Ionic opthalmic cellulose polymer solutions

Claim 1

A lens solution for treating contact lens surfaces to form a protective coating thereof, said lens solution consisting essentially of a cationic cellulose polymer in solution with said polymer being present in an amount of from 0.001 to 10% by weight of said solution, said solution being useful to form protective coatings on lens surfaces formed of oppositely charged material by producing a thin coating of a hydrogel when contacted with said contact lens surface, said lens solution having a pH in the range of from 6 to 8, said polymer having the following formula: ##STR14## where R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting essentially of H, derivatives of C 1 -C 20 carboxylic acid, C 1 -C 20 alkyl groups, C 1 to C 3 monohydric and dihydric alkanols, hydroxyethyl groups, hydroxypropyl groups, ethylene oxide groups, propylene oxide groups, phenyl groups, "Z" groups and combinations thereof, Z being selected from cationic groups, said cationic groups being selected from groups as follows: A. groups containing nitrogen ##STR15## where: R', R" and R'" can be H, CH 3 , C 2 H 5 , CH 2 CH 2 OH, or ##STR16## x=0-5, y=0-4, and z=0-5 X - =Cl - , Br - , I - , HSO 4 - , CH 3 SO 4 - , H 2 PO 4 - , NO 3 - B. Groups containing phosphorous ##STR17## where: R', R" and R'" can be H, CH 3 , C 2 H 5 , CH 2 CH 2 OH, or ##STR18## x=0-5, y=0-4 and z=0-5 X - =Cl - , Br - , I - , HSO 4 - , CH 3 SO 4 - , H 2 PO 4 - , NO 3 - .