Tensioning rings for anterior capsules and accommodative intraocular lenses for use therewith

Abstract

A tensioning device for attaching to the anterior capsule of an eye, and accommodative intraocular lens systems employing the device. The tensioning device includes a biocompatible, elastically reconfigurable ring for restoring at least a portion of the anterior capsule centripetal forces lost by capsulorhexis. The tensioning device also includes a plurality of penetrators configured for attaching the ring to the anterior capsule. The plurality of penetrators is biocompatible with the eye and partially embedded in a part of the ring configured for facing the anterior capsule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spacer-actuator for implantation into a capsule of an eye from which a crystalline lens has been extracted via an anterior capsulorhexis and into which an accommodatively biased accommodative intraocular lens has been implanted, the spacer-actuator comprising:
 a foldable ring further comprising an anterior face configured for contacting the anterior capsule and a posterior face configured for contacting a plurality of substantially equally spaced haptics of the lens, whereby the spacer-actuator maintains separation between the anterior capsule and a posterior capsule and couples an anterior-posterior translation of the anterior capsule to the haptics to effect accommodation and disaccomodation of the lens.   
     
     
         2 . The spacer-actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer-actuator is affixed to the haptics. 
     
     
         3 . The spacer-actuator of  claim 1 , wherein configuration of the anterior face of the spacer-actuator further comprises the same plurality of bending grooves and slots. 
     
     
         4 . The spacer-actuator of  claim 1 , wherein each of the haptics further comprises a lens-proximal accommodatively biasing bending groove. 
     
     
         5 . The spacer-actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the lens further comprises a lens support structure, the lens is retained by the structure and the haptics are one of fixedly affixed to and integral with the structure.