Apparatus, system and method for providing a coating for an implanatable lens

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for coating an implantable lens. The apparatus, system and method may include at least one coating layer applied to at least one surface of the optic of the implantable lens, wherein the coating layer at least partially protects the optic at least during the implantation, and wherein the coating layer is removable following implantation. The coating layer may include a lubricant and/or medication and may be in the form of a biodegradable polymer and/or a film.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an implantable lens having an optic;   at least one coating layer applied to at least one surface of the optic, wherein said coating layer is capable of at least partially protecting the optic at least during implantation;   wherein said coating layer is capable of removal following the implantation.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said coating layer comprises a lubricant. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional coating layer applied to a second surface of the optic, wherein said additional coating layer is capable of at least partially protecting the second surface of the optic. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one coating layer comprises a film. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said film is inert. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said film comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said film comprises a tab. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises a deformable optic. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said coating layer comprises a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said biodegradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said biodegradable polymer comprises an impregnated medication. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application to the at least one surface of the optic comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an adhesion, a contact force, and an impregnation. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said coating layer comprises multiple layers. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capability of removal comprises one selected from the group consisting of mechanical removability and chemical removability. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capability of removal comprises degradation over a predefined time period comprising one selected from the group consisting of a range of about a day to multiple years, and an approximation of a healing time from the implantation. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second implantable lens. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said lens is an accommodating lens. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lens further comprises a haptic comprising at least one haptic coating layer that is chemically distinct from said at least one coating layer. 
     
     
         19 . A method of maintaining characteristics of an intraocular lens, comprising:
 coating the intraocular lens with at least one of a protective coating, a protective medicinal coating, and a medicinal coating prior to implantation;   enabling the implantation of the intraocular lens; and   removing at least one selected from the group consisting of the protective coating, the protective medicinal coating, and the medicinal coating after the implantation.   
     
     
         20 . An intraocular lens suitable for implantation into an eye, said lens comprising:
 an optic for improving at least one vision characteristic of the eye;   a haptic for supporting said optic within the eye; and   at least one coating layer associated with at least one of said optic and said haptic, wherein said at least one coating layer at least partially protects the at least one of said optic and said haptic at least during the implantation.