Materials for use in intraocular lens system

Abstract

There is disclosed an accommodating intraocular lens for implantation in an eye having an optical axis. The lens comprises an anterior portion which in turn comprises an anterior viewing element and an anterior biasing element. The lens further comprises a posterior portion which in turn comprises a posterior viewing element in spaced relationship to the anterior viewing element and a posterior biasing element. The anterior portion and posterior portion meet at first and second apices of the intraocular lens. The anterior portion and the posterior portion and/or the apices are responsive to force thereon to cause the separation between the viewing elements to change. Additional embodiments and methods are also disclosed.

1 . An accommodating intraocular lens having variable refractive power, said lens comprising a shape memory material having an anterior portion and a posterior portion, said lens changing shape in response to action of the ciliary muscle, said anterior and posterior portions flattening towards each other to an unaccommodated state when the ciliary muscle relaxes and bulging away from each other to an accommodated state when the ciliary muscle contracts.  
   
   
       2 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said anterior portion comprises an anterior optical surface;    said posterior portion comprises a posterior optical surface; and    said lens further comprises a biasing structure formed of a shape-memory material and interconnecting said anterior optical surface and said posterior optical surface with respect to each other.    
   
   
       3 . The lens of  claim 2 , wherein said lens system further comprises an anterior optic and a posterior optic, and said anterior optical surface comprises an anterior surface of said anterior optic, and said posterior optical surface comprises a posterior surface of said posterior optic.  
   
   
       4 . The lens of  claim 2 , wherein said shape-memory material comprises a shape-memory alloy.  
   
   
       5 . The lens system of  claim 4 , wherein said shape-memory alloy comprises nitinol.  
   
   
       6 . The lens system of  claim 4 , wherein said shape-memory alloy comprises an iron-based alloy.  
   
   
       7 . An accommodating intraocular lens comprising a shape memory material, said lens having a pair of spaced refractive surfaces, the configuration of the shape memory material being altered in response to action of the ciliary muscle such that the spacing between the refractive surfaces is altered.  
   
   
       8 . The lens system of  claim 7 , wherein said spaced refractive surfaces comprise and anterior optical surface and a posterior optical surface which are moveable between an unaccommodated state and an accommodated state in which said surfaces are farther apart than in said unaccommodated state, said lens system biases said surfaces toward said accommodated state.  
   
   
       9 . The lens system of  claim 7 , wherein said spaced refractive surfaces comprise an anterior surface of an anterior optic, and a posterior surface of a posterior optic.  
   
   
       10 . An accommodating intraocular lens system comprising: 
 an anterior optical surface;    a posterior optical surface; and    a biasing structure interconnecting said anterior optical surface and said posterior optical surface with respect to each other;    said anterior optical surface being moveable relative to said posterior optical surface via deformation of said biasing structure, and in response to ciliary muscle action;    wherein said biasing structure is formed of a shape-memory material.    
   
   
       11 . The lens system of  claim 10 , wherein said anterior optical surface and said posterior optical surface are moveable between an unaccommodated state and an accommodated state in which said surfaces are farther apart than in said unaccommodated state, and said biasing structure biases said surfaces toward said accommodated state.  
   
   
       12 . The lens system of  claim 10 , wherein said lens system further comprises an anterior optic and a posterior optic, and said anterior optical surface comprises an anterior surface of said anterior optic, and said posterior optical surface comprises a posterior surface of said posterior optic.  
   
   
       13 . The lens system of  claim 10 , wherein said shape-memory material comprises a shape-memory alloy.  
   
   
       14 . The lens system of  claim 13 , wherein said shape-memory alloy comprises nitinol.  
   
   
       15 . The lens system of  claim 13 , wherein said shape-memory alloy comprises an iron-based alloy.  
   
   
       16 . An accommodating intraocular lens system comprising: 
 an anterior optical surface; and    a posterior optical surface;    said anterior optical surface and said posterior optical surface being moveable relative to each other in response to ciliary muscle action;    wherein at least a portion of said lens system is formed of a shape-memory material.    
   
   
       17 . The lens system of  claim 16 , wherein said lens system further comprises an anterior optic and a posterior optic, and said anterior optical surface comprises an anterior surface of said anterior optic, and said posterior optical surface comprises a posterior surface of said posterior optic.  
   
   
       18 . The lens system of  claim 16 , further comprising an elastic element interconnecting said anterior optical surface and said posterior optical surface, said elastic element being formed from said shape-memory material.  
   
   
       19 . The lens system of  claim 16 , wherein said anterior optical surface and said posterior optical surface are moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration in which said surfaces are farther apart than in said first configuration, and said lens system biases said surfaces toward said second configuration.  
   
   
       20 . The lens system of  claim 16 , wherein said shape-memory material comprises a shape-memory alloy.  
   
   
       21 . The lens system of  claim 20 , wherein said shape-memory alloy comprises nitinol.  
   
   
       22 . The lens system of  claim 20 , wherein said shape-memory alloy comprises an iron-based alloy.