Polymeric intraocular lens material having improved surface properties and intraocular lens construction
AssigneeWashington Research Foundation
InventorsBuddy D. Ratner, Nancy B. Mateo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An intraocular lens is described that includes an optic portion formed of an optically suitable polymer or glass material that has been coated by a fluorocarbon polymer. A haptic portion of the IOL is attached to the optic. The resulting low-energy IOL surface induces significantly reduced cell damage when contacted with corneal endothelial tissues. The fluorocarbon polymer coating is preferably applied by exposing IOL surfaces to a plasma formed from a gaseous fluorocarbon monomer. The resulting IOL causes substantially less damage to corneal endothelial cells during implantation.
Claims27
An intraocular lens comprising a lens formed from polymethyl methacrylate and having an outer surface layer defined by a relatively inert fluorocarbon chemically bonded with respect to the lens.
An intraocular lens comprising a lens body formed from a polymeric material, said lens body including a substantially uninterrupted outer surface layer defined by a relatively inert fluorocarbon.
A method of producing an intraocular lens comprising the steps of:
- forming a transparent lens body from a polymeric material selected to have a predetermined set of optical properties;
- and
- forming an outer surface layer substantially completely covering the lens body, the outer surface layer including a relatively inert fluorocarbon to substantially reduce the toxicity of the lens when implanted into the eye.
An intraocular lens, comprising:
- (a) a lens body of an optically transparent, biocompatible material;
- (b) haptic means connected to the lens body for engaging interior eye surfaces for holding the lens in place in the eye;
- and
- (c) a hydrophobic coating over said lens body for reducing corneal endothelial cell damage during implantation.
An improved intraocular lens (IOL) that causes low corneal endothelial cell damage during implantation, comprising:
- a lens body, optically shaped for visual focusing with the eye, formed of a material selected from the group consisting of glasses and polymeric materials;
- a fluorocarbon polymer coating bound covalently to all surfaces of said lens body;
- and
- a haptic element attached to said lens body, said haptic element engaging interior eye surfaces such that said lens body is fixed in position for visual focusing.
An improved intraocular lens that causes low corneal endothelial cell damage during implantation, comprising:
- a lens body of poly(methyl methacrylate) optically shaped for visual focusing within the eye;
- an impermeable surface coating covalently bound to surfaces of said lens body by exposing said lens body to a monomer of perfluoropropane and an electric field which ionizes and causes plasma polymerization of said monomer and attachment to said lens body surfaces;
- and
- a haptic element attached to said lens, said device engaging interior surfaces of said eye such that said intraocular lens is fixed in position within the eye for visual focusing.
An improved intraocular lens that causes low corneal endothelial cell damage during implantation, comprising:
- a lens body of an optical material shaped for visual focusing within the eye;
- a coating of a fluorocarbon polymer covalently bound to surfaces of said lens body;
- and
- a haptic element attached to said lens body, said element engaging interior surfaces of said eye such that said intraocular lens is fixed in position within the eye for visual focusing.
An intraocular lens comprising:
- an optical lens body;
- a fluorocarbon coating on said lens body;
- and
- a haptic means attached to said lens body for remedially positioning said lens body in the eye.
An intraocular lens comprising:
- an optical lens body;
- a haptic element attached to said lens body for remedially positioning said lens body in the eye;
- said lens body and said haptic element forming an intraocular lens assembly;
- and
- a fluorocarbon coating on at least a portion of said intraocular lens assembly.
An intraocular lens comprising:
- an optical lens body;
- a haptic element attached to said lens body for remedially positioning said lens body in the eye;
- said lens body and said haptic element forming an intraocular lens assembly;
- and
- a rigid, hydrophobic coating on at least a portion of the surfaces of said intraocular lens assembly which reduces cell damage when contacted with corneal endothelial tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.