Eye covering and refractive correction methods and apparatus having improved tear flow, comfort, and/or applicability
First Claim
1. A covering to treat an eye of a patient, the eye having a tear liquid, a pupil, a cornea, and a conjunctiva, the covering comprising:
- an optical component to correct vision of the eye, the optical component comprising a first rigidity sufficient to resist deformation when placed on the eye and a posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion and configured so that engagement of the posterior surface against the eye deforms the posterior surface of the lens and so that the posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion has a shape diverging from the refractive shape of the cornea and defines at least one lenticular volume;
a coupling component to contact the cornea and the conjunctiva and to support the optical component in relation to the pupil, the coupling component comprising an outer portion sized to contact the conjunctiva, an inner portion to couple to the optical component, and an intermediate portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion, one or more of the optical component or the coupling component comprising a plurality of fenestrations coupled to the at least one lenticular volume to pump the tear liquid when the eye blinks.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An eye covering such as a contact lens may comprise one or more structures to pump tear liquid under the covering such that the covering can remain in the eye and correct vision for an extended amount of time. In many embodiments, the covering comprises a material having fenestrations to draw tear liquid under the covering and an outer portion shaped to contact the conjunctiva over the sclera, such that when the eye closes pressure of one or more eyelids urges tear liquid through one or more fenestrations and under the outer portion shaped to contact the conjunctiva. When the eye blinks, the pressure of the one or more eyelids can urge the covering toward the cornea such that tear liquid can pass through the fenestrations.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A covering to treat an eye of a patient, the eye having a tear liquid, a pupil, a cornea, and a conjunctiva, the covering comprising:
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an optical component to correct vision of the eye, the optical component comprising a first rigidity sufficient to resist deformation when placed on the eye and a posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion and configured so that engagement of the posterior surface against the eye deforms the posterior surface of the lens and so that the posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion has a shape diverging from the refractive shape of the cornea and defines at least one lenticular volume; a coupling component to contact the cornea and the conjunctiva and to support the optical component in relation to the pupil, the coupling component comprising an outer portion sized to contact the conjunctiva, an inner portion to couple to the optical component, and an intermediate portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion, one or more of the optical component or the coupling component comprising a plurality of fenestrations coupled to the at least one lenticular volume to pump the tear liquid when the eye blinks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A covering to treat an eye of a patient, the covering comprising:
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an optical component to correct vision of the eye, the optical component comprising a first rigidity sufficient to resist deformation when placed on the eye and a posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion and configured so that engagement of the posterior surface against the eye deforms the posterior surface of the lens and so that the posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion has a shape diverging from the refractive shape of the cornea and defines at least one lenticular volume; a coupling component to contact the cornea and the conjunctiva and support the optical component in relation to the pupil, the coupling component comprising a water inhibiting layer having a plurality of fenestrations coupled to the at least one lenticular volume and extending from an anterior surface of the covering to a hydrogel layer. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A covering to treat an eye of a patient, the eye having a tear liquid, a pupil, a cornea, and a conjunctiva, the covering comprising:
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an optical component to correct vision of the eye, the optical component comprising a first rigidity sufficient to resist deformation when placed on the eye and a posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion and configured so that engagement of the posterior surface against the eye deforms the posterior surface of the lens and so that the posterior surface extending along the inner optic portion has a shape diverging from the refractive shape of the cornea and defines at least one lenticular volume; a coupling component to contact the cornea and the conjunctiva and support the optical component in relation to the pupil, the coupling component comprising a layer of hydrogel extending along a posterior surface of the covering, the coupling component comprising an outer portion sized to contact the conjunctiva, an inner portion to couple to the optical component, and an intermediate portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion, one or more of the optical component or the coupling component comprising a plurality of fenestrations coupled to the at least one lenticular volume and coupled to the hydrogel layer.
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34. A set of alternatively selectable ophthalmic lens for correcting refractive errors of eyes of a population of patients, each eye having a cornea with an epithelium providing a refractive shape, the set comprising:
a plurality of alternative ophthalmic lenses having differing spherical powers, each ophthalmic lens having; an anterior surface corresponding to an associated desired spherical power, the anterior surface extending along an inner portion of the ophthalmic lens, wherein the inner portion of the ophthalmic lens is deformable; and a peripheral portion of the ophthalmic lens extending radially outwardly from the inner portion, the peripheral portion having a rigidity lower than that of the inner portion and configured for engaging tissue outside the optical region so as to support the inner portion in alignment with an optical region; a posterior surface extending along the inner portion, the posterior surface a surface of the cornea defining at least one lenticular volume; and a plurality of fenestrations through a thickness of the ophthalmic lens and configured to induce flow of tear fluid through the plurality of fenestrations when the eye blinks.
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35. A ophthalmic lens for treating presbyopia of an eye of a patient, the eye having a cornea with an epithelium providing a refractive shape, the ophthalmic lens comprising:
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an inner portion configured to be disposed over the optical region of the cornea, wherein the inner portion of the ophthalmic lens is deformable; a peripheral portion having a rigidity lower than that of the inner portion and configured to support the inner portion of the ophthalmic lens by engagement between the peripheral portion and eye tissue disposed outside the optical region; an anterior surface extending along the inner portion, the anterior surface having a presbyopia-mitigating refractive shape; a posterior surface extending along the inner portion, the posterior surface a surface of the cornea defining at least one lenticular volume; and a plurality of fenestrations through a thickness of the ophthalmic lens and configured to induce flow of tear fluid through the plurality of fenestrations when the eye blinks.
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36. A ophthalmic lens for correcting a refractive error of an eye, the eye having a cornea with an epithelium providing a refractive shape extending across an optical region of the eye, the ophthalmic lens comprising:
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an inner portion configured to be disposed over the optical region of the cornea; a posterior surface extending along the inner portion adjacent the eye when the inner portion is disposed over the optical region, the posterior surface having a shape diverging from the refractive shape of the epithelium so that a lenticular volume is disposed therebetween; a peripheral portion of the ophthalmic lens disposed radially outwardly of the inner portion, the peripheral portion configured to engage the eye outside the optical region so as to retain fluid filling the lenticular volume; an anterior surface of the ophthalmic lens extending along the inner portion opposite the posterior surface so that viewing with the eye through fluid filled lenticular volume and inner portion mitigates the refractive error; and a plurality of fenestrations through a thickness of the ophthalmic lens and configured to induce flow of tear fluid into and out of the lenticular volume when the eye blinks.
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Specification