Bag-in-the-lens intraocular lens with removable optic and capsular accommodation ring

Abstract

This invention describes an intraocular lens (IOL) design with a removable optic, which can be inserted in and removed from a haptic device. In this haptic the anterior and posterior capsules are sealed in order to have a perfect control over the lens epithelial cell proliferation which is thereby restricted to the peripheral part of the capsular bag. Additionally, a ring caliper is described as new surgical device to allow a precise sizing and centration of the anterior capsulorhexis. The removable optic allows repeatable correction of the eye focusing over time in case the optical parameters of the eye have changed due to a variety of factors. By separating the optic part from the haptic part, the optic part can easily be manufactured in any shape matching the optical errors of the eye, including the optical aberrations. The optic part can be manufactured out of any biomaterial restoring ocular accommodation. The optic part may include prismatic, astigmatic or magnification correction to improve visual performance. The optic part may consist of or include an electronic device for the purpose of artificial vision. In order to further assist the accommodative capabilities of the implant a capsular accommodation ring of specific biomechanical properties is inserted in the capsular equator.

1 . An intraocular lens for bag-in-the-lens implantation in the eye to replace the natural crystalline lens, comprising of: 
 A. a haptic part further comprising (a) two external haptic flanges to delineate an external groove, and (b) two internal haptic flanges to delineate an internal groove;    B. an optic part;    whereby said external groove will accommodate matched anterior and posterior capsules of the lens bag after anterior and posterior capsulorhexis and said internal groove will accommodate said optic part allowing a removal or replacement of said optic part.    
     
     
         2 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  wherein said haptic part and said optic part are made of deformable biomaterials so as to allow insertion of the intraocular lens in a folded condition.  
     
     
         3 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  wherein said haptic part is sufficiently opaque so as to reduce optical edge effects and glare.  
     
     
         4 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  wherein said external flanges of said haptic part are posteriorly angulated with respect to said internal flanges of said haptic part.  
     
     
         5 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  further comprising a transparent barrier, said transparent barrier continuous with the posterior flange of said two internal haptic flanges so as to eliminate the chance of posterior luxation into the vitreous of said optic part.  
     
     
         6 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  wherein said optic part is made of a combination of biomaterials, said combination permitting a better correction of the various optical aberrations of the human eye and magnification for enhanced vision.  
     
     
         7 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  wherein said optic part is made of a combination of optical components, said combination permitting a better correction of the various optical aberrations of the eye and magnification for enhanced vision.  
     
     
         8 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  wherein said optic part contains electro-optic means for the purpose of artificial and enhanced vision.  
     
     
         9 . An intraocular lens according to  claim 1  wherein said optic part contains at least one doped biomaterial, so as to give said optic part a graded index of refraction or medical properties.  
     
     
         10 . A calibrating ring for assisting in intraocular lens implantation, said calibrating ring made of flexible biomaterial of sufficient memory so as to permit unfolding of said ring to its original shape after introduction into the eye.  
     
     
         11 . A capsular accommodation ring to be inserted at the capsular equator and made of a biomaterial having the same biomechanical properties than the said capsular bag so that accommodation can be optimally restored after cataract surgery and insertion of the said bag-in-the-lens intraocular lens or intraocular lens according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . The capsular accommodation ring according to  claim 11  can only be implanted in combination with the bag-in-the-lens intraocular lens or with the intraocular lens according to  claim 1  since said intraocular lenses do not exert any pressure by haptics or any lens adds at the level of the capsular equator.  
     
     
         13 . The capsular accommodation ring according to  claim 11  aims at restoring the physiological curvature of the capsular equator after cataract extraction from which it is understood that the angle of said ring may vary depending on the optical parameters of the eye.  
     
     
         14 . The capsular accommodation ring according to  claim 11  is a U-shaped ring of which the diameter may vary based on the physiological diameter of the natural crystalline lens.  
     
     
         15 . The capsular accommodation ring according to  claim 11  may be open in order to facilitate its insertion and positioning into the capsular bag.