Abstract: An IOL that is free of glare and the halo effect associated with conventional IOLs and a method for using the same is provided. The IOL is adapted for implantation into an eye, in place of or in addition to the natural lens of the eye, to adjust a refractive power of an eye. The IOL includes at least one lens portion and a light-absorbing material. The lens portion has first and second surfaces and a perimeter connecting the first and second surfaces which extends entirely about the lens portion. The first and second surfaces can have any suitable shape to provide the lens portion with a suitable refractive power. The light-absorbing material is disposed to absorb light propagating in a direction towards the perimeter to thus eliminate glare and the halo effect caused by such light. One or more haptics, which include a light absorbing material, can be attached to the lens portion for mounting the IOL in the eye.

Abstract: An IOL that is free of glare and the halo effect associated with conventional IOLs and a method for using the same is provided. The IOL is adapted for implantation into an eye, in place of or in addition to the natural lens of the eye, to adjust a refractive power of an eye. The IOL includes at least one lens portion and a light-absorbing material. The lens portion has first and second surfaces and a perimeter connecting the first and second surfaces which extends entirely about the lens portion. The first and second surfaces can have any suitable shape to provide the lens portion with a suitable refractive power. The light-absorbing material is disposed to absorb light propagating in a direction towards the perimeter to thus eliminate glare and the halo effect caused by such light. One or more haptics which include a light absorbing material can be attached to the lens portion for mounting the IOL in the eye.

Abstract: A supplemental intraocular lens is provided for implantation in the eye to modify the lens system of the eye comprising the cornea and the natural lens or an intraocular lens already implanted in the eye, to create a modified lens system having teledioptic or other diffractive capabilities to correct for macular degeneration. To create the teledioptic lens system, the supplemental intraocular lens has substantially no refractive power except for a high minus lens portion at its center. The supplemental intraocular lens, when implanted on the natural or previously implanted artificial lens in the eye and used without an external lens, allows light rays entering the eye onto the retina of the eye as they would without the supplemental intraocular lens, thus providing unmagnified and peripherally unrestricted vision.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering radiant energy beams onto an area of a cornea in a line focus to create a linear incisions. The radiant energy beams may be focused in a linear configuration onto the external surface of the cornea or onto intrastromal areas of the cornea of an eye to ablate the cornea in a radial slot, circumferential curved slot, or lenticular pattern, and thereby modify its curvature and refractive power. The apparatus includes an array of central reflectors and an assembly of peripheral reflectors. Each central reflector is associated with a respective peripheral reflector so that a beam reflected by the central reflector is intercepted by its associated peripheral reflector and is again reflected to precisely incise either external or internal areas of the cornea. Each peripheral reflector has a curved reflective surface to provide a line focus on the cornea, including both rectilinear and curvilinear line focus to create radial and circumferential curved incisions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering radiant energy beams onto an area of a cornea in a line focus to create a linear incisions. The radiant energy beams may be focused in a linear configuration onto the external surface of the cornea or onto intrastromal areas of the cornea of an eye to ablate the cornea in a radial slot, circumferential curved slot, or lenticular pattern, and thereby modify its curvature and refractive power. The apparatus includes an array of central reflectors and an assembly of peripheral reflectors. Each central reflector is associated with a respective peripheral reflector so that a beam reflected by the central reflector is intercepted by its associated peripheral reflector and is again reflected to precisely incise either external or internal areas of the cornea. Each peripheral reflector has a curved reflective surface to provide a line focus on the cornea, including both rectilinear and curvilinear line focus to create radial and circumferential curved incisions.

Abstract: A ophthalmic lens system comprising an intraocular lens adapted for implantation in the eye and spectacles. The intraocular lens has a negative IOL portion. The spectacles include a positive lens system for directing light toward the negative lens portion of the intraocular lens. The positive lens system includes a positive lens and a negative lens, with the negative lens being located posteriorly of the positive lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering radiant energy beams onto the cornea of an eye to ablate the cornea in a radial slot or lenticular pattern and thereby modify its curvature and refractive power. The apparatus includes an array of central reflectors and an assembly of peripheral reflectors. Each central reflector is associated with a respective peripheral reflector so that a beam reflected by the central reflector is intercepted by its associated peripheral reflector and is again reflected to precisely incise the cornea. In a modified embodiment, the assembly of peripheral reflectors and the array of central reflectors rotate to permit lathing of the cornea. Each peripheral reflector has a curved reflective surface to provide a line focus on the cornea.

Abstract: An intraocular lens assembly used to replace the natural lens in the eye. The assembly comprises a preferably soft optical lens, a resilient housing having an aperture through which the lens can be inserted into or removed from the housing, and a resilient support comprising a central ring coupled to the housing and a pair of support arms extending outwardly from the ring. The assembly is readily foldable for insertion into the eye through a small incision, can support the soft optical lens without sagging and distortion, and allows the optical lens to be easily replaced.

Abstract: A device for modifying the surface of an optical element including a laser beam and a laser energy attenuator. The attenuator varies the energy distribution of the laser beam radially of the beam, thereby etching the surface of the optical element in conformance with the varied energy distribution. In one embodiment, the attenuator includes a positive lens-shaped portion with a laser energy absorbing material therein, which results in etching a positive lens shape on the optical element. In a second embodiment, the attenuator includes a negative lens-shaped portion with a laser energy absorbing material therein, which results in etching a negative lens shape on the optical element. End caps for each of the positive and negative shaped portions have planar outer surfaces and the same refractive indexes as those portions, thereby preventing refraction of the laser beam upon its passing through the attenuator. The attenuator can be cooled as it absorbs the energy from the laser.

Abstract: An intraocular lens formed of a soft, resilient polymeric optical element and a resilient polymeric support having an annular portion embedded in the optical element and a pair of mounting arms extending outwardly of the optical element. The optical element and support can be folded for insertion into the eye via a small incision. The support is embedded in the optical element during molding and polymerization of the optical element.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for patients having macular degeneration. The intraocular lens comprises a first portion including a diverging lens, and a second portion including a converging lens. The converging lens provides the patient with substantially the same vision he or she had prior to implantation of the intraocular lens, i.e., the decreased visual acuity normally associated with macular degeneration, while providing unmagnified and unrestricted peripheral vision. The diverging lens, when combined with converging lens means located outside the eye (e.g. a spectacle lens), provides a magnified retinal image of a given object with increased visual acuity but a restricted visual field. Thus, the intraocular lens of the invention provides the patient with the choice of unmagnified but peripherally unrestricted vision or magnified but peripherally restricted vision.

Abstract: A device and method for permanently correcting refractive errors in the eye. An optical element, such as a lens, having at least one opening therein for the diffusion of nutrients from a recipient's cornea, is positioned on the recipient's cornea and held in place by an optical covering, such as a donor cornea. The covering covers the optical element, and is attached to the recipient's cornea by means of, for example, sutures.

Abstract: An intraocular lens formed of a soft, resilient polymeric optical element and a resilient polymeric support having an annular portion embedded in the optical element and a pair of mounting arms extending outwardly of the optical element. The optical element and support can be folded for insertion into the eye via a small incision. The support is embedded in the optical element during molding and polymerization of the optical element.

Abstract: An intraocular lens including a convex portion and a prismatic portion for use with patients having macular degeneration of the retina. The lens is to be implanted in the eye, after removal of the natural lens, to direct rays of light away from the diseased center of the retina and focus them on an undiseased area of the retina, thereby improving sight.

Abstract: A soft corneal contact lens comprising a soft, highly oxygen-permeable, polymeric lens having formed on the surface thereof an ultrathin, optically clear, impermeable barrier coating. The barrier coating is tightly cross-linked and comprises the reaction product resulting from an electrical glow discharge polymerization process conducted in a gaseous atmosphere and will prevent diffusion into the lens of lipids and other large molecules from the eye's tear film. The lens is formed from silicone or polyurethane. The gaseous atmosphere consists essentially of compounds selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons; halogenated hydrocarbons; halogenated hydrocarbons and hydrogen; hydrocarbons and a halogen; and a mixture of any two or more of these compounds. The surface of the fully formed lens is highly hydrophilic which is accomplished during the polymerization process or in an additional step comprising glow discharge in the presence of oxygen or argon.

Abstract: A combined operating microscope and illumination system having a coaxial and/or par focal light source for illumination for precise instrumentation during intraocular and other operating procedures. Stereoscopic view for a surgeon and an assistant is provided with an alternatively selective light diverting system in the assistant's light system for photographic purposes. Coaxial and par focal slit illumination are achieved by a light source movable on an arc shaped tract without reflecting light through the surgeon's lens system thereby permitting additional space for a second light system to the assistant without reducing that available to the surgeon.

Abstract: An improved intraocular lens mounting system for an Iris Clip type of lens. The lens has haptical portions extending laterally from the edges of the lens transversely to the optic axis of the lens. Fibrous material such as Dacron is attached to the outer edges of the haptical portions and provide bases into which the tissue of the iris can grow so as to form a firm anchor for the lens. The lens may also have two or more attached loops projecting in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the lens and to the haptical portions. The loops may be coated or encased in a sleeve of fibrous material and hold the lens in place with respect to the iris until tissue growth into the Dacron material is accomplished.