SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING THE DEPTH OF FOCUS OF THE HUMAN EYE

• US 20090021692A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthcare Royalty Partners II LP (Toronto-Dominion Bank)
• Original Assignee: Boston Innovative Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, David, Blanco, Ernesto
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/160.R
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/145 Corneal inlays, onlays, or lenses for refractive correction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• 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 2002/1699 Additional features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/34 Use of radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/22 Correction of higher order and chromatic aberrations, wave front measurement and calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/042 Simultaneous type
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/044 Annular configuration, e.g. pupil tuned
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/12 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/16 Shades; shields; Obturators, e.g. with pinhole, with slot G02C5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/165 with stenopaeic apertures

Abstract

A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient'"'"'s depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient'"'"'s eye to increase the depth of focus.

Claims

1. A method for implanting a mask in a cornea comprising an epithelial sheet, a Bowman'"'"'s membrane, and a stroma, the stroma having a top layer, the method comprising:

providing a mask configured to provide an optical effect whereby the depth of focus of the human eye may be increased;

removing the epithelial sheet;

creating a depression in the Bowman'"'"'s membrane, the depression being of sufficient depth and width to expose the top layer of the stroma and to accommodate the mask;

placing the mask in the depression; and

placing the removed epithelial sheet over the mask.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask is configured to produce interference of light.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask is configured to produce scattering of light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask is configured to produce reflective of light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask is configured to block visual aberrations.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing a contact lens over at least a portion of the cornea until the epithelial sheet has adhered to the mask and the top layer of the stroma.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the depression extends into the top layer of the stroma.

8. A method for implanting a mask in a cornea comprising an epithelial sheet, a Bowman'"'"'s membrane, and a stroma, the stroma having a top layer, the method comprising:

providing a mask configured to provide an optical effect whereby the depth of focus of the human eye may be increased;

hinging open a portion of the Bowman'"'"'s membrane;

creating a depression in the top layer of the stroma, the depression being of sufficient depth and width to accommodate the mask;

placing the mask in the depression; and

placing the hinged Bowman'"'"'s membrane over the mask.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mask is configured to produce light interference.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the mask is configured to produce light scattering.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the mask is configured to produce reflection.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the mask is configured to block visual aberrations.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

placing a contact lens over at least a portion of the cornea until the epithelial sheet has grown over the hinged Bowman'"'"'s membrane.

14. A method for implanting an ophthalmic device in a cornea comprising an epithelial sheet, a Bowman'"'"'s membrane, and a stroma, the stroma having a top layer, the method comprising:

providing an ophthalmic device comprising a mask configured to provide an optical effect whereby the depth of focus of the human eye may be increased;

creating a channel in the top layer of the stroma, the channel being in a plane parallel to the cornea'"'"'s surface; and

placing the ophthalmic device in the channel.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mask is configured to produce light interference.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the mask is configured to produce light scattering.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the mask is configured to produce light reflection.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the mask is configured to block visual aberrations.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising threading the mask into the channel.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising injecting the mask into the channel.

21. A method for implanting a mask in a cornea comprising an epithelial sheet, a Bowman'"'"'s membrane, and a stroma, the stroma having a top layer, the method comprising:

penetrating the top layer of the stroma with an injecting device; and

injecting into the top layer of the stroma with the injecting device a mask configured to provide an optical effect whereby the depth of focus of the human eye may be increased.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the mask is configured to produce light interference.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the mask is configured to produce light scattering.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the mask is configured to produce light reflection.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the mask is configured to block visual aberrations.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the injecting device comprises a ring of needles.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the mask is a pigment.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the mask comprises pigmented material particles suspended in a bio-compatible medium.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the pigmented material is a medical polymer.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the medical polymer is suture material.

31. A method for implanting a mask in a cornea, the mask configured to increase the depth of focus of the human eye, the cornea comprising an epithelium sheet, the method comprising:

providing a mask configured to provide an optical effect whereby the depth of focus of the human eye may be increased;

hinging open a corneal flap, the corneal flap comprising substantially the outermost 20% of the cornea;

placing the mask a portion of the cornea exposed by the flap; and

placing the hinged corneal flap over the mask.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the mask is configured to produce light interference.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the mask is configured to produce light scattering.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the mask is configured to produce light reflection.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the mask is configured to block visual aberrations.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

placing a contact lens over a portion of the cornea until the epithelial sheet has grown over the hinged corneal flap.

37. A method for implanting an ophthalmic device in a cornea comprising a stroma, the method comprising:

providing an ophthalmic device comprising a mask configured to provide an optical effect whereby the depth of focus of the human eye may be increased;

creating a pocket in the stroma, the pocket being of sufficient size to accommodate the ophthalmic device; and

placing the ophthalmic device in the pocket.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the mask is configured to produce light interference.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the mask is configured to produce light scattering.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the mask is configured to produce light reflection.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the mask is configured to block visual aberrations.