INTERFACIAL REFRACTION ACCOMMODATING LENS (IRAL)
First Claim
1. An implantable interfacial refraction ophthalmic lens assembly which adjusts its focal distance in response to changing physiologic needs of the user of said lens, the lens comprising a flexible optic chamber and cooperating haptics:
- the optic chamber is defined by opposed, substantially parallel visually transparent circular discs, which are flexibly coupled at their edges and spaced apart to define a closed fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber including first and second liquids, the liquids having different refractive indices and being immiscible so as to define a spherical or lenticular interface therebetween;
the haptics being coupled to the edge of the optic chamber and to the fluidic chamber so that application of force to the haptics deforms the fluidic chamber and changes the sphericity of the liquid interface;
whereby the focal length of the lens changes in response to application of force to the haptics to change focus of the user.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to intraocular lenses. More particularly, this invention relates to intraocular lenses that have the ability to alter the light refractive power in response to changes in the tension of the ciliary muscle or ciliary body of the eye or any other accommodative forces. Lenses of this invention are generally referred to as interfacial, i.e., lens properties being defined as the interface of two liquids having different refractive indices, refractive accommodating lenses (IRAL).
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An implantable interfacial refraction ophthalmic lens assembly which adjusts its focal distance in response to changing physiologic needs of the user of said lens, the lens comprising a flexible optic chamber and cooperating haptics:
-
the optic chamber is defined by opposed, substantially parallel visually transparent circular discs, which are flexibly coupled at their edges and spaced apart to define a closed fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber including first and second liquids, the liquids having different refractive indices and being immiscible so as to define a spherical or lenticular interface therebetween; the haptics being coupled to the edge of the optic chamber and to the fluidic chamber so that application of force to the haptics deforms the fluidic chamber and changes the sphericity of the liquid interface; whereby the focal length of the lens changes in response to application of force to the haptics to change focus of the user.
-
-
2. A method of correcting visual activity by the use of an accommodating IRAL, the method comprising the steps of:
-
replacing a defective natural lens of an eye of a patient in need of such replacement with an accommodating IRAL; permitting the IRAL to accommodate the patient'"'"'s need to change the focal point of the eye by changing the diopter strength and thus the focal point of the IRAL wherein the diopter strength change of the IRAL is at least 2 diopters. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
-
-
5. An implantable interfacial refraction ophthalmic lens assembly which adjusts its focal distance in response to changing physiologic needs of the user of said lens, the lens comprising a flexible optic chamber and cooperating haptics:
-
the optic chamber is defined by opposed, substantially parallel visually transparent circular discs, which are flexibly coupled at their edges and spaced apart to define a closed fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber including first and second liquids having different refractive indices, the liquids being separated by an optically-acceptable membrane, the membrane being bonded to the circular disc edges so as to define a spherical or lenticular interface between the liquids; the haptics being coupled to the edge of the optic chamber and to the fluidic chamber so that application of force to the haptics deforms the fluidic chamber and changes the sphericity of the liquid interface; whereby the focal length of the lens changes in response to application of force to the haptics to change focus of the user. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of correcting visual activity by the use of an accommodating IRAL, the method comprising the steps of:
-
replacing a defective natural lens of an eye of a patient in need of such replacement with an accommodating IRAL; permitting the IRAL to accommodate the patient'"'"'s need to change the focal point of the eye by changing the diopter strength and thus the focal point of the IRAL wherein the diapter strength change of the IRAL is at least 2 diopters; wherein the IRAL employs liquids having different refractive indices to define the interface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An implantable interfacial refraction accommodating ophthalmic lens assembly which adjusts its focal distance in response to changing physiologic needs of the user of said lens, the lens comprising a flexible optic chamber and cooperating haptics:
-
the optic chamber is defined by opposed, substantially parallel visually transparent circular discs, which are flexibly coupled at their edges and spaced apart to define a closed fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber including first and second liquids, the liquids having different refractive indices and being immiscible so as to define a spherical or lenticular interface therebetween; the haptics being coupled to the edge of the optic chamber and to the fluidic chamber so that application of force to the haptics deforms the fluidic chamber and changes the sphericity of the liquid interface; wherein the haptics define an internal chamber, the haptic chamber being in fluid communication with the optic chamber so that displacement of the haptics posteriorly permits fluid to flow into the optic chamber. whereby the focal length of the lens changes in response to application of force to the haptics to change the focus of the user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification