Instrument for inserting a deformable intraocular lens into the eye

#A problem has arisen in the past with respect to intraocular lenses, in that the lens itself has a diameter of the order of 6 millimeters, and the surgeon would prefer to use a smaller incision, because the smaller the incision the more rapid the healing, resulting in more rapid visual and physical rehabilitation and fewer complications. There is also less astigmatism, less discomfort to the patient, a shorter operating time, and thus a reduced cost, when a small incision is used.

#A deformable intraocular flexible lens has recently been developed for implantation into the eye. Such a lens is inserted into the eye through a small incision made by the surgeon in the sclera or cornea. A typical insertion method is described, for example, in Mazzocco U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,998.

#The deformable intraocular lens referred to above may be deformed to a reduced configuration for insertion into the eye through a relatively small incision. However, the deformable intraocular lens, like other intraocular lenses, includes haptics or loops which serve to secure the lens in position after it has been inserted into the eye. These haptics or loops, as well as the optical zone of the lens, are fragile, and they have a tendency to tear when attempts are made to deform the lens for insertion purposes. If a lens is damaged during insertion the incision must be enlarged to allow the first lens to be removed and a second lens to be inserted. This poses a significant problem in devising a suitable instrument for deforming the lens prior to insertion through the small incision, and one which has no tendency to damage the lens during the deformation process.

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the present invention supported in a tray, and with certain components removed for purposes of clarity;

#FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the instrument of FIG. 1 with a side wall of the housing of the instrument removed, again for purposes of clarity;

#FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the housing of the instrument of FIGS. 1 and 2;

#In the practice of the present invention, the lens to be inserted into the eye of a patient is delivered to the surgeon in a sterile package. Also included in the package is a disposable insertion instrument constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, and other elements required for loading the lens into the instrument. The instrument is effective in deforming the lens from a flat configuration into a compressed shape, as the lens is loaded into the instrument, to enable the lens to be inserted by the instrument into the eye through a relatively small incision.

#The jaws of the instrument of the invention are required to reduce the size of the lens from 6 millimeters to 4 millimeters, or less, for example, during the loading operation, so that the lens may be inserted into the eye through a relatively small incision. During the insertion operation, the forward ends of the jaws must be inserted through the incision along with the deformed lens. Thus, a criteria for the insertion portion of the instrument is that it must be very thin, in order to enable it and the deformed lens to fit into the small incision. This precludes the use of tweezer-like instruments for the insertion process, because any tweezer jaws made to the required thinness would have no squeezing force.

#One embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-20A, 20B, 21A, 21B and 21C.