U.S. patent application number 10/224088 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-19 for accommodating multifocal intraocular lens.
This patent application is currently assigned to Vision Pharmaceuticals L.P.. Invention is credited to Laguette, Stephen W., Lang, Alan J., Portney, Valdemar.
Application Number | 20020193876 10/224088 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22698651 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020193876 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lang, Alan J. ; et
al. |
December 19, 2002 |
Accommodating multifocal intraocular lens
Abstract
Intraocular lenses include a lens body sized and adapted for
placement in a mammalian eye and having a plurality of different
optical powers, and a movement assembly joined to the lens body and
adapted to cooperate with the mammalian eye to effect accommodating
movement of the lens body in the eye. Such intraocular lenses
provide enhanced accommodation relative to the accommodation
attainable using a single optical power IOL adapted for
accommodating movement.
Inventors: |
Lang, Alan J.; (Long Beach,
CA) ; Portney, Valdemar; (Tustin, CA) ;
Laguette, Stephen W.; (Santa Barbara, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STOUT, UXA, BUYAN & MULLINS LLP
4 VENTURE, SUITE 300
IRVINE
CA
92618
US
|
Assignee: |
Vision Pharmaceuticals L.P.
2525 Dupont Drive
Irvine
CA
92612
|
Family ID: |
22698651 |
Appl. No.: |
10/224088 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10224088 |
Aug 20, 2002 |
|
|
|
09822040 |
Mar 30, 2001 |
|
|
|
09822040 |
Mar 30, 2001 |
|
|
|
09189758 |
Nov 10, 1998 |
|
|
|
6231603 |
|
|
|
|
09822040 |
Mar 30, 2001 |
|
|
|
09812054 |
Mar 19, 2001 |
|
|
|
6447520 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
623/6.24 ;
623/6.28; 623/6.37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 2/1648 20130101;
A61F 2/1654 20130101; B29D 11/026 20130101; A61F 2/1618 20130101;
A61F 2/1629 20130101; A61F 2/1613 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
623/6.24 ;
623/6.28; 623/6.37 |
International
Class: |
A61F 002/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An intraocular lens comprising: a lens body sized and adapted
for placement in a mammalian eye, and having a plurality of
different optical powers; and a movement assembly joined to the
lens body and adapted to cooperate with the mammalian eye to effect
accommodating movement of the lens body in the eye.
2. The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein the lens body has a
first optical power for near vision and a second optical power for
far vision.
3. The intraocular lens of claim 2 wherein the lens body has a
third optical power intermediate between the first and second
optical powers.
4. The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein the lens body includes a
plurality of different regions each having an optical power.
5. The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein the movement assembly
comprises at least one biasing member coupled to the lens body.
6. The intraocular lens of claim 5 wherein the biasing member
comprises a spring member.
7. The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein the lens body includes a
plurality of annular regions extending radially outwardly from the
central axis of the lens body.
8. The intraocular lens of claim 7 wherein the movement assembly
comprises at least one biasing member coupled to the lens body.
9. The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein the movement assembly is
adapted to cooperate with the ciliary muscle and/or the zonules of
the mammalian eye and/or with the vitreous pressure in the eye to
effect accommodating movement of the lens body in the eye.
10. The intraocular lens of claim 9 wherein the movement assembly
is adapted to cooperate with the ciliary muscle to move the lens
body toward a first position relative to the retina of the eye when
the ciliary muscle is relaxed and toward a different second
position relative to the retina of the eye when the ciliary muscle
is contracted.
11. The intraocular lens of claim 10 wherein the second position of
the lens body enhances near vision.
12. The intraocular lens of claim 10 wherein the movement assembly
comprises at least one biasing member coupled to the lens body.
13. The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein the movement assembly
comprises at least one fixation member including a proximal end
region coupled to the lens body and distal end region extending
away from the lens body and adapted to contact a capsular bag of
the mammalian eye.
14. The intraocular lens of claim 7 wherein the movement assembly
comprises at least one fixation member including a proximal end
region coupled to the lens body and distal end region extending
away from the lens body and adapted to contact a capsular bag of
the mammalian eye.
15. The intraocular lens of claim 10 wherein the movement assembly
comprises at least one fixation member including a proximal end
region coupled to the lens body and distal end region extending
away from the lens body and adapted to contact a capsular bag of
the mammalian eye.
16. A combination comprising: a lens body sized and adapted for
placement in a mammalian eye, and having a plurality of different
optical powers; a movement assembly joined to the lens body and
adapted to cooperate with the mammalian eye to effect accommodating
movement of the lens body in the eye; and a lens element adapted
for implantation in a capsular bag of the eye.
17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the lens element is adapted
for implantation in a substantially fixed position in the capsular
bag of the eve.
18. The combination of claim 16 wherein the lens element is adapted
to reduce cell growth in the capsular bag of the mammalian eye.
19. The combination of claim 15 wherein the lens element has a
single optical power.
20. The combination of claim, 15 wherein both the lens body and the
lens element are adapted for implantation in the capsular bag of
the mammalian eye with the lens body being located anterior of the
lens element.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to intraocular lenses
(IOLs). More particularly, the invention relates to IOLs which have
a plurality of optical powers and, in addition, are adapted to
provide accommodating movement in the eye.
[0002] The human eye includes an anterior chamber between the
cornea and iris, a posterior chamber, defined by a capsular bag,
containing a crystalline lens, a vitreous chamber behind the lens
containing the vitreous humor, and a retina at the rear of this
chamber. The human eye has a natural accommodation ability. The
constriction or contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle
provides the eye with near and distant vision, respectively. This
ciliary muscle action shapes the natural crystalline lens to the
appropriate optical configuration for focussing light rays entering
the eye on the retina.
[0003] After the natural crystalline lens is removed, for example,
because of cataract or other condition, a conventional, monofocal
IOL can be placed in the posterior chamber. Such a conventional IOL
has very limited, if any, accommodating ability. However, the
wearer of such an IOL continues to require the ability to view both
near and far (distant) objects. Corrective spectacles may be
employed as a useful solution. Recently multi-focal IOLs without
accommodating movement have been used to provide vision
correction.
[0004] Attempts have been made to provide IOLs with accommodating
movement along the optical axis of the eye as an alternative to
shape changing. Examples of such attempts are set forth in Levy
U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,691 and several patents to Cumming, including
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,674,282 and 5,496,366. The disclosure of each of
these patents is incorporated herein by reference. One problem that
exists with IOLs which are adapted for accommodating movement
toward and away from the retina of the eye is that such IOLs often
cannot move sufficiently to obtain the desired accommodation
because of space constraints within the eye. The present inventors
are unaware of any so-called accommodating IOL which provides the
desired degree of accommodation.
[0005] It would be advantageous to provide IOLs adapted for
accommodating movement which can achieve an increased amount of
accommodation with readily attainable amounts of accommodating
movement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] New accommodating IOLs have been discovered. The present
IOLs provide enhanced accommodation with a relatively limited, and
readily attainable amount of accommodating movement. The present
accommodating IOLs take advantage of one or more components and/or
other features of the eye to provide for the accommodating
movement. For example, accommodating movement can be provided by
action of the ciliary muscle of the eye and/or of the zonules of
the eye and/or by the vitreous pressure within the eye. Further,
the optic or lens body of the IOL has a plurality of different
optical powers, that is it is multifocal. Such lens body can be
refractive or diffractive.
[0007] The combination of an IOL which is adapted to cooperate with
the eye to provide accommodating movement and a multifocal lens
body provides substantial advantages. For example, the multifocal
lens body allows substantially enhanced effective or apparent
accommodation with a readily attainable amount of accommodating
movement in the eye. By providing an IOL having a near vision
correction power, as well as an intermediate and/or baseline and/or
far vision correction power, enhanced apparent accommodation, for
example, on the order of about 3.5 diopters of accommodation,
particularly for viewing near objects, is readily obtained with
relatively limited amounts of accommodating movement of the IOL. In
addition, the accommodating movement of the present IOLs preferably
provides for enhanced intermediate vision and an advantageously
greater range of near vision as compared with current multifocal
IOLs which are not adapted for substantial accommodating movement.
The present IOLs are straightforward in construction, employ
conventional or standard IOL materials of construction, are easy to
produce and implant in the eye and provide outstanding results.
[0008] In one broad aspect of the invention, IOLs are provided
which comprise a lens body sized and adapted for placement in a
mammalian, for example, human, eye. This lens body has a plurality
of different optical powers, that is the lens body is multifocal.
The IOLs further include a movement assembly which is joined to the
lens body of the IOL. The movement assembly is adapted to cooperate
with the mammalian eye to effect accommmodating movement of the
lens body in the eye. Thus, the wearers of the present IOLs are
provided with accommodation benefits obtained from the multifocal
lens body and accommodating movement of the lens body.
[0009] In one useful embodiment, the lens body has a first optical
power for near vision and a second optical power for far vision.
Optionally, the transition between the near vision optical power
and the far vision optical power may be progressive. The lens body
may have a third optical power intermediate between the first and
second optical powers.
[0010] The lens body preferably includes a plurality of different
regions each having a different optical power. In one very useful
embodiment, the lens body includes a plurality of annular zones
extending radially outwardly from the central or optical axis of
the lens body. The lens body of the present IOLs can have the
optical characteristics of the optics of Portney U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,898,461 and 5,225,858, the disclosure of each of which is
incorporated by reference herein.
[0011] The movement assembly preferably is adapted to cooperate
with the ciliary muscle and/or the zonules of the mammalian eye
and/or with the vitreous pressure in the eye to effect
accommodating movement of the lens body in the eye. More
preferably, the movement assembly is adapted to cooperate with the
ciliary muscle and/or zonules of the mammalian eye and/or with the
vitreous pressure in the eye to move the lens body toward a first
position relative to the retina of the eye, for example, when the
ciliary muscle is relaxed, and toward a different second position,
for example, when the ciliary muscle is constricted or contracted.
The first position of the lens body preferably enhances far vision
whereas the second position of the lens body preferably enhances
near vision. In one embodiment, the movement assembly comprises at
least one biasing member, and preferably a plurality of biasing
members, coupled to the lens body. The biasing member can be a
spring or similar element. The movement assembly can be as
disclosed in Levy U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,691, noted previously.
[0012] The movement assembly may comprise at least one fixation
member, and preferably a plurality of fixation members, including a
proximal end region coupled to the lens body and a distal end
region extending away from the lens body and adapted to contact a
capsular bag, for example, the posterior capsular bag, of the
mammalian eye. In this embodiment, the action of the eye, for
example, the ciliary muscle and/or the zonules, preferably acts
directly on the fixation member or members which transfer the force
to the lens body causing the accommodating movement of the lens
body. A representative movement assembly including fixation members
is set forth in the above-noted Cumming patents. One or more
different approaches can be employed to couple the distal end
region of the fixation member to the capsular bag. Examples of such
approaches include the use of adhesives, fibrosis of the capsular
bag, suturing and the like surgical techniques, and combinations
thereof. If fixation member or members are used to transfer the
force of the eye to the lens body to effect accommodating movement,
preferably the fixation member or members are secured, more
preferably fixedly secured, to the eye, and in particular, to the
capsular bag of the eye.
[0013] In another broad aspect of the present invention,
combination lens systems are provided which include an IOL, as
discussed above, including a multifocal lens body and a movement
assembly; and, in addition, a lens element adapted for implantation
in the eye; preferably in a substantially fixed position in the
eye, for example, adapted for implantation in the capsular bag of
the eye, more preferably in contact with the capsular bag, for
example, the posterior capsular bag or the equator of the capsular
bag, of the eye.
[0014] The lens element preferably is adapted to reduce cell growth
in the posterior capsular bag in the space defined by the capsular
bag of the eye. Thus, the lens element is effective in reducing
secondary opacification which may occur as the result of the
implantation of the IOL.
[0015] Each of the lens body and the lens element of the
above-noted lens combination has an optical axis and a maximum
cross sectional area perpendicular to the optical axis. The lens
element may have a larger or smaller maximum cross sectional area
perpendicular to the optical axis than does the lens body. The
relatively large or wide lens element facilitates inhibiting the
growth of cells in the space formed by the capsular bag. Such
inhibition preferably is sufficient to allow the multifocal lens
body to effectively provide the desired vision correction to the
wearer of the lens combination without substantial interference
from such cell growth. The lens element preferably has a single
optical power. Preferably, both the intraocular lens and the lens
element of the combination are adapted for implantation in the
posterior capsular bag of the mammalian eye with the lens body
being located anterior of the lens element. To provide an enhanced
degree of stability between the IOL and the lens element, one or
more filaments or other structure(s) may be located between the
lens body and lens element to facilitate substantial alignment
between these two components.
[0016] Any feature or combination of features described herein is
included within the scope of the present invention provided that
the features of any such combination are not mutually
inconsistent.
[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention
are set forth in the following description and claims, particularly
when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which like parts bear like reference numerals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an intraocular lens in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the intraocular lens
shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a plot of the power of the lens body of the IOL
shown in FIG. 1 versus distance from the optical axis of the
IOL;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of an eye in which
the intraocular lens of FIG. 1 has been implanted;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of an eye in which a
lens combination according to the present invention has been
implanted;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of
an intraocular lens in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an intraocular lens (IOL)
according to the present invention, shown generally at 10, includes
a multifocal lens body 12 having a plurality of optical powers, as
described hereinafter. Radially extending struts 16 are molded
integrally with the lens body 12 and are terminated at their outer
ends by arcuate rim portions 18. The struts 16 are long enough so
that the rim portions 18 are in light pressure contact with the
perimeter of the posterior capsular bag when the lens 10 is
implanted in the eye.
[0025] The lens body 12 may be constructed of rigid biocompatible
materials, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or flexible,
deformable materials, such as silicone polymeric material, acrylic
polymeric material, hydrogel polymeric material and the like, which
enable the lens body to be rolled or folded for insertion through a
small incision into the eye. Although the lens body 12 as shown is
a refractive lens body, the present IOLs can include a diffractive
lens body and such embodiment is included within the scope of the
present invention.
[0026] With particular reference to FIG. 3, the lens body 12 has a
central zone 28, inner and outer annular near zones 29 and 30 and
annular far zones 31, 32 and 33. In this embodiment, the central
zone 28 is circular and the peripheries of the annular zones 29-33
are circular. The annular zones 29-33 circumscribe the central zone
28 and the zones are contiguous. The zones 29-33 are concentric and
coaxial with the lens body 12.
[0027] The zones 28-33 are used in describing the vision correction
power of the lens body 12, and they are arbitrarily defined. Thus,
the peripheries of the zones and the number of zones may be
selected as desired. Although the boundaries of the zones are
indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 1, it should be understood that
the lens body 12 has no such lines in any of its surfaces and that
these lines are provided for illustrative purposes.
[0028] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lens body 12 has a
convex anterior surface 25 and a planar posterior surface 27;
however, these configurations are merely illustrative. Although the
vision correction power may be placed on either of the surfaces 25
or 27, in this embodiment, the anterior surface 25 is appropriately
shaped to provide the desired vision correction powers.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows the preferred manner in which the vision
correction power of the lens body 12 varies from the center of
optical axis 39 of the optic to the circular outer periphery 41 of
the optic. In FIG. 3, the vertical or "Y" axis represents the
variation in diopter power of the lens body 12 from the baseline or
far vision correction power, and the "X" or horizontal axis shows
the distance outwardly from the optical axis 39 in millimeters.
Thus, the zero-diopter or baseline power of FIG. 3 is the power
required for far vision for an IOL. The power variation shown in
FIG. 3 is applicable to any radial plane passing through the
optical axis 39. In other words, the power at any given radial
distance from the optical axis 39 is the same.
[0030] The central zone 28 extends from the optical axis 39 to a
circular periphery 43, the inner annular near zone 29 is considered
as extending from the periphery 43 to a circular periphery 44, and
the outer annular near zone is considered as extending from a
periphery 45 to a periphery 46. The annular far zone 31 extends
between the peripheries 44 and 45, and the annular far zone 32
extends from the periphery 46 radially outwardly to a periphery 47.
The annular zone 33 extends from the periphery 47 radially
outwardly to the outer periphery 41 of the lens body 22. As shown
in FIG. 3, the vision correction power crosses the "X" axis or
baseline at the peripheries 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the vision correction power varies from
a negative diopter power at the optical axis 39 through a baseline
diopter correction power to an apex 48 and then decreases
continuously and progressively from the apex 48 back through the
baseline diopter correction to another negative diopter power at a
point 49. The negative diopter powers at the optical axis and the
point 49 are of less power than is required for far vision and may
be considered as far, far vision correction powers. From the point
49, the vision correction power increases through the periphery 43
into the inner annular near zone 29. Of course, the diopters shown
on the ordinate in FIG. 3 are merely exemplary, and the actual
correction provided by the plurality of optical powers will vary
and depends, for example, on the amount of accommodating movement
obtained and on the needs of the patient.
[0032] The apex 48 has a vision correction power for intermediate
vision. The intermediate vision correction may be considered as
being in a zone 50 which may be between 0.5 and 0.75 diopters from
the baseline diopter power. The far vision correction powers may be
considered as lying between the zone 50 and the baseline diopter
correction, and the far, far vision correction powers are negative.
The intermediate, far and far, far powers combine to provide a mean
power in the central zone 28 for far vision.
[0033] Within the inner annular near zone 29, the vision correction
power varies from the periphery 43 to a plateau 51, and from the
plateau, the vision correction power varies back to the periphery
44 at the baseline. In the far zone 31, the vision correction power
increases very slightly above the baseline and then proceeds to a
far, far negative vision correction power at a point 53 at which
the vision correction power reverses and returns to the baseline at
the periphery 45.
[0034] In the outer annular near zone 30, the power varies from the
periphery 45 to a plateau 55 and returns from the plateau 55 to the
baseline at the periphery 46. In the far zone 32, the power dips
slightly below the baseline to a point 57 in the far, far
correction region and then returns to the baseline at the outer
periphery 47. The dips below the baseline to the points 53 and 57
in the far zones 31 and 32 help support the increased depth of the
focus of the central zone 28.
[0035] The far zone 33 has a vision power that lies along the
baseline and is configured for far vision. The zone 33, which lies
radially outwardly of a diameter of about 4.7 mm, is only usable in
poor light conditions when the pupil is vary large. Under poor
lighting conditions such as this, far vision is all that is
normally required.
[0036] The inner near zone 29 has regions adjacent the peripheries
43 and 44 with far vision correction powers and a second region,
which includes the plateau 51 with near vision correction powers.
Similarly, the outer near zone 30 has regions adjacent the
peripheries 45 and 46 with far vision correction powers and a
second region, which includes the plateau 55, with near vision
correction powers. For example, the near vision powers may be those
which are above about 2 or 2.5 diopters. The 2 to 2.5 diopters
correspond to about 20 to about 16 inches, respectively, of working
distance, and this distance corresponds to the beginning of near
activities.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the these "near" regions has a
major segment, i.e., the plateaus 51 and 55 in which the near
vision correction power is substantially constant. The plateau 51,
which lies radially inwardly of the plateau 55, has a greater
radial dimension than the plateau 55. The difference in radial
dimensions of the plateaus 51 and 55 allows these two plateaus to
have approximately the same area.
[0038] It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the vision correction power
of the central zone is continuously variable and that the vision
correction power of the entire optic, except for the plateaus 51
and 55 is continuously variable. The apex 48 is the greatest
diopter power of the central zone 28, and the negative diopter
power at the optical axis 39 and the points 40, 53 and 57 is
blended smoothly with the vision correction powers radially
outwardly thereof.
[0039] With reference to FIG. 4, when the ciliary muscle 64
contracts, as it normally does when the eye tries to focus on a
nearby object, it drives the outer ends of the struts 16 radially
inwardly thus forcing the lens body 12 forwardly, away from the
retina. As the ciliary body 64 relaxes the struts 16 act as springs
to retract the lens body 12 back to its original position for
distance focus.
[0040] Because the lens body 12 is multifocal, the combined
accommodating effects of the movement of the lens body and its
multifocal characteristics provide enhanced accommodation. Enhanced
apparent accommodation for near vision, for example, relative to a
similarly configured IOL having only a monofocal vision correction
adapted for accommodating movement, is achieved. Also, the combined
accommodating movement/multifocal characteristics of the present
IOL are particularly effective in providing intermediate vision,
that is vision between near objects and far objects, and enhance
the range of the near vision as compared with a similar multifocal
IOL which does not provide for accommodating movement.
[0041] A lens system comprising IOL 110 and posterior lens element
72 is illustrated in FIG. 5. IOL 110 is structured and functions
similarly to IOL 10. Components of IOL 110 which correspond to
components of IOL 10 are identified with the same reference numeral
increased by 100.
[0042] Posterior lens element 72 is positioned centrally within the
capsule 70 in contact with the posterior wall 74 thereof. It
remains in this position, for example because of one or more
fixation members. To illustrate, fixation members, in the form of
filaments 73 of polypropylene or the like polymeric materials,
coupled to the posterior lens element 72 and extending outwardly
therefrom come in contact with the capsular wall to at least assist
in maintaining lens element 72 in the desired posterior position.
The IOL 110 of the combination shown in FIG. 5 is supported by
struts 116 that extend rearwardly and radially outwardly to the
wall of the capsule 70 into engagement with the perimeter of
capsule. The IOL 110 shown in FIG. 5 functions in a manner similar
to the IOL 10 shown in FIG. 4, described previously. Thus, lens
body 112 can be moved forwardly (as shown in FIG. 4) to provide
near vision accommodation or can be retracted back to a position
closer to the retina for distance focus. The presence of lens
element 72 is effective to inhibit cell growth from the capsule
into the space defined by the capsule. This promotes vision clarity
and allows for long term maintenance of the combination. In
addition, lens element 72, which has a single optical power, may
provide effective vision correction in combination with the
multifocal lens body 112.
[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a IOL, shown
generally at 210, in accordance with the present invention. IOL 210
is structured somewhat similarly to IOL 10. Components of IOL 210
which correspond to components of IOL 110 are identified with the
same reference numeral increased by 200.
[0044] The primary difference between IOL 210 and IOL 10 is the
inclusion of plate haptics 80 in the IOL 210. The lens body 212 of
IOL 210 has a similar optical profile as illustrated with regard to
lens body 12. Each of the flexible plate haptics 80 has a hinge 82
formed by a groove in the anterior side of IOL 210, and a spring 84
at the end of each of the plate haptics 80. These haptics 80 are
joined to, for example, are unitary with, the lens body 210. The
springs 84 are resilient loops which are staked at one end to the
end of the haptic 80 at opposite sides of the longitudinal center
line of the IOL 210. These spring loops 84 bow outwardly lengthwise
of the lens body 212 from their staked ends to their center and
then turn back toward the lens body from their centers to their
free ends. The ends of the haptics 80 have recesses 86 over which
the spring loops 84 extend in such a way that the loops and the
edges of the recesses form openings 88 therebetween. The ends of
the spring loops 84 have holes 90 to receive instruments for
positioning the IOL 210 in the eye.
[0045] IOL 210 is implanted within the capsular bag within the eye
while the ciliary muscle is paralyzed in its relaxed state and the
capsular bag is thereby stretched to its maximum diameter. The
overall length of the IOL 210 measured between the ends of the
haptics 80 at either of the haptic recesses 86 substantially equals
the inner diameter of the stretched capsular bag. The overall
length of the IOL 10 measured between the outer edges of the loop
springs 84 at their centers when the loops are in their normal
unstressed condition or state is slightly greater than the inner
diameter of the capsular bag.
[0046] IOL 210 is particularly used when the interior capsular
remnant or rim of the capsular bag is ruptured, that is, cut or
torn. When IOL 210 is implanted in the capsular bag, the loop
springs 84 press outward against the wall of the capsular bag
sulcus to fixate the lens in the bag during fibrosis. Fibrosis
occurs in such a way as to effect fusion of the anterior remnant to
the posterior capsule. Constriction and relaxation of the ciliary
muscle after fibrosis facilitates accommodating movement of the IOL
210. The IOL 210 utilizes the fibrosed interior capsular rim, the
elastic posterior capsule, the vitreous cavity pressure, the
zonules and the ciliary muscle constrictions, together with the
multifocal lens body 212, to provide accommodating movement
forward, for example, for near vision. Relaxation of the ciliary
muscle stretches the capsular bag and the fibrosed anterior
capsular rim to return the lens rearwardly toward its distant
vision position.
[0047] The present IOLs very effectively provide for enhanced
accommodation in cooperation with the eye. Thus, the accommodating
movement of the IOL, together with the multifocal characteristics
of the lens body of the present IOL, provide substantially enhanced
performance, for example, relative to a monofocal IOL adapted for
accommodating movement or a multifocal IOL located in a
substantially fixed position within the eye. Further, it should be
understood that the present IOLs can be provided with multifocal
characteristics using any suitable methodology. Also, the IOL can
be configured to provide any suitable multifocal arrangement of
optical powers. In addition, the present IOLs can be constructed to
obtain accommodating movement in any suitable manner. The exemplary
embodiments illustrated herein are presented for illustrative
purposes and are not intended to be limiting to the broad scope of
the present invention.
[0048] While this invention has been described with respect to
various specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood
that the invention is not limited thereto and that it can be
variously practiced within the scope of, the following claims.
* * * * *