Accommodating intraocular lens having T-shaped haptics

Abstract

An accommodating intraocular lens having anteriorly and posteriorly movable extended portions, such as T-shaped haptics, extending from a central optic to be implanted within a natural capsular bag of a human eye with the extended portions positioned between an anterior capsular rim and a posterior capsule of the bag, whereby during a post-operative healing period, fibrosis occurs about the extended portions to fixate the lens in the bag in a manner such that subsequent natural contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle moves the optic to provide vision accommodation of increased accommodation amplitude and diopters of accommodation.

1 . An accommodating intraocular lens for implantation into a generally circular inner surface of an eye, comprising: 
 (a) a lens body having an optic and having at least two haptics,    (b) each of the haptics including an outer portion with an outer surface adapted to engage the generally circular inner surface of the eye, at least part of said outer surface extending beyond the diameter of the generally circular inner surface of the eye when said outer portion is in its unstressed state, said outer portion being flexible and not conforming to the generally circular inner surface of the eye until subjected to compressive forces so that the outer surface will conform generally to the shape of the inner surface of the eye when subjected to said compression forces upon implantation; and    (c) the optic being moveable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the haptics in response to forces imparted to the lens through contraction and expansion of the generally circular inner surface of the eye.    
   
   
       2 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein each haptic is a plate haptic.  
   
   
       3 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the haptics and lens body are formed from different optical material.  
   
   
       4 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic is circular.  
   
   
       5 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein two or more haptics extend from opposite sides of the optic.  
   
   
       6 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the haptics include opposed longitudinal edges that are parallel to each other.  
   
   
       7 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the haptics include opposed longitudinal edges that taper inwardly as they extend from the optic.  
   
   
       8 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the haptics include upper and lower surfaces that taper inwardly as they extend from the optic.  
   
   
       9 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein each haptic includes an outer end and said outer portion includes a pair of fingers extending from the outer end.  
   
   
       10 . The lens of  claim 9  wherein the fingers are formed integrally with each haptic.  
   
   
       11 . The lens of  claim 9  wherein the fingers are attached to the outer end of each haptic.  
   
   
       12 . The lens of  claim 9  wherein the fingers extend from opposite sides of each haptic.  
   
   
       13 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the haptics have hinge portions including at least one cylindrically rounded surface with a central bore and at least one notch, 
 the optic has hinge portions including at least one cylindrically rounded surface with a central bore and at least one notch,    wherein the haptic rounded surface fits rotatably with the optic hinge portion notch, and the optic rounded surface fits rotatably with the haptic hinge portion notch.    
   
   
       14 . The lens according to  claim 2  having extending portions from the plates which are T shaped.  
   
   
       15 . The lens according to  claim 1  having a hinge across the haptic adjacent to the optic.  
   
   
       16 . The lens according to  claim 1  having a thinned area across the haptic adjacent to the optic.  
   
   
       17 . The lens according to  claim 1  wherein the optic for distance vision is anterior to the outer ends of the haptics and moves further anteriorly for near vision.  
   
   
       18 . The lens according to  claim 1  wherein the optic is posterior to the outer ends of the haptics and moves anteriorly, but not to a uniplanar position, for near vision.  
   
   
       19 . The lens of  claim 13  further comprising a hinge pin extending through aligned bores in the haptic portions and optic hinge portions.  
   
   
       20 . An accommodating intraocular lens for implantation into a generally circular inner surface of the eye, comprising: 
 (a) an optic,    (b) at least two optic hinge portions attached to the periphery of said optic,    (c) at least two haptics pivotally connected to said optic hinge portions, said haptics adapted to engage the generally circular inner surface of the eye for holding the lens in the eye;    (d) each of the haptics including an outer portion with an outer surface adapted to engage the generally circular inner surface of the eye, at least part of said outer surface extending beyond the diameter of the generally circular inner surface of the eye when said outer portion is in its unstressed state, said outer portion being flexible and not conforming to the generally circular inner surface of the eye until subjected to compressive forces so that the outer surface will conform generally to the shape of the inner surface of the eye when subjected to said compression forces upon implantation; and    (e) the haptics being pivotally moveable through a certain angle anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic in response to forces imparted to the lens through contraction and expansion of the generally circular inner surface of the eye.    
   
   
       21 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein the haptics are detachably removable from the optic hinge portions.  
   
   
       22 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein each haptic is a plate haptic.  
   
   
       23 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein the haptics and optic are formed from different material.  
   
   
       24 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein the optic is circular.  
   
   
       25 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein two haptics extend from opposite sides of the optic.  
   
   
       26 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein the haptics include opposed longitudinal edges that are parallel to each other.  
   
   
       27 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein the haptics include opposed longitudinal edges that taper inwardly as they extend from the optic.  
   
   
       28 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein the haptics include upper and lower surfaces that taper inwardly as they extend from the optic.  
   
   
       29 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein each haptic includes an outer end and said outer portion includes a pair of fingers extending from the outer end.  
   
   
       30 . The lens of  claim 29  wherein the fingers are formed integrally with each haptic.  
   
   
       31 . The lens of  claim 29  wherein the fingers are attached to the outer end of each haptic.  
   
   
       32 . The lens of  claim 29  wherein the fingers extend from opposite sides of each haptic.  
   
   
       33 . The lens of  claim 20  wherein the haptics include at least one cylindrically rounded surface with a central bore and at least one notch, 
 the optic has hinge portions including at least one cylindrically rounded surface with a central bore and at least one notch,    wherein the haptic rounded surface fits rotatably with the optic hinge portion notch, and the optic rounded surface fits rotatably with the haptic notch.    
   
   
       34 . The lens of  claim 33  further comprising a hinge pin extending through aligned bores in the haptic and the optic hinge portions.  
   
   
       35 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic can start in an anterior position, move forward, and return to its original anterior position, moving anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the outer ends of the haptics.  
   
   
       36 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic can start posteriorly to the outer ends of the haptics, and move anteriorly, and be posterior to the outer ends of the haptics, and return to its original position for accommodation.  
   
   
       37 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the optic can start posteriorly to the outer ends of the haptics, and move anteriorly, anterior to the outer ends of the haptics for accommodation.