Abstract: A method of removing a lens forming material deposited on a lens forming surface (1) of a reusable glass mold for forming ophthalmic lenses, in particular contact lenses or intraocular lenses, comprises the steps of providing a plasma (2), exposing the lens forming surface (1) of the reusable glass mold to the plasma (2) for removing the lens forming material deposited on the lens forming surface (1). The plasma (2) is generated under atmospheric pressure and potential-free, or is generated under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are surgical instruments used in ophthalmic surgical procedures and associated methods. Particular embodiments relate to a cannula assembly having a cannula tip that is retractable. The cannula assembly may comprise a cannula hub. The cannula assembly may further comprise an outer tube that extends from a distal end the cannula hub. The cannula assembly may further comprise an inner tube that extends from the distal end of the cannula hub and is disposed in the outer tube, wherein the inner tube has a cannula tip that extends from the outer tube and is retractable into the outer tube.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for measuring the posterior corneal surface of the cornea comprises cameras and a computer. Each camera generates image data representing a part of the eye posterior to the cornea. The image data describes locations of features of the part. The computer stores a description of the shape of an anterior corneal surface of the cornea, and applies a ray-tracing process to determine the shape of the posterior corneal surface. The ray-tracing process comprises defining rays, where each ray is traced from a camera, through the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, and to the part of the eye. Constraints for the rays are determined, where the constraints are calculated using the description of the shape of the anterior corneal surface and locations of the features in the image data. Parameters are optimized, and the optimized parameters describe the shape of the posterior corneal surface.

Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a membrane delamination device for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye. The membrane delamination device comprises a blade, a first lever coupled to the blade, and a second lever coupled to the blade. The first lever and the second lever are at least partially housed by a first shaft of a hand-piece. The first lever is fixedly coupled to the first shaft. The second lever is fixedly coupled to the hand-piece. The blade at least partially extends beyond a distal end of the first shaft. The membrane delamination device is configured to be actuated as a result of longitudinal movement of the second lever within and in relation to the first shaft. The second lever moves longitudinally within and in relation to the first shaft due to an application of force to the second lever through the hand-piece.

Abstract: Accommodating intraocular lenses containing a flowable media and their methods of accommodation.

Abstract: A process of making a diverging-light fiber optics illumination delivery system includes providing a micro-post comprising a glass-ceramic light-scattering element that includes at least one of a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an immiscible glass, a porous glass, opal glass, amorphous glass, an aerated glass, and a nanostructured glass; and fusion-splicing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by pulling an arc between electrodes across a gap formed by the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post; maintaining the arc for a time sufficiently long to make facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post one of malleable and molten; and pushing and thereby fusing together the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post. Some embodiments can include fusing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by applying a laser beam to heat up at least one of the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens comprising an anterior surface and a posterior surface, at least one of the anterior surface and posterior surface including a first surface region corresponding to a photopic aperture of a pupil and a second surface region corresponding to a difference between the photopic aperture and a mesopic aperture of the pupil. A first microstructure pattern formed in a the first surface region, the first microstructure pattern introducing a phase perturbation into an optical path of incoming light such that a full depth of focus for photopic vision is provided.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a self-checking photoelectric sensor that is configured to determine a characteristic (e.g., an amount of blockage and/or wellness/decay) of an optical pathway (e.g., an electro-optical pathway). An example method generally includes increasing, over a time period that starts at a first time, a current input to a light emitting element (LEE). The method generally includes receiving, by a light detection element, an output of the LEE via the optical pathway during the time period. The method generally includes converting, during the time period, the LEE output to a voltage output. The method generally includes determining a second time in the time period when the voltage output crosses a threshold. The method generally includes determining the characteristic of the optical pathway between the LEE and the light detection element based on a difference between the second time and the first time.

Abstract: A cannula assembly having a retractable cannula tip for use in ophthalmic surgical procedures is disclosed. The apparatus may include a housing having a valve bay disposed between its proximal and distal ends, and a cannula assembly, including an inner and outer tube, that extends from the distal end of the housing. The inner tube may include an elongated portion with a cannula tip at its distal end. The apparatus may further include a valve disposed in the valve bay of the housing. The valve may comprise a valve tubular for adjusting flow through the inner tube, and an actuator for moving the cannula tip from an extended position to a retracted position in the outer tube. The valve tubular may provide a biasing force to the inner tube in the retracted position to move the inner tube back to the extended position upon release of the actuator.

Abstract: A robotic imaging system includes a camera configured to obtain one or more images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the camera in a movement sequence. A force-based sensor is configured to detect and transmit sensor data related to at least one of force and/or torque imparted by a user for moving the camera. The system includes a controller configured to receive the sensor data. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is adapted to selectively execute a collision avoidance mode, including applying a respective correction force to modify the movement sequence when the camera and/or the robotic arm enter a predefined buffer zone.

Abstract: A robotic imaging system includes a camera configured to obtain one or more images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the camera in a movement sequence. The robotic imaging system includes a sensor configured to detect and transmit sensor data related to a respective position and/or a respective speed of the camera. A controller is configured to receive the sensor data, the controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is adapted to selectively execute a collision avoidance mode, which includes determining a trajectory scaling factor for the camera. The trajectory scaling factor is applied to modulate the respective speed when the camera and/or the robotic arm are in a predefined buffer zone.

Abstract: A production line (PL) for the production of ophthalmic lenses (7) comprises a manufacturing module (MM), an inspection module (IM), and a packaging module (PP) in which the lenses identified by the inspection module (IM) as being acceptable are packed into primary packages. The manufacturing module (MM) comprises a plurality of manufacturing stations (300, 301, 302, 310, 320, 321, 322, 330, 331, 340, 341, 342, 350, 351, 352). At least one of these manufacturing stations (310; 320, 321, 322, 330, 331) is configured to apply a lens identification code (70, 71, 72) to the respective lens. The lens identification code (70, 71, 72) includes information indicative of the type of the respective lens.

Abstract: The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves autoclaving, in a sealed lens package, a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a base coating of polyacrylic acid thereon in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having epoxide groups, for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one epoxide group and one of the carboxyl groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Abstract: A method of inserting an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal, the method comprising: moving the ocular implant into Schlemm's canal; and injecting a visco-elastic medium in front of the implant.

Abstract: Disclosed are toric accommodating intraocular lenses. In one embodiment, a toric accommodating intraocular lens comprises an anterior element and a posterior element. The anterior element can comprise an anterior optical surface. The posterior element can comprise a posterior optical surface. A fluid-filled optic fluid chamber can be defined in between the anterior element and the posterior element. The toric accommodating intraocular lens can be configured to correct for corneal astigmatism, spherical aberration, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Plunger apparatus comprising a housing, a plunger, a source of stored mechanical energy, a rotatable element and an actuator. Rotation of the rotatable element provides a controlled release of the plunger for the movement of the plunger, under force provided by the source of stored mechanical energy. The actuator allows operation, by an operator, of the plunger apparatus to induce rotation of the rotatable element relative to the housing to provide a controlled release of the plunger for axial movement of the plunger under the force provided by the source of stored mechanical energy.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for displaying a fused reconstructed image with a multidimensional image are disclosed. An example imaging system receives a selection corresponding to a portion of a displayed multidimensional visualization of a surgical site. At the selected portion of the multidimensional visualization, the imaging system displays a portion of a three-dimensional image which corresponds to the selected multidimensional visualization such that the displayed portion of the at least one of the three-dimensional image or model is fused with the displayed multidimensional visualization.

Abstract: Fluids incorporated into intraocular lenses and their methods of use. In some embodiments the fluids are silicone oils, and in some embodiments they are used in accommodating intraocular lenses.

Abstract: A surgical footswitch having elevated auxiliary buttons is provided. In particular embodiments, the surgical footswitch comprises a footswitch base, a treadle mounted on the footswitch base, a first primary button positioned on an upper surface of the footswitch base along a first lateral side of the treadle, a first auxiliary button housing positioned along a lateral side of the first primary button opposite the treadle, and a first auxiliary button mounted on an upper surface of the first auxiliary button housing, wherein an upper surface of the first auxiliary button is elevated in relation to an upper surface of the first primary button. In particular embodiments, the treadle is configured to activate a first function of a surgical console, the first primary button is configured to activate a second function of the surgical console, and the first auxiliary button is configured to activate a third function of the surgical console.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lipid-based ophthalmic emulsion. The emulsion has an increased amount of a mucoadhesive galactomannan polymer that promotes a long-lasting protection against desiccation and moisture retention.