  Purpose: To demonstrate an alternative to the rinse and rub (RR) method for
cleaning pollutants from the exterior surface of soft contact lenses. This
proposed technique is termed Polymer on Polymer Pollutant Removal (PoPPR),
which utilizes the elastic properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to
physically remove contaminants from contact lens surfaces through non-adhesive
unpeeling.
  Methods: Three different ratios of setting agent to polymer PDMS (1:30, 1:40,
and 1:50) were evaluated using the PoPPR method against the control method of
RR with a commercial multi-purpose lens cleaning solution. Three simulated
pollutants of different sizes: pollen (25-40 {\mu}m), microbeads (1-5 {\mu}m),
and nanoparticles (5-10 nm), were used to test the effectiveness of both
cleaning methods. The fraction of pollutants removed from each contact lens was
recorded and evaluated for significance.
  Results: PDMS 1:40 was found to be the optimal ratio for lens cleaning using
the PoPPR method. For larger particles (>10 {\mu}m), no difference was observed
between conventional RR and proposed PoPPR method (p > 0.05). However, the new
PoPPR technique was significantly better at removing small PM2.5 particles
(<2.5 {\mu}m) compared to the RR method, specifically for microbeads (p =
0.006) and nanoparticles (p < 0.001).
  Conclusion: This proof-of-concept work demonstrates that the PoPPR method of
cleaning contact lenses is as effective as the conventional cleaning method for
larger particles such as pollen. The PoPPR method is more effective at removing
extremely fine particulate pollutants, including microplastics and
nanoparticles. This method offers a potentially more efficient cleaning
protocol that could enhance the safety, health, and comfort of contact lens
users, especially those living in regions with significant air pollution.
