Anterior chamber intraocular lens and methods for reducing pupil ovalling

Abstract

An intraocular lens having an optic and a plurality of fixation members coupled to the optic. The fixation members are adapted to be evenly circumferentially distributed about the anterior chamber to reduce the phenomenon of malshaping the iris, for example, pupil ovalling.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intraocular lens for implantation in an eye, the intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic having an optical axis; and    at least three fixation members coupled to the optic, each of the fixation members having a distal end extending radially outwardly from the optic a distance from the optical axis, the distance being substantially the same for all of the fixation members, each of the distal ends being substantially equidistantly spaced apart from the closest circumferentially adjacent distal ends and including a structure enlarged relative to a portion of the elongated fixation member proximal of the distal end.    
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  which includes only three or only four fixation members.  
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein each of the fixation members is substantially identically structured.  
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein all of the distal ends of the elongated fixation members are located in substantially a single plane.  
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fixation members is structured differently than at least one other fixation member.  
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  which includes four fixation members and each of the distal ends is located at substantially a different corner of a single square.  
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein there are two pairs of fixation members, each pair being connected at a common point to the optic.  
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  which includes three fixation members and each of the distal ends is located at substantially a different corner of a single equilateral triangle.  
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic and the fixation members are adapted to be placed in an anterior chamber of a mammalian eye.  
     
     
         10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 9  which is sized and adapted to be placed in the mammalian eye so that the distal ends are located in contact with a peripheral region of the anterior chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic is substantially circular in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.  
     
     
         12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  which is a single piece lens.  
     
     
         13 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic and the fixation members comprise one or more polymeric materials.  
     
     
         14 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic comprises a resiliently deformable polymeric material.  
     
     
         15 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate, silicone polymeric materials, acrylic polymeric materials, hydrogel-forming polymeric materials and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . An intraocular lens for implantation in an eye, the intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic having an optical axis;    a fixation system coupled to the optic and including at least three distal ends extending radially outwardly of the optic and adapted to be in contact with a peripheral region of an anterior chamber of the eye; and    each of the distal ends being substantially equidistantly spaced apart from the closest circumferentially adjacent distal ends, and including a structure enlarged relative to a portion of the fixation system proximal of the distal end.    
     
     
         17 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein, with the intraocular lens fixated in an anterior chamber of an eye having an iris, the intraocular lens is structured and sized to be effective to reduce malshaping of the iris relative to a substantially identical intraocular lens including distal ends each of which is not substantially equidistantly spaced apart from the closest circumferentially adjacent distal ends.  
     
     
         18 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein each of the distal ends is equidistantly spaced apart from the optical axis.  
     
     
         19 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  which includes only three distal ends or only four distal ends.  
     
     
         20 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein all of the distal ends are located in substantially the same plane.  
     
     
         21 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein each of the distal ends is located at substantially a different corner of a single square.  
     
     
         22 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein each of the distal ends is located in a substantially different corner of a single equilateral triangle.  
     
     
         23 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein the optic is substantially circular in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.  
     
     
         24 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  which is a single piece lens.  
     
     
         25 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein the optic and the fixation system comprise one or more polymeric materials.  
     
     
         26 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein the optic comprises a resiliently deformable polymeric material.  
     
     
         27 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16  wherein the optic comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate, silicone polymeric materials, acrylic polymeric materials, hydrogel-forming polymeric materials and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         28 . A method of inserting an intraocular lens in an eye having an anterior chamber and an iris, the method comprising: 
 placing an intraocular lens having an optic including an optical axis and a fixation system with at least three distal ends extending radially outwardly of the optic in the anterior chamber of the eye so that the optic is in proximity to the iris and the distal ends are in contact with a peripheral region of the anterior chamber and each of the distal ends is substantially equidistantly spaced apart from the closest circumferentially adjacent distal ends.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the placing step is effective to reduce malshaping of the iris in comparison with placing a substantially identical intraocular lens in an anterior chamber of an eye with each of the distal ends not being substantially equidistantly spaced apart from the closest circumferentially adjacent distal ends.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein each of the distal ends is equidistantly spaced apart from the optical axis.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein each of the distal ends includes a structure enlarged relative to a portion of the fixation system proximal of the distal end.