Delivery system for post-operative power adjustment of adjustable lens

• US 6,905,641 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RxSight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Calhoun Vision, Inc.
• Inventors: Ebel, James A., Sandstedt, Christian A., Platt, Ben C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fiorilla, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): TADESSE, YEWEBDAR T
• Application Number:
  US09/964,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20020100990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 264/1.36, 264/1.38, 264/408, 264/409, 264/40.1, 607/141, 351/219, 623/6.11
• US Class Current: 264/1.38
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1627 for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1635 for changing shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1637 Correcting aberrations caused by inhomogeneities; correcting intrinsic aberrations, e.g. of the cornea, of the surface of the natural lens, aspheric, cylindrical, toric lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1659 having variable absorption coefficient for electromagnetic radiation, e.g. photochromic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00846 Eyetracking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00848 based on wavefront
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00859 considering nomograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/0087 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00887 Cataract
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00806 Correction of higher orders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00812 Inlays; Onlays; Intraocular lenses [IOL]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00817 Beam shaping with masks
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/14 Photorefractive lens material
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

A method and instrument to irradiate a light adjustable lens, for example, inside a human eye, with an appropriate amount of radiation in an appropriate intensity pattern by first measuring aberrations in the optical system containing the lens; aligning a source of the modifying radiation so as to impinge the radiation onto the lens in a pattern that will null the aberrations. The quantity of the impinging radiation is controlled by controlling the intensity and duration of the irradiation. The pattern is controlled and monitored while the lens is irradiated.

Claims

1. In a method for modifying the refractive power of a light adjustable lens in an optical system, with lens modifying radiation, the improvement comprising:

measuring at least one aberration in the system containing the lens;

aligning a source of the modifying radiation so as to impinge the radiation onto the lens in a pattern that corresponds to the correction of the at least one aberration; and

controlling the quantity of the impinging radiation whereby to correct the at least one aberration;

wherein the impinging radiation is ultraviolet light obtained from a source thereof; and

the ultraviolet light has a wavelength in the range of 350 to 380 nm and is applied at a power of 2.5 to 3.5 mW.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the quantity of the impinging radiation is controlled by controlling the intensity and duration of the irradiation.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the pattern of the impinging radiation is controlled and monitored while the lens is irradiated.

4. The method of claim 1 including the step of irradiating the entire lens to lock in the modified refractive power.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the modified refractive power of the light adjustable lens is locked in by non-patterned radiation.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the optical system comprises the light adjustable lens as an intraocular lens implanted in an eye.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the optical system comprises the light adjustable lens as a customized contact lens to be used in ophthalmic systems or ophthalmic applications.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the optical system possesses at least one light adjustable refraction element that can be used to null the aberrations present in the system to improve image quality.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the ultraviolet light source comprises a plurality light emitting diodes whose outputs are directed onto the receiving end of a light pipe that directs the ultraviolet light onto the lens.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the light pipe is an optical fiber.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the ultraviolet light source comprises the output of a pulsed ultraviolet light laser.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the ultraviolet light is from a pulsed ultraviolet light laser.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the ultraviolet light has a wavelength in the range of 350 to 380 nm and is applied at an intensity of 9.75 to 12.25 mW/cm².

14. The method of claim 13 in which the radius (r) of the lens increases by the formula:

(1−

r²)/r².

15. The method of claim 1 in which the ultraviolet light source generates continuous wave ultraviolet light.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the continuous wave ultraviolet light is obtained from an arc lamp.

17. The method of claim 15 in which the continuous wave ultraviolet light is obtained from a continuous wave light emitting diode.

18. The method of claim 15 in which the continuous wave ultraviolet light is obtained from a continuous wave laser.

19. The method of claim 18 in which an ultraviolet vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array is used to generate the pattern and project it onto the surface of the light adjustable lens.

20. The method of claim 18 in which the pattern is obtained by projecting ultraviolet light through an apodizing filter having a predetermined intensity profile.

21. The method of claim 18 in which the pattern is obtained by reflecting ultraviolet light from a digital light processor.

22. The method of claim 18 in which the pattern is obtained by projecting ultraviolet light through a spatial light modulator.

23. The method of claim 22 in which the photo-feedback is obtained from a Shack Hartmann sensor.

24. The method of claim 18 in which the pattern is obtained by photo-feedback.

25. The method of claim 24 in which the non-patterned radiation has a “

top hat”

intensity profile.

26. The method of claim 24 in which the non-patterned radiation has an intensity profile that diminishes as the radius of the lens increases.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the optical system comprises the light adjustable lens as an intraocular lens implanted in an eye in which the iris does not fully dilate, and wherein the non-patterned radiation is projected through a gonio lens.