Accommodating Intraocular Lens

Abstract

A deformable intracapsular implant device for shaping an enucleated lens capsule sac for use in cataract procedures and refractive lensectomy procedures. In one embodiment, the intraocular implant devices rely on thin film shape memory alloys and combine with the post-phaco capsular sac to provide a biomimetic complex that can mimic the energy-absorbing and energy-releasing characteristics of a young accommodative lens capsule. In another embodiment, the capsular shaping body is combined with an adaptive optic. The peripheral capsular shaping body carries at least one fluid-filled interior chamber that communicates with a space in a adaptive optic portion that has a deformable lens surface. The flexing of the peripheral shaping body in response to zonular tensioning and de-tensioning provides an inventive adaptive optics mechanism wherein fluid media flows between the respective chambers “adapts” the optic to increase and decrease the power thereof. In one embodiment, the capsular shaping body carries a posterior negative power adaptive optic that can be altered in power during accommodation to cooperate with an independent drop-in exchangeable intraocular lens.

1 . A method of providing an accommodative response to ciliary muscle movement in an eye, comprising:
 an accommodating intraocular lens comprising an optic portion that refracts light;   rolling or folding the intraocular lens;   introducing the rolled or folded intraocular lens into the eye through a small incision in the eye; and   providing accommodation to the intraocular lens by allowing a refractive element of the optic portion to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein allowing a refractive element of the optic portion to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement comprises allowing fluid to flow between a peripheral non-optic portion of the intraocular lens and the optic portion in response to ciliary muscle movement to change the curvature of the refractive element. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein allowing a refractive element of the optic portion to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement comprises allowing an anterior-most surface of the optic portion to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle contraction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein allowing an anterior-most surface of the optic portion to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement comprises allowing a fluid to flow between a peripheral non-optic portion of the intraocular lens and a fluid chamber in the optic portion in response to ciliary muscle movement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein allowing an anterior-most surface of the optic portion to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement comprises allowing the anterior-most surface of the optic portion to increase in curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein introducing the rolled or folded intraocular lens into the eye comprises introducing the intraocular lens into a lens capsule. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein allowing a refractive element of the optic portion to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement comprises allowing the refractive element to change curvature in response to forces applied to a peripheral portion of the intraocular lens by the capsule in response to ciliary muscle movement. 
     
     
         8 . An accommodating intraocular lens, comprising:
 a deformable optic portion adapted to refract light, wherein the optic portion is adapted to be folded or rolled for insertion into an eye through a small incision,   wherein the optic portion comprises a refractive element adapted to change curvature in response to ciliary muscle movement to provide accommodation after unfolding or unrolling in the eye.   
     
     
         9 . The accommodating intraocular lens of  claim 8  further comprising a peripheral non-optic portion extending peripherally from the optic portion. 
     
     
         10 . The accommodating intraocular lens of  claim 9  wherein the peripheral non-optic portion is sized to fit within and engage with a lens capsule, and is further adapted to deform in response to ciliary muscle movement to change the curvature of the refractive element. 
     
     
         11 . The accommodating intraocular lens of  claim 8  further comprising a non-optic portion comprising a fluid chamber, wherein the optic portion comprises a fluid chamber in communication with the non-optic portion fluid chamber, and wherein the non-optic portion is adapted to respond to forces thereon to transfer fluid between the non-optic portion chamber and the optic portion chamber to change the curvature of the refractive element. 
     
     
         12 . The accommodating intraocular lens of  claim 11  wherein the non-optic portion comprises a plurality of haptics, wherein each of the haptics comprises a chamber in fluid communication with the fluid chamber in the optic portion. 
     
     
         13 . The accommodating intraocular lens of  claim 8  further comprises a non-optic peripheral portion extending from the optic portion, wherein the peripheral non-optic portion has a thickness along the optical axis greater than a thickness of the optic portion along the optical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The accommodating intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the non-optic peripheral portion comprises a plurality of discrete haptics, and wherein each of the plurality of discrete haptics has a thickness along the optical axis that is greater than the thickness along the optical axis of the optic portion. 
     
     
         15 . The accommodating intraocular lens of  claim 13  wherein the non-optic peripheral portion is sized to fit within a lens capsule.