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 comprising: a single flexible optic having anterior and posterior sides; and haptics comprising at least two portions extending from the optic, the portions having inner ends adjacent the optic and outer ends distal to the optic, the optic being movable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the outer ends of the haptics, and the portions having fixation members at the outer ends of the portions.  
   
   
       2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the portions are spaced equidistant about the optic.  
   
   
       3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the portions are haptic plates.  
   
   
       4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein each portion comprises a plate haptic with at least one finger at the distal end of the portion.  
   
   
       5 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the portions are resiliently bendable throughout a portion of their length.  
   
   
       6 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the optic, portions, and fixation members are integrally formed.  
   
   
       7 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge between the inner ends of the portions and the optic.  
   
   
       8 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the portions include a thinned area thereby forming a hinge.  
   
   
       9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible hinges are formed by a groove.  
   
   
       10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein said portions and fixation members comprise T-shaped haptics.  
   
   
       11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the anterior side of the optic is slightly convex or relatively flat and the posterior side of the optic has a relatively steep convex curvature.  
   
   
       12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the optic anterior and posterior sides are symmetrically biconvex in shape.  
   
   
       13 . An accommodating intraocular lens comprising: a single flexible optic having anterior and posterior sides; and at least two haptics extending from the optic, the haptics having inner ends adjacent the optic and outer ends distal to the optic, the lens being flexible to enable the optic to move anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the outer ends of the haptics, and the haptics have at least one fixation member at the outer ends of the haptics;  
   
   
       14 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the outer ends of the haptics have a curved edge.  
   
   
       15 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the haptics are resiliently bendable throughout a portion of their length.  
   
   
       16 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the optic, haptics, and fixation members are integrally formed.  
   
   
       17 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the optic and haptics are made from different materials.  
   
   
       18 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , further comprising a hinge attaching the haptic inner ends to the optic.  
   
   
       19 . The intraocular lens of  claim 18 , wherein the hinges are formed by a thinned area of the haptic.  
   
   
       20 . The intraocular lens of  claim 18 , wherein the hinges are formed by a groove.  
   
   
       21 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the haptics are T-shaped haptics.  
   
   
       22 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the haptics are haptic plates.