Method and apparatus for adjusting corneal curvature
AssigneeMicroOptix
InventorJoseph Y. Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for adjusting corneal curvature of the eye comprising an adjustable split ring formed of an elastic hollow shell which is implantable into the cornea in encircling relation to the central optic zone of the cornea. The ring is filled by a predetermined amount with a select quantity of biocompatible material, either a fluid or strands of biocompatible suture material or polymethylmethacrylate, of predetermined size and length. The biocompatible filler material is strategically located within the elastic shell to alter its dimensions in thickness or diameter and thereby adjust the corneal curvature to correct for refractive error. Further adjustment of the ring may be made post-operatively after implantation by select removal of the biocompatible filler material.
Claims41
A process for adjusting the corneal curvature to correct refractive error of the eye, said process comprising the steps of:
- making a radial incision through the anterior corneal stroma at a peripheral location away from the optical zone of the cornea;
- forming an inter-lamellar channel in the cornea from the point of the radial incision at a depth beneath the corneal surface to provide a circular channel which encircles the optic zone of the cornea;
- gradually advancing an adjustable split ring comprising a hollow shell formed of flexible elastic material and containing a solid biocompatible filler material into place within the interlamellar channel in a circular fashion;
- and
- adjusting the thickness and circumference of said ring to appropriately change the curvature of the cornea and thus correct the refractive error of the eye, where such error may be myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or a combination thereof.
A device for altering the corneal curvature of the eye of an ametropic person, said device comprising an adjustable ring formed by an elastic hollow shell which defines a tubular chamber with an interior volume containing permanent biocompatible strands of suture material of various sizes and composition for augmenting the thickness of the ring, said ring being implantable into the peripheral stroma of the eye in a channel which encircles the central optic zone of the cornea.
The ring as set forth in 16, in which the ring has two sections of comparatively increased thickness corresponding to the areas thereof which contain more suture material, these two areas being spaced 120 to 180 degrees apart as measured in relation to the center of the ring.
A device for altering the corneal curvature of the eye of an ametropic person, said device comprising an adjustable ring formed by an elastic hollow shell which defines a tubular chamber with an interior volume containing a curved rod made of a transparent material such as a silicone polymer or polymethylmethacrylate.
A device for altering the corneal curvature of an ametropic person comprising an adjustable ring formed of an elastic shell which has a plurality of isolated compartments within the shell of the ring, each compartment being water-tight and filled with a biocompatible fluid or gel, said ring being implantable into the peripheral corneal stroma of an eye of said person in an interlamellar circular channel which encircles the central optic zone of the cornea.
A device for altering the corneal curvature of the eye of an ametropic person, said device comprising an adjustable ring comprising an elastic hollow shell which has a tubular chamber with an interior volume including at least one strand of biocompatible material for augmenting the thickness of the ring, said ring being implantable into the peripheral corneal stroma of the eye in a channel which encircles the central optic zone of the cornea.
A process for adjusting the corneal curvature to correct refractive error of the eye, said process comprising the steps of:
- making a radial incision through the anterior corneal stroma at a peripheral location away from the optical zone of the cornea;
- forming an inter-lamellar channel in the cornea from the point of the radial incision at a depth beneath the corneal surface to provide a circular channel which encircles the optic zone of the cornea;
- gradually advancing an adjustable split ring comprising a hollow shell formed of flexible elastic material and containing a biocompatible filler material into place within the interlamellar channel in a circular fashion;
- and adjusting the thickness and circumference of said ring to appropriately change the curvature of the cornea and thus correct the refractive error of the eye, where such error may be myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or a combination thereof;
- wherein the thickness of the ring is altered by placement of biocompatible fluid at strategic locations in water-tight chambers within the elastic shell of the ring and further adjustment of the thickness of the ring is accomplished at any time subsequent to its implantation by removal of a predetermined quantity of the biocompatible fluid from said ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.