METHOD AND INSERT FOR MODIFYING EYE COLOR
A method and intrastroma insert are adapted to modify eye color. The insertion of opaque material into the stromal space is a means of changing the color and/or design of the stroma and, apparently, the iris. Biocompatible inserts include a slurry of biocompatible material, a fabric including opacified material, and a thin, permeable film material incorporating some opaque materials that may also alter the shape of the cornea to improve aberrational shape.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/918,495 filed Aug. 13, 2004.
The present invention relates to a method for insertion of photoabsorptive and/or photoreactive material within the cornea of an eye, specifically within the stroma, for modifying eye color and other aspects of appearance, normalizing iris deficiencies and structure, absorbing radiation, and correcting aberrational corneal anatomy. The insert is formed of biocompatible, noneroding and positionally stable materials, such as hydrogels and hydrogel polymacralades, implantable in the stroma.
BACKGROUNDThe iris is an anatomic structure that defines and surrounds the pupillary aperture that allows light into the eye's interior. Pigment in the iris, specifically the amount and color of the pigment, determines human eye color. The primary function of the iris, along with the eye lids, is to control the amount of light that reaches the retina. Excessive exposure to sunlight may contribute to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. People with insufficient pigment in the iris are prone to these diseases and to poor vision from glare and lens effects from the rim of the human lens. The greater the amount of pigment in the eye, the darker the color of the iris. Darker iris color provides greater from ultraviolet light and makes eyes less-sensitive to bright light. Most of the world's population has darker eye color.
In addition to the biological function, the iris is the eye's most significant cosmetic feature. Color and patterns in the iris characterize the belief that the eyes are the “window to the soul.”
Historically, radially tinted contact lens have been the primary method used to adjust the apparent color of the iris, but contact lenses have substantial and well-recognized limitations in this regard. For example, contact lenses are typically readily distinguishable from natural eye color. The lenses “float”, thereby moving the tinted portion over the pupil and causing the eyes to appear to be looking in different directions. Contact lenses also present risks of infection to the cornea, which in turn can lead to scarring and poor vision. Contact lenses are inconvenient, because they generally should be removed on a daily basis to minimize the risk of infection. Even so, contact lenses are not a viable option for a significant portion of the population including those with dry eyes or other intolerance factors.
Substantial research and clinical study exist with respect to eye implants for purposes of improving the refractive performance of an eye and thereby improve vision. These corrective implants are transparent and often involve positioning within or near the pupillary axis—the eye's direct line of sight. The implants are shaped and dimensioned to modify the angulation of light rays passing through the cornea to change the eye's refractive properties.
A permanent or semi-permanent alternative means of coloring the eye would have several immediate benefits. Eliminating the need for contact lenses would eliminate contact lens related infections and problems that result from mishandling such as leaving a lens in the eye too long. Darkening the cornea of those with little or no iris color due, for example, to genetic circumstances would reduce excessive sunlight exposure to the retina, improve vision and provide a desirable cosmetic enhancement. Using corneal opacification to make light exposure relatively uniform in those with surgical or traumatic irregularities of the iris would provide similar benefits. Mitigating iris color flaws would improve self-image and potentially improve vision. Providing a widely available means of cosmetically enhancing eye color would provide a means for self-expression and potentially improve vision.
“Aberration” is distortion in the shape of the cornea leading to misdirection of the light ray off the desired path to the center of vision the macula. A common form in of aberration is called spherical aberration and is the tendency of the cornea to curve away from the midline or visual axis too quickly. This leads to progressive steepening at the rim and near sightedness that is greater at the rim than the center.
Wavefront analysis is performed by an instrument called an aberometer. The aberometer can detect optical errors at a fine level. Wavefront technology assesses every ray of light that enters the eye and then determines what changes will produce the clearest image. Therefore, wavefront analyzers precisely measure the overall refractive error of the entire eye, including any aberrations caused by the tear film, anterior and posterior cornea, lens, vitreous and retina. Remember that corneal topography systems can define corneal irregularities, but they cannot detect aberrations in other parts of the eye.
SUMMARYAccordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing drawbacks and limitations of existing eye color modification methods, permit the modification of other aspects of the eye's appearance, provide an improved means of normalizing iris deficiencies and structure, and provide a means of absorbing radiation and correcting aberrational corneal anatomy through the use of biocompatible, noneroding and positionally stable materials, such as hydrogels and hydrogel polymacralades, implanted in the stroma.
In one example, a method of modifying eye color includes forming a channel within a plane around the pupil of an eye, wherein the channel is located in the stroma portion of the eye. The cornea of the eye is slitted to gain access to the channel. A biocompatible material is then inserted into the channel, wherein the biocompatible material is at least partially opacified. The channel may be formed by using a laser technique. The channel may be fanned by using a surgical blade. The channel may comprise a substantially flat, annular shape having an outer diameter proximate the limbus of the eye. The inside diameter of the annular shape may be proximate the daylight margin of the pupil. The channel may extend around the entire circumference of the pupil. The biocompatible material may be comprised of a slurry of particles with at least some of the particles comprising an opacified material. The shape of the particles may include a shaped selected from the group consisting of flat round, spherical, ovalized, diamond-shaped, star-shaped, triangular and combinations thereof. The biocompatible material may be comprised of a polymer fabric comprising an opacified material. The biocompatible material may also be comprised of a thin polymer film comprising an opacified material. The film may have a thickness of about 3 microns or less.
In another example, an intrastromal eye insert comprises a biocompatible material that is at least partially opacified. The biocompatible material may comprise a slurry of particles with at least some of particles comprising an opacified material. The biocompatible material may be comprised of a polymer fabric comprising an opacified material. The biocompatible material, may be comprised of a thin polymer film comprising an opacified material.
The invention is directed to an intrastromal insert adapted to modify eye color. The invention is further directed to a method of placing an insert into the stromal space to modify eye color. The insertion of opaque material into the stromal space is a means of changing the color and/or design of the stroma and, apparently, the iris. While the invention is described herein in the context of several examples, those of skill in the art will understand that additional materials may be used as an insert and different methods may be used to place that insert within the stromal space. These variations known to those of skill in the art are encompassed by and included in the present invention.
In
As shown herein, the channel 40 substantially encircles the pupil 11 of the eye 10. In this way, a regular and consistent color or pattern of an insert 41 may give a regular eye pattern appearance. Also, the channel 40 is shown as generally being symmetrical. It does not need to be symmetrical. The inside diameter and outside diameter of the channel 40 may define a shape other than a circle. Also, the inside diameter may not be centered within the outside diameter of the channel 40. The shape of the channel 40 may be varied and adjusted as required by the specific circumstances of a given patient.
The insert 41 may be comprised of any material that includes portions that are opaque. An insert 41 is typically not completely opaque. Complete opacity inherently requires a solid object. For the health of the eye, the insert is required to be permeable to allow the flow of nutrients across the stroma 23. Examples of acceptable inserts 41 include a slurry of biocompatible material, a fabric including opacified material, and a thin permeable film material including some opaque materials. Of course others of skill in the art will devise other acceptable inserts that are covered by the scope of the present invention. Also, the insert 41 as shown has a relatively uniform color (degree of opacity) across the width. The insert 41 may alternatively have a color gradient or other variable pattern across its width. As noted earlier, it may be beneficial for night vision (when the pupil is relatively dilated) for the opacity at the center of the insert 41 (near the pupil 11) to be relatively low.
In
The biocompatible material may have UV absorbing quality and could reduce the UV exposure at the peripheral edge of the pupil 11. Likewise, in the event of a congenital or traumatic flaw in the pupil, the UV protecting material could prevent additional, unwanted light from getting into the inside of the eye.
It is expected that the particles will include current materials used in contact lens and other optical applications. Ideally, the biocompatible material will display even color distribution, will have minimal to no refractive or refractile quality, will be stable and non-inflammatory, and will remain stable in place in the stroma without drifting or extrusion. Although, as noted earlier, the material may be more or less tinted across the width of the channel for various, intended purposes.
Currently, color is provided by contact lens through use of linear sections of color in various patterns that are designed to fool an observer into seeing the color as one does with the iris of the eye. Referring to
Another type of acceptable biocompatible material that may be placed within the channel 40 is a fabric 60 of at least partially opacified material as shown in
A still further alternative insert includes a thin polymer film that is nevertheless highly permeable. It must be very thin to allow for color without refractive change. Preferably, the solid film insert 70 has a thickness of 5 microns or less or, alternatively, 3 microns or less. The solid film insert 70 is placed outside the pupil margin and could be extruded into place within the channel using an injection system similar to those systems used in refractive implant surgery currently. Acceptable film materials include those referenced earlier with respect to the fabric of opacified material. Those of skill in the art will understand how to treat or process the film in order to obtain sufficient permeability to provide for nutrients flow through the insert 70. Films may be also imprinted with various patterns and color gradients.
As indicated earlier, the visual appearance of the insert may be carefully prepared to mimic a human iris. Alternatively, other natural or geometric designs may be desired for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes.
While all of the figures display an insert that maintains an inside opening corresponding to the pupil 11, there is no requirement that the insert could not likewise span across the pupil 11. This is something that must be done carefully in view of the potential distortion of the visual light that maybe received by the human eye. However, for instance in the example of a very sensitive retina, a person might therapeutically benefit from UV protection across the entire cornea.
The insert and channel and discussion herein has emphasized the minimal or lack of effect of the insert on the refractive performance of the eye. However, it is possible to use these inserts and the process of placing them in the eye to alter corneal curvature and to match the eye to wavefront topography or other aberrational systems and to shape the cornea to a more perfect oblate shape. To this end, the insert could be made thicker or thinner in the area needed to match the shape or wavefront topography. The insert could be made slightly thicker or thinner to give the effect of normalizing the corneal curvature. Many aberrational visual effects occur at the periphery of the vision, and these could be positively altered by the use of a custom-shaped peripheral insert as described herein. The ability of the material to absorb a certain wavelength of light and to be altered in shape could be an excellent adjunct to current techniques of treating the corneal stroma. In one alternative, the insert may be preformed externally and placed within the cornea. The opacified material may be especially selected for the purpose of fine tuning the shape of the insert at a later date, because the material may absorb light energy and specific wave lengths that would allow the material to expand or contract upon heating. This allows for matching refraction or aberration with an external treatment.
Still further additionally, the biocompatible material that makes up the insert may further include photocromatic components. These components may darken or lighten as a result of the effective light or other energy such as magnetism. This type of material could be used to externally manipulate the eye color or improve solar protection.
Different methods may be used to modify eye color. In the broadest terms, the different methods include use of a surgical blade and/or a type of laser. A common procedure currently includes use of a microkerotome to cut through the outer cornea creating a corneal “flap” that is lifted up to expose the stroma. For the purpose of the present method, the microkerotome or other surgical blade could be used to create the channel into which a colored insert may be placed. Microkeratomes were designed to create a “window” called a flap under which a 5 to 10 millimeter laser treatment would be placed. Therefore the current design of microkerotomes is probably too small for this purpose. Different modified keratomes could be developed. Ideally the flap does not need to be created and a channel could be made by another method.
An alternative, laser-based method, includes the use of a pulsion femtosecond laser. This laser eliminates the need for a microkerotome cut by instead generating a rapid, low-energy plasma pulse to separate the cornea from the stroma. After the stroma is separated from the stroma, a small slit may be cut in the cornea to gain access to the channel formed by the laser. The slit is preferably made in the cornea above the upper eyelid or below the lower eyelid. This slit is then used to place the insert into the channel. In the example of a slurry, the material may be injected around the channel. The fabric or film may have a cut across it to create an end that may then be taken around the channel. Further, the fabric or film could be extruded into the channel with an inserter that pushes out the insert as the surgeon withdraws the inserter out of the channel.
A tattoo technique may also be used to place the particles into the stroma or Bowman's membrane layering the particles under the surface and in the stroma at the same or similar level as the channel and being extruded into the channel area with a needle. As shown in
The depth of the channels would in general be in the stroma and under the Bowman's membrane and would be developed by experience. In one example, the depth would be at the 100 to 150 micron level. An alternative argument would be to place inserts deeper into the stroma to allow for corrective procedures on the surface of the eye. The width would be from the mesoptic pupil edge to the limbus or near the limbus. An alternate approach would be to have the channels be radial tracks moving toward the pupil from the limbus. These would be, in one example, 1 to 2 millimeters wide and at the same depth. The inserts could be inserted with an extrusion instrument and could be withdrawn down the same path if necessary. These tracks would be created with the femtosecond laser or with a bladed instrument similar to the intrastromal implants known as Intacs. They also could be graded in thickness to allow for refractive alteration as well.
A still further method of modifying eye color is demonstrated in
While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method of modifying eye color comprising the steps of:
- forming an annular channel within a plane around and encircling the pupil of an eye, wherein the channel is located in the stroma portion of the eye and has annular borders proximate the limbus and the daylight margin of the pupil;
- slitting the cornea of the eye to gain access to the channel;
- inserting into the channel a biocompatible material, wherein the biocompatible material is comprised of a polymer fabric having a thickness of approximately 1-5 microns, and being at least partially opacified in a color appropriate to accomplish a desired color change;
- wherein the net gain to the total thickness of the cornea is approximately zero, and the inserted material does not materially affect the refractive performance of the cornea while providing said color change and said material permits fluid and nutrients to pass through the stromal tissue.
2. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 1, wherein the fabric is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of natural polymers, synthetic polymers, polymethylmethacrylate, hydrogel, polytetrafluoroethylene, hydrophilic polymers and combinations thereof.
3. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 1, wherein the channel is formed by using a laser technique.
4. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 3, wherein the laser technique includes the use of a femtosecond laser.
5. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 1, wherein the channel is formed by using a surgical blade.
6. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 5, wherein the surgical blade is a microkeratome.
7. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 1, wherein the inserted material comprises a photochromic material.
8. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 1, wherein the fabric includes patterns that include a gradient of opacity from least opaque in the center to more opaque when moving outwardly.
9. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 1, wherein the fabric is woven, spun, nonwoven or electrospun.
10. A method of modifying eye color comprising the steps of:
- forming an annular channel within a plane around and encircling the pupil of an eye, wherein the channel is located in the stroma portion of the eye and has annular borders proximate the limbus and the daylight margin of the pupil;
- slitting the cornea of the eye to gain access to the channel;
- inserting into the channel a biocompatible material, wherein the biocompatible material is comprised of a polymer film having a thickness of approximately 1-5 microns, and being at least partially opacified in a color appropriate to accomplish a desired color change;
- wherein the net gain to the total thickness of the cornea is approximately zero, and the inserted material does not materially affect the refractive performance of the cornea while providing said color change and said material permits fluid and nutrients to pass through the stromal tissue.
11. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 10, wherein the film is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of natural polymers, synthetic polymers, polymethylmethacrylate, hydrogel, polytetrafluoroethylene, hydrophilic polymers and combinations thereof.
12. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 10, wherein the channel is fog Hied by using a laser technique.
13. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 12, wherein the laser technique includes the use of a femtosecond laser.
14. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 10, wherein the channel is fog Hied by using a surgical blade.
15. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 14, wherein the surgical blade is a microkeratome.
16. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 10, wherein the inserted material comprises a photochromic material.
17. A method of modifying eye color as described in claim 10, wherein the film includes patterns that include a gradient of opacity from least opaque in the center to more opaque when moving outwardly.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 8, 2010
Publication Date: Aug 12, 2010
Inventor: Richard Foulkes (Hinsdale, IL)
Application Number: 12/756,313
International Classification: A61F 2/14 (20060101);