Tilt Stabilizing Accommodating Intraocular Lens

Abstract

An intraocular lens for insertion into a capsular bag of an eye. A plurality of flexible connecting members couples a lens optic to a pair of opposing of plate haptics. The coupling members stabilize the optic with respect to the haptics. The coupling members are spaced apart straps having grooves that increase lens response to changes in vitreous pressure.

1 . An intraocular lens for insertion into a capsular bag of an eye, the intraocular lens comprising:
 an optic;   a plurality of opposing plate haptics coupled to the optic;   at least one flexible coupling member associated with each plate haptic, each coupling member coupling the associated plate haptic to the optic;   wherein the coupling members substantially stabilize the optic with respect to the haptics.   
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling members substantially promote displacement of the optic along a normal axis of the eye in response to a vitreous pressure change. 
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling members comprise a plurality of spaced apart, flexible straps. 
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 3 , wherein each of the straps is equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the intraocular lens. 
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling members further comprise at least one groove traversing the coupling member substantially tangential to and partially circumscribing the optic. 
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens of  claim 5 , wherein the groove substantially promotes displacement of the optic along a normal axis of the eye in response to vitreous pressure change. 
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the coupling members further comprise a first surface, and a second surface opposed thereto;   wherein the groove is defined by at least one of: the first surface and the second surface.   
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein each coupling member extends substantially radially from the optic to the haptic. 
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein at least one coupling member is substantially parallel to at least one other coupling member. 
     
     
         10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one aperture associated with each plate haptic, the aperture defined by at least: the optic, the associated plate haptic, and the coupling members. 
     
     
         11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 10 , wherein the aperture substantially promotes displacement of the optic along a normal axis of the eye in response to vitreous pressure change. 
     
     
         12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 ,
 wherein each plate haptic comprises a distal end, and   wherein at least one centration fixation component extends from the distal end to engage the capsular bag.   
     
     
         13 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the optic comprises a periphery;   wherein each plate haptic comprises:
 a proximal end coupled to the optic via the coupling members; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end; and 
 a pair of laterally opposing sides therebetween; and 
   wherein the coupling members further comprise at least one groove parallel to at least one of: the optic periphery, and the proximal end.   
     
     
         14 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the optic is at least one of: biconvex, refractive, diffractive, plano-convex, Fresnel, spheric, toric, multifocal or aspheric. 
     
     
         15 . An accommodating intraocular lens for providing improved vision, the lens comprising:
 a plurality of opposing plate haptics coupled to an optic; and   a plurality of flexible coupling members associated with each plate haptic, each coupling member coupling the associated plate haptic to the optic;   wherein the coupling members substantially stabilize the optic with respect to the haptics; and   wherein the coupling members substantially promote displacement of the optic along a normal axis of the eye in response to a vitreous pressure change.   
     
     
         16 . The intraocular lens of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the coupling members comprise at least one groove traversing the coupling member substantially tangential to and partially circumscribing the optic; and   wherein the at least one groove substantially promotes displacement of the optic along a normal axis of the eye in response to the vitreous pressure change.   
     
     
         17 . The intraocular lens of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one aperture associated with each plate haptic, the aperture defined by at least: the optic, the associated plate haptic, and the coupling members;   wherein the aperture substantially promotes displacement of the eye along a normal axis of the optic in response to vitreous pressure change.   
     
     
         18 . A method of substantially increasing the response of an intraocular lens to a vitreous pressure change of a capsular bag of an eye, the method comprising:
 providing an intraocular lens having:
 an optic having a periphery; 
 a plurality of opposing plate haptics, each plate haptic having a proximal edge coupled to the optic periphery by a plurality of spaced apart flexible coupling members; 
 at least one groove associated with each coupling member, the at least one groove traversing the coupling member substantially tangential to and partially circumscribing the optic periphery; 
 at least one aperture defined by the optic periphery, the proximal edge, and the plurality of coupling members; and 
   causing the plate haptics to engage the capsular bag.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein causing the plate haptics to engage the capsular bag comprises at least one centration fixation component extending from the plate haptic to engage the capsular bag.