Accommodating intraocular lens assemblies and accommodation measurement implant

Abstract

The present invention pertains to accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) assemblies including a haptics system for self-anchoring implantation in a human eye's annular ciliary sulcus for retaining an AIOL at a desired position along the human eye's visual axis, and an accommodation measurement implant (AMI) for determining accommodation and accommodation forces in an experimental set-up including an animal's eye.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An accommodating intraocular lens (“AIOL”) assembly comprising:
 a main body formed of a rigid material; 
 an optical element supported by the main body and comprising a surface configured to be resiliently deformed to change diopter strength upon application of a compressive force against the optical element; and 
 at least two rigid elements coupled to and extending outward from the main body forming at least two spaced apart, stationary anchor points adapted to retain the AIOL in an eye, 
 wherein the at least two rigid elements each comprise a region capable of being physically altered from outside the eye after implantation for selective adjustment of the optical element relative to the anchor points. 
 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein physically altered comprises plastic deformation resulting in in situ displacement of the optical element from an initial position to a desired position within the eye. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the at least two rigid elements are coupled to the main body such that the at least two rigid elements form an initial acute angle subtended with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein physically altered comprises a plastic deformation of the region of the at least two rigid elements changing the initial acute angle to a second angle. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the second angle is less acute than the initial acute angle. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the plastic deformation results in displacement of the optical element along a visual axis of the eye. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the region of each of the at least two rigid elements are located adjacent the optical element. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the region of each of the at least two rigid elements are impregnated with a radiation sensitive bio-compatible chemical. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the chemical comprises an infrared sensitive dye. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the region of each of the at least two rigid elements are physically altered by plastic deformation on heating to a glass transition temperature higher than a normal temperature of the eye. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the normal temperature is approximately 36° C. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein heating is performed by irradiation with selective electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the glass transition temperature does not damage internal structures of the eye. 
     
     
         39 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein each of the at least two rigid elements comprises a penetrating member. 
     
     
         40 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the selective adjustment compensates for capsular contraction against the AIOL. 
     
     
         41 . The assembly of  claim 26 , whereby relaxation of the eye's ciliary body urges the capsular diaphragm against the AIOL from a posterior direction. 
     
     
         42 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the region is a radiation sensitive region capable of plastic deformation on in situ irradiation with selective electromagnetic radiation for enabling in situ selective displacement of the optical element to a desired position along a visual axis of the eye relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points. 
     
     
         43 . The assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the radiation sensitive region is adjacent the main body. 
     
     
         44 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the AIOL has a natural low Diopter strength and relation of the ciliary body of the eye increases the Diopter strength. 
     
     
         45 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the AIOL has a natural high Diopter strength and relation of the ciliary body of the eye decreases the Diopter strength.