Intraocular lens

Abstract

An intraocular lens includes a body lens and a plurality of lens-centering filaments extending outwardly in a common plane from spaced rim portions of the lens body. The lens is particularly adapted for implantation in the eye posterior chamber after extracapsular cataract extraction. When the filament ends are inserted into the cleft of the capsule, the resilience of the filaments centers the lens behind the pupil. An annular lip having at least one opening projects from the rear face of the lens body and seats against the posterior capsule. A discission can be easily performed without dislodging the lens by inserting the discission instrument through the opening in the lip and into the space behind the lens. The lip also limits the progress of vitreous humor toward the anterior chamber after a discission, and may limit lens fiber growth on the posterior capsule within the lip region. In an optional embodiment, fluid flow channels are provided through the lens to prevent pupillary block.

I claim: 
     
       1. An intraocular lens useful for implantation in the capsule of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body,   a plurality of pliant lens-centering filaments extending outwardly from edge portions of said lens body, the loci of the distal ends of said filaments being circular and having a diameter approximating that of said capsule, said filaments being insertable in the cleft of said capsule, the resilience of said filamens centering said lens body behind the pupil of said eye, and   a substantially annular ridge extending rearwardly from said lens body, said ridge seating against the posterior capsule when said lens is implanted in said capsule, a section of said ridge being missing to permit the insertion of a discission instrument therethrough.   
     
     
       2. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens body is substantially plano-convex, said ridge extending from the planar face thereof. 
     
     
       3. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein said edge portions each comprise a haptic section, said filaments extending from said haptic sections. 
     
     
       4. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein said filaments are arranged in two groups projecting from diametrically opposed edge portions of said lens body. 
     
     
       5. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein said filaments all are disposed in a common plane. 
     
     
       6. An intraocular lens accordng to claim 1 wherein each of said filaments has a rounded or knob-like free end. 
     
     
       7. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 having at least one fluid flow channel extending therethrough, and terminating in the central frontal region of said lens body. 
     
     
       8. An intraocular lens comprising: a lens body,   a plurality of pliant lens-centering filaments extending outwardly from edge portions of said lens body, and   at least one small pointed prong projecting from the front surface of said lens body, said at least one prong limiting the potential contact between said lens and the cornea of an eye to the tip area of said at least one prong.   
     
     
       9. An intraocular lens intended for implantation within the human eye, comprising: a body of transparent material, said body having a central optical region configured to provide requisite dioptic power,   at least two spaced sets of pliant hairs projecting generally radially outwardly from spaced rim sections of said body, said hairs all being substantially coplanar, said hairs being bendable in said plane to engage a peripheral region within said eye, the resiliency of said pliant hairs centering said optical region with respect to said eye peripheral region, and   an annular projecting .Iadd.only .Iaddend.rearwardly from the central optical region of said body, said lip seating against the posterior capsule when said lens is implanted in the capsule of an eye after extracapsular cataract extraction, said lip spacing said lens from said posterior capsule.   
     
     
       10. An intraocular lens according to claim 9 and having at least one opening in said lip, said opening and the space behind said lens body permitting the insertion therethrough of an instrument to perform a discission without dislodging said lens. 
     
     
       11. An intraocular lens according to claim 9 wherein each of said pliant hairs is loop or U-shaped. 
     
     
       12. A posterior chamber intraocular lens intended for implantation in the capsule of an eye after extracapsular cataract extraction, comprising: a lens body,   centering means attached to said lens body for situating said lens in a central position within said capsule, and   a generally annular lip projecting rearwardly from the rear face of said lens body, said lip being adapted to contact the posterior capsule and to space said rear face away therefrom, there being an opening in said lip through which a discission instrument may be inserted without dislodging said lens. .Iadd. 13. A posterior chamber intraocular lens intended for implantation in the capsule of an eye after extracapsular cataract extraction, comprising:   a lens body,   centering means attached to said lens body for situating said lens in a central position within said capsule, and   a generally annular lip projecting only rearwardly from the rear face of said lens body, said lip being adapted to contact the posterior capsule and to space said rear face away therefrom. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A posterior chamber intraocular lens intended for implantation in the capsule of an eye after extracapsular cataract extraction, comprising:   a lens body, and   a generally annular lip projecting rearwardly from the rear face of said lens body, said lip being unitary with said lens body and adapted to contact the posterior capsule and to space said rear face away therefrom. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. A posterior chamber intraocular lens intended for implantation in the capsule of an eye after extracapsular cataract extraction, comprising:   a lens body, and   a lip unitary with and projecting rearwardly from the rear face of said lens body, said lip being adapted to contact the posterior capsule and to space said rear face away therefrom. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A posterior chamber intraocular lens according to claim 15 wherein said lip extends sufficiently around the circumference of said lens body to act as a barrier to the growth of Elschnig's pearls. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A posterior chamber intraocular lens intended for implantation in the capsule of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising:   a lens body, and   a projecting integral with said lens body and extending rearwardly behind the rear face of said lens body, said projection being adapted to contact the posterior capsule and to space said rear face away therefrom, and   centering means, separate from said projection and attached to said lens body, for centering said lens within said chamber with said projection in contact with said posterior capsule. .Iaddend.