Enzyme-orthokeratology
OwnerDonald H. Harrisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and refractive errors of the eye are disclosed. Accelerated reshaping of the corneal tissue is accomplished by releasing enzyme(s) and/or other agents into the cornea which temporarily soften the cornea. The convex cornea is thereafter fitted with a rigid contact lens(es) which has a concave curvature that will correct the refractive error. The softened cornea then rapidly reshapes its convex curvature to the concave curvature of the contact lens rendering the eye emmetropic. The enzyme/agent then dissipates from the cornea as it "hardens" to retain the new emmetropic shape and the lens is removed.
Claims12
A method of correcting refractive error of the eye, comprising the steps of:
- administering a corneal softening amount of an agent that temporarily softens the mucopolysaccharide component of the cornea so that the cornea can be reshaped from a first configuration to a desired second configuration, wherein said agent comprises Hyaluronidase;
- fitting the convex cornea with a contact lens having a concave curvature of the desired second configuration;
- permitting the cornea to reshape to the desired second configuration under the influence of the lens;
- and
- thereafter removing said lens after dissipation of the corneal softening agent and stabilization of corneal curvature change.
A method of correcting refractive errors and making an eye emmetropic by accelerated reshaping of corneal tissue, comprising applying a rigid gas permeable contact lens that time release at least one agent into the cornea to soften the mucopolysaccharide component of the cornea and make the cornea more pliable, wherein the contact lens is preselected with a central concave radius equal to the convex radius required by the cornea to render the eye emmetropic, and wherein said agent comprises Hyaluronidase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.