DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an intraocular lens (IOL) according to the present invention, shown generally at 10, includes a multifocal lens body 12 having a plurality of optical powers, as described hereinafter. Radially extending fixation members or haptics 14 terminate in distal ends 16. As shown in FIG. 1, intraocular lens 10 is inserted in the anterior chamber 18 of eye 20 with the distal ends 16 of fixation members 14 in contact with the angle 22 of the iris 24.

[0030] Any number of configurations can be employed for distal ends 16 of fixation members 14 in order to provide for effective fixation of intraocular lens 10 in anterior chamber 18. However, it is important that the configuration chosen be effective to provide for such fixation while, at the same time, not having an undue detrimental effect on the angle of the anterior chamber or on other components of eye 20. This is particularly true here since the intraocular lens 10 is useful in eyes suffering from the early stages of presbyopia. Thus, the intraocular lens 10 should be designed and configured for long term use, for example, in excess of about ten (10) or about twenty (20) or thirty (30) years or more, in eye 20. various designs of fixation members have been suggested in the prior art to minimize the detrimental effects of having an intraocular lens in the anterior chamber of the eye. D-2821 9 Such designs may be employed in the present invention to achieve long term effectiveness of the present IOLs with reduced detriment to the eye caused by the presence of the intraocular lens. The fixation members 14 can be made of materials of construction, such as polymeric materials, for example, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate and the like, many of which are conventionally used in intraocular lens haptics.

[0031] The lens body 12 may be constructed of rigid biocompatible materials such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or flexible, deformable materials, such as silicone polymeric material, acrylic polymeric material, hydrogel polymeric material and the like, which enable the lens body to be rolled or folded before insertion through a small incision into the eye 20. Although the lens body 12 as shown is a refractive lens body, the present IOLs can include a diffractive lens body and such embodiment is included within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the power curve of lens body 12, seen in FIG. 3, is illustrative, but not limiting, of the present invention. In other words, lens bodies or optics in accordance with the present invention can have any suitable configurations and/or power curves effective to function, for example, to provide one or more benefits, as described herein.

[0032] One important aspect of IOL 10 relates to the reduced add power of the optical powers of lens body 12. This can be seen in FIG. 3. The power curve for the lens body 12 is shown as a solid line in FIG. 3. Specifically, the add power or magnitude of the optical power relative to the baseline or “X” axis of FIG. 3 is reduced relative to the add power of a similar lens body, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, of a similar IOL adapted for use in an eye in which the natural lens has been removed. Thus, the optical power of the lens body 12 remains relatively closer to the baseline power (defined as the “X” axis in FIG. 3) as compared to the optical power of a similar lens body adapted for use in an eye in which the natural lens has been removed. Although the amount of reduction in the add power (relative to the above-noted similar lens adapted for use in an eye in which the natural lens has been removed) may be as little as about 10% or about 20%, such reduction in the add power is often greater than about 20% and can be in the range of about 30% to about 50% or more.

[0033] This reduced add power of lens body 12, particularly with regard to near and/or intermediate vision correction regions, is of substantial importance in the present invention since the natural lens 50 often retains a degree of natural accommodating ability.

[0034] Thus, IOL 10 is very effective when inserted into an eye of an early presbyope, that is into the eye of a subject (e.g., human) who suffers a degree of, but not total, presbyopia. The reduced add power of IOL 10 is effective, in combination with the remaining or residual accommodating ability of the natural lens 50, to provide for substantially full accommodation, particularly in the early presbyope in which the loss of accommodating ability is less than about 20% or about 30% or about 50%. The add powers of the lens body 12 are determined, controlled or based, at least in part, by one or more of the following factors: the degree of residual or remaining accommodating ability of the natural lens 50, the age of the subject in whose eye the IOL 10 is to be inserted, the vision needs of the subject, and the expected or anticipated life span of the subject, among other factors many of which are personal to the subject. Thus, the present IOL 10 is often customized to meet the specific and individual needs of the subject in whose eye the IOL 10 is to be inserted.

[0035] Thus, for the early or partial presbyope, the lens body 12 provides enhanced vision, particularly for near objects which such early presbyopes often have difficulty in viewing. Such enhanced near vision is provided without the need for spectacles or other vision aids which can have at least a perceived detrimental effect on the appearance of the subject.

[0036] Further, even after the natural lens 50 has lost a more substantial portion or even all of its accommodating ability, the IOL 10 continues to provide enhanced vision, for example, enhanced vision in viewing objects at intermediate distances. The later or substantially complete presbyope may require spectacles for viewing near objects. However, the presence of IOL 10 in the eye 20 allows use of bifocals and progressive spectacles which have reduced field distortions, image “jumping” and other detrimental visual effects.

[0037] An additional advantage of the reduced add power of IOL 10 is a reduction in the effects of halos around lights, for example, when viewed from a distance, at night.

[0038] One particular advantage of the anterior chamber IOL 10 shown in FIG. 1 is that a substantial distance is maintained between the natural lens 50 and the lens body 12. This distance is very effective in providing protection against the IOL 10 touching and possibly harming the natural lens 50.

[0039] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lens body 12 has a convex anterior surface 25 and a planar posterior surface 27; however, these configurations are merely illustrative. Although the vision correction power may be placed on either of the surfaces 25 or 27, in this embodiment, the anterior surface 25 is appropriately shaped to provide the desired vision correction powers.

[0040] With particular reference to FIG. 3, the lens body 12 has a central zone 28, inner and outer annular near zones 29 and 30 and annular far zones 31, 32 and 33. In this embodiment, the central zone 28 is circular and the peripheries of the annular zones 29-33 are circular. The annular zones 29-33 circumscribe the central zone 28 and the zones are contiguous. The zones 29-33 are concentric and coaxial with the lens body 12.

[0041] The zones 28-33 are used in describing the vision correction power of the lens body 12, and they are arbitrarily defined.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a preferred manner in which the vision correction power of the lens body 12 varies from the center or optical axis 39 of the lens body to the circular outer periphery 41 of the lens body. In FIG. 3, the vertical or “Y” axis represents the variation in diopter power of the lens body 12 from the baseline or far vision correction power, and the “X” or horizontal axis shows the distance outwardly from the optical axis 39, for example, in millimeters. Thus, the zero-diopter or baseline power of FIG. 3 is the power required for far vision for an IOL. The power variation shown in FIG. 3 is applicable to any surface point on lens body 12 at a fixed radial distance from the optical axis 39. In other words, the power at any given radial distance from the optical axis 39 is the same.

[0043] The central zone 28 extends from the optical axis 39 to a circular periphery 43, the inner annular near zone 29 is considered as extending from the periphery 43 to a circular periphery 44, and the outer annular near zone is considered as extending from a periphery 45 to a periphery 46. The annular far zone 31 extends between the peripheries 44 and 45, and the annular far zone 32 extends from the periphery 46 radially outwardly to a periphery 47. The annular zone 33 extends from the periphery 47 radially outwardly to the outer periphery 41 of the lens body 22.

[0044] The negative diopter powers at the optical axis and the point 49 are of less power than is required for far vision and may be considered as far, far vision correction powers. The actual correction provided by the plurality of optical powers will vary and depends, for example, on the amount of residual accommodative ability present in natural lens 50, among other factors.

[0045] The apex 48 has a vision correction power for intermediate vision. The intermediate, far and far, far powers combine to provide a mean power in the central zone 28 for far or distant vision.

[0046] Within the inner annular near zone 29, the vision correction power varies from the periphery 43 to a plateau 51, and from the plateau, the vision correction power varies back to the periphery 44 at the baseline. In the far zone 31, the vision correction power increases very slightly above the baseline and then proceeds to a far, far negative vision correction power at a point 53 at which the vision correction power reverses and returns to the baseline at the periphery 45.

[0047] In the outer annular near zone 30, the power varies from the periphery 45 to a plateau 55 and returns from the plateau 55 to the baseline at the periphery 46. In the far zone 32, the power dips slightly below the baseline to a point 57 in the far, far correction region and then returns to the baseline at the outer periphery 47. The dips below the baseline to the points 53 and 57 in the far zones 31 and 32 help support an increased depth of the focus of the central zone 28.

[0048] The far zone 33 has a vision power that lies along the baseline and is configured for far vision.

[0049] An alternate embodiment of an IOL in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Except as expressly described herein, this alternate IOL, shown generally at 110, is structured and functions similarly to IOL 10. Components of IOL 110 which correspond to components of IOL 10 are indicated by the same reference numeral increased by 100.

[0050] The primary difference between IOL 110 and IOL 10 relates to positioning within the eye. Specifically, IOL 110 is adapted to be placed in the posterior chamber 59, that is behind the iris 124 of eye 120. This is beneficial in that the haptics or fixation members 114 contact the eye at the sulcus 60 which is substantially more resistant to damage than is the angle of the iris in the anterior chamber. Thus, the fixation members 114 are less likely to cause damage to the eye than are the fixation members 14 of IOL 10. This is important since the IOLs in accordance with the present invention are often to be used on a long term basis, e.g., for about twenty (20) or about thirty (30) or more years.

[0051] The fixation members 114, because of their placement, may be somewhat different in structure than the fixation members 14.

[0052] In addition, as shown best in FIG. 4, the lens body 112 is a convex/concave lens. The concave posterior face 127 is so configured to provide some degree of space between natural lens 150 and lens body 112. Again, it is important that the lens body 112 be spaced apart from the natural lens 150 in order to avoid damaging the natural lens. The multifocal structure of the lens body 112 preferably is present on the convex anterior face 125 of the lens body 112.

[0053] IOL 110 performs substantially similarly to IOL 10, to provide enhanced vision both for the early presbyope subject and the subject who is in the later stages of presbyopia or is a substantially full or complete presbyope, as described above.

[0054] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of an IOL in accordance with the present invention. Except as expressly described herein, this further embodiment of the present IOLs, shown as 210, is structured and functions similarly to IOL 10. Components of IOL 210 which correspond to components of IOL 10 are indicated by the same reference numeral increased by 200.

[0055] In general, the further embodiment of IOL 210 provides that the lens body 212 is located in the anterior chamber but the fixation members are structured so as to contact the sulcus 62 in the posterior chamber 64 of the eye 220. This feature provides for both increased spacing between the lens body 212 and the natural lens 250 and, in addition, allows the fixation members 214 to come in contact with the more sturdy sulcus 62 in fixating the IOL 210 in the eye 220.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows IOL 210 comprised of a lens body 212, and two opposing elongated fixation members or haptics 214. Each fixation 214 has a proximal segment 66 attached to the lens body 212 near the periphery of the lens body. Each fixation member also has a distal segment 68 and an intermediate segment 70 joining the proximal segment 66 and the distal segment. The distal segment 70 preferably is more flexible than the other portions of each of the fixation member 214. For example, distal segment 68 can have a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the cross-sectional areas of intermediate segment 70 and proximal segment 66.

[0057] The lens body 212 in the shown embodiment is circular in plan and bi-convex.

[0058] Each fixation member 214 defines an arc that extends generally normal to the optical axis 239. Each has a discontinuity or a through-iris portion 72 of the intermediate segment 70. The through-iris portion 72 extends generally parallel to the optical axis 239. Other embodiments of the invention may have other suitable arrangements for the fixation members 214 and the through-iris portions 72. In the shown embodiment, the haptics 214 are symmetrical. Other embodiments of the invention may have non-symmetrical fixation members. In the shown embodiment of the invention, the fixation members 214 extend generally tangentially away from the lens body. Other embodiments of the invention may have fixation members 214 attached to the lens body 212 which extend in a non-tangential fashion.

[0059] The through-iris portions 72 may extend in any suitable direction other than normal to the optical axis 239. In the shown embodiment of the invention, each through-iris portion 72 includes a straight member extending generally parallel to the optical axis 239.

[0060] Referring now to FIG. 6, the IOL 210 is shown implanted in the eye 220. Prior to implantation, an iridotomy is performed to form the holes 80 that extend through the iris 224 near the outer periphery of the iris. The iridotomy holes improve fluid flow between the anterior chamber 218 and the posterior chamber 64. The holes 80, as shown, extend through the iris 224 generally parallel to the optical axis 239.

[0061] The IOL 210 is implanted such that the lens body 212 and the proximal segments 66 of the fixation members 214 are disposed in the anterior chamber 218. With the lens body 212 in the anterior chamber 218, there is a reduced opportunity for the IOL 210 to contact the natural lens 250 and initiate papillary block and cataract formation. Further, the distal segments 68 of fixation members 214 are disposed in the posterior chamber 64 against the sulcus 62, which reduces the incidence of harm to the angle of the anterior chamber.

[0062] Further details of IOLs having fixation members and being positioned in the eye as IOL 210 are provided in commonly assigned U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 09/166,328 filed Oct. 5, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0063] IOL 210 performs substantially similarly to IOL 10, to provide enhanced vision both for the early presbyope subject and the subject who is in the later stages of presbyopia or is a substantially full or complete presbyope, as described above.

[0064] The present IOLs very effectively provide for enhanced vision for presbyopes whether in the early or partial stages of the condition or in the latter or even substantially complete stages. Thus, because of the reduced powers of the present multifocal lens bodies, the present IOIs can be implanted into an eye having an early or partial form of presbyopia. At this stage, the reduced optical power or powers, in combination with the remaining accommodation ability of the natural lens in the eye, preferably provide for a restoration of full accommodation so that the subject can read and perform other near vision activities without the need for spectacles or other vision aids. As the presbyopia progresses over time with advancing age of the subject, the amount of residual accommodation in the natural lens continues to be reduced. However, the present IOLs are very effective in providing for enhanced vision to the subject, particularly at intermediate distances. At this stage, reading or other near vision activities may require spectacles. Also, because the present IOLs are designed to maintain the eye in good condition and the natural lens in good condition, there is reduced risk that further ocular surgery will be required, for example, to remove the natural lens.

[0065] While this invention has been described with respect to various specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within the scope of the following claims.