Eye covering and refractive correction methods and apparatus having improved tear flow, comfort, and/or applicability
First Claim
1. A method of correcting vision of an eye of a patient, the eye having tear liquid, a pupil, a cornea having a refractive shape, and a conjunctiva, the method comprising:
- providing a lens comprising an optical component and a coupling component to an eye of a patient, wherein,the optical component is configured to correct vision of the eye, the optical component comprising a first rigidity sufficient to resist deformation when placed on the eye so that a posterior surface extending along the optical component has a shape diverging from the refractive shape of the cornea and defines a chamber having a volume between the posterior surface and the cornea;
the coupling component is configured 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 and the coupling component comprising a plurality of fenestrations coupled to the chamber to pump the tear liquid through the plurality of fenestrations when the eye blinks, wherein the optical component is configured to move toward the cornea when the eye blinks; and
wherein the volume of the chamber decreases when the eye blinks;
wherein the eye comprises eyelids and the coupling component comprises an inner portion to couple to the optical component, an outer portion and an intermediate portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion, wherein the inner portion corresponds to an inner portion of the cornea and the intermediate portion corresponds to an outer location of the cornea and wherein the intermediate portion comprises a resistance to deflection sufficient to form the chamber having a volume when the covering is placed on the eye with the eyelids separated and wherein the intermediate portion of the covering to deflects toward the cornea to decrease the volume of the chamber and pump the tear liquid when one or more of the eyelids contacts the intermediate portion of the coupling component; and
wherein the inner portion of the coupling component comprises a lower surface having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an upper surface of the inner portion of the cornea and wherein the intermediate portion of the coupling component comprises a lower surface having a curvature less than an upper surface of the outer portion of the cornea such that the intermediate portion of the coupling component extends away from the outer portion of the cornea with a gap extending between the intermediate portion of the coupling component and the outer portion of the cornea and wherein the lower surface of the inner portion of the lens contacts upper surface of the inner portion of the cornea and the outer portion of the coupling component extends to the conjunctiva so as to define the chamber when the lens is placed on the eye.
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
43 Claims
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1. A method of correcting vision of an eye of a patient, the eye having tear liquid, a pupil, a cornea having a refractive shape, and a conjunctiva, the method comprising:
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providing a lens comprising an optical component and a coupling component to an eye of a patient, wherein, the optical component is configured to correct vision of the eye, the optical component comprising a first rigidity sufficient to resist deformation when placed on the eye so that a posterior surface extending along the optical component has a shape diverging from the refractive shape of the cornea and defines a chamber having a volume between the posterior surface and the cornea; the coupling component is configured 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 and the coupling component comprising a plurality of fenestrations coupled to the chamber to pump the tear liquid through the plurality of fenestrations when the eye blinks, wherein the optical component is configured to move toward the cornea when the eye blinks; and wherein the volume of the chamber decreases when the eye blinks; wherein the eye comprises eyelids and the coupling component comprises an inner portion to couple to the optical component, an outer portion and an intermediate portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion, wherein the inner portion corresponds to an inner portion of the cornea and the intermediate portion corresponds to an outer location of the cornea and wherein the intermediate portion comprises a resistance to deflection sufficient to form the chamber having a volume when the covering is placed on the eye with the eyelids separated and wherein the intermediate portion of the covering to deflects toward the cornea to decrease the volume of the chamber and pump the tear liquid when one or more of the eyelids contacts the intermediate portion of the coupling component; and wherein the inner portion of the coupling component comprises a lower surface having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an upper surface of the inner portion of the cornea and wherein the intermediate portion of the coupling component comprises a lower surface having a curvature less than an upper surface of the outer portion of the cornea such that the intermediate portion of the coupling component extends away from the outer portion of the cornea with a gap extending between the intermediate portion of the coupling component and the outer portion of the cornea and wherein the lower surface of the inner portion of the lens contacts upper surface of the inner portion of the cornea and the outer portion of the coupling component extends to the conjunctiva so as to define the chamber when the lens is placed on the eye. - 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, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification