Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Implant or insert
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-10-02
Weber, Jon P. (Department: 1651)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Implant or insert
C424S484000, C424S486000, C424S488000, C435S001200, C525S064000, C525S200000, C525S932000, C525S937000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296867
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a therapeutic contact lens and a method for manufacturing and using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a therapeutic contact lens that can be formed from living cells, and which provides relief to the eye and promotes healing. In addition, the lens can be shaped to have refractive properties while the lens is either positioned on the eye or before the lens is positioned on the eye.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Conventional therapeutic lenses are well known in the optical art. Generally, therapeutic contact lenses are formed from a synthetic material such as silicon, hydrogel or polymetylmetacrylate. This type of lens is often a soft contact lens that possesses high oxygen permeability. The lens may be coated with active biological molecules and used as a drug delivery device. In addition, the lens may be shaped to refract light prior to placement onto the surface of the cornea of the eye.
However, these types of contact lenses, which are generally formed entirely from a synthetic material, usually irritate the eye and cause discomfort to the wearer of the lens, even if the lens is coated with lubricant. For example, the lubricant may wear off the lens or the individual's eye may be hypersensitive. In general, it is not uncommon for the wearer of the contact lens to be aware that the lens is positioned on the cornea or even experience a stinging sensation in the eye having the contact lens. Many improvements have sought to overcome this problem and increase the comfort level of the wearer of the contact lens. These improvements have led to the introduction of the soft contact lens and breathable contact lenses that have a high water content and induce the eye to coat the lens with water released from tear ducts. Examples of these types of lenses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,743 to Hubbell et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,093 to Harisiades et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,905 to Neefe, the entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference.
Other lenses have attempted to correct vision disorders using biological tissue, such as corneal tissue, as a lens that is surgically implanted in the eye. These types of lenses use the biological tissue to facilitate integration as a corneal inlay. This procedure requires that part of the cornea be removed and a transparent lens be attached to the remaining portion of the cornea. Corneal tissue is used in an attempt to create a matrix between the existing live cornea and the implanted lens. However, the corneal tissue is preserved and is not living. Also, unlike a contact lens which may be easily removed from and placed onto the cornea by the wearer of the lens, the corneal inlay is a permanent, surgically implanted device that is not easily removed. Examples of these types of inlays are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,230 to White; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,790 to Kern, the entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, methods for permenatly correcting vision disorders have included surgicaly attaching donor cornea to a host cornea. In such methods, a synthetic lens is positioned on the host cornea and held in place by the donor cornea surgically attached using sutures. However, the donor cornea is generally from an eye bank and is not grown in a culture. Additionally, the donor cornea is not a conact lens. It is surgically attached to the eye and may not be removed without undergoing a difficult surgical procedure. An example of this procedure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,720 to Peyman, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Conventional contact lenses are also shaped to have refractive properties in a variety of ways. Generally a lens can be machined and polished to have a certain refractive measurement. The machining method is similar to the method in which lenses for glasses may be produced for vision correction. Typically a lens having no refractive power is machined to form a refractive lens having, for example, a concave or a convex shape. The lens is then polished to have a smooth exterior surface. The inherent problem with this type of lens is that each individual eye is different, thus making each individual vision problem different. The lenses are manufactured prior to placement on the eye, and machined and polished to the specifications that are measured and calculated from the eye. This procedure results in measurements not specifically tailored to the eye and sometimes requiring trial of several different lenses until the proper corrective or refractive properties produce the best-corrected vision.
More exact methods for connecting vision are known in the prior art of Lasik or photo refractive kratectomy. In these procedures, an excimer laser is directed at the cornea of an eye and a portion of the cornea is ablated in a predetermined pattern that personally corrects an individual's eyesight. Using wavefront technology, the refractive power of the eye is measured and the information is then fed to program that determines what portion of the eye needs to be ablated to achieve the best corrected vision. It is not uncommon in these procedures to have eyesight that results in better than 20/20 vision. An example of this procedure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,175 to Peyman, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Although this procedure is adequate for permanently correcting the vision of an eye, it has not been used to change the optical refractive power of a contact lens.
Thus, there is a continuing need to improve the interaction between the eye and a contact lens placed therein, and to improve the refractive properties of the contact lens to be more tailored to a specific problem of each wearer.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a contact lens for removable placement on a surface of a cornea of an eye that improves the interaction between the eye and the lens, thus reducing irritation and increasing the comfort level.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a contact lens, for removable placement on a surface of a cornea of an eye, that can be shaped to have refractive properties while on the surface of the cornea.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a contact lens for removable placement on a surface of a cornea of an eye that is a custom or personal contact lens with substantially perfect corrective properties.
The foregoing objects are basically obtained by providing a therapeutic contact lens comprising living cells that enhances the healing process for removable placement onto a surface of a cornea and/or a conjunctiva of an eye. Specifically, the lens includes a first surface adapted for exposure to light and a second surface adapted to contact the surface of the cornea, with the first and second surfaces defining a portion therebetween including living cells and being adapted to allow visible light to pass therethrough.
Additionally, the foregoing objects are obtained by providing a method for modifying the curvature of a contact lens, comprising the steps of positioning the contact lens on a surface of a cornea of an eye, and modifying the contact lens using energy to ablate a portion of the contact lens while the contact lens is on the surface of the cornea.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4231905 (1980-11-01), Neefe
patent: 4646720 (1987-03-01), Peyman et al.
patent: 4676790 (1987-06-01), Kern
patent: 4840175 (1989-06-01), Peyman
patent: 5030230 (1991-07-01), White
patent: 5133708 (1992-07-01), Smith
patent: 5157093 (1992-10-01), Harisiades et al.
patent: 5281294 (1994-01-01), Freeman et al.
patent: 5770229 (1998-06-01), Tanihara et al.
patent: 5843743 (1998-12-01), Hubbell et al.
patent: 5910537 (1999-06-01), Feingold et al.
pat
Flood Michele
Roylance Abrams Berdo & Goodman L.L.P.
Weber Jon P.
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