Variable strength intraocular lens and method of using same

Abstract

The present disclosure provides intraocular artificial lenses having a variable optical strength and methods of treating an eye disorder, such as presbyopia, using same. In some embodiments, the intraocular artificial lens comprises two optical elements that are moveable along the optical axis in relation to each other, for example in response to the accommodative process of the eye.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a subject having an eye disorder, the method comprising:
 removing a lens from the eye;   inserting a lens complex into the eye, the lens complex comprising:
 an anterior segment comprising an anterior lens, 
 a posterior segment comprising a posterior lens and a haptic plate portion, wherein the haptic plate portion substantially surrounds an optical zone, and 
 at least one spring in contact with the anterior segment and the posterior segment to provide a separation distance between the anterior lens and the posterior lens; 
   inserting a ciliary haptic complex into the eye, the ciliary haptic complex comprising:
 a central ring, 
 a first ciliary muscle haptic extending outwardly from the central ring, and 
 a second ciliary muscle haptic extending outwardly from the central ring; 
   contacting ciliary muscle of the eye with the first ciliary muscle haptic and with the second ciliary muscle haptic;   positioning the central ring against an inferior side of the anterior lens to form a variable optical strength intraocular lens;   calibrating the variable optical strength intraocular lens;   inserting the entire variable strength intraocular lens as a single piece preassembled before implantation into the eye; and   after insertion of the folded ciliary haptic complex into the eye, the ciliary haptic complex is unfolded.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the central ring comprises:
 positioning a first portion of the central ring against a first portion of the inferior side of the anterior lens; and   sliding a second portion of the central ring over the anterior lens and against a second portion of the inferior side of the anterior lens.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ciliary muscle haptics each comprise:
 at least one ciliary muscle plate at a peripheral end;   a first ciliary muscle plate connected to the central ring by a first ciliary haptic shaft and a second ciliary muscle plate connected to the central ring by a second ciliary haptic shaft;   an adjustment band associated with each pair of first and second ciliary haptic shaft for enabling adjustment of a length of each pair of first and second ciliary haptic shaft; and   the ciliary muscle is in contact with the first ciliary muscle haptic and with the second ciliary muscle haptic at substantially opposing points of the ciliary muscle   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of calibrating the variable optical strength intraocular lens comprises:
 a) obtaining a wavefront aberrometer reading from the eye;   b) sliding at least one of the adjustment bands to adjust the relative length of at least one pair of the first and second ciliary haptic shafts to best suit the state of resting action of the ciliary muscles; and   c) repeating steps a) and b) if needed to avoid myopic shift when the ciliary muscle are in a relaxed state.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein,
 before the step of inserting the ciliary haptic complex into the eye, the ciliary haptic complex is folded across a fold plane of the central ring defined by two discrete areas having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the remainder of the central ring; 
 the two discrete areas having a smaller diameter are located at substantially opposing regions of the central ring; and 
 the two discrete areas having a smaller diameter are offset from first and second attachment zones, wherein the first attachment zone is defined by a junction between the first ciliary haptic shaft and the central ring and the second attachment zone is defined by a junction between the second ciliary haptic shaft and the central ring. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting the ciliary muscle with the first ciliary muscle haptic and with the second ciliary muscle haptic comprises:
 contacting a first location of the ciliary muscle with at least one ciliary muscle plate positioned at a peripheral end of the first ciliary muscle haptic;   thereafter contacting a second location of the ciliary muscle with at least one ciliary muscle plate positioned at a peripheral end of the second ciliary muscle haptic; and   wherein the first location of the ciliary muscle is substantially opposite from the second location of the ciliary muscle.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 folding the lens complex before the step of inserting the lens complex into the eye; and 
 unfolding the lens complex after the step of inserting the lens complex into the eye. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the eye disorder is presbyopia. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the eye disorder is a cataract. 
     
     
         10 . Use of the variable optical strength intraocular lens of  claim 1  to treat an eye disorder such as presbyopia and cataract. 
     
     
         11 . A variable optical strength intraocular lens comprising:
 a lens complex comprising:
 an anterior segment comprising an anterior lens, 
 a posterior segment comprising a posterior lens portion and a haptic plate portion, wherein the haptic plate portion substantially surrounds an optical zone, 
 at least one spring in contact with the anterior segment and the posterior segment to provide a separation distance between the anterior lens and the posterior lens, 
 at least one spring comprises one, two, three, four, or more than four springs having a C-shaped cross-section; and 
   a ciliary haptic complex comprising:
 a central ring, 
 a first pair of ciliary muscle haptics extending outwardly from the central ring, 
 a second pair of ciliary muscle haptics extending outwardly from the central ring, 
 wherein upon insertion into an eye, the central ring is in contact with an inferior side of the anterior lens and the first pair of ciliary muscle haptics and the second pair of ciliary muscle haptics are in communication with ciliary muscle of the eye and wherein contraction of the ciliary muscle causes the separation distance between the anterior lens and the posterior lens to increase; 
 an anterior lens segment comprising an anterior lens and a first and second ciliary muscle haptic extending from a posterior surface of the anterior lens; and 
 a posterior segment comprising a posterior lens segment comprising a haptic plate and a posterior lens wherein the haptic plate substantially surrounds an optical zone having a perimeter, at least two circumferential springs positioned on an anterior surface of the posterior lens segment at the perimeter of the optical zone, and (c) an anterior lens receptacle adapted to receive the anterior lens, wherein the anterior lens receptacle is in contact with the at least two circumferential springs. 
   
     
     
         12 . The variable optical strength intraocular lens complex of  claim 11  wherein the anterior lens receptacle has a curved edge of substantially the same radius of curvature as the anterior lens and/or the optical zone. 
     
     
         13 . The variable optical strength intraocular lens complex of  claim 12  wherein the haptic plate comprises 1 to a small plurality of anchoring points.