Accommodating intraocular lens

Abstract

An accommodating intraocular lens to be implanted within the natural capsular bag of a human eye from which the natural lens matrix has been removed through an anterior capsule opening in the bag circumferentially surrounded by an anterior capsular remnant. During a postoperative healing period following surgery, the anterior capsular remnant fuses to the posterior capsule of the bag by fibrosis about haptics on the implanted lens while the ciliary muscle is maintained in its relaxed state by a cycloplegic to prevent dislocation of the lens, and the lens is deflected rearwardly by the fibrosing anterior capsular remnant to a distant vision position against the elastic posterior capsule of the bag in which the posterior capsule is stretched rearwardly. After fibrosis is complete, natural brain-induced contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle relaxes and stretches the fibrosed anterior remnant and increases and reduces vitreous pressure in the eye to effect vision accommodation by the remnant, the posterior capsule, and vitreous pressure.

1 . An accommodating intraocular lens wherein the lens comprises flexible lens body having normally anterior and posterior sides, including a single solid biconvex optic said lens body, having two or more flexible haptics extending from opposite edges of the optic such that the lens body configured to be urged anteriorly toward its near vision position toward the iris during accommodation when the ciliary muscle contracts, and the lens being sized to be implanted into the capsular bag of the eye.  
   
   
       2 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens is configured to move forward and backward relative to the outer ends of the extending haptics along the axis of the eye with ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation.  
   
   
       3 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the optic is configured to move forward and backwards relative to the outer ends of the extending haptics along the axis of the eye with ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation.  
   
   
       4 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , which in uniplanar.  
   
   
       5 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , which is vaulted forward.  
   
   
       6 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , which is vaulted backwards.  
   
   
       7 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , which is multi planar.  
   
   
       8 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , which is made from different materials.  
   
   
       9 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , whereby the extending portions are flexible plate haptics.  
   
   
       10 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics are tapered end-wise in width.  
   
   
       11 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics are tapered in thickness.  
   
   
       12 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the outer ends of the haptics are bounded along their outer ends by spring loops.  
   
   
       13 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens has springs in the form of U-shaped hoops.  
   
   
       14 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the fixation elements are generally U-shaped loops of biologically insert material.  
   
   
       15 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens has centration nipples projection end-wise from the outer ends of the lens haptics.  
   
   
       16 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , whereby the lens body is configured to be urged posteriorly to its distance vision position by the posterior bias of the capsular rim when the ciliary muscle relaxes and anteriorly towards its near vision position during accommodation by the stretched posterior capsule and increase in vitreous cavity pressure when the ciliary muscle contracts.  
   
   
       17 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , whereby projections extend outwardly anteriorly from the plate haptic surface.  
   
   
       18 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens has two pairs of flexible haptics extending from opposite sides of the optic the two pairs of flexible haptics being located diametrically opposite one another.  
   
   
       19 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens has four haptics being slender, curved arms and symmetrically tapered from relatively wide inner ends, which are joined to the lens optic, to relatively narrow outer ends.  
   
   
       20 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 18 , where at the outer ends of the haptics are enlarged knobs.  
   
   
       21 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 18 , where the inner ends of the haptics are grooves which form flexible hinges about which the haptics are flexible anteriorly and posteriorly of the optic.  
   
   
       22 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens had a pair of spring loops at each end.  
   
   
       23 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics have relatively wide outer end portions and inwardly tapered central portions, the width of the inner haptic end portions measured transverse to the length of the lens is substantially less than the diameter of the optic, the inner end portions effectively forming bridges between the optic and the wide outer major portions of the haptics, and the outer ends of the haptics are spring arms which extend laterally across the outer haptic ends and are resiliently flexible.  
   
   
       24 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the optic is offset anteriorly relative to the haptics.  
   
   
       25 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , such that the outer ends of the flexible haptics can move anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic with changes in vitreous cavity pressure, internal elastic strain, and posterior capsule elasticity.  
   
   
       26 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics are joined at the inner ends to the optic by hinge-like junctions allowing the haptics to move anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic.  
   
   
       27 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics are resiliently flexible and the anterior posterior movement of the haptics relative to the optic involves resilient flexing or bending of the haptics.  
   
   
       28 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics are plate haptics.  
   
   
       29 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the outer ends of the haptics have fixation means.  
   
   
       30 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens comprises a body which is formed of relatively hard material.  
   
   
       31 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens body is of relatively flexible semi-rigid material.  
   
   
       32 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the lens is made of a combination of both hard and soft materials, including one of silicone, hydrogels, or thermoliable material as soft materials.  
   
   
       33 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the outer ends of the haptics are movable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic.  
   
   
       34 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics are flexible about hinges anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic.  
   
   
       35 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 33 , where the haptics have hinges formed by grooves.  
   
   
       36 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the haptics are tapered end-wise in width and thickness.  
   
   
       37 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 1 , where the outer ends of the lens haptics have raised shoulders.  
   
   
       38 . An accommodating intraocular lens wherein the lens comprises a flexible lens body having normally anterior and posterior sides, including a flexible optic, said lens body having two or more radially extending portions from the optic such that the lens is configured to move anteriorly with contraction of the ciliary body of the eye, and the lens being sized to be implanted into the capsular bag of the eye such that contractions of the ciliary muscle causes the lens within the capsular bag behind the iris to move forward towards the iris with its contraction.  
   
   
       39 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the lens is sized to not be in contact with the ciliary muscle through the capsular bag wall.  
   
   
       40 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the lens can move anteriorly and posteriorly.  
   
   
       41 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the optics can move anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the outer ends of the extending portion.  
   
   
       42 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein internal elastic strain causes the lens to move anteriorly.  
   
   
       43 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein posterior capsule elasticity causes the lens to move anteriorly.  
   
   
       44 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the optic is configured to move forward and backwards with ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation.  
   
   
       45 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 44  wherein the optic is configured to move along the axis of the eye relative to the outer ends of the extending portions.  
   
   
       46 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  which is uniplanar.  
   
   
       47 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  which is vaulted forward.  
   
   
       48 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  which is vaulted backwards.  
   
   
       49 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  which is multiplanar.  
   
   
       50 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  which is made from different materials.  
   
   
       51 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions are plate haptics.  
   
   
       52 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extended portions are plate haptics with hinges.  
   
   
       53 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions are plate haptics with a narrowing of the plate junctions adjacent to the optic.  
   
   
       54 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein constriction of the ciliary muscle produces forward movement of the lens optic within the capsular bag towards the iris for near vision.  
   
   
       55 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions comprise four diametrically opposite structures.  
   
   
       56 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions are plate haptics with raised shoulders at their outer ends on either or both surfaces.  
   
   
       57 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein two or more extending portions comprise plate haptics with a groove across the plate haptic adjacent to the optic.  
   
   
       58 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions have knobs at the corners of the distal ends.  
   
   
       59 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein two or more extending portions have lateral fixation devices which comprise loops.  
   
   
       60 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein two or more extending portions have lateral fixation devices which comprise openings.  
   
   
       61 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions include hinged plate haptics with laterally extending flexible fixation fingers.  
   
   
       62 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the lens has extended hinged portions comprising plate haptics which include laterally extending flexible fixation fingers at their outer ends which may be made of material different from that of the haptic plates.  
   
   
       63 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  which has flexible or relatively rigid hinged plate haptics with haptic openings connected at their outer ends with an arch.  
   
   
       64 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions comprise two pairs of small haptics extending oppositely from the optic and a loop extending between each pair of haptics that is secured to the haptics.  
   
   
       65 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the optic is located posteriorly tot eh outer ends of the extending portions.  
   
   
       66 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions comprise plates flexible throughout their length whereby the optic is anterior to the outer ends of the plates.  
   
   
       67 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions comprise plates haptics with projections extending forward of the plate haptics.  
   
   
       68 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the extending portions comprise plate haptics which have one or more resilient springs at their distal ends.  
   
   
       69 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the optic is biconvex.  
   
   
       70 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the optic has a relatively flat front surface and a posterior surface with a smaller radius of curvature.  
   
   
       71 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  having a plurality of relatively small extension portions or haptic plates having hinges into which loops extend between each pair of the small plates haptics.  
   
   
       72 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  having a plurality of relatively small extension portions or haptic plates having hinges into which loops extend between each pair of the small plate haptics at the end of each loop there is an arcuate transverse portion extending at an acute angle from the transverse portion.  
   
   
       73 . An accommodating lens according to  claim 38  wherein the lens is sized to be in contact with the ciliary muscle through the capsular bag wall.  
   
   
       74 . An accommodating intraocular lens comprising a flexible body including an optic to be placed within a capsular bag of the eye the optic having anterior and posterior sides and the lens having two or more extending portions from the optic, the extending portions having at their distal ends fixation devices such that the intraocular lens has four or more fixation points for centration and fixation in the periphery of a capsular bag of the eye, and the optic being adapted to move anteriorly upon ciliary muscle constriction.  
   
   
       75 . A lens as in  claim 74 , wherein the fixation devices comprise enlarged knobs.