Corneal implant and method of manufacture

Abstract

Prosthetic implants designed to be implanted in the cornea for modifying the cornea curvature and altering the corneal refractive power for correcting myopia, and myopia with astigmatism, such implants formed of a micro-porous hydrogel material.

1 . A corneal implant, comprising: 
 a body formed of an optically clear, biocompatible material having an index of refraction ranging from 1.36 to 1.39, the body having anterior and posterior surfaces, the biocompatible material having micropores sized to act as a barrier against tissue in growth, the micropores adapted to permit nutrient and fluid transfer to prevent tissue necrosis.    
   
   
       2 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the micropores range in diameter from 50 Angstroms to 10 microns.  
   
   
       3 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible material is a microporous hydrogel.  
   
   
       4 . The corneal implant of  claim 3 , wherein the microporous hydrogel has a water content greater than 40% up to approximately 90%.  
   
   
       6 . The corneal implant of  claim 3 , wherein the microporous hydrogel is made from at least one hydrophilic monomer which is polymerized and cross-linked with at least one-multi- or di-olefinic cross-linking agent.  
   
   
       7 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has an outer edge with a thickness less than about 15 micrometers.  
   
   
       8 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has an outer edge thickness being no greater than the dimensions of two keratocytes juxtaposed side-by-side.  
   
   
       9 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body being solid and having two surfaces that are bi-meniscus in shape and joining each other at the periphery of the lens.  
   
   
       10 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is generally circular in shape.  
   
   
       11 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the anterior and posterior surfaces have different radii of curvature.  
   
   
       12 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the anterior surface has a greater radius than the posterior surface.  
   
   
       13 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is of a size greater than the size of the pupil in normal or bright light.  
   
   
       14 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for hyperopia.  
   
   
       15 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for myopia.  
   
   
       16 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for astigmatism.  
   
   
       17 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for presbyopia.  
   
   
       18 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is about 4.5 mm in diameter.  
   
   
       19 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the center of the body is no greater than 50 micrometers thick.  
   
   
       20 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a transition zone between the anterior and posterior surfaces.  
   
   
       21 . The cornmeal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured for multi-focal outer corneal surface correction.  
   
   
       22 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a central power add portion.  
   
   
       23 . The corneal implant of  claim 22 , wherein the central power add portion has a diameter in the range of 1.5-3 mm.  
   
   
       24 . The corneal implant of  claim 22 , wherein a transition zone is formed around the central power add.  
   
   
       25 . The corneal implant of  claim 24 , wherein the transition zone provides a change in power from the central power add to a peripheral base power of the body.  
   
   
       26 . The corneal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has varied thickness thereby providing different diopter powers to correct for an astigmatism.  
   
   
       27 . A corneal implant; comprising: 
 a body formed of an optically clear, biocompatible material having an index of refraction ranging from 1.36 to 1.39,    the body having anterior and posterior surfaces, the body having a center that is no greater than 50 micrometers thick,    the biocompatible material having micropores sized to act as a barrier against tissue in growth, the biocompatible material having a water content greater than 40% up to approximately 90%, and    the micropores adapted to permit nutrient and fluid transfer to prevent tissue necrosis.    
   
   
       28 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is generally circular in shape.  
   
   
       29 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the anterior and posterior surfaces have different radii of curvature.  
   
   
       30 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the anterior surface has a greater radius than the posterior surface.  
   
   
       31 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is of a size greater than the size of the pupil in normal or bright light.  
   
   
       32 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for hyperopia.  
   
   
       33 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for myopia.  
   
   
       34 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for astigmatism.  
   
   
       35 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is shaped to correct for presbyopia.  
   
   
       36 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is about 4.5 mm in diameter.  
   
   
       37 . The corneal implant of claim. 27 , wherein the body has a transition zone between the anterior and posterior surfaces.  
   
   
       38 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body is configured for multi-focal outer corneal surface correction.  
   
   
       39 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body has a central power add portion.  
   
   
       40 . The corneal implant of  claim 39 , wherein the central power add portion has a diameter in the range of 1.5-3 mm.  
   
   
       41 . The corneal implant of  claim 39 , wherein a transition zone is formed around the central power add.  
   
   
       42 . The corneal implant of  claim 41 , wherein the transition zone provides a change in power from the central power add to a peripheral base power of the body.  
   
   
       43 . The corneal implant of  claim 27 , wherein the body has varied thickness thereby providing different diopter powers to correct for an astigmatism.