Composite anterior chamber intraocular lens and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

An intraocular lens includes an optic adapted to focus light toward a retina of an eye, and at least one fixation member configured to at least assist in supporting the optic in the eye. The fixation member includes a proximal portion coupled to the optic and a distal portion configured to be in contact with eye tissue when the intraocular lens is in use in the eye. The proximal portion of the fixation member includes at least one first area formed of a first, substantially rigid material, and at least one second area formed of a second material which is more flexible than the first material.

1 . An intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic adapted to focus light toward a retina of an eye; and    at least one fixation member configured to at least assist in supporting the optic in the eye, the fixation member including a proximal portion coupled to the optic and a distal portion configured to be in contact with eye tissue when the intraocular lens is in use in the eye, wherein the proximal portion includes at least one first area formed of substantially rigid material and at least one second area formed of a second material which is more flexible than the first material.    
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the at least one first area includes at least two segments, and the at least one second area is located between the at least two segments.  
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 2  wherein the second area is resiliently deformable.  
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic is deformable and the intraocular lens is configured to be inserted into the eye through a smaller incision relative to an identical intraocular lens without the second material.  
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixation member is configured to at least assist in supporting the optic in an anterior chamber of the eye.  
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens of  claim 2 , wherein the optic is circular, and the at least one first area includes a first segment extending generally radially with respect to the optic, and a second segment extending generally circumferentially with respect to the optic.  
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first area includes a first segment extending generally in a first direction with respect to the optic, and a second segment extending generally in a different second direction with respect to the optic, and wherein the at least one second area is located between the first and second segments.  
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion includes a plurality of first areas.  
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion includes a plurality of second areas.  
     
     
         10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal portion includes a plurality of second areas.  
     
     
         11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion has a lateral thickness, and wherein the at least one second area extends through the entire lateral thickness of the proximal portion.  
     
     
         12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one second area is formed entirely of the second material.  
     
     
         13 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  which includes a plurality of fixation members.  
     
     
         14 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the optic is formed of a deformable material, and the at least one second area is formed of the same material as the optic.  
     
     
         15 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the deformable material and the first material are acrylic-based polymeric materials.  
     
     
         16 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is an acrylic-based polymeric material.  
     
     
         17 . The intraocular lens of  claim 15 , wherein the second material is an acrylic-based polymeric material.  
     
     
         18 . The intraocular lens of  claim 16 , wherein the first material is poly methylmethacrylate.  
     
     
         19 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the distal portion is formed of the second material.  
     
     
         20 . An intraocular lens comprising: 
 an optic adapted to focus light toward a retina of an eye; and    at least one fixation member configured to at least assist in supporting the optic in an anterior chamber of the eye, the fixation member including a proximal portion coupled to the optic and a distal contact portion configured to be in contact with eye tissue when the intraocular lens is in use in the eye, the proximal portion including a first region extending in a first direction with respect to the optic, a second region extending in a different second direction with respect to the optic, and a third region joined to the first and second regions;    wherein the first and second regions are formed of a substantially rigid first material, and the third region is formed of a second material which is more flexible than the first material.    
     
     
         21 . The intraocular lens of  claim 20 , wherein the optic is formed of a deformable material and the third region is formed of the same material as the optic.  
     
     
         22 . The intraocular lens of  claim 21 , wherein the deformable material and the first material are acrylic-based polymeric materials.  
     
     
         23 . The intraocular lens of  claim 20 , wherein the first material is an acrylic-based polymeric material.  
     
     
         24 . The intraocular lens of  claim 20 , wherein the second material is an acrylic-based polymeric material compatible with the first material.  
     
     
         25 . The intraocular lens of  claim 23 , wherein the first material is poly methylmethacrylate.  
     
     
         26 . The intraocular lens of  claim 20 , wherein the fixation member has a lateral thickness, and the third region extends through the entire lateral thickness of the fixation member.  
     
     
         27 . The intraocular lens of  claim 26 , wherein the third region is formed entirely of the second material.  
     
     
         28 . The intraocular lens of  claim 20 , wherein the third region is resiliently deformable and is located between and directly joined to both the first and second regions.  
     
     
         29 . The intraocular lens of  claim 20  wherein the optic is deformable and the intraocular lens is configured to be inserted into the eye through a smaller incision relative to an identical intraocular lens without the second material.  
     
     
         30 . The intraocular lens of  claim 20  which includes a plurality of fixation members.  
     
     
         31 . A method of producing an intraocular lens comprising: 
 forming a composite member comprising at least two different materials into an intraocular lens having an optic adapted to focus light toward a retina of an eye, and at least one fixation member configured to at least assist in supporting the optic in an eye, the fixation member including a proximal portion coupled to the optic and a distal portion configured to be in contact with eye tissue when the intraocular lens is in use in the eye, wherein the proximal portion includes at least one first area formed of a substantially rigid first material and at least one second area formed of a second material which is more flexible than the first material.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , which further comprises producing the composite member.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the producing step comprises polymerizing a first monomeric component to obtain the first material, and polymerizing a second monomeric component to obtain the second material.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of polymerizing the first monomeric component includes polymerizing the first monomeric component in a mold to produce a molded object.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein; 
 the producing step further includes a step of forming at least one cavity in the molded object; and    the step of polymerizing the second monomeric component comprises polymerizing the second monomeric component within the at least one cavity.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of forming at least one cavity comprises forming at least one of a circular cavity and an annular cavity.  
     
     
         37 . A method of correcting vision, comprising: 
 providing an intraocular lens in a compressed configuration, the intraocular lens having an optic adapted to focus light toward a retina of an eye, and at least one fixation member configured to at least assist in supporting the optic in an eye, the fixation member including a proximal portion coupled to the optic and a distal portion configured to be in contact with eye tissue when the intraocular lens is in use in the eye, wherein the proximal portion includes at least one first segment formed of a substantially rigid first material and at least one second segment formed of a second material which is more flexible than the first material; and    inserting the compressed intraocular lens through a small incision in the eye.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising positioning the intraocular lens in an anterior chamber of the eye.