Abstract: A corneal implant adapted for implantation between layers of a cornea to focus an image on a retina of an eye includes an inlay, an outer perimeter, and a clear central region capable of refracting light to compensate for a refractive error of an eye. The inlay also has an annular opaque region comprising a plurality of holes or otherwise being adapted to transport nutrients. The annular opaque region extends from the outer circumference of the inlay to the clear central portion. The opaque region extends over a minority of the surface area of the implant. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the inlay are configured to abut adjacent layers of the cornea.

Abstract: This application describes apparatuses and techniques for identifying and marking a position corresponding to the intersection of a patient's line of sight with the anterior surface of the human cornea to aid centration of an ocular implant. The apparatus can include a first optical subsystem configured to project a first light through an aperture and along an instrument axis such that the patient will observe an annulus around a disc when the patient's visual axis is substantially collinear with the instrument axis and the patient will not observe the annulus when the visual axis is not substantially collinear with the instrument axis. The apparatus may also include a second optical subsystem configured to project a second light along the instrument axis such that the second light appears to a clinician to be an annulus around the first light.

Abstract: Corneal inlays and masks and methods of improving vision of a patient with corneal inlays and masks are provided. Masks with an aperture can improve the vision of a patient, such as by increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. For example, a mask can have an annular portion with a relatively low visible light transmission surrounding a relatively high transmission central portion, such as a clear lens or aperture. This provides an annular mask with a small aperture for light to pass through to the retina to increase depth of focus. The mask may also include nutrient transport structures that provide nutrient flow through mask to prevent nutrient depletion. These nutrient transport structures can be configured to concentrate nutrient transmission near a center region of the mask to provide more nutrient flow near the center region.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for aligning an implant with a visual axis of an eye of a patient. The apparatus has an instrument with an instrument axis and an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. The implant includes an aperture having an implant axis that can be positioned substantially collinear with the instrument axis. The implant further includes a substantially opaque annulus extending between the aperture and an outer periphery of the implant. The annulus has a nutrient transport structure for conveying nutrients between anterior and posterior surfaces of the implant.

Abstract: Disclosed are ophthalmic devices configured to be implanted in an eye of a patient. In one embodiment, the ophthalmic device includes a mask configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient and comprising a highly fluorinated polymeric material in which the number of carbon-fluorine bonds equals or exceeds the number of carbon-hydrogen bonds in the highly fluorinated polymeric material. The highly fluorinated polymeric material can be resistant to degradation upon exposure to ultraviolet light. The mask further includes an aperture configured to transmit light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture.

Abstract: The present application describes an ocular inlay delivery system that can include a loader, forceps, and tray system. The loader can be configured to receive an ocular inlay, protect it during handling and shipment, and present it for removal during surgery, receive jaws of surgical forceps and align the jaws in relation to the inlay allowing the forceps to grip the inlay in a proper orientation. Forceps can be configured to fit within the channel of the loader, grip the inlay using a clamping motion, maintain a grip on the inlay during transfer to the eye of a patient, deposit the inlay in the eye of a patient, and release the inlay using a sliding motion. The tray can be configured to restrict movement of the loader mechanism during shipment and handling.

Abstract: Disclosed are mask optics configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient. In one embodiment, the body of the optic has a light transmitting portion, a light blocking portion disposed about the light transmitting portion, and an outer periphery surrounding the light blocking portion. The optic is adapted to reside between two intracorneal layers of a cornea. The mask optic may be formed from a material comprising a highly fluorinated polymeric material and an opacification agent. Preferred highly fluorinated polymeric materials include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and preferred opacification agents include carbon. The highly fluorinated polymeric material is preferably resistant to degradation upon exposure to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implants can improve the vision of a patient, such as by increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. In particular, the intraocular implants can include a mask having an annular portion with a relatively low visible light transmission surrounding a relatively high transmission central portion such as a clear lens or aperture. This construct is adapted to provide an annular mask with a small aperture for light to pass through to the retina to increase depth of focus. The intraocular implant may have an optical power for refractive correction. The intraocular implant may be implanted in any location along the optical pathway in the eye, e.g., as an implant in the anterior or posterior chamber.

Abstract: Implants configured for corneal implantation are disclosed that have a light transmitting portion and a light-blocking portion disposed about the periphery of the implant. The implant can be an elongate member, such as a split or continuous ring, that can be implanted in the cornea to alter the refractive properties of the cornea by altering the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, thereby providing corrective refraction. The light-blocking portion can reduce edge effects, which may be visible or distracting to the patient.

Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Abstract: A method for modifying the curvature of a live cornea to correct a patient's vision. The live cornea is first separated into first and second opposed internal surfaces. Next, a laser beam or a mechanical cutting device can be directed onto one of the first and second internal surfaces, or both, if needed or desired. The laser beam or mechanical cutting device can be then used to incrementally and sequentially ablate or remove a three-dimensional portion of the cornea for making the cornea less curved. An ocular material is then introduced to the cornea to modify the curvature. The ocular material can be either a gel or a solid lens or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, a pocket is formed in the central portion of the cornea to receive an ocular material. In another embodiment, a plurality of internal tunnels are formed in the cornea to receive the ocular material. The ocular material can be either a fluid such as a gel or a solid member.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a mask configured to improve the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. A substrate is provided with a mask forming feature. The mask forming feature comprises an annular surface that has a curved profile that corresponds to the curvature of a corneal layer of the eye. A release layer is formed on the annular surface. A mask layer of a biocompatible metal is formed above the release layer. The mask layer is separated from the substrate.