Intraocular lens and supporting system therefor

Claim 2

In an artificial intraocular lens of the type intended for placement in the anterior chamber of the eye between the cornea and the iris the enable the eye to focus images upon the retina, said lens being supported by means of inert, resilient, wire-like supporting members extending both radially outwards of the lens, the improvement wherein said supporting members have portions which extend through apertures in the lens, said supporting member portions being inter-connected, and wherein the clearance between said apertures and said supporting member portions is substantial, so that the lens is held by the supporting members without any rigid connection between the supporting members and the lens, whereby aqueous humour is able to freely pass through the apertures when the lens is in place.

Claim 3

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apertures are of circular cross-section, wherein the supporting members extend both posteriorly and anteriorly of the iris when the lens is in place, and wherein the diameter of said apertures is between about 10 - 30% greater than the diameter of said supporting members.

Claim 4

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said apertures extends through the lens from the posterior to the anterior side thereof.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apertures are of circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of said apertures is between about 10 - 30% greater than the diameter of said supporting members, and wherein at least one of said apertures extends through the lens from the posterior to the anterior side thereof.

Claim 6

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the supporting members are formed of a single piece of inert wire-like material the free ends of which are joined together.

Claim 7

The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein the supporting members are formed of a single piece of inert wire-like material the free ends of which are joined together.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein the supporting members are formed of a single piece of inert wire-like material the free ends of which are joined together.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein the wire-like material is platinum.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lens is of glass which is substantially inert in the eye.

Claim 11

An artificial intraocular lens for placement in the anterior chamber of the eye between the cornea and the iris, the lens having anterior and posterior surfaces and having an optical axis that is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the eye when the lens is in place, said lens having a predetermined optical power consistent with the optical power of the cornea of the eye and the length of the eye to permit the lens to focus images upon the retina of the eye, and a supporting system for said lens comprising a plurality of substantially equiangularly spaced generally coplanar loops extending radially outwards from the posterior side of said lens, each of said loops having inner ends which enter the lens through apertures in the lens, said apertures being spaced inwardly from the periphery of the lens to minimize interference with the iris, said inner ends being shaped to space said loops a predetermined distance from the posterior surface of said lens, and a plurality of struts extending radially outwards from the periphery of said lens, said struts being positioned anteriorly of said iris when said lens is in place, the radial extent of said loops and struts being such as to retain the lens in place when said iris has dilated to its maximum extent in darkness, said loops and struts being formed of inert, resilient wire-like material and said loops and struts being connected together to form a unitary supporting system, said loops and struts extending into said lens through apertures in said lens, the clearance between said apertures and the portion of said supporting system which is enclosed in said apertures being substantial so that the lens is held by said supporting system without any rigid connection between said supporting system and said lens.

Claim 12

An artificial intraocular lens for placement in the anterior chamber of the eye between the cornea and the iris, the lens having anterior and posterior surfaces and having an optical axis that is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the eye when the lens is in place, said lens having a predetermined optical power consistent with the optical power of the cornea of the eye and the length of the eye to permit the lens to focus images upon the retina of the eye, and a supporting system for said lens comprising a plurality of substantially equiangularly spaced generally coplanar loops extending radially outwards from the posterior side of said lens, each of said loops having inner ends which enter the lens through apertures in the lens, said apertures being spaced inwardly from the periphery of the lens to minimize interference with the iris, said inner ends being shaped to space said loops a predetermined distance from the posterior surface of said lens, and a plurality of struts extending radially outwards from the periphery of said lens, said struts being positioned anteriorly of said iris when said lens is in place, the radial extent of said loops and struts being such as to retain the lens in place when said iris has dilated to its maximum extent in darkness, said loops and struts being formed of inert, resilient wire-like material and said loops and struts being connected together to form a unitary supporting system, said loops and struts extending into said lens through apertures in said lens, the clearance between said apertures and the portion of said supporting system which is enclosed in said apertures being substantial so that the lens is held by said supporting system without any rigid connection between said supporting system and said lens.

Claim 13

The invention as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one of said apertures extends through the lens from the posterior to the anterior side thereof.

Claim 14

The invention as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least one of said apertures extends from the posterior to the anterior side of the lens, wherein said apertures are of circular cross-section, and wherein the diameter of said apertures is between about 10 - 30% greater than the diameter of said supporting members.