Accommodating intraocular lens

Abstract

An intraocular lens includes an optic for focusing light and a movement assembly coupled to the optic. The movement assembly is adapted to cooperate with the eye to effect accommodating movement of the optic. The movement assembly includes a plurality of movement members each with a proximal region coupled to the optic and an enlarged distal region. The enlarged distal region may be integral with the proximal region, or may be mechanically coupled thereto.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic adapted to focus light to a retina of an eye and having a central optical axis; and    a movement assembly coupled to the optic and adapted to cooperate with the eye to effect accommodating movement of the optic;    the movement assembly including a movement member having a proximal region coupled to the optic, the movement member extending radially outwardly from the optic and including an enlarged distal region having a contact surface adapted to be in contact with a peripheral region of a capsular bag of an eye.    
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the movement assembly is positioned relative to the optic so that, with the intraocular lens at rest, the proximal region of the movement member is positioned at an angle other than 90° relative to the central optical axis of the optic.  
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the movement assembly is adapted and configured to fit within the capsular bag of a human eye.  
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the enlarged distal region is configured so that the contact surface is angled with respect to the proximal region.  
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the enlarged distal region is configured so that the contact surface is substantially coaxial with the optical axis of the optic.  
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens of  claim 5  wherein the contact surface has an axial length of at least about 1 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens of  claim 5  wherein the contact surface is rounded in a radial plane through the optical axis.  
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the enlarged distal region includes a plurality of through holes extending through the contact surface.  
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the movement assembly includes a plurality of the movement members circumferentially spaced apart.  
     
     
         10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 9  wherein, with the intraocular lens at rest, the proximal region of each of the plurality of movement members is positioned at an angle other than 90° relative to the central axis of the optic.  
     
     
         11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 9  wherein each of the plurality of movement members includes a hinge disposed proximally of the enlarged distal region.  
     
     
         12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 9  wherein the movement assembly includes a plurality of spacer regions located between circumferentially adjacent movement members, the spacer regions being open or at least partially covered with a structural material having increased flexibility relative to the movement members.  
     
     
         13 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  further comprising a second optic coupled to the movement assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  further comprising a second optic separate from the optic, and at least one haptic member coupled to the second optic and the distal region of the movement member.  
     
     
         15 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14  wherein, with the intraocular lens at rest, the optic is anteriorly vaulted and the secondary optic is posteriorly vaulted.  
     
     
         16 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the proximal region is joined to the distal region so that one or more sharp edges are present between the proximal region and the distal region.  
     
     
         17 . An intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic adapted to focus light to a retina of an eye and having a central optical axis; and    a movement assembly coupled to the optic and adapted to cooperate with the eye to effect accommodating movement of the optic;    the movement assembly including a plurality of movement members each having a proximal region coupled to the optic and an enlarged distal region; and    each of the enlarged distal regions having a contact surface adapted to be in contact with a peripheral region of a capsular bag of an eye.    
     
     
         18 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein the movement assembly is positioned relative to the optic so that, with the intraocular lens at rest, the optic is anteriorly vaulted.  
     
     
         19 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein the movement assembly is adapted to fit within the capsular bag of a human eye.  
     
     
         20 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein each of the enlarged distal regions is configured such that the contact surface is angled with respect to the proximal region.  
     
     
         21 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein each of the enlarged distal regions is configured such that the contact surface thereof is substantially parallel with the optical axis of the optic.  
     
     
         22 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein each of the enlarged distal regions is configured such that the contact surface thereof is substantially rounded.  
     
     
         23 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein each of the enlarged distal regions includes a plurality of through holes extending through the contact surface.  
     
     
         24 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  which is deformable to be passed through a small incision for insertion into an eye.  
     
     
         25 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  wherein each of the plurality of movement members includes a hinge disposed proximally of the enlarged distal region.  
     
     
         26 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17  further comprising a second optic coupled to the movement assembly.  
     
     
         27 . The intraocular lens of  claim 26  wherein said movement assembly includes a plurality of haptic members, each haptic member being coupled to the second optic and to one of the enlarged distal regions.  
     
     
         28 . The intraocular lens of  claim 27 , wherein the haptic members are positioned so that, with the intraocular lens at rest, the secondary optic is posteriorly vaulted.  
     
     
         29 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17 , wherein each of the proximal regions is joined to one of the distal regions so that one or more sharp edges are present therebetween.  
     
     
         30 . The intraocular lens of  claim 17 , and wherein the enlarged distal region of each movement member is formed separately from and mechanically coupled to the proximal region of that movement member.  
     
     
         31 . The intraocular lens of  claim 30 , wherein the optic and the proximal region of each movement member are integrally formed, and wherein the movement assembly includes a plurality of the movement members circumferentially spaced apart.  
     
     
         32 . The intraocular lens of  claim 31 , wherein each distal region comprises an arcuate segment having at least one groove for receiving and mechanically coupling to a proximal region of a movement member.  
     
     
         33 . The intraocular lens of  claim 32 , wherein each arcuate segment includes a pair of grooves each for receiving and mechanically coupling to a proximal region of a movement member, the intraocular lens being a two-optic lens.  
     
     
         34 . The intraocular lens of  claim 30 , wherein the enlarged distal region of each movement member is mechanically coupled to the proximal region of that movement member using adhesive.