Multi-focal intraocular lens, and methods for making and using same

An intraocular lens for a human eye, the human eye comprising a cornea, an iris which is posterior to the cornea and has a pupil, and a retina posterior to the iris for transmitting incoming light along a light path that enters the human eye through the cornea, passes through the pupil and is transmitted to the retina, the intraocular lens comprising:

• an optic body receivable in the human eye, the optic body comprising an anterior wall with an anterior optical center, a posterior wall with a posterior optical center, and a chamber between the anterior wall and the posterior wall, the optic body having an optical axis intersecting the anterior wall at the anterior optical center and the posterior wall at the posterior optical center, the optical axis situated through the optic body for placement in the human eye for intersecting the light path with both the anterior wall at an optically transmissive anterior visual zone having an anterior surface area and the posterior wall at an optically transmissive posterior visual zone having a posterior surface area;
• an optically transmissive lower liquid having a first density and a first refractive index, the lower liquid being contained in the chamber of the optic body in a sufficient amount that orienting the optical axis in a horizontal orientation for far vision positions the optical axis through the lower liquid for immersing most of the anterior surface area of the anterior visual zone and most of the posterior surface area of the posterior visual zone in the lower liquid;
• and
• an optically transmissive upper fluid substantially immiscible with the lower liquid and having a second density that is less than the first density and a second refractive index that is different than the first refractive index of the lower liquid, the upper fluid being contained in the chamber of the optic body above the lower liquid in a sufficient amount that orienting the optical axis for near vision at a range of effective downward angles relative to the horizontal orientation translates the lower liquid toward the anterior wall and positions the optical axis to extend through the lower liquid at the anterior optical center and the upper fluid at the posterior optical center for immersing most of the anterior surface area of the anterior visual zone with the lower liquid and most of the posterior surface area of the posterior visual zone in the upper fluid,
• said range of effective downward angles comprising at least an angle of 90 degrees relative to the horizontal orientation at which the optical axis extends through the lower fluid, the upper fluid, and a fluid interface where the lower and upper fluids contact one another.

An intraocular lens for a human eye comprising a cornea, an iris which is posterior to the cornea and has a pupil, and a retina posterior to the iris for transmitting incoming light along a light path that enters the human eye through the cornea, passes through the pupil and is transmitted to the retina, the intraocular lens comprising:

• an optic body receivable in the human eye, the optic body comprising an anterior wall with an anterior optical center, a posterior wall with a posterior optical center, and a chamber between the anterior wall and the posterior wall, the optic body having an optical axis intersecting the anterior wall at the anterior optical center and the posterior wall at the posterior optical center, the optical axis situated through the optic body for placement in the human eye for intersecting the light path with both the anterior wall at an optically transmissive anterior visual zone having an anterior surface area and the posterior wall at an optically transmissive posterior visual zone having a posterior surface area;
• an optically transmissive upper fluid having a first density and a first refractive index, the upper fluid being contained in the chamber of the optic body in a sufficient amount that orienting the optical axis in a horizontal orientation for far vision positions the optical axis through the upper fluid for immersing most of the anterior surface area of the anterior visual zone and most of the posterior surface area of the posterior visual zone in the upper fluid;
• and
• an optically transmissive lower liquid substantially immiscible with the upper fluid and having a second density that is greater than the first density and a second refractive index that is different than the first refractive index, the lower liquid being contained in the chamber of the optic body below the upper fluid in a sufficient amount that orienting the optical axis at a range of effective downward angles relative to the horizontal orientation for near vision translates the lower liquid toward the anterior wall and positions the optical axis to extend through the lower liquid at the anterior optical center and the upper fluid at the posterior optical center for immersing most of the anterior surface area of the anterior visual zone with the lower liquid and most of the posterior surface area of the posterior visual zone in the upper fluid,
• said range of effective downward angles comprising at least an angle of 90 degrees relative to the horizontal orientation at which the optical axis extends through the upper fluid, the lower fluid, and a fluid interface where the upper and lower fluids contact one another.

A method for making an intraocular lens for a human eye, the method comprising:

• forming an optic body sized and configured to be received in the human eye, the optic body comprising an anterior wall with an anterior optical center, a posterior wall with a posterior optical center, a chamber between the anterior wall and the posterior wall, and an entry port communicating with the chamber, the optic body having an optical axis intersecting the anterior wall at the anterior optical center and the posterior wall at the posterior optical center;
• introducing an optically transmissive primary fluid into the chamber of the optic body, the primary fluid having a first density and a first refractive index, the primary fluid being contained in the chamber of the optic body in a sufficient amount that orienting the optical axis in a horizontal orientation for far vision positions the optical axis through the primary fluid and immerses the anterior and posterior optical centers in the primary fluid;
• and introducing an optically transmissive secondary fluid substantially immiscible with the primary fluid into the chamber of the optic body, the second fluid having a second density and a second refractive index that are different than the first density and the first refractive index, the secondary fluid contained in the chamber of the optic body in a sufficient amount that orienting the optical axis for near vision at a range of effective downward angles relative to the horizontal orientation positions the optical axis to extend through the primary fluid and the secondary fluid,
• said range of effective downward angles comprising at least an angle of 90 degrees relative to the horizontal orientation at which the optical axis extends through the primary fluid, the secondary fluid, and a fluid interface where the primary and secondary fluids contact one another.