Iris fixated intraocular lens and method of implantation

Abstract

Iris fixated intraocular lenses include an optic and at least one fixation member or haptic. The fixation member is joined to the optic and has a distal segment including a through-iris portion adapted to extend through an iris hole, and an anchor portion. The anchor portion has or is adapted to have an anchor structure positioned to be disposed proximate to a side of the iris so as to be effective in fixating the intraocular lens to the iris. The anchor structure may be formed prior to inserting the intraocular lens in the eye or may be formed after the intraocular lens is inserted in the eye. Methods for inserting such intraocular lenses in the eye are also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intraocular lens for fixation to an iris of an eye, the iris having a side and a hole extending from the iris side and through the iris, the intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic; and    at least one fixation member joined to the optic comprising a distal segment including a through-iris portion adapted to extend through the iris hole and an anchor portion having or adapted to have an anchor structure positioned to be disposed proximate to the iris side so as to be effective in fixating the intraocular lens to the iris.    
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the eye includes an anterior chamber in front of the iris and a posterior chamber behind the iris;    the optic is adapted to be disposed in the anterior chamber; and    the anchor portion is adapted to be disposed in the posterior chamber or the anterior chamber.    
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one fixation member includes a plate element joined to the optic and adapted to be disposed in the anterior chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor portion has the anchor structure prior to the intraocular lens being placed in the eye.  
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor portion is adapted to form the anchor structure after the intraocular lens is placed in the eye.  
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens of  claim 5 , wherein the anchor portion comprises a hydrophilic material adapted to form the anchor structure in the eye.  
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens of  claim 6 , wherein the hydrophilic material comprises an acid-treated polymer or a base-treated polymer.  
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens of  claim 6 , wherein the hydrophilic material comprises a hydrogel-forming polymeric material.  
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 5 , wherein the anchor portion comprises an elastic memory material adapted to form the anchor structure in the eye.  
     
     
         10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor structure has a transverse cross-sectional area that is larger than a transverse cross-sectional area of the through-iris portion.  
     
     
         11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , which includes at least three of the fixation members.  
     
     
         12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the optic has a thickness in a range of about 200 microns to about 500 microns.  
     
     
         13 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the hole in the iris extends between the side and a substantially opposing side of the iris; and    the distal segment includes another anchor portion having or adapted to have another anchor structure positioned to be disposed proximate to the substantially opposing iris side.    
     
     
         14 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , which has at least one of the anchor structure and the other anchor structure prior to the intraocular lens being placed in the eye.  
     
     
         15 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the anchor structure and the other anchor structure is adapted to be formed after the intraocular lens is placed in the eye.  
     
     
         16 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the anchor structure and the other anchor structure has a transverse cross-sectional area that is larger than a transverse cross-sectional area of the through-iris portion.  
     
     
         17 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the eye comprises an anterior chamber in front of the iris, and a posterior chamber behind the iris;    the optic is adapted to be disposed in the anterior chamber;    the anchor structure is adapted to be disposed in the posterior chamber; and    the other anchor structure is adapted to be disposed in the anterior chamber.    
     
     
         18 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein the anchor structure is adapted to be formed after the intraocular lens is placed in the eye and the other anchor structure is adapted to be present prior to the intraocular lens being placed in the eye.  
     
     
         19 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the anchor portion: 
 is adapted to enlarge in the eye and form the anchor structure; or  
 comprises an elastic memory material adapted to form the anchor structure in the eye; or  
 has a transverse cross-sectional area that is larger than a transverse cross-sectional area of the through-iris portion; and  
   the other anchor portion: 
 is adapted to enlarge in the eye and form the other anchor structure; or  
 comprises an elastic memory material adapted to form the other anchor structure in the eye; or  
 has a transverse cross-sectional area that is larger than a transverse cross-sectional area of the through-iris portion.  
   
     
     
         20 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the anchor structure is adapted to be disposed in a posterior chamber of the eye and has a generally elliptical transverse cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         21 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic is deformable so that the intraocular lens can be inserted into an eye through a small incision.  
     
     
         22 . An intraocular lens for fixation to an iris of an eye having an anterior chamber in front of the iris and a posterior chamber in back of the iris, the iris having a side and a plurality of spaced apart holes extending from the iris side and through the iris, the intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic adapted to be disposed in the anterior chamber of the eye; and    a plurality of spaced apart fixation members, each of the fixation members including a plate element joined to the optic and adapted to be disposed in the anterior chamber of the eye, and a distal segment including a through-iris portion adapted to extend through one of the iris holes and an anchor portion having or adapted to have an anchor structure positioned to be disposed in the posterior chamber proximity to the iris side so as to be effective in fixating the intraocular lens to the iris.    
     
     
         23 . The intraocular lens of  claim 22  including at least 3 of the fixation members.  
     
     
         24 . The intraocular lens of  claim 22 , wherein each of the anchor portions has the anchor structure prior to the intraocular lens being placed in the eye or is adapted to form the anchor structure after the intraocular lens is placed in the eye.  
     
     
         25 . The intraocular lens of  claim 22 , wherein the optic and the plate elements are deformable so that the intraocular lens can be inserted into the eye through a small incision.  
     
     
         26 . A method for fixating an intraocular lens to an iris of an eye, the method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting the intraocular lens into the eye;    directing a distal segment of a fixation member of the intraocular lens through a through-hole extending through the iris such that a through-iris portion of the distal segment is disposed in the hole; and    disposing an anchor structure of the distal segment proximate to a side of the iris, whereby the anchor structure is effective in fixating the intraocular lens to the iris.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the anchor structure is a preformed anchor structure and the disposing step includes passing the preformed anchor structure through the through hole of the iris.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the disposing step includes changing the shape of an anchor portion of the distal segment in the eye to form the anchor structure.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the anchor portion comprises a hydrophilic material and the changing step includes causing the anchor portion to absorb aqueous fluid and form the anchor structure.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the anchor portion comprises an elastic memory material, and the changing step comprises directing energy to the anchor portion, whereby the anchor portion absorbs the energy and the anchor structure is formed.