Abstract: A multi-purpose contact lens care solution having high antimicrobial activity comprising, in an aqueous liquid medium, cetylpyridinium chloride and a non-ionic surfactant. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-ionic surfactant is a poly(oxypropylene)-poly(oxyethylene) block copolymer. The solution may optionally also include additional antimicrobial components, a buffer component, a viscosity inducing component, a surfactant, taurine, propylene glycol and/or a tonicity component. This solution additionally prevents losses in ocular tissue membrane integrity during contact lens wear.

Abstract: A method for charging a deformable intraocular lens into a receptacle through a slit or opening in the receptacle periphery, the lens in un-deformed state comprising a) a roughly disc shaped optic part configured to act as a lens when inserted into an eye and b) at least two elongated haptic legs, each leg having an inner end attached to the optic part, an outer end being free and intermediate points in between the inner end and the free end, each leg being curved in unstressed state and being flexible to at least a less curved configuration under stress. The method comprises the steps of i) stretching the legs to align the legs along a substantially straight line, ii) aligning or maintaining the substantially straight line over and substantially parallel with the slit or opening of the receptacle, and iii) transferring at least the two legs through the slit or opening into the receptacle.

Abstract: A multi-purpose contact lens care solution having high activity against fungi and certain bacteria comprising, in liquid aqueous medium, an alkylamine having the following formula, where R1 is a C13-17 alkyl, and R2 and R3 are each independently H or —CH3, and a non-ionic surfactant. The solution may optionally also include additional antimicrobial components, a buffer component, a viscosity inducing component, a surfactant, taurine, propylene glycol and/or a tonicity component. This solution additionally prevents losses in ocular tissue membrane integrity during contact lens wear.

Abstract: A multi-zonal monofocal opthalmic lens comprises an inner zone, an intermediate zone, and an outer zone. The inner zone has a first optical power. The intermediate zone surrounds the inner zone and has a second optical power that is different from the first power by a magnitude that is less than at least about 0.75 Diopter. The outer zone surrounds the intermediate zone and has a third optical power different from the second optical power. In certain embodiments, the third optical power is equal to the first optical power.

Abstract: A method of designing a multifocal ophthalmic lens with one base focus and at least one additional focus, capable of reducing aberrations of the eye for at least one of the foci after its implantation, comprising the steps of: (i) characterizing at least one corneal surface as a mathematical model; (ii) calculating the resulting aberrations of said corneal surface(s) by employing said mathematical model; (iii) modelling the multifocal ophthalmic lens such that a wavefront arriving from an optical system comprising said lens and said at least one corneal surface obtains reduced aberrations for at least one of the foci. There is also disclosed a method of selecting a multifocal intraocular lens, a method of designing a multifocal ophthalmic lens based on corneal data from a group of patients, and a multifocal ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new hydrogels with improved mechanical properties and methods of their preparation. The hydrogels are formed from hydrophilic polymers having function hydroxyl groups and have low elasticity modulus typically less than about 10 kPa, a tensile strength above 1 Mpa, an elongation above 50% which makes suitable as medical implants, in particular intraocular lenses. The hydrogels are prepared by a crosslinking method with a comparatively low concentration of hydrophilic polymer of a sufficiently high molecular weight dissolved in a good solvent.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of obtaining ophthalmic lens capable of reducing the aberrations of the eye comprising the steps of characterizing at least one corneal surface as a mathematical model, calculating the resulting aberrations of said corneal surface(s) by employing said mathematical model, selecting the optical power of the intraocular lens. From this information, an ophthalmic lens is modeled so a wavefront arriving from an optical system comprising said lens and corneal model obtains reduced aberrations in the eye. Also disclosed are ophthalmic lenses as obtained by the methods which are capable reducing aberrations of the eye.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens for providing a plurality of foci has an optic comprising an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an optical axis. The optic has a first region and a second region. The first region has a refractive optical power and comprises a multifocal phase plate for forming a first focus and a second focus. The second region has a refractive optical power and comprises a monofocal phase plate for forming a third focus. The multifocal phase plate and the monofocal phase plate may be disposed on first and second base curvatures, respectively, that may have different radii of curvature. The ophthalmic lens may also have an intermediate phase plate located between the multifocal phase plate and the monofocal phase plate, the intermediate phase plate comprising a third plurality of echelettes disposed on a third base curvature having a third radius of curvature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an intraocular lens inside a capsular bag after the natural lens has been removed employs a sealing device comprising a plug part adapted to seal a rhexis in a capsular bag, thus preventing displacement through the rhexis of a lens-forming liquid material injected through the rhexis and adapted to replace the natural lens and form an intraocular lens implant. The plug part has a slightly larger area than the capsulorhexis and is made of a deformable polymer. The sealing device further comprises an adjusting means connected to the plug part and adapted to position the plug part to a desired location.

Abstract: Apparatus for the removal of lens tissue includes a first handpiece having a laser emitting probe sized for insertion into a lens capsule and radiating a lens therein. The laser emitting probe includes a lumen for introducing irrigation fluid into the lens capsule. A second handpiece includes a pulsed controlled vibrated needle for insertion into the lens capsule and emulsifying laser eradiated lens tissue. The vibrated needle includes a lumen therethrough for aspiration of emulsified lens tissue and irrigation fluid.

Abstract: Phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle and an electrical circuitry for ultrasonic vibrating the needle. A power source provides pulsed electrical power to the handpiece electrical circuitry and an input is provided for enabling a surgeon to select an amplitude of dislighted pulses and a pulse width. A control system and pulse duty cycle is provided for controlling the off duty cycle to insure heat dissipation before a subsequent pulse is activated, including a foot pedal switch.

Abstract: A method for prevention of migration of epithelial cells in a capsular bag of an eye of a mammal is provided. The method comprises removing the natural lens of the eye from the capsular bag; introducing an object with at least one sharp edge into the capsular bag, in such a way that said sharp edge contacts the inside of the capsular bag to form a barrier preventing migration of epithelial cells across said barrier; and injecting a lens-forming composition into the capsular bag.

Abstract: A multi-purpose contact lens care solution having high activity against fungi and certain bacteria comprising, in liquid aqueous medium, an alkylamine having the following formula, where R1 is a C13-17 alkyl, and R2 and R3 are each independently H or —CH3, and a non-ionic surfactant. The solution may optionally also include additional antimicrobial components, a buffer component, a viscosity inducing component, a surfactant, taurine, propylene glycol and/or a tonicity component. This solution additionally prevents losses in ocular tissue membrane integrity during contact lens wear.

Abstract: A method of restoring the vision of an eye having an impaired lens with an artificial lens implant includes replacing the lens by a polymerizable material injected into the emptied lens capsule and thereby providing a new lens implant with a predetermined refractive value, while admitting the possibility of controlling and adjusting the refractive value of the eye during the surgical process.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) includes an optic for focusing light and an accommodation assembly for axially moving and/or deforming the optic in response to naturally occurring actions of the eye, thus allowing a patient to more effectively focus on near objects. In addition, the optic may be multifocal or aspheric, wherein the maximum add power of the lens is combined with the increase in diopter power obtained through axial movement and/or deformation of the optic, resulting in enhanced accommodation.

Abstract: An improved intraocular lens (42) is provided which more closely mimics the accommodation and focusing of the eye's natural lens. The lens (42) comprises an optic (44) and a flexible, resilient optic positioning element (46) which includes an anterior section (48), a posterior section (50), a bight (56), in cross-section, joining the anterior and posterior sections, and a haptic arm (58) extending between the optic (44) and the optic positioning element (46). The lens (42) may optionally include a posterior optic (44a) coupled to the optic positioning element (46). The optic positioning element (46) is formed of unitary construction. The anterior (48) and posterior (50) sections are configured for yieldable engagement with the anterior (52) and posterior (54) walls of the eye capsule (30), respectively.

Abstract: Multi-purpose solutions for contact lens care provide substantial lens wearer/user comfort and/or acceptability, with minimal, if any, corneal epithelial punctate fluorescein staining. Such solutions may include an aqueous liquid medium; an antimicrobial component comprising polyquarternium-1 and a hexamethylene biguanide polymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 4,000 to about 45,000; a surfactant component, preferably a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer surfactant, in an effective amount; a buffer component in an effective amount; a viscosity-inducing component, preferably selected from cellulosic derivatives, in an effective amount; and a tonicity component in an effective amount. Such solutions have substantial performance, comfort and acceptability benefits, which, ultimately, lead to ocular health advantages and avoidance of problems caused by contact lens wear.

Abstract: An intraocular lens suitable for implantation into an eye has an optically clear, deformable lens body composed of a silicone polymer and a silica reinforcer that structurally reinforces the polymer. The silica reinforcer is chemically modified with aryl groups effective to increase the refractive index of the silica reinforcer, preferably so as to substantially match the refractive index of the silicone polymer.

Abstract: An instrument for providing illumination of intraocular tissue during surgery generally includes a hand held light source which includes a light emitting diode, a power source for driving the diode and a control switch for interconnecting the diode with the power source. At least one fiber optic having a proximal end in light communication with the LED and a distal end size for insertion into an eye for illumination of intraocular tissue is provided.

Abstract: A multipurpose phacoemulsification needle includes a needle body having a lumen therethrough for aspiration of fluids and tissue. A needle body includes a proximal end adapted for attachment to a phacoemulsification handpiece, a curved portion and a tip portion disposed at a distal end of the needle body. The tip portion includes a truncated hemisphere having a flat surface thereon and a port disposed in the flat surface. The truncated hemisphere includes a rounded surface of sufficient area to enable capsule polishing and when driven in an ultrasonic mode, the needle is also suitable for irrigation and aspiration as well as phacoemulsification of lens tissue.