U.S. patent application number 10/887144 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for accommodating lens with haptics and toric surface.
This patent application is currently assigned to EYEONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Cumming, J. Stuart.
Application Number | 20040249456 10/887144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23535293 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040249456 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cumming, J. Stuart |
December 9, 2004 |
Accommodating lens with haptics and toric surface
Abstract
A flexible accommodating intraocular lens having anteriorly and
posteriorly movable extended portions, such as T-shaped haptics,
extending from a central solid biconvex optic to be implanted
within a natural capsular bag of a human eye with the extended
portions positioned between an anterior capsular rim and a
posterior capsule of the bag, whereby during a post-operative
healing period, fibrosis occurs about the extended portions to
fixate the lens in the bag in a manner such that subsequent natural
contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle moves the optic to
provide vision accommodation. A surface of the optic is a toric
surface.
Inventors: |
Cumming, J. Stuart; (Laguna
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE, LLP
4 PARK PLAZA
SUITE 1600
IRVINE
CA
92614-2558
US
|
Assignee: |
EYEONICS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
23535293 |
Appl. No.: |
10/887144 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10887144 |
Jul 7, 2004 |
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10454280 |
Jun 3, 2003 |
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10454280 |
Jun 3, 2003 |
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10057691 |
Jan 24, 2002 |
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6638306 |
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10057691 |
Jan 24, 2002 |
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08858978 |
May 20, 1997 |
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6387126 |
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08858978 |
May 20, 1997 |
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08388735 |
Feb 15, 1995 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
623/6.37 ;
623/6.44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 2/16 20130101; A61F
2/1613 20130101; A61F 2002/1681 20130101; A61F 2220/0091 20130101;
A61F 2002/16901 20150401; A61F 2/1629 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
623/006.37 ;
623/006.44 |
International
Class: |
A61F 002/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An accommodating intraocular lens wherein the lens comprises a
flexible lens body having normally anterior and posterior sides,
including a flexible solid biconvex optic, said lens body having
two or more radially extending portions from the optic such that
the lens can move anteriorly with contraction of the ciliary body
of the eye, the optic having a toric surface, and the lens being
sized to be implanted into the capsular bag of the eye such that
contraction of the ciliary muscle causes the lens within the
capsular bag behind the iris to move forward towards the iris.
2. An accommodating lens according to claim 1 wherein the lens is
sized to not be in contact with the ciliary muscle through the
capsular bag wall,
3. An accommodating lens according to claim 1 wherein the lens is
sized to be in contact with the ciliary muscle through the capsular
bag wall.
4. An accommodating lens according to claim 1 wherein the lens can
move anteriorly and posteriorly.
5. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the outer
ends of the extending portions can move anteriorly and posteriorly
relative to the optic.
6. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein internal
elastic strain causes the lens to move anteriorly.
7. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein posterior
capsule elasticity causes the lens to move anteriorly.
8. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the optic
can move forward and backwards with ciliary muscle contraction and
relaxation.
9. An accommodating lens according to claim 7 wherein the optic can
move along the axis of the eye relative to the outer ends of the
extending portions.
10. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, which is
uniplanar.
11. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, which is vaulted
forward.
12. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, which is vaulted
backward.
13. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, which is
multiplanar.
14. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, with the extending
portions and optic are made from different materials.
15. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the
extending portions are plate haptics.
16. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the
extended portions are plate haptics with hinges.
17. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein
constriction of the ciliary muscle can produce forward movement of
the lens optic within the capsular bag towards the iris for near
vision.
18. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the
extending portions are plate haptics with a groove across each
plate haptic adjacent the optic.
19. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the
extending portions are plate haptics with raised shoulders at their
outer ends on either or both surfaces.
20. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein two or more
extending portions comprise plate haptics with a groove across the
plate haptic adjacent to the optic.
21. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the
extending portions have knobs at the corners of the distal
ends.
22. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein two or more
extending portions have lateral fixation devices which comprise
loops.
23. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the
extending portions include hinged plate haptics with laterally
extending flexible fixation fingers.
24. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the lens
has extended hinged portions comprising plate haptics which include
laterally extending flexible fixation fingers at their outer ends
which are made of material different from that of the haptic
plates.
25. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the optic
is located posteriorly to the outer ends of the extending
portions.
26. An accommodating lens according to claim 1, wherein the
extending portions comprise plate haptics which have one or more
resilient springs at their distal ends.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
10/454,280, filed Jun. 3, 2003, which is a continuation of Ser. No.
10/057,691, filed on Jan. 24, 2002, which is a division of
application Ser. No. 08/858,978, filed on May 20, 1997, now U.S.
Pat. No. 6,387,126, which is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 08/388,735, filed on Feb. 5, 1995, now abandoned, the
disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to intraocular lenses to be
implanted within a natural capsular bag in the human eye formed by
evacuation of the crystalline matrix from the natural lens of the
eye through an anterior capsulotomy in the lens. The invention
relates more particularly to novel accommodating intraocular lenses
of this kind having improved features including an optic with a
toric posterior surface.
[0003] The human eye has an anterior chamber between the cornea and
iris, a posterior chamber behind the iris containing a crystalline
lens, a vitreous chamber behind the lens containing vitreous humor,
and a retina at the rear of the vitreous chamber. The crystalline
lens of a normal human eye has a lens capsule attached about its
periphery to the ciliary muscle of the eye by zonules and
containing a crystalline lens matrix. This lens capsule has elastic
optically clear anterior and posterior membrane-like walls commonly
referred to by ophthalmologists as anterior and posterior capsules,
respectively. Between the iris and the ciliary muscle is an annular
crevice-like space called the ciliary sulcus.
[0004] The human eye in patients under the age of 45 years
possesses natural accommodation capability. Natural accommodation
capability involves relaxation and contraction of the ciliary
muscle of the eye by the brain to provide the eye with near and
distant vision. This ciliary muscle action is automatic and shapes
the natural crystalline lens to the appropriate optical
configuration for focusing on-the retina the light rays entering
the eye from the scene being viewed.
[0005] The human eye is subject to a variety of disorders which
degrade or totally destroy the ability of the eye to function
properly. One of the more common of these disorders involves
progressive clouding of the natural crystalline lens matrix
resulting in the formation of what is referred to as a cataract. It
is now common practice to cure a cataract by surgically removing
the cataractous human crystalline lens and implanting an artificial
intraocular lens in the eye to replace the natural lens. The prior
art is replete with a vast assortment of intraocular lenses for
this purpose.
[0006] Intraocular lenses differ widely in their physical
appearance and arrangement. This invention is concerned with
intraocular lenses of the kind having a central optical region or
optic and portions which extend outward from the optic and engage
the interior of the eye in such a way as to support the optic on
the axis of the eye.
[0007] Intraocular lenses also differ with respect to their
accommodation capability and their placement in the eye.
Accommodation is the ability of an intraocular lens to accommodate,
that is, to focus the eye for near and distant vision. Certain
patents describe alleged accommodating intraocular lenses. Other
patents describe non-accommodating intraocular lenses. Most
non-accommodating lenses have immobile single focus optics which
focus the eye at a certain fixed distance only and require the
wearing of eye glasses to change the focus. Other non-accommodating
lenses have bifocal optics which simultaneously image both near and
distant objects on the retina of the eye. The brain selects the
appropriate image and suppresses the other image, so that a bifocal
intraocular lens provides both near vision and distant vision sight
without eyeglasses. Bifocal intraocular lenses, however, suffer
from the disadvantage that each bifocal image represents only about
40% of the available light, and a remaining 20% of the light is
lost in scatter.
[0008] There are four possible placements of an intraocular lens
within the eye. These are (a) in the anterior chamber, (b) in the
posterior chamber, (c) in the capsular bag, and (d) in the vitreous
chamber. The intraocular lens disclosed herein is for placement in
the capsular bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to accommodating intraocular
lenses having a central optic and haptics, and wherein a surface,
preferably the posterior or back surface, of the optic is a toric
surface.
[0010] This invention provides an improved accommodating
intraocular lens to be implanted within a capsular bag of a human
eye which remains intact within the eye after removal of the
crystalline lens matrix from the natural lens of the eye through an
anterior capsule opening in the natural lens. An improved
accommodating intraocular lens according to the invention includes
a central optic having normally anterior and posterior sides and
extended portions spaced circumferentially about and extending
generally radially out from the edge of the optic. Importantly, the
posterior or back surface of the optic is a toric surface. These
extended portions have inner ends joined to the optic and opposite
outer ends movable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the
optic. To this end, the extended portions may be either pivotally
or flexibly hinged at their inner ends to the optic or are
resiliently bendable throughout their length or may be relatively
rigid. The terms "flex", "flexing", "flexible", and the like are
used in a broad sense to cover both flexibly hinged and resiliently
bendable extended portions. The terms "hinge", "hinged", "hinging",
and the like are used in a broad sense to cover both pivotally and
flexibly hinged extended portions.
[0011] The lens is surgically implanted within the evacuated
capsular bag of a patient's eye through the anterior capsule
opening in the bag and in a position wherein the lens optic is
aligned with the opening, and the outer ends of the lens extended
portions are situated within the outer perimeter or cul-de-sac of
the bag. The lens has a radial dimension from the outer end of each
extended portion to the axis of the lens optic such that when the
lens is implanted within the capsular bag, the outer ends of the
extended portions engage the inner perimetrical wall of the bag
without unnecessarily stretching the bag.
[0012] As is known, after surgical implantation of the
accommodating intraocular lens in the capsular bag of the eye,
active endodermal cells on the posterior side of the anterior
capsule rim of the bag cause fibrosis with shrinkage of the bag and
fusion of the rim to the elastic posterior capsule of the bag. This
fibrosis occurs about the lens extended portions in such a way that
these extended portions and the lens are effectively
"shrink-wrapped" by the fibrous tissue in such a way as to form
radial pockets in the fibrous tissue which contain the extended
portions with their outer ends positioned within the outer
cul-de-sac of the capsular bag. The lens is thereby fixated within
the capsular bag with the lens optic aligned with the anterior
capsule opening in the bag. The anterior capsule rim shrinks during
fibrosis, and this shrinkage combined with shrink-wrapping of the
extended portions causes some radial compression of the lens in a
manner which tends to move the lens optic relative to the outer
ends of the extended portions posteriorly along the axis of the
eye. The fibrosed, leather-like anterior capsule rim prevents
anterior movement of the optic and urges the optic rearwardly
during fibrosis. Accordingly, fibrosis induced movement of the
optic occurs posteriorly to a distant vision position in which
either or both the optic and the inner ends of the extended
portions press rearwardly against the elastic posterior capsule of
the capsular bag and stretch this posterior capsule rearwardly.
[0013] During surgery, the ciliary muscle of the eye is paralyzed
with a ciliary muscle relaxant, i.e. a cycloplegic, to place the
muscle in its relaxed state. Following surgery, a ciliary muscle
relaxant, a cycloplegic, is introduced into the eye to paralyze the
ciliary muscle throughout the post-operative fibrosis and healing
period (from two to three weeks) to maintain the ciliary muscle in
its relaxed state until fibrosis is complete. This drug-induced
relaxation of the ciliary muscle prevents contraction of the
ciliary muscle and immobilizes the capsular bag during fibrosis. By
this means, the lens optic is fixed during fibrosis in its distant
vision position within the eye relative to the retina wherein the
lens presses rearwardly against and thereby posteriorly stretches
the elastic posterior capsule of the capsular bag. If the ciliary
muscle was not thus maintained in its relaxed state until the
completion of fibrosis, the ciliary muscle would undergo
essentially normal brain-induced vision accommodation contraction
and relaxation during fibrosis. This ciliary muscle action during
fibrosis would result in improper formation of the pockets in the
fibrosis tissue which contain the extended portions of the lens.
Moreover, ciliary muscle contraction during fibrosis would compress
the capsular bag and thereby the lens radially in such a way as to
very likely dislocate or decenter the lens from its proper position
in the bag or fix the optic in the near vision position.
[0014] When the cycloplegic effect of the ciliary muscle relaxant
wears off after the completion of fibrosis, the ciliary muscle
again becomes free to undergo normal brain-induced contraction and
relaxation. Normal brain-induced contraction of the muscle then
compresses the lens radially, relaxes the zonules and anterior
capsule rim, and increases vitreous pressure in the vitreous cavity
of the eye. This normal contraction of the ciliary muscle effects
anterior accommodation movement of the lens optic for near vision
by the combined action of the increased vitreous pressure, anterior
capsule rim relaxation, and the anterior bias of the stretched
posterior capsule. Similarly, brain-induced relaxation of the
ciliary muscle reduces vitreous pressure, relieves radial
compression of the lens, and stretches the anterior capsule rim to
effect posterior movement of the lens optic for distant vision.
[0015] Normal brain-induced contraction and relaxation of the
ciliary muscle after the completion of fibrosis thus causes
anterior and posterior accommodation movement of the lens optic
between near and distant vision positions relative to the retina.
During this accommodation movement of the optic, the lens extended
portions may undergo endwise movement within their pockets in the
fibrous tissue.
[0016] The described lens embodiments of the invention conform to
one of the following basic lens configurations:
[0017] A. A flexible lens body configuration wherein the extending
portions and optic are all flexible and the extending portions and
optic are in the same plane. This lens after implantation in the
eye and after paralyzing the ciliary muscle for two to three weeks,
undergoes natural posterior location in the capsular bag space due
to end-wise compression and shrink-wrapping of the lens by fibrosis
of the anterior capsule.
[0018] B. A lens configuration such that the lens body is flexible
throughout the extending portions and optic such that the lens
optic before implantation is located behind the outer ends of the
extending portions such that the optic can move backwards and
forwards along the axis of the eye relative to the outer ends of
the haptics. This movement can be such that the optic never moves
anteriorly to the outer ends of the extending portions, that it
moves from a posterior position to a position which makes it
uniplanar to the outer ends of the extending portions, or such that
it moves from a posterior position to a position anterior to the
outer ends of the extending portions.
[0019] C. An accommodating flexible intraocular lens whereby the
extended portions and optic are flexible, wherein the optic is
located anteriorly to the outer ends of the extended portions prior
to implantation within the eye. The lens is configured such that,
with constriction of the ciliary muscle, the optic will move
anteriorly relative to the outer ends of the extended portions and
posteriorly upon relaxation of the ciliary muscle relative to the
outer end of the extended portions. The optic may or may not move
to the same plane as or behind the outer ends of the extended
portions. The three embodiments described above may have a reduced
thickness portion of the extended portion adjacent to the optic
comprising a thinned portion or a groove, or the extended portions
adjacent to the optic may be resiliently flexible without having a
hinged or thin portion. Should the material from which the lens is
made be relatively rigid, then the whole lens itself may move
backwards and forwards without there being any flexion at the optic
flexible portion junction. The movement of the lens alone or the
lens optic relative to the outer ends of the extended portions may
be caused by one or a combination of the following: constriction
and relaxation of the ciliary muscle, increase and decrease of
vitreous cavity pressure, the resilience of the posterior capsule,
and end-wise compression and relaxation of the lens by the ciliary
muscle through the capsular bag wall.
[0020] The extended portions of a presently preferred lens
embodiment are generally T-shaped haptics each including a haptic
plate and a pair of relatively slender resiliently flexible
fixation fingers at the outer end of the haptic plate. In their
normal unstressed state, the two fixation fingers at the outer end
of each haptic plate extend laterally outward from opposite edges
of the respective haptic plate in the plane of the plate and
substantially flush with the radially outer end edge of the plate
to form the horizontal "crossbar" of the haptic T-shape. The
radially outer end edges of the haptic plates are circularly curved
about the central axis of the lens optic to substantially equal
radii closely approximating the radius of the interior perimeter of
the capsular bag when the ciliary muscle of the eye is relaxed.
During implantation of the lens in the bag, the inner perimetrical
wall of the bag deflects the haptic fingers generally radially
inward from their normal unstressed positions to arcuate bent
configurations in which the radially outer edges of the fingers and
the curved outer end edges of the respective haptic plates conform
approximately to a common circular curvature closely approximating
the curvature of the inner perimetrical wall of the bag. The outer
T-ends of the haptics then press lightly against the perimetrical
bag wall and are fixated within the bag perimeter during fibrosis
with approximation of the anterior capsule to the posterior capsule
to accurately center the implanted lens in the bag with the lens
optic aligned with the anterior capsule opening in the bag.
[0021] The haptic plates of certain described lens embodiments are
narrower in width than the optic diameter and are tapered so as to
narrow in width toward their outer ends. These relatively narrow
plates of the haptics flex or pivot relatively easily to aid the
accommodating action of the lens and form haptic pockets of maximum
length in the fibrous tissue between the haptic fingers and the
optic which maximize the accommodation movement of the lens optic.
The tapered haptics, being wider adjacent to the optic, can slide
radially in the capsular bag pockets during contraction of the
ciliary muscle to enable forward movement of the optic for vision
accommodation.
[0022] In a lens embodiment of the invention, the lens optic and
extended portions, which may be plates, are molded or otherwise
fabricated preferably as an integral one piece lens structure in
which the inner ends of the extended portions are integrally joined
to the optic, and the extended portions have flexible hinges at
their inner ends adjacent the optic at which the extended portions
are hingable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic. The
extended portions are T-shaped haptics formed by embedding flexible
haptic fingers on loops with the haptic plates proper. In
particular, the optic has a toric posterior surface.
[0023] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide an improved toric accommodating lens.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the lens according to the present
invention,
[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and
[0026] FIG. 3 is a view showing the lens as implanted.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a view showing a plate embodiment of the toric
lens.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a view of a lens with multi extended portions.
[0029] FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0030] Turning now to the drawings and first to FIG. 3, the
capsular bag (not shown) includes an annular anterior capsular
remnant or rim 22. The capsular rim 22 is the remnant of the
anterior capsule of the natural lens which remains after
capsulorhexis has been performed on the natural lens. This rim
circumferentially surrounds a central, general round anterior
opening 26 (capsulotomy) in the capsular bag through which the
natural lens matrix was previously removed from the natural lens.
The capsular bag is secured about its perimeter to the ciliary
muscle via the zonules which are not shown.
[0031] Implanted within the capsular bag of the eye is an
accommodating intraocular lens 32 according to this invention which
replaces and performs the accommodation function of the removed
human crystalline lens. The accommodating intraocular lens may be
utilized to replace either a natural lens which is virtually
totally defective, such as a cataractous natural lens, or a natural
lens that provides satisfactory vision at one distance without the
wearing of glasses but provides satisfactory vision at another
distance only when glasses are worn. For example, the accommodating
intraocular lens of the invention can be utilized to correct
refractive errors and restore accommodation for persons in their
mid-40s or older who require reading glasses or bifocals for near
vision.
[0032] Intraocular lens 32 comprises a flexible unitary lens body,
including a flexible biconvex solid optic 34, which may be formed
of relatively hard material, relatively soft flexible semi-rigid
material, or a combination of both hard and soft materials.
Examples of relatively hard materials which are suitable for the
lens body are methyl methacrylate, polysulfones, and other
relatively hard biologically inert optical materials. Examples of
suitable relatively soft materials for the lens body are silicone,
hydrogels, thermolabile materials, and other flexible semi-rigid
biologically inert optical materials.
[0033] The lens 32 includes the central optic 34 and T-shaped
extended portions or plate haptics 36 extending from diametrically
opposite edges of the optic. Importantly, the posterior surface 34b
(FIG. 2), is a toric surface and the anterior surface 34a may have
any suitable curvature such as spherical. The toric surface 34b may
be on either the posterior or anterior surface and allows for
correction of astigmatism. Since the toric surface is irregular as
contrasted to a spherical surface, the lens can include some
indicia to facilitate proper insertion and orientation in the eye.
The fingers 36b preferably have enlarged ends 36c as seen in FIG.
1.
[0034] The haptics include haptic members or plates 36a having
inner ends joined to the optic and opposite outer free ends and
lateral fixation fingers or loops 36b at their outer ends. The
loops 36b are attached at 36d (like arrow heads) to the outer ends
of the plates 36a. The loops 36b may be of a different but flexible
material.
[0035] The haptic plates 36a preferably are longitudinally tapered
so as to narrow in width toward their outer ends and may have a
width throughout their length less than the diameter of the optic
34, and may be resiliently flexible for major portions of their
lengths. The haptics 36 are movable anteriorly and posteriorly
relative to the optic 34, that is to say the outer ends of the
haptics are movable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the
optic. The preferred lens embodiment illustrated is constructed of
a resilient semi-rigid material and has flexible hinges 38 which
join the inner ends of the haptic plates 36a to the optic. The
haptics are relatively rigid and are flexible about the hinges
anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2. These hinges are formed by grooves 40 which can be either
on the anterior, posterior, or both sides and extend across the
inner ends of the haptic plates 36a. In the present preferred
embodiment the grooves 40 are in the anterior side as seen in FIG.
2. The haptics 36 are flexible about the hinges 38 in the anterior
and posterior directions of the optic. The lens has a relatively
flat unstressed configuration, illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the
haptics 36 and their hinges 38 are disposed in a common plane
transverse to the optic axis of the optic 34. Deformation of the
lens from this normal unstressed configuration by anterior or
posterior deflection of the haptics about their hinges creates in
the hinges elastic strain energy forces which urge the lens to its
normal unstressed configuration. The outer end edges 41 of the
haptic plates 36a are preferably slightly curved about the optic
axis of the optic 34, as shown in FIG. 1. In their normal
unstressed state shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, the fixation loops
36b of each plate haptic 36 extend laterally out from opposite
longitudinal edges of the respective haptic plate 36a in the plane
of the plate and substantially flush with the outer end edge 41 of
the plate. When unstressed, the loops 36b are preferably straight
or slightly bowed with a slight radially inward curvature, as shown
in solid lines in FIG. 1. As shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, the
loops 36b are laterally resiliently flexible radially of the haptic
plates 36a to their broken line positions of FIG. 3 in which the
radially outer edges of the fingers and the end edges 41 of the
haptic plates 36a conform substantially to a common circle centered
on the axis of the optic 34.
[0036] An accommodating toric intraocular lens 52 according to FIG.
4 which comprises a biconvex solid optic 54 with plate extending
portions 56, having raised shoulders 58 on one or both sides at the
distal ends of the extended portions. The extending portions 54 may
have a groove or hinge 55 across their surfaces adjacent to the
optic or may be resiliently flexible at the juncture of the optic
and extended portions.
[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates an accommodating toric intraocular lens
62 which has an optic 64 and four extending portions 66, which in
this instance comprise plates with fixation centration devices 69
at their distal ends. These fixation devices may comprise raised
shoulders 68 on one or both sides of the extended portions 66. The
junction of the extended portions, which may be plates, has a
thinned area or a groove 65 adjacent to the optic 64 or may just be
resiliently flexible at the junction of the plate extended portion
to the optic.
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a lens 70
wherein the extending portions or haptics are in the form of thin
members 72 extending from the optic 74. Centration/fixation loops
80 can be added to both outer ends or not added as desired, and
likewise hinges 75 as shown can be provided on both sets of haptics
or omitted from both as desired. Furthermore, knobs 78 can be
provided at the ends of loops 80 or omitted. While embodiments of
the present invention have been shown and described, various
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the
present invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are
intended to be covered.
* * * * *