Intraocular lenses with improved axial stability

An intraocular lens to be implanted within an eye generally perpendicular to the eye's optical axis comprising:

• an outer peripheral edge defining an optic portion,
• three or four U-shaped opposed haptic elements of varying thickness permanently connected to the outer peripheral edge and extending beyond a profile thereof, and
• central portions formed in each haptic element having a greater resistance to bending in a plane parallel to the eye's optical axis than in a plane perpendicular thereto, whereby, a compressive force sufficient to effect a 1.0 mm in diameter compression of said lens results in less than approximately 0.5 mm of axial displacement of said optic portion along the eye's optical axis.

An intraocular lens to be implanted within an eye generally perpendicular to the eye's optical axis comprising:

• an outer peripheral edge defining an optic portion,
• three or four U-shaped opposed haptic elements of varying thickness permanently connected to the outer peripheral edge and extending beyond a profile thereof, and
• central portions formed in each haptic element having a greater resistance to bending in a plane parallel to the eye's optical axis than in a plane perpendicular thereto, whereby, a compressive force sufficient to effect a 1.0 mm in diameter compression of said lens results in less than approximately 0.3 mm of axial displacement of said optic portion along the eye's optical axis.