Intraocular posterior chamber lens

Claim 2

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means comprising lens-centering appendages each having a base portion attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, and chamber-roof profile defining means including rigid roof support members comprising parallel spaced ridge means that are substantially parallel with the base portion of the lens-centering appendages, of predetermined dimension integral with the rear face at diametrically opposed points with respect to a selected portion of the optical region, adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule at support surfaces coninciding with the roof profile and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face throughout the selected portion of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the support members being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone between the rear face and the thus supported capsule and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 3

An intraocular lens according to claim 1 where the portion of the optical region selected for placement of the support members is an annular segment in the optical region surrounding the visual axis defined by a minimum radius of about 0.5 and a maximum radius of about 2.5 mm.

Claim 4

An intraocular lens according to claim 1 where the support members comprise tapered ridge means.

Claim 5

An intraocular lens according to claim 1 where the support members comprise parallel spaced tapered ridge means.

Claim 6

An intraocular lens according to claim 1 where the support members are diametrically spaced at a distance in the range from about 1 to about 4 mm.

Claim 7

An intraocular lens according to claim 1 where the maximum height of the open zone is in the range from about 0.1 to about 0.6 mm.

Claim 8

An intraocular lens according to claim 1 where the thickness of the support members is not more than about 0.1 mm.

Claim 9

An intraocular lens according to claim 1 where the support members comprise a pair of parallel diametrically spaced tapered ridges each having a maximum height of about 0.3 mm.

Claim 10

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means comprising forwardly angulated lens-centering appendages each having a base portion and a distal portion adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, and chamber-roof profile defining means including rigid roof support members comprising parallel spaced ridge means that are substantially parallel with the base portion of the lens-centering appendages of predetermined dimension integral with the rear face at diametrically opposed points with respect to the optical region, adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule at support surfaces coinciding with the roof profile and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the support members being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 11

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means comprising forwardly angulated lens-centering appendages each having a base portion and a distal portion adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, and chamber-roof profile defining means including rigid roof support members comprising parallel spaced ridge means that are substantially parallel with the base portion of the lens-centering appendages of predetermined dimension integral with the rear face at diametrically opposed points with respect to the optical region, adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule at support surfaces coinciding with the roof profile and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the support members being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 12

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where the distal portion of the appendages is adapted for engagement within the ciliary sulcus of the eye.

Claim 13

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where the support members comprise tapered ridge means.

Claim 14

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where the support members are diametrically spaced at a distance in the range from about 1 to about 4 mm.

Claim 15

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where the maximum height of the open zone is in the range from about 0.1 to about 0.6 mm.

Claim 16

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where the thickness of the support members is not more than about 0.1 mm.

Claim 17

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where support member comprises at least one ridge having a maximum height in the range from about 0.1 to about 0.4 mm.

Claim 18

An intraocular lens according to claim 15 where the support members comprise a pair of parallel diametrically spaced tapered ridges each having a maximum height of about 0.3 mm.

Claim 19

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where the optical region support members are located in an annular segment in the optical region surrounding the visual axis defined by a minimum radius of about 0.5 and a maximum radius of about 2.5 mm.

Claim 20

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where each appendage comprises a compressible loop.

Claim 21

An intraocular lens according to claim 9 where each appendage extends forwardly at an angle in the range from about 5 to 10 degrees.

Claim 22

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, and chamber-roof profile defining means including rigid roof support members comprising spaced pegs joined by filament means, of predetermined dimension integral with the rear face at diametrically opposed points with respect to a selected portion of the optical region, adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule at support surfaces coinciding with the roof profile and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face throughout the selected portion of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the support members being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone between the rear face and the thus supported capsule and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 23

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, and chamber-roof profile defining means including rigid roof support members comprising spaced pegs joined by filament means, of predetermined dimension integral with the rear face at diametrically opposed points with respect to a selected portion of the optical region, adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule at support surfaces coinciding with the roof profile and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face throughout the selected portion of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the support members being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone between the rear face and the thus supported capsule and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 24

An intraocular lens according to claim 20 where the support members comprise a pair of diametrically peg-supported spaced filaments.

Claim 25

An intraocular lens according to claim 20 where the support members comprise parallel spaced filament means.

Claim 26

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means comprising lens-centering appendages each having a distal portion adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, and chamber-roof profile defining means including rigid roof support members of predetermined dimension integral with the rear face at diametrically opposed points with respect to the optical region, the support members comprising a pair of diametrically spaced end-supported filaments, adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule at support surfaces coinciding with the roof profile and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the support members being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 27

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means comprising lens-centering appendages each having a distal portion adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, and chamber-roof profile defining means including rigid roof support members of predetermined dimension integral with the rear face at diametrically opposed points with respect to the optical region, the support members comprising a pair of diametrically spaced end-supported filaments, adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule at support surfaces coinciding with the roof profile and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the support members being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 28

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the rear face of the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means including opposed lens centering appendages each having a medial portion and further having a distal portion adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, the medial portion of the appendages being dimensioned to extend laterally across the rear face more than half the lateral dimension thereof and being spaced from each other and from a selected portion of the optical region and being adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule and support the capsule in spaced relation from the rear face thereby providing a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face throughout the selected portion of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the appendages being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone between the rear face and the thus supported capsule and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 29

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the rear face of the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means including opposed lens centering appendages each having a medial portion and further having a distal portion adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, the medial portion of the appendages being dimensioned to extend laterally across the rear face more than half the lateral dimension thereof and being spaced from each other and from a selected portion of the optical region and being adapted when the lens is fixated to contact the posterior capsule and support the capsule in spaced relation from the rear face thereby providing a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the rear face throughout the selected portion of the central optical region, the dimensions and spacing of the appendages being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone between the rear face and the thus supported capsule and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 30

An intraocular lens according to claim 24 where the appendages comprise at least one pair of compressible loops having substantially parallel medial portions.

Claim 31

An intraocular lens according to claim 24 where the distal portion of the appendages is forwardly angulated with respect to the rear face of the lens body.

Claim 32

An intraocular lens according to claim 26 where the forward angulation is in the range from about 5 to about 10 degrees.

Claim 33

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means comprising lens-centering appendages each having a distal portion forwardly angulated with respect to the rear face of the lens body and adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, the rear face of the lens body having an annular portion and a second forwardly offset central portion, the annular rear face portion being adapted when the lens is fixated to contact and support the posterior capsule and the central rear face portion being adapted when the lens is fixated to be spaced from the posterior capsule and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the central portion of the rear face of the lens body, the dimensions and spacing of the central portion being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone between the rear face and the thus supported capsule and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 34

An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye after extracapsular extraction, comprising: a lens body having a central optical region and a rear face, means proximally attached to the lens body for fixating the lens body in operative alignment with the visual axis of the eye, the fixating means comprising lens-centering appendages each having a distal portion forwardly angulated with respect to the rear face of the lens body and adapted for engagement with the periphery of the posterior chamber, the rear face of the lens body having an annular portion and a second forwardly offset central portion, the annular rear face portion being adapted when the lens is fixated to contact and support the posterior capsule and the central rear face portion being adapted when the lens is fixated to be spaced from the posterior capsule and to thereby provide a capsule-covered protected open zone overlying the central portion of the rear face of the lens body, the dimensions and spacing of the central portion being such as to avoid blocking of the visual axis and sagging of the capsule into the open zone between the rear face and the thus supported capsule and to thereby enable non-invasive post-operative laser surgery in said open zone.

Claim 35

An intraocular lens according to claim 28 where the forward angulation is in the range from about 5 to about 10 degrees.

Claim 36

The intraocular lens of claim 23 wherein the filaments each include a section intermediate their ends which extends parallel to and spaced from the rear face of the lens.