US 2004/0106993 A1 · Adjustable intraocular lens system and intraocular lenses therefor

Abstract

An adjustable intraocular lens system is provided by detachably attaching a secondary intraocular lens having a thin, contact lens-type optic onto a primary intraocular lens that has previously been implanted into an individual's eye. The preliminary intraocular lenses have two or more shallow, narrow slits formed adjacent the optical peripheries thereof. These slits may be formed in or through the preliminary intraocular lens optic itself or outside the optic in tabs, in haptic attachment regions or in plate-type haptics. The associated secondary intraocular lens optics are formed having two or more insertion tabs extending radially from the optical peripheries thereof. The secondary intraocular insertion tabs are shaped and located to penetrate corresponding ones of the primary intraocular lens slits and have wedge-shaped free end regions to facilitate slit insertion. The secondary intraocular lens provides a required power correction to the primary intraocular lens to which it is attached.

Claims42

Dependent claims

An adjustable intraocular lens system for an individual's eye, said intraocular lens system comprising:

a. a primary intraocular lens having an optic with an optical axis, a peripheral edge, an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said preliminary intraocular lens optic having a primary optical power, said primary intraocular lens having a narrow slit formed adjacent the peripheral edge of the primary intraocular lens optic, and having attachment means fixed to said primary intraocular lens optic for maintaining said primary intraocular lens optic optical axis centered along the optical axis of an individual's eye;
and
b. a secondary intraocular lens having an optic with an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said optic having a secondary optical power and having an attachment tab extending generally radially from the optic, said attachment tab being sized to penetrate the primary intraocular lens slit with the secondary intraocular lens optic posterior surface laying against the primary intraocular lens optic anterior surface, whereby said secondary intraocular lens optic power provides optical power correction to the primary intraocular lens optic power.

An adjustable intraocular lens system for an individual's eye, said intraocular lens system comprising:

a. a primary intraocular lens having an optic with an optical axis, a peripheral edge, an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said preliminary intraocular lens optic having a primary optical power, said primary intraocular lens having a plurality of narrow slits formed adjacent the peripheral edge of the optic, and having attachment means fixed to said primary intraocular lens optic for maintaining said primary intraocular lens optic optical axis centered along the optical axis of an individual's eye;
and
b. a secondary intraocular lens having an optic with an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said secondary intraocular lens optic having a secondary optical power and having a plurality of attachment tabs extending generally radially from said optic, said attachment tabs being sized and located to penetrate the primary intraocular lens slits with the secondary intraocular lens optic posterior surface laying against the primary intraocular lens optic anterior surface, whereby said secondary intraocular lens optic power provides optical power correction to the primary intraocular lens optic power.

A method for modifying the optical characteristics of a primary intraocular lens previously implanted in a patient's eye, the primary intraocular lens having a primary optic with a narrow slit formed adjacent a periphery of said primary optic, and having a primary optical power, said method comprising the steps of:

a. forming a thin, elastically deformable secondary optic having a diameter substantially equal to a primary optic diameter at said primary optic slit, and having a secondary optical power and an insertion tab extending radially outward from a secondary optic peripheral edge;
b. making a small, ocular incision in a patient's eye;
c. inserting said secondary optic into said patient's eye through said ocular incision with the secondary optic posterior surface laying on a primary optic anterior surface so as to combine the secondary optical power with the primary optical power;
d. positioning the secondary optic until said secondary optic tab is adjacent a entrance of said primary intraocular lens slit;
and
e. inserting said secondary optic tab into said primary intraocular lens slit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adjustable intraocular lens system and intraocular lenses therefor

Life of this patent

Adjustable intraocular lens system and intraocular lenses therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42