GRADUATED BLUE FILTERING INTRAOCULAR LENS

• US 20080269884A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Vannoy, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US12/112,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20080269884A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/6.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1659 having variable absorption coefficient for electromagnetic radiation, e.g. photochromic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1683 having filiform haptics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1696 Having structure for blocking or reducing amount of light transmitted, e.g. glare reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0053 differing in optical properties

Abstract

Devices and methods utilizing novel intraocular lens (IOL) designs are discussed herein. One aspect relates to IOLs having an optic with non-uniform light transmissivity. For example, the optic of the IOL can include a central region having a reduced light transmissivity relative to another portion of the optic. In addition, or alternatively, the optic can have a peripheral region having reduced light transmissivity. Such IOLs can potentially be utilized to alter the light distribution impinging on a subject'"'"'s retina, which can be tailored to specific lighting situations such as bright and dim light conditions. Such IOLs can also, or alternatively, be used to help alleviate the perception of dark shadows known as negative dysphotopsia. Other aspects and features of IOLs, and methods, are also discussed.

Claims

1. An intraocular lens (IOL) comprising:

an optic for implantation in a subject'"'"'s eye;

the optic exhibiting non-uniform light transmissivity over at least a portion of the optic so as to inhibit perception of visual artifacts in a peripheral visual field of the subject'"'"'s eye.

2. The IOL of claim 1, wherein the optic comprises a peripheral region exhibiting reduced light transmissivity, in at least a segment of the peripheral region.

3. The IOL of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one haptic coupled to the peripheral region of the optic, the at least one haptic exhibiting light transmissivity, the light transmissivity being less than 100%.

4. The IOL of claim 3, wherein the optic and the at least one haptic are formed from an integral piece of material.

5. The IOL of claim 2, wherein the segment with reduced light transmissivity is positioned on the nasal side of the eye once the IOL is implanted in the eye.

6. The IOL of claim 1, wherein the optic exhibits non-uniform light transmissivity for at least one visible wavelength in a blue portion of the visible electromagnetic spectrum.

7. The IOL of claim 6, wherein the optic exhibits hindered light transmissivity for at least one wavelength of light in the ultraviolet range.

8. The IOL of claim 1, wherein the optic exhibits hindered light transmissivity for at least one wavelength of light in the ultraviolet range.

9. The IOL of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform light transmissivity is characterized by a center region of the optic having a higher light transmissivity relative to a peripheral region of the optic.

10. The IOL of claim 9, wherein a light transmissivity of at least one wavelength at the center region of the optic is no more than about 50 percent and a light transmissivity of the at least one wavelength at the peripheral region of the optic is no more than about 10 percent.

11. The IOL of claim 9, wherein the non-uniform light transmissivity is characterized by any of a linear or non-linear gradient in at least one of the center region and the peripheral region.

12. The IOL of claim 9, wherein a light transmissivity in the center region of the optic is characterized by filtering at least one wavelength below about 500 nanometers and a light transmissivity in the peripheral region of the optic is characterized by filtering at least one wavelength below about 700 nanometers.

13. The IOL of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform light transmissivity is characterized by an increase in light transmissivity from a center of the optic to an intermediacy of the optic, and is further characterized by a decrease in light transmissivity from the intermediacy of the optic to the periphery of the optic.

14. The IOL of claim 13, wherein the light transmissivity from the center to the intermediacy is characterized by filtering at least one wavelength in a range from about 400 nm to about 500 nm, and the light transmissivity from the intermediary to the periphery is characterized by filtering at least one wavelength in the visible spectrum.

15. The IOL of claim 13, wherein the increase in light transmissivity is characterized by a first gradient, and the decrease in light transmissivity is characterized by a second gradient, each gradient being independently at least one of a linear gradient and a non-linear gradient.

16. The IOL of claim 15, wherein light transmissivities of the first gradient and second gradient characterized by at least one value of less than about 50 percent and light transmissivities in the intermediacy of the optic are characterized by at least one value greater than about 95 percent.

17. The IOL of claim 1, wherein the optic further comprises at least one dye adapted such that a portion of the optic has at least one selected light transmissivity.

18. An intraocular lens (IOL) comprising:

an optic for implantation in a subject'"'"'s eye, the optic exhibiting non-uniform light transmissivity such that light transmissivity in an inner region of the optic is greater than light transmissivity in an outer region of the optic.

19. The IOL of claim 18, wherein at least a section of the outer region of the optic with reduced light transmissivity relative to another portion of the optic is positioned on the nasal side of the eye once the IOL is implanted in the eye.

20. The IOL of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one haptic coupled to the outer region of the optic on the nasal side of the eye upon IOL implantation, the at least one haptic exhibiting a light transmissivity for the at least one visible wavelength, the light transmissivity being less than 100%.

21. The IOL of claim 18, wherein the optic exhibits non-uniform light transmissivity for at least one visible wavelength in a blue portion of the visible electromagnetic spectrum.

22. The IOL of claim 21, wherein the optic exhibits hindered light transmissivity for at least one wavelength of light in the ultraviolet range.

23. The IOL of claim 18, wherein the optic exhibits hindered light transmissivity for at least one wavelength of light in the ultraviolet range.

24. The IOL of claim 18, wherein light transmissivity in each of the inner region and the outer region is independently characterized by at least one of a linear gradient and a non-linear gradient.

25. The IOL of claim 24, wherein light transmissivity in the inner region is characterized by filtering at least one wavelength below about 500 nanometers, and light transmissivity in the outer region is characterized by filtering at least one wavelengths below about 700 nanometers.

26. An intraocular lens comprising:

an optic for implantation in a subject'"'"'s eye, the optic exhibiting non-uniform light transmissivity such that light transmissivity in an inner region of the optic is less than light transmissivity in an intermediate region of the optic, and light transmissivity in an outer region of the optic is less than light transmissivity in the intermediate region.

27. The IOL of claim 26, wherein at least a segment of the outer region of the optic with reduced light transmissivity relative to another portion of the optic is positioned on the nasal side of the eye once the IOL is implanted in the eye.

28. The IOL of claim 26, wherein the optic exhibits non-uniform light transmissivity for at least one visible wavelength in a blue portion of the visible electromagnetic spectrum.

29. The IOL of claim 26, wherein the optic exhibits hindered light transmissivity for at least one wavelength of light in the ultraviolet range.

30. The IOL of claim 26, wherein the lens includes a first gradient in light transmissivity and a second gradient in light transmissivity, each gradient being independently characterized by at least one of a linear function and a non-linear function.

31. The IOL of claim 30, wherein light transmissivities in the first gradient are characterized by filtering at least one wavelength below about 500 nanometers, and light transmissivities in the second gradient are characterized by filtering at least one wavelength of below 700 nanometers.

32. An intraocular lens (IOL), comprising

an optic disposed about an optical axis, the optic exhibiting light transmissivity that is symmetric about the optical axis and radially non-uniform relative to the optical axis, the radial non-uniformity being adapted to inhibit perception of peripheral visual artifacts.

33. The IOL of claim 32, wherein the radial non-uniformity is characterized by a center region of the optic having higher light transmissivity than a peripheral region of the optic.

34. The IOL of claim 33, wherein a light transmissivity of at least one wavelength in the center region of the optic is no more than about 50 percent, and a light transmissivity of the at least one wavelength in the peripheral region of the optic is no more than about 10 percent.

35. The IOL of claim 32, wherein the radial non-uniformity is characterized by an increase in light transmissivity from a center of the optic to an intermediacy of the optic, and is further characterized by a decrease in light transmissivity from the intermediacy of the optic to a periphery of the optic.

36. The IOL of claim 35, wherein light transmissivity of at least one wavelength at the center of the optic are each no more than about 50 percent, and light transmissivity at the intermediacy of the optic is no less than about 95 percent.

37. The IOL of claim 35, wherein the increase in light transmissivity is characterized by a first gradient and the decrease in light transmissivity is characterized by a second gradient, each gradient being independently characterized by at least one of a linear gradient and a non-linear gradient.

38. The IOL of claim 37, wherein light transmissivity in the first gradient is characterized by filtering at least one wavelength below about 500 nanometers, and light transmissivity in the second gradient is characterized by filtering at least one wavelength below about 700 nanometers.

39. The IOL of claim 32, wherein the optic further comprises at least one dye adapted such that a portion of the optic has at least one selected light transmissivity.

40. A method for inhibiting dysphotopsia in a patient having an implanted intraocular lens (IOL), comprising:

directing peripheral light rays intercepted by the IOL such as to inhibit perception of visual artifacts in a peripheral visual field of an eye of the patient, the IOL having non-uniform light transmissivity.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the IOL exhibits different light transmissivities between a peripheral region of the IOL and another portion of the IOL.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein a light transmissivity in the peripheral region of the IOL is lower than a light transmissivity in the another portion of the IOL.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the peripheral light rays enter the eye from a temporal side.