over the test period at the higher concentrations (about 0.2 to about 0.5 log reduction at 3.7 and 7.6 µg/ml and 2.5 log reduction at 15 µg/ml. Examples 23-27 show that a range of chlorite concentration provide effective inhibition of the growth of microorganisms across at least 22 days. Examples 23-27 also show that elevated concentration of EDTA, approximately 0.075%, reduces microbial growth in a single autoclave and PVP ensures that the advancing contact angle is not adversely impacted, particularly when used in conjunction with chlorite. Synthetic Example 1: 85:15 N,N-dimethyl acrylamide : tyrosine acrylamide copolymer In three neck round bottom flask fitted with reflux condenser, N,N’-dimethylacrylamide (8.53 g, 86.049 mmol), methyl acryloyltyrosinate (1.511 g, 6.062 mmol) and bis(2,4,6- trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphineoxide (2.5 mg, 0.0059 mmol) were dissolved in ethanol (20 42 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 mL) and degassed by bubbling the nitrogen through the mixture under yellow lights to prevent premature polymerization, and heated under nitrogen at 78°C with constant stirring. The reaction mixture was then irradiated using 420 nm LED lights having an intensity of about 3.5 mW/cm² for 8 hours. The reaction mixture was quenched in air and cooled to room temperature. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the crude product was dissolved in dichloromethane and precipitated in n-hexanes to afford a white solid. The precipitation process was repeated thrice in n-hexanes and once in cold diethyl ether. The white solid was dried in vacuum oven at 60 ^oC overnight (80% yield). The monomer ratio of the tyrosine acrylamide (TAA) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) copolymer may be varied to fine-tune the aqueous solubility and reduction capacity of the copolymer. It is further possible that by adjusting the ratio of TAA to DMA, that additional benefits, such as lens lubricity, may be obtained by promoting weak sorption of the copolymer to the lens surface. It will be appreciated that the embodiments illustrated and described herein are among myriad embodiments within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments, such that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily vary, modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, and without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such variations, modifications and adaptations are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many of the specific details may not be required to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for the purposes of illustration. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above- described embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following embodiments, claims and their equivalents. 43 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 Embodiments of the Present Invention: 1. A sealed ophthalmologic product or kit, comprising: a) a composition for storing contact lenses as an admixture or mixture: i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound; iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound, provided that, after the reductant’s admixture to the composition, the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for a period of time; and iv. an ophthalmologically acceptable carrier comprising one or more tonicity agents at least one contact lens sealed in a container with the composition and b) a container comprising a sealed compartment comprising at least one contact lens in the presence of the composition. 2. The product or kit of embodiment 1 and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound is present at a concentration of from about 0.002% to about 0.200%, from about 0.0020% to about 0.1000%, or from about 0.0050% to about 0.1000%, or from about 0.0075% to about 0.1000%, or from about 0.0080% to about 0.0500%, or from about 0.0090% to about 0.0200%, or from about 0.01% to about 0,02%, or from about 0.0095% to about 0.0150%, or about 0.01% based upon the total weight of composition upon formulation. 3. The product or kit of embodiments preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound is selected from water soluble alkali metal chlorites, water soluble alkaline metal chlorites and mixtures thereof. 44 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 4. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorite is selected from potassium chlorite, sodium chlorite, calcium chlorite, magnesium chlorite and mixtures thereof. 5. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorite comprises sodium chlorite. 6. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the phosphate compound is a combination of salts of the dibasic phosphate anion (HPO4)^2- and salts of the monobasic phosphate anion (H₂PO₄)-. 7. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the phosphate compound is sodium dibasic phosphate (Na2HPO4), sodium monobasic phosphate (NaH2PO4) or a mixture thereof. 8. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the phosphate compound buffer is present in the composition at concentrations of from about 0.3% w/v to about 0.9% w/v, from about 0.4% w/v to about 0.85% w/v, from about 0.5% w/v to about 0.8% w/v or from about 0.6% w/v to about 0.75% w/v based on the total composition upon formulation. 9. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition further comprises a reductant. 10. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the reductant is selected from iron (II), bisulfite, tin metal, formate, phosphite, hypophosphite, sulfur, thiosulfate, zinc metal, dithionite, manganese metal, aluminum metal, magnesium metal, dithionite, manganese metal, aluminum metal, magnesium metal, dithiothreitol, NADH2, ascorbate, ferricyanide, hydroquinone, tyrosine, aldehydes, N-acetylcysteine, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and ophthalmically compatible salts thereof, Cellobiose, glucose (L and D isomers), phenols, Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 polymeric aldehydes, poly methyl acryloyltyrosinate co N,N-dimethylacrylamide, poly Norbloc (2-(2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol) co N,N-dimethylacrylamide, polymeric phenols or mixtures thereof. 11. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the reductant is selected from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Cellobiose, glucose (L and D isomers), phenols, or mixtures thereof. 12. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments wherein the reductant, when present, is present such that the ratio, in molar equivalents, of the chlorous acid compound to the reductant is from 1:1 to 1:20, or1:1 to 1:15, or 1:1 to 1:10, or 1:1 to 1:5, or greater than 1:1 to 1:1.5 upon formulation of the composition. 13. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition further comprises a demulcent polymer. 14. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is selected from block copolymer surfactants; polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone; polyacrylic acid; polyethers; hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid derivatives; chitosan; polysorbates; dextrans; cellulosic derivatives; acyclic polyamides and mixtures thereof. 15. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is selected from polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. 16. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is methyl ethyl cellulose. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 17. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is a cellulosic derivative present at concentrations of from about 0.002% to about 0.01%, or from about 0.004% to about 0.006%, by weight of the total composition. 18. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is a water-soluble polymer present in amounts up to about 0.5, about 1 or about 2 weight %, or between about 0.001 and about 2%, between about 0.005 and about 1 weight %, between about 0.01 and about 0.5 weight %, or between about 100 ppm by weight and about 0.5 weight %, all based upon the weight of total composition. 19. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least one day. 20. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least two days. 21. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least three days. 22. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least seven days. 23. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition has an osmolality is from about 200 mOsm/kg to less than about 500 mOsm/kg, from about 200 to about 450 mOsm/kg, from about 205 to about 380 mOsm/kg, from about 210 to about 360 (mOsm/kg), from about 250 to about 350 mOsm/kg, from about 270 to about 330 mOsm/kg, or about 205 mOsm/kg to about 350 mOsm/kg. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 24. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition has a pH of from about 6.0 to a about 8.0, from about 6.5 to about 8.0, or a pH of from about 6.5 to 7.5, or a pH of about 7.0 to about 7.5. 25. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition has a pH of from about 7.0 to about 7.5, or about 7.2 to about 7.4. 26. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is free of boric acid and borates. 27. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is manufactured under sterile conditions or sterilized during and/or after the period of time. 28. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is sterilized after the period of time by a sterilization process selected from autoclave sterilization, UV sterilization and gamma electron beam sterilization. 29. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 30. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is free of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 31. A method of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in a composition for a period of time occurring from preparation of the composition to sterilization of the composition in sealed a container, comprising the steps of: a. mixing a composition comprising: iv. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; v. a phosphate compound; and vi. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound after admixture to the composition ; b. storing the composition for the period of time during which time there is an inhibition of growth of microorganisms; c. placing the composition in a container; d. sealing the container of step c.; e. sterilizing the container of the d; optionally, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 32. The method of embodiment 31 and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the container further comprises an ophthalmic device. 33. The method of embodiment 32, wherein the ophthalmic device is a contact lens. 34. The method of embodiment 33, wherein the contact lens is a conventional hydrogel contact lens or a silicone hydrogel contact lens. 35. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the composition is manufactured under sterile conditions or sterilized during and/or after the period of time. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 36. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the composition is sterilized after the period of time by a sterilization process selected from autoclave sterilization, UV sterilization and gamma electron beam sterilization. 37. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the sterilization is by autoclave sterilization. 38. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the contact lens further comprises a water-soluble polymer entrapped therein. 39. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the contact lens is from polymeric material selected from conventional hydrogel polymers or silicon hydrogel polymers. 40. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the period of time is at least 1 day. 41. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the period of time is at least 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. 42. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the period of time is at least 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 or 22 days. 43. A method of packaging and sterilizing a composition in sealed a container, comprising the steps of: a. mixing a composition comprising: i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound; and iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound after admixture to the composition; Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 b. placing the composition in a container; c. sealing the container of step b.; d. sterilizing the container of the c. optionally, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 44. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein, prior to placing the composition in a container, the composition is stored for a period of time during which time there is inhibition of growth of microorganisms. 45. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the container contains at least one contact lens. 46. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the contact lens is from polymeric material selected from conventional hydrogel polymers or silicone hydrogel polymers. 47. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments and any succeeding method embodiments, wherein the composition is manufactured under sterile conditions or sterilized during and/or after the period of time. 48. The method of any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the composition is sterilized after the period of time by a sterilization process selected from autoclave sterilization, UV sterilization and gamma electron beam sterilization. 49. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound is present at a concentration of from about 0.002% to about 0.200%, from about 0.0020% to about 0.1000%, Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 or from about 0.0050% to about 0.1000%, or from about 0.0075% to about 0.1000%, or from about 0.0080% to about 0.0500%, or from about 0.0090% to about 0.0200%, or from about 0.0095% to about 0.0150%, or about 0.01% of the composition upon formulation. 50. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound is selected from water soluble alkali metal chlorites, water soluble alkaline metal chlorites and mixtures thereof. 51. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorite is selected from potassium chlorite, sodium chlorite, calcium chlorite, magnesium chlorite and mixtures thereof. 52. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorite comprises sodium chlorite. 53. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the phosphate compound is a combination of salts of the dibasic phosphate anion (HPO4)^2- and salts of the monobasic phosphate anion (H₂PO₄)-. 54. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the phosphate compound is sodium dibasic phosphate (Na₂HPO₄), sodium monobasic phosphate (NaH₂PO₄) or a mixture thereof. 55. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the phosphate compound buffer is present in the composition at concentrations of from about 0.3% w/v to about 0.9% w/v, from about 0.4% w/v to about 0.85% w/v, from about 0.5% w/v to about 0.8% w/v or from about 0.6% w/v to about 0.75% w/v based on the total composition upon formulation. 56. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition further comprises a reductant. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the reductant is selected from iron (II), bisulfite, tin metal, formate, phosphite, hypophosphite, sulfur, thiosulfate, zinc metal, dithionite, manganese metal, aluminum metal, magnesium metal, dithionite, manganese metal, aluminum metal, magnesium metal, dithiothreitol, NADH2, ascorbate, ferricyanide, hydroquinone, tyrosine, aldehydes, N-acetylcysteine, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and ophthalmically compatible salts thereof, Cellobiose, glucose (L and D isomers), phenols, polymeric aldehydes, poly methyl acryloyltyrosinate co N,N-dimethylacrylamide, poly Norbloc (2-(2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol) co N,N-dimethylacrylamide, polymeric phenols or mixtures thereof. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the reductant is selected from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Cellobiose, glucose (L and D isomers), phenols, or mixtures thereof. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments wherein the reductant, when present, is present such that the ratio, in molar equivalents, of the chlorous acid compound to the reductant is from 1:1 to 1:20, or1:1 to 1:15, or 1:1 to 1:10, or 1:1 to 1:5, or greater than 1:1 to 1:1.5 of the composition prior to sterilization. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition further comprises a demulcent polymer. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is selected from block copolymer surfactants; polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone; polyacrylic acid; polyethers; hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid derivatives; chitosan; polysorbates; dextrans; cellulosic derivatives; acyclic polyamides and mixtures thereof. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is selected from polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is methyl ethyl cellulose. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is a cellulosic derivative present at concentrations of from about 0.002% to about 0.01%, or from about 0.004% to about 0.006%, by weight of the total composition. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the demulcent polymer is a water-soluble polymer present in amounts up to about 0.5, about 1 or about 2 weight %, or between about 0.001 and about 2%, between about 0.005 and about 1 weight %, between about 0.01 and about 0.5 weight %, or between about 100 ppm by weight and about 0.5 weight %, all based upon the weight of total composition. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least one day. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least two days. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least three days. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 69. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least seven days. 70. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition has an osmolality is from about 200 mOsm/kg to less than about 500 mOsm/kg, from about 200 to about 450 mOsm/kg, from about 205 to about 380 mOsm/kg, from about 210 to about 360 (mOsm/kg), from about 250 to about 350 mOsm/kg, from about 270 to about 330 mOsm/kg, or about 205 mOsm/kg to about 350 mOsm/kg. 71. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition has a pH of from about 6.0 to a about 8.0, from about 6.5 to about 8.0, or a pH of from about 6.5 to 7.5, or a pH of about 7.0 to about 7.5. 72. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition has a pH of from about 7.0 to about 7.5, or about 7.2 to about 7.4. 73. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is free of boric acid and borates. 74. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is package or sterilized during and/or after the period of time. 75. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is sterilized after the period of time by a sterilization process selected from autoclave sterilization, UV sterilization and gamma electron beam sterilization. 76. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides or sources Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 77. The method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the composition is free of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 78. The product, kit or method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the container is a plastic blister package, including a recess for receiving an ophthalmic device and the composition, where the recess is hermetically sealed with lidstock prior to sterilization. 79. The product, kit or method of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments wherein the reductant for neutralizes the chlorous acid compound during autoclave sterilization, post sterilization storage or both. 80. The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments, wherein the reductant comprises EDTA, the chlorous acid compound comprises at least one chlorite compound and the chlorite compound and EDTA are present in molar equivalents of 1:2 to 1:5, or 1:3 to 1:5 or 1:4 upon formulation of the composition. 81. The product or kit of any of the preceding or succeeding embodiments wherein the reductant comprises EDTA in a concentration of about 0.01 to about 0.075 wt% based upon the total composition upon formulation. 82. The product or kit of any of the succeeding embodiments wherein the antimicrobial inhibiting compound concentration is reduced after autoclaving by at least about 50%, about 70%, about 80% or about 90%. 83. The product or kit of any of the preceding or succeeding embodiments wherein the hydrogel contact lens is silicone hydrogel contact lens. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 The product or kit of any of the preceding embodiments and any succeeding embodiments wherein the contact lens is a hybrid contact lens.

Claims

Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 What is claimed is: 1. A sealed ophthalmologic product or kit, comprising: a) a composition for storing contact lenses as an admixture or mixture: i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound; iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound, provided that, after the reductant’s admixture to the composition, the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for a period of time; and iv. an ophthalmologically acceptable carrier comprising one or more tonicity agents at least one contact lens sealed in a container with the composition and b) a container comprising a sealed compartment comprising at least one contact lens in the presence of the composition. 2. The product or kit of claim 1, wherein the chlorous acid compound is present at a concentration of from about 0.002% to about 0.200% of the composition upon formulation. 3. The product or kit of claim 1, wherein the chlorous acid compound is selected from water soluble alkali metal chlorites, water soluble alkaline metal chlorites and mixtures thereof. 4. The product or kit of claim 3, wherein the chlorite is selected from potassium chlorite, sodium chlorite, calcium chlorite, magnesium chlorite and mixtures thereof. 5. The product or kit of claim 1, wherein the phosphate compound is a combination of salts of the dibasic phosphate anion (HPO4)^2- and salts of the monobasic phosphate anion (H₂PO₄)-. 58 Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 6. The product or kit of claim 1, wherein the phosphate compound is present in the composition at concentrations of from about 0.3% w/v to about 0.9% w/v based on the total composition. 7. The product or kit of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a reductant. 8. The product or kit of claim 7, wherein the reductant is selected from iron (II), bisulfite, tin metal, formate, phosphite, hypophosphite, sulfur, thiosulfate, zinc metal, dithionite, manganese metal, aluminum metal, magnesium metal, dithionite, manganese metal, aluminum metal, magnesium metal, dithiothreitol, NADH2, ascorbate, ferricyanide, hydroquinone, tyrosine, aldehydes, N-acetylcysteine, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and ophthalmically compatible salts thereof, Cellobiose, glucose (L and D isomers), phenols, polymeric aldehydes, poly methyl acryloyltyrosinate co N,N- dimethylacrylamide, poly Norbloc (2-(2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-4-(2- hydroxyethyl)phenol) co N,N-dimethylacrylamide, polymeric phenols or mixtures thereof. 9. The product or kit of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a demulcent polymer. 10. The product or kit of claim 9, wherein the demulcent polymer is selected from block copolymer surfactants; polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone; polyacrylic acid; polyethers; hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid derivatives; chitosan; polysorbates; dextrans; cellulosic derivatives; acyclic polyamides and mixtures thereof. 11. The product or kit of claim 10, wherein the demulcent polymer is selected from polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. 12. The product or kit of claim 9, wherein the demulcent polymer is methyl ethyl cellulose. 13. The product or kit of claim 7, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least one day. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 14. The product or kit of claim 13, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least two days. 15. The product or kit of claim 14, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least three days. 16. The product or kit of claim 15, wherein the chlorous acid compound remains effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition for at least seven days. 17. The product or kit of claim 1 wherein the osmolality is from about 205 mOsm/kg to about 350 mOsm/kg. 18. The product or kit of claim 1 wherein the composition is manufactured under sterile conditions or sterilized during and/or after the period of time. 19. The product or kit of claim 1 wherein the composition is sterilized after the period of time by a sterilization process selected from autoclave sterilization, UV sterilization and gamma electron beam sterilization. 20. The product or kit of claim 1 wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 21. The product or kit of claim 1, wherein the composition is free of boric acid, borates, non- chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 22. The product or kit of any of the forgoing claims wherein the contact lens is a silicone hydrogel contact lens. 23. The product or kit of claim 22 wherein the reductant comprises EDTA and the EDTA and the chlorous acid compound are present at a ratio in molar equivalents of chlorous acid compound to EDTA of 1:2 to 1:5, upon formulation of the composition. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 24. A method of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in a composition for a period of time occurring from preparation of the composition to sterilization of the composition sealed in a container, comprising the steps of: a. mixing a composition comprising: i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound; and iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound after admixture to the composition ; b. storing the composition for the period of time during which time there is an inhibition of growth of microorganisms; c. placing the composition in a container; d. sealing the container of step c.; e. sterilizing the container of the d; optionally, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the container further comprises an ophthalmic device. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the ophthalmic device is a contact lens. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the contact lens is a conventional hydrogel contact lens or a silicone hydrogel contact lens. 28. The method of claim 24, wherein the sterilization is selected from autoclave sterilization, UV sterilization and gamma electron beam sterilization. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the sterilization is by autoclave sterilization. 30. The method of claim 24, wherein the container contains at least one contact lens. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the contact lens comprises a polymeric material selected from conventional hydrogel polymers or silicone hydrogel polymers. 32. The method of claim 24, wherein the period of time is at least 1 day. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the period of time is at least 3 days. 34. The method of claim 32, wherein the period of time is at least 7 days. 35. A method of packaging and sterilizing a composition in sealed a container, comprising the steps of: a. mixing a composition comprising: i. a chlorous acid compound in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the composition; ii. a phosphate compound; and iii. optionally, a reductant for neutralizing the chlorous acid compound after admixture to the composition; b. placing the composition in a container; c. sealing the container of step b.; d. sterilizing the container of the c. optionally, wherein the composition is free of or substantially free of one or more of boric acid, borates, non-chlorous acid preservatives, peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) or sources of peroxides, persulfates, carboxy vinyl polymers, natural gums, glycerin, polyoxyethylene-castor oil and derivatives thereof. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein, prior to placing the composition in a container, the composition is stored for a period of time during which time there is inhibition of growth of microorganisms. 37. The method of claim 35, wherein the container contains at least one contact lens. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the contact lens comprises a polymeric material selected from conventional hydrogel polymers or silicone hydrogel polymers. Docket No. VTN6124WOPCT1 39. The method of claim 35 wherein the inhibition of growth of microorganisms is less than about 0.5, 0.3. 40. The method of claim 35, wherein the composition and contact lens are hermetically sealed in the container. 41. The method of claim 35, wherein the sterilization is by autoclave sterilization. 42. The method of claim 35 wherein the reductant comprises EDTA and the EDTA and the chlorous acid compound are present at a ratio in molar equivalents of chlorous acid compound to EDTA of 1:2 to 1:5, upon formulation of the composition. 43. The method of claim 35 wherein the reductant comprises EDTA in a concentration of about 0.01 to about 0.075 wt% based upon the total composition upon formulation.