Intraocular lens systems and related methods

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to intraocular lens systems having a plurality of materials therein, with at least some of the materials having a diffraction pattern therein and an electrically-modifiable index of refraction collectively configured to selectively alter the focal length of the intraocular lens system. Methods of modifying a focal length of an intraocular lens system are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intraocular lens for being implanted in an eye, the intraocular lens comprising:
 a diffractive lens configured to be implanted in an eye of a subject, the diffractive lens including,
 a first material having,
 a first index of refraction; 
 a first outer surface; and 
 a first diffraction surface defining a first diffraction pattern; 
 
 a second material having,
 a second index of refraction; 
 a second outer surface remote from and generally opposing the first outer surface of the first material; and 
 a second diffraction surface defining a second diffraction pattern, wherein the second diffraction pattern is substantially complementary to the first diffraction pattern; 
 
   a first electrode coupled to the first outer surface of the first material; and   a second electrode coupled to the second outer surface of the second material; and   a refractive lens disposed optically in series with the diffractive lens;   wherein at least one of the first material, the second material, or the refractive lens exhibits an electrically-modifiable index of refraction.   
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1  wherein when the first and second electrodes are biased, the electrically-modifiable index of refraction of at least one of the first material, the second material, or the refractive lens can be modified along with a focal length of the intraocular lens. 
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first material and the second material have substantially the same DC dielectric constant. 
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first material, the second material, or the refractive lens includes at least one of lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, lead zirconate titanate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, or cadmium telluride. 
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first material, the second material, or the refractive lens includes a solid state electro-optical material. 
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , w wherein the at least one of the first material, the second material, or the refractive lens includes a liquid crystal. 
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive lens exhibits a substantially fixed index of refraction. 
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive lens is positioned proximate to the first outer surface of the first material or the second outer surface of the second material. 
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 8 , wherein one surface of the refractive lens is positioned adjacent either to the first electrode or to the second electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive lens defines one of the first electrode or the second electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 10 , wherein the refractive lens includes an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive lens includes an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         13 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive lens is disposed between the first material and the second material of the diffractive lens. 
     
     
         14 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the refractive lens includes a diffraction pattern that generally matches the first diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens and the second diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens. 
     
     
         15 . The intraocular lens of  claim 13 , wherein the refractive lens exhibits a curvature that generally matches respective curvatures of the first material of the diffractive lens and the second material of the diffractive lens. 
     
     
         16 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode is substantially planar. 
     
     
         17 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer surface of the first material and the second outer surface of the second material are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         18 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first outer surface of the first material and the second outer surface of the second material is substantially planar. 
     
     
         19 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer surface of the first material and the second outer surface of the second material have a substantially identical curvature. 
     
     
         20 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface between the first material and the second material that includes a substantially identical curvature as the second outer surface of the second material. 
     
     
         21 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface between the first material and the second material that includes a substantially identical curvature as the first outer surface of the first material. 
     
     
         22 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second electrodes is substantially transparent to visible wavelength light. 
     
     
         23 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the diffractive lens has a first focal length when the first and second electrodes are not biased and a second focal length when the first and second electrodes are biased. 
     
     
         24 . The intraocular lens of  claim 23 , wherein the first focal length is greater than the second focal length. 
     
     
         25 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens and second diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens define a Fresnel lens. 
     
     
         26 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens is defined by a thickness variation of the first material. 
     
     
         27 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the second diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens is defined by a thickness variation of the second material. 
     
     
         28 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens and the second diffraction pattern of the diffractive lens have substantially identical spatial periodicity. 
     
     
         29 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operably coupled to the first and second electrodes, the controller configured to bias the first and second electrodes to modify at least one of the first material, the second material, or the refractive lens and a focal length of the intraocular lens system. 
     
     
         30 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional diffractive lens in series with the diffractive lens. 
     
     
         31 . An intraocular lens system, comprising:
 a diffractive lens configured to be implanted in an eye of a subject, the diffractive lens including,
 a first material having,
 a first index of refraction; 
 a first outer surface; and 
 a first diffraction surface defining a first diffraction pattern; 
 
 a second material having,
 a second index of refraction; 
 a second outer surface remote from and generally opposing the first outer surface of the first material; and 
 a second diffraction surface defining a second diffraction pattern, wherein the second diffraction pattern is substantially complementary to the first diffraction pattern; 
 
   a first electrode coupled to the first outer surface of the first material; and   a second electrode coupled to the second outer surface of the second material; and   a refractive lens disposed optically in series with the diffractive lens and positioned proximate to the first outer surface of the first material or the second outer surface of the second material;   a controller operably coupled to the first and second electrodes, the controller configured to bias the first and second electrodes to modify an index of refraction of at least one of the first material, the second material, or the refractive lens and a focal length of the intraocular lens system.   
     
     
         32 . The intraocular lens system of  claim 31 , wherein the refractive lens includes an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         33 . The intraocular lens system of  claim 31 , wherein the first electrode or the second electrode is coupled to the refractive lens. 
     
     
         34 . An intraocular lens device for being implanted in an eye, the intraocular lens comprising:
 a diffractive lens configured to be implanted in an eye of a subject, the diffractive lens including,
 a first material having,
 an electrically-modifiable first index of refraction; 
 a first outer surface; and 
 a first diffraction surface defining a first diffraction pattern; 
 
 a second material having,
 a second index of refraction; 
 a second outer surface remote from and generally opposing the first outer surface of the first material; and 
 a second diffraction surface defining a second diffraction pattern, wherein the second diffraction pattern is substantially complementary to the first diffraction pattern; 
 
   a first electrode disposed adjacent to the first outer surface of the first material; and   a second electrode disposed adjacent to the second outer surface of the second material;   wherein at least one of the first material or the second material includes an electro-optical material, and the second material includes an electrically-modifiable second index of refraction; and   a power source coupled to the first and second electrodes, the power supply configured to bias the first and second electrodes to modify at least the electrically-modifiable first index of refraction of the first material and a focal length of the intraocular lens.   
     
     
         35 . The intraocular lens of  claim 34 , wherein the power source includes a micro-battery. 
     
     
         36 . The intraocular lens of  claim 34 , wherein the micro-battery includes a thin film battery. 
     
     
         37 . The intraocular lens of  claim 34 , wherein the power source includes a parasitic power device configured to harvest energy from a subject having the intraocular lens implanted therein. 
     
     
         38 . The intraocular lens of  claim 37 , wherein the parasitic power device includes an induction coil or a thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         39 . The intraocular lens of  claim 37 , wherein the parasitic power device includes an induction coil configured to produce current from a changing magnetic field applied thereto. 
     
     
         40 . The intraocular lens of  claim 37 , wherein the parasitic power device is configured to charge a battery or a capacitor. 
     
     
         41 . The intraocular lens of  claim 34 , wherein the power source includes one or more photocells configured to harvest optical energy received from ambient lighting. 
     
     
         42 . The intraocular lens of  claim 34 , wherein the one or more photocells is configured to charge a battery or a capacitor.