Apparatus and processes for preventing or delaying one or more symptoms of presbyopia

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and processes for preventing or delaying presbyopia. More particularly, the present invention relates to processes and apparatus for ablating epithelial cells in the germinative zone or the pregerminative zone of the crystalline lens of the eye so that onset or progression of presbyopia or one or more symptoms is delayed or prevented.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for preventing or delaying presbyopia by ablating epithelial cells in a crystalline lens, the process comprising the step of ablating epithelial cells in the germinative zone or the pregerminative zone of the crystalline lens, wherein the epithelial cells are ablated symmetrically. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein ablation points are made in the germinative zone of the crystalline lens. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein ablation points are made in the pregerminative zone of the crystalline lens. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the epithelial cells are ablated along suture lines of the crystalline lens. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein an even number of ablation points are made around the crystalline lens. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline lens has a circumference, and the process comprises making ablation points symmetrically around essentially the entire circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least about 10% of the epithelial cells in the germinative zone of the crystalline lens are ablated. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the epithelial cells are ablated without decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the epithelial cells are ablated without forming a cataract or an astigmatic condition. 
     
     
         10 . A process for preventing or delaying one or more symptoms of presbyopia in a patient, the process comprising the steps of:
 selecting a patient prior to detecting a symptom of presbyopia in the patient, and   ablating epithelial cells in the germinative zone or the pregerminative zone of the crystalline lens.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the patient is selected based on an increased risk factor for presbyopia. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the patient is selected based on age. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for ablating epithelial cells in a crystalline lens, the apparatus comprising:
 a laser source providing laser light radiation; and   a laser delivery system operatively connected to the laser source for receiving the radiation from the laser source and generating a plurality of laser beams.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser provides radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 1400 nm. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser delivery system comprises a fiber optic bundle. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser delivery system comprises a diffractive optic or a binary optic. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser delivery system comprises a focus lens for receiving and focusing the plurality of laser beams. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the laser delivery system comprises a plurality of focus lenses having different focal lengths. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser delivery system comprises a rotator for automatically rotating the plurality of laser beams. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser apparatus comprises an alignment mechanism which provides visible light at the ablation points.