Vitrectomy lens

A method of forming a self-adhering contact lens made of flexible material, the lens for adhering to cornea and scleral regions of an eye, the cornea and sclera each having a radius of curvature, the radius of curvature of the sclera being greater than the radius of curvature of the cornea, the method comprising:

• providing a central lens portion optically shaped for viewing interior regions of the eye, the central lens portion having an interior concave surface with a radius of curvature R.sub.1 approximating the radius of curvature of the cornea for contacting the cornea;
• forming an outer flange integrally with the central lens portion, the outer flange extending radially outwardly from the central lens portion, the outer flange having an interior concave surface extending from the interior concave surface of the central lens portion, the interior concave surface of the outer flange for contacting the sclera and having a radius of curvature R.sub.2 that is greater than the radius R.sub.1 but less than the radius of curvature of the sclera;
• and
• shaping the outer flange to enable deflection relative to the central lens portion for conforming the interior concave surface of the outer flange to the sclera.

A method of securing a self-adhering contact lens made of flexible material to cornea and scleral regions of an eye, the cornea and sclera each having a radius of curvature, the radius of curvature of the sclera being greater than the radius of curvature of the cornea, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a contact lens comprising a central lens portion optically shaped for viewing interior regions of the eye, the central lens portion having an interior concave surface with a radius of curvature R.sub.1 approximating the radius of curvature of the cornea, and an outer flange formed integrally with the central lens portion extending radially outwardly from the central lens portion, the outer flange having an interior concave surface extending from the interior concave surface of the central lens portion, the interior concave surface of the outer flange having a radius of curvature R.sub.2 that is greater than the radius R.sub.1 but less than the radius of curvature of the sclera, the outer flange being shaped for deflecting relative to the central lens portion;
• positioning the lens on the eye with a perimeter portion of the outer flange contacting the sclera along a line of contact and the interior concave surface of the central lens portion being above the cornea;
• and
• pressing the lens against the eye for deflecting the outer flange relative to the central lens portion to bring the interior concave surface of the central lens portion into contact with the cornea and to conform the interior concave surface of the outer flange into full contact with the sclera, the interior concave surfaces of the central lens portion and the outer flange providing sufficient surface area to secure the lens to the eye by capillary traction.