Intraocular lens with reinforcing layer

Abstract

A flexible intraocular lens including a reinforcing layer disposed on a sidewall of the intraocular lens is described. An example flexible intraocular lens includes a lens body and a reinforcing layer disposed thereon.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 casting a reinforcing layer;   casting a lens body from a flexible material, wherein the lens body is coupled to a portion of the reinforcing layer at an inner surface of the lens body, and wherein a material that forms the reinforcing layer has a higher elastic modulus than the flexible material;   depositing a conducting layer on at least a portion of the reinforcing layer; and   depositing a dielectric layer on the flexible conducting layer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein casting the reinforcing layer comprises embedding fibers in a polymeric matrix. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein casting the reinforcing layer comprises casting a polymer layer having an elastic modulus higher than the flexible material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising performing an adhesion promoting process on at least the reinforcing layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising casting at least a second reinforcing layer coupled to the lens body. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 depositing a contact pad on a first portion of the second reinforcing layer, the contact pad formed from an electrically conductive material; and   depositing an electrical interconnect on a second portion of the second reinforcing layer between the contact pad and the conducting layer, the electrical interconnect formed from an electrically conductive material.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcing layer is configured to reversibly bend over a small radius and resist stretching or compression of the conductor. 
     
     
         23 . An intraocular lens, comprising:
 a lens body having at least one inner surface, wherein the lens body is formed from a flexible material amenable to implantation into an eye;   a plurality of particles disposed on the at least one inner surface, wherein a portion of the lens body proximate to the at least one inner surface has a higher elastic modulus than a portion of the flexible material opposite the at least one inner surface;   a conductor carried by the at least one inner surface, wherein the conductor is electrically coupled to adjust electrowetting behavior of the intraocular lens; and   a dielectric layer disposed over the conductor.   
     
     
         24 . The intraocular lens of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of particles includes a plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         25 . The intraocular lens of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of fibers is embedded into the portion of the lens body proximate to the at least one inner surface. 
     
     
         26 . The intraocular lens of  claim 24 , wherein the conductor is disposed directly on the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         27 . The intraocular lens of  claim 24 , wherein the conductor conformably coats the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         28 . The intraocular lens of  claim 24 , wherein fibers of the plurality of fibers have an average smallest dimension of between about 1 nm and about 400 nm. 
     
     
         29 . The intraocular lens of  claim 23 , wherein the conductor covers less than all of the plurality of particles. 
     
     
         30 . The intraocular lens of  claim 23 , wherein the lens body has an anterior side and a posterior side and recesses formed in the anterior and posterior sides, wherein the at least one inner surface defines an aperture through the lens body, and wherein the at least one inner surface is at an oblique angle to the anterior and posterior sides of the lens body. 
     
     
         31 . The intraocular lens of  claim 30 , further comprising a first optical window and a second optical window disposed in the recesses formed in the anterior and posterior sides of the lens body, respectively, and covering the aperture. 
     
     
         32 . The intraocular lens of  claim 31 , further comprising two immiscible liquids disposed in the aperture of the lens body, wherein a voltage applied to the conductor alters a wetting characteristic of the dielectric layer to cause an interface between the two immiscible liquids to change an optical power of the intraocular lens. 
     
     
         33 . The intraocular lens of  claim 23 , wherein the conductor comprises a self-healing material. 
     
     
         34 . The intraocular lens of  claim 23 , wherein the lens body is flexibly capable of being rolled for insertion into an eye, and wherein the conductor does not crack or separate from the at least one inner surface when the intraocular lens is rolled. 
     
     
         35 . A method of forming an intraocular lens, the method comprising:
 applying a plurality of fibers on a portion of a mold configured to form an at least one inner surface of a lens body of the intraocular lens;   casting a flexible material over the plurality of fibers;   depositing a conducting layer on the at least one inner surface; and   depositing a dielectric layer on the conducting layer.