title: Sodium hydroxide sterilzation of intraocular lenses.
abstract: Intraocular lenses of polymethylmethacrylate contaminated with various inocula of bacteria, spores, and fungi were sterilized by modifications of the Ridley method using sodium hydroxide. Positive cultures were obtained from iris-supported lenses contaminated with concentrations of approximately 1 x 10(6) organisms per milliliter after one hour in 10% NaOH. No positive cultures were obtained when lenses remained in 10% NaOH for three hours, a time corresponding to a 1 x 10(-6) probability of surviving organism. The NaOH method, when appropriately used, is an effective sterilization process for intraocular lenses.
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000379:methods; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012972:Sodium Hydroxide