Abstract: A method includes identifying an actual location of a ciliary body in a patient's eye. The method also includes identifying a position for a scleral prosthesis to be inserted into scleral tissue of the patient's eye based on the identified location of the ciliary body. The method could also include forming a scleral tunnel in the scleral tissue of the patient's eye based on the identified position and inserting the scleral prosthesis into the scleral tunnel. Identifying the actual location of the ciliary body could include illuminating a first portion of the patient's eye using illumination provided at a second portion of the patient's eye. The illumination provided at the second portion of the patient's eye may be provided through an eyelid of the patient and may travel under a cornea of the patient's eye to the first portion of the patient's eye.

Abstract: A scleral prosthesis includes a prosthesis body having first and second side surfaces and a cavity extending through the prosthesis body from the first side surface to the second side surface. The scleral prosthesis also includes a crossbar configured to be inserted into the cavity, where the crossbar is wider than the prosthesis body. The cavity could define a narrower central opening and wider end openings, and the crossbar could have a narrower central portion and wider end portions. Also, the prosthesis body could include multiple cavities, and the scleral prosthesis could include multiple crossbars configured to be inserted into the multiple cavities. Each of the cavities could be located proximate to an end of the prosthesis body. The crossbar could be substantially straight with a cylindrical cross section.

Abstract: One example scleral prosthesis includes a first free end and a second free end, each wider than a middle portion of the scleral prosthesis. Multiple first portions form the first end of the scleral prosthesis. The first portions are separated along at least half of a length of the scleral prosthesis. Multiple second portions may form the second end of the scleral prosthesis, and the second portions may be separated along less than a quarter of the length of the scleral prosthesis. An implantation device can be used to facilitate implantation of a scleral prosthesis. The implantation device includes a first end portion configured to be inserted into a scleral tunnel of an eye. The implantation device also includes a second end portion configured to receive the scleral prosthesis. A rod with a tapered and rounded end can be partially inserted into the first end portion of the implantation device.

Abstract: A system includes an intraocular lens configured to replace a natural crystalline lens of an eye. The system also includes one or more scleral prostheses configured to be inserted into scleral tissue of the eye. The one or more scleral prostheses are configured to modify a structure of the eye to improve an accommodative ability of the eye with the intraocular lens. The intraocular lens could represent an accommodating intraocular lens, and the one or more scleral prostheses could be configured to increase an amount of accommodation achievable using the accommodating intraocular lens. The intraocular lens could also represent a non-accommodating intraocular lens, and the one or more scleral prostheses could be configured to provide an amount of accommodation achievable using the non-accommodating intraocular lens.

Abstract: A method includes identifying an actual location of a ciliary body in a patient's eye. The method also includes identifying a position for a scleral prosthesis to be inserted into scleral tissue of the patient's eye based on the identified location of the ciliary body. The method could also include forming a scleral tunnel in the scleral tissue of the patient's eye based on the identified position and inserting the scleral prosthesis into the scleral tunnel. Identifying the actual location of the ciliary body could include illuminating a first portion of the patient's eye using illumination provided at a second portion of the patient's eye. The illumination provided at the second portion of the patient's eye may be provided through an eyelid of the patient and may travel under a cornea of the patient's eye to the first portion of the patient's eye.

Abstract: A scleral prosthesis includes a prosthesis body having first and second side surfaces and a cavity extending through the prosthesis body from the first side surface to the second side surface. The scleral prosthesis also includes a crossbar configured to be inserted into the cavity, where the crossbar is wider than the prosthesis body. The cavity could define a narrower central opening and wider end openings, and the crossbar could have a narrower central portion and wider end portions. Also, the prosthesis body could include multiple cavities, and the scleral prosthesis could include multiple crossbars configured to be inserted into the multiple cavities. Each of the cavities could be located proximate to an end of the prosthesis body. The crossbar could be substantially straight with a cylindrical cross section.

Abstract: Various ocular fixation devices are disclosed. One ocular fixation device includes first and second rings, where at least one of the rings includes means for fixating ocular tissue of an eye. The means for fixating are arranged to grasp the ocular tissue of the eye and to release the ocular tissue of the eye based on rotation of at least one of the first and second rings. The ocular fixation device may also include one or more structures on which a surgical tool can be mounted on the ocular fixation device at one or more locations. For instance, a dome of the ocular fixation device could include one or more holes that are configured to receive one or more projections from the surgical tool. As another example, a base of the ocular fixation device could include one or more notches configured to receive a projection from the surgical tool.

Abstract: One example scleral prosthesis includes a first free end and a second free end, each wider than a middle portion of the scleral prosthesis. Multiple first portions form the first end of the scleral prosthesis. The first portions are separated along at least half of a length of the scleral prosthesis. Multiple second portions may form the second end of the scleral prosthesis, and the second portions may be separated along less than a quarter of the length of the scleral prosthesis. An implantation device can be used to facilitate implantation of a scleral prosthesis. The implantation device includes a first end portion configured to be inserted into a scleral tunnel of an eye. The implantation device also includes a second end portion configured to receive the scleral prosthesis. A rod with a tapered and rounded end can be partially inserted into the first end portion of the implantation device.