US 6,027,531 A · Intraocular lens and method for preventing secondary opacification

Abstract

An intraocular lens for use in extracapsular cataract extraction has a haptic pat that surrounds the optical pat of the lens and further contains a groove of such shape to accommodate the anterior and posterior capsules of the lens bag after anterior capsulorhexis, extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior capsulorhexis. The lens is preferably inserted in a calibrated, circular and continuous combined anterior and posterior capsulorhexis, slightly smaller than the inner circumference of the groove as to induce a stretching of the rims of the capsular openings. This new approach is believed to prevent the appearance of secondary opacification of the capsules, allows a very stable fixation of the intraocular lens and ensures a tight separation between the anterior and posterior segment of the eye. This new principle of insertion is called the bag-in-the-lens technique, in contrast with the classical lens in-the-bag technique.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An intraocular lens for receiving the lens bag of an eye in which the natural lens has been removed and matching circular openings in the anterior and posterior capsule of said lens bag have been created, said intraocular lens comprising:

a central optical part for projecting an image on the retina of said eye;
a peripheral haptic part surrounding said central optical part, said peripheral haptic part having an inner diameter that is slightly larger than said matching circular openings in the anterior and posterior capsule of the lens bag over the entire 360.degree. circumference, said peripheral haptic part having an outer diameter that is sufficiently large enough to provide a stable fixation of said intraocular lens in said eye, and the maximum axial thickness of said peripheral haptic part is less than or equal to the minimum axial thickness of said central optical part;
wherein, said peripheral haptic part further comprising an anterior lip and a posterior lip, said anterior and posterior lip delineating a circumferential groove of such width and depth to accommodate said matching circular openings in the anterior and posterior capsule of the lens bag;
and
whereby, the implantation of said intraocular lens minimizes the risk of secondary opacification of said lens bag and the risk of luxation inside said eye.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Intraocular lens and method for preventing secondary opacification

Life of this patent

Intraocular lens and method for preventing secondary opacification

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8