Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Eye prosthesis – Intraocular lens
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-20
2001-08-28
Nguyen, Dinh X. (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Eye prosthesis
Intraocular lens
C623S006140, C623S006320, C623S006340
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280471
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a glare-free single focal or multifocal intraocular lens and method for using the same. More specifically the present invention relates to an intraocular lens having one or more focusing areas and a light-absorbing material for absorbing undesired light rays to minimize glare experienced by the eye of the patient in which the intraocular lens is implanted.
2. Description of the Related Art
An intraocular lens (IOL) is a transparent lens made of a synthetic or other suitable material for implantation into an eye in place of or in addition to the natural lens of the eye to correct the vision of the eye. Many different types of IOLs exist for correcting various types of vision disorders. For example, an IOL can be formed in the same shape of a natural lens of an eye that has been damaged, and can be inserted into that eye in place of the natural lens.
Alternatively, in an eye suffering from myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, an IOL can be formed to have a bi-convex, bi-concave, plano-concave, plano-convex, concave-convex, or any other shape suitable which provides the IOL with the appropriate focusing power to correct for the error in focusing power of the eye that is causing the vision disorder. The suitably shaped IOL can be implanted into the eye in place of or in addition to the natural lens to thus correct the focusing power of the eye and eliminate the vision disorder.
Although existing IOLs are somewhat suitable for correcting visions disorders, they typically cause the eye to experience an undesirable side effect commonly referred to as a “halo effect”, which is a ring of light that the person will see in the eye having the implanted IOL. A halo effect is caused due to light entering or being refracted by the IOL at certain angles which creates a glare that is sensed by the retina of the eye and thus experienced by the person. Also, reflection of light off of haptics used for mounting the IOL in the eye can also increase the intensity of the halo effect.
Although the severity of the halo effect can vary depending on the shape of the IOL and the amount of direct and ambient light being received by the eye, the halo effect can cause the patient much annoyance. Also, in certain instances, the halo effect can also adversely affect the patient's ability to read, drive a car and perform other routine activities requiring acute vision. The halo effect is discussed in more detail in an article entitled “Surgeon has insider's view of the Array multifocal IOL,” Ocular Surgery News, pp. 6-12, Jan. 1, 1999.
To reduce the halo effect in IOLs having multiple focusing powers, these types of IOLs can include a darkened material at the interface between the different refractive power sections of the IOL. Examples of these types of IOLs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,326,348, 5,236,452, 5,074,877, 5,019,099, 4,917,681 and 4,769,033, all to Nordan, as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,120 to Cohen.
Although these types of IOLs are somewhat suitable in reducing glare that occurs at the interfaces between lens sections having different refractive powers, these types of IOLs are unsuitable for reducing the halo effect or glare caused by light entering or exiting the perimeter of the IOL. These types of IOLs also fail to reduce reflection of light by the haptics used for mounting in the eye.
In addition, existing IOL's can block the flow of aqueous fluid, which generally flows from the back of the iris through iridectomies or holes in the iris through the pupil and into the anterior chamber. This blockage can cause glaucoma due to an increase in intraocular pressure.
Accordingly, a need exist for an IOL which reduces glare and the halo effect due to light entering or exiting its perimeter as well as light reflected off of its haptics, and which reduces intraocular pressure caused by a build up of fluid behind the iris.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an IOL that is free of glare and the halo effect associated with conventional IOLs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide IOL that is suitable for implantation in an eye in place of or in addition to the natural lens of the eye, and which includes a light-absorbing material for absorbing undesirable light rays to eliminate glare and the halo effect experienced by the eye.
A further object of the invention is to provide a IOL system comprising a plurality of IOLs for implantation in an eye in place of or in addition to the natural lens of the eye, with each lens having a light-absorbing material to eliminate glare and the halo effect.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an IOL having a lens portion, a mounting apparatus, such as haptics, for mounting the lens portion in an eye, and a light-absorbing material at least at the perimeter of the lens portion and included in the haptics to eliminate glare and the halo effect caused by light reflecting from the haptics and light propagating towards the IOL at undesirable angles.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an IOL having a openings or holes cut out of the IOL to allow aqueous fluid to pass from behind the iris through the IOL and into the anterior chamber, thus relieving intraocular pressure.
These and other objects of the present invention are substantially achieved by providing an intraocular lens, adapted for implantation into an eye to adjust a refractive power of an eye, comprising a lens portion and a light-absorbing material. The lens portion has first and second surfaces and a perimeter connecting the first and second surfaces which extends entirely about the lens portion. The light-absorbing material is disposed to absorb light propagating in a direction towards the perimeter, to thus eliminate glare and the halo effect caused by such light. The light absorbing material can be disposed to absorb substantially all of the light impinging on the perimeter, and can be disposed proximate to or at the perimeter and along substantially all or all of perimeter.
The intraocular lens can further include one of more haptics comprising a light-absorbing material which substantially eliminates reflection of light from the haptics, and thus reduces glare experienced by the eye. The intraocular lens can also include a third surface which extends transversally to the first and second surfaces to define an opening in or completely through the lens portion, and a second light-absorbing material which absorbs light propagating towards the third surface.
Additionally, the intraocular lens can be configured as an intraocular lens system comprising two or more intraocular lenses having the light absorbing material and features as described above for a single intraocular lens. The multiple intraocular lenses can be placed proximate or against one another when implanted in the eye, or can be configured to interlock when implanted. Also, each of the IOLs can have different refractive powers, or can include multiple refractive powers, to correct the specific vision disorder of the eye in which they are being implanted.
The intraocular lens can also be configured to have an opening or multiple openings through the lens or through a lens system comprised of two or more intraocular lenses. The lens system can have openings in each lens that align when the lens system is assembled either in the eye or before implantation in the eye and form a continuous passageway through the lens system.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34251 (1993-05-01), Achatz et al.
patent: 4676791 (1987-06-01), LeMaster et al.
patent: 4678469 (1987-07-01), Kelman
patent: 4743254 (1988-05-01), Davenport
patent: 4769033 (1988-09-01), Nordan
patent: 4813955 (1989-03-01), Achatz et al.
patent: 4816032 (1989-03-01), Hetland
patent: 4906246 (1990-03-01), Grendahl
patent: 4917681 (1990-04-01), Nordan
patent: 4919663 (1990-04-01), Grendahl
patent: 5019099 (1991-05-01), Nordan
patent: 5074877 (1991-12-01), Nordan
patent: 5120120 (1992-06-01), Cohen
patent: 5152788 (1992-10-01
Koziol Jeffrey E.
Peyman Gholam A.
Nguyen Dinh X.
Roylance Abrams Berdo & Goodman L.L.P.
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