Abstract: A method of maintaining a hydrophilic intraocular lens in a foldable state without immersing the intraocular lens in liquid water includes the step of storing the foldable intraocular lens within a substantially airtight package containing a water reservoir not in direct contact with the lens.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for insertion into the capsular bag of an eye contains an optic, an outer periphery, and an outer support structure. The optic has a periphery and centered about an optical axis. The outer periphery is disposed about the optic and configured to engage an equatorial region of the capsular bag of an eye. The outer support structure is disposed along the periphery and spaced from the optic with voids outer support structure and the optic. The intraocular lens further comprises a first intermediate member and a weakened region disposed along the outer periphery between the outer support structure and the first intermediate member. The first intermediate member operably couples the optic and the outer support structure. The weakened region is attached to, and configured to provide relative motion between, the outer support structure and the first intermediate member in response to the ciliary muscle of the eye.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for insertion into the capsular bag of an eye contains an optic, an outer periphery, and an outer support structure. The optic has a periphery and centered about an optical axis. The outer periphery is disposed about the optic and configured to engage an equatorial region of the capsular bag of an eye. The outer support structure is disposed along the periphery and spaced from the optic with voids outer support structure and the optic. The intraocular lens further comprises a first intermediate member and a weakened region disposed along the outer periphery between the outer support structure and the first intermediate member. The first intermediate member operably couples the optic and the outer support structure. The weakened region is attached to, and configured to provide relative motion between, the outer support structure and the first intermediate member in response to the ciliary muscle of the eye.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a hydrophilic intraocular lens in a foldable state without immersing the intraocular lens in liquid water includes the step of storing the foldable intraocular lens within a substantially airtight package containing a water reservoir not in direct contact with the lens.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a hydrophilic intraocular lens in a foldable state without immersing the intraocular lens in liquid water includes the step of storing the foldable intraocular lens within a substantially air tight package containing a water reservoir not in direct contact with the lens.

Abstract: Intraocular lenses for providing accommodation include an anterior optic, a posterior optic, and a lens structure. In one such lens, the lens structure comprises an anterior element coupled to the anterior optic and a posterior element coupled to the posterior optic. The anterior and posterior elements are coupled to one another at a peripheral region of the intraocular lens. The intraocular lens may also includes a projection extending anteriorly from the posterior element that limits posterior motion of the anterior optic so as to maintain a minimum separation between anterior optic and an anterior surface of the posterior optic.

Abstract: Intraocular lenses for providing accommodation include an anterior optic, a posterior optic, and a lens structure. In one such lens, the lens structure comprises an anterior element coupled to the anterior optic and a posterior element coupled to the posterior optic. The anterior and posterior elements are coupled to one another at a peripheral region of the intraocular lens. The intraocular lens may also includes a projection extending anteriorly from the posterior element that limits posterior motion of the anterior optic so as to maintain a minimum separation between anterior optic and an anterior surface of the posterior optic.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting intraocular lenses (IOLs) into eyes include a hollow tube including a material and having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an IOL is passed and an outlet through which the IOL is passed from the hollow space into an eye, and a lubricity enhancing component physically secured to said hollow tube and concentrated at or near the interior wall in an amount effective to facilitate the passage of the IOL through the hollow space.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) for insertion in a capsular bag of an eye includes an optic for focusing light and a movement assembly coupled to the optic. The movement assembly is adapted to cooperate with the capsular bag to effect accommodating movement of the optic. The movement assembly includes one or more elongated fixation members coupled to a periphery of the optic and adapted to convert radial movement of the capsular bag to axial movement of the optic. The fixation members extend spirally at least half-way around the optic. Angled transition sections may be provided between each fixation member and the optic periphery. The anterior and posterior edges of the optic periphery may have relatively sharp angles to reduce epithelial cell growth.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) includes an optic for focusing light, an outer ring for supporting the optic in a capsular bag of an eye and a plurality of radially spaced apart, elongated intermediate members connecting the optic to the outer ring. The intermediate members are configured to convert radial forces exerted by the capsular bag on the support ring into axial movement of the optic, allowing a presbyopic patient to more effectively focus on near objects. The outer ring is preferably contoured to conform to the portion of the capsular bag between the anterior and posterior zonules, and has sufficient axial thickness to contact both sets of zonules. In addition, the edge of the ring includes at least one sharp edge corner to prevent epithelial cell growth toward the optic. In addition, the outer ring may include weakened areas configured to allow consistent and repeatable deformation in response to compressive forces.

Abstract: Intraocular lenses include a lens body sized and adapted for placement in a mammalian eye and having a plurality of different optical powers, and a movement assembly joined to the lens body and adapted to cooperate with the mammalian eye to effect accommodating movement of the lens body in the eye. The lens body has an azonal, aspheric surface, with the correction power of the lens varying continuously and progressively from the optical axis to the periphery of the lens. Such intraocular lenses provide enhanced accommodation relative to the accommodation attainable using a spheric, monofocal IOL adapted for accommodating movement or an aspheric accommodating lens located in a substantially fixed position in an eye.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting intraocular lenses (IOLs) into eyes include a hollow tube including a material and having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an IOL is passed and an outlet through which the IOL is passed from the hollow space into an eye, and a lubricity enhancing component physically secured to said hollow tube and concentrated at or near the interior wall in an amount effective to facilitate the passage of the IOL through the hollow space.

Abstract: Intraocular lenses include a lens body sized and adapted for placement in a mammalian eye and having a plurality of different optical powers, and a movement assembly joined to the lens body and adapted to cooperate with the mammalian eye to effect accommodating movement of the lens body in the eye. The lens body has an azonal, aspheric surface, with the correction power of the lens varying continuously and progressively from the optical axis to the periphery of the lens. Such intraocular lenses provide enhanced accommodation relative to the accommodation attainable using a spheric, monofocal IOL adapted for accommodating movement or an aspheric accommodating lens located in a substantially fixed position in an eye.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting intraocular lenses (IOLs) into eyes include a hollow tube including a material and having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an IOL is passed and an outlet through which the IOL is passed from the hollow space into an eye, and a lubricity enhancing component physically secured to said hollow tube and concentrated at or near the interior wall in an amount effective to facilitate the passage of the IOL through the hollow space.

Abstract: Intraocular lens combinations are provided which include a first optic having a negative optical power and being adapted to be placed in a substantially fixed position in a mammalian eye. A second optic having a higher optical power than the first optic is provided. In addition, a movement assembly is provided which is coupled to the second optic and is adapted to cooperate with the eye to effect accommodating movement of the second optic in the eye. Very effective accommodation is provided with the present intraocular lens combination. The present combinations can be effectively positioned to effectively inhibit or reduce the risk of posterior capsular opacification (PCO).

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) for insertion in a capsular bag of an eye includes an optic for focusing light and a movement assembly coupled to the optic. The movement assembly is adapted to cooperate with the capsular bag to effect accommodating movement of the optic. The movement assembly includes one or more elongated fixation members coupled to a periphery of the optic and adapted to convert radial movement of the capsular bag to axial movement of the optic. The fixation members extend spirally at least half-way around the optic. Angled transition sections may be provided between each fixation member and the optic periphery. The anterior and posterior edges of the optic periphery may have relatively sharp angles to reduce epithelial cell growth.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) includes an optic for focusing light, an outer ring for supporting the optic in a capsular bag of an eye and a plurality of radially spaced apart, elongated intermediate members connecting the optic to the outer ring. The intermediate members are configured to convert radial forces exerted by the capsular bag on the support ring into axial movement of the optic, allowing a presbyopic patient to more effectively focus on near objects. The outer ring is preferably contoured to conform to the portion of the capsular bag between the anterior and posterior zonules, and has sufficient axial thickness to contact both sets of zonules. In addition, the edge of the ring includes at least one sharp edge corner to prevent epithelial cell growth toward the optic. In addition, the outer ring may include weakened areas configured to allow consistent and repeatable deformation in response to compressive forces.

Abstract: Intraocular lens combinations are provided which include an axially movable primary intraocular lens (IOL) and a substantially fixed compensating IOL. In certain embodiments, the compensating IOL has no corrective power and serves only to inhibit or reduce the risk of posterior capsular opacification (PCO). In other embodiments, the primary IOL has higher corrective power than required by the patient's prescription in order to amplify the accommodation obtained from axial movement, and the compensating IOL has negative corrective power to compensate for the excessive diopter value of the primary IOL. In a preferred method, the primary IOL is implanted in the capsular bag of an eye, and centered about the optical axis. The compensating IOL is then implanted in the capsular bag, sulcus, or anterior chamber and axially aligned with the primary IOL.

Abstract: An IOL insertion apparatus including a cartridge with an IOL-receiving chamber, a handpiece into which the cartridge is loaded, and a plunger rod that extends through a lumen in the cartridge to reliably engage the IOL therein. The chamber has a recess in one wall that creates a space adjacent the proximal edge of the IOL positioned therein. A lip or projection on the plunger rod is aligned with the space to extend underneath the proximal edge of the IOL. The plunger rod may define a forked end with a groove into which the proximal edge of the IOL is captured. The cartridge may be of the type that folds the IOL therein. The recess may continue the entire length of the cartridge to guide the plunger rod therethrough. The cartridge lumen may converge so that the IOL is further compressed therealong. An inwardly-directed wall portion in the cartridge may help guide the lip of the plunger rod into the recess.

Abstract: Intraocular lenses include an optic adapted to focus light toward a retina of an eye and a movement assembly coupled to the optic. In one embodiment, the optic has a far vision correction power and the movement assembly is adapted to cooperate with the eye to effect accommodating movement of the optic, preferably upon radial compression by a capsular bag of the eye. The optic preferably vaults anteriorly relative to the movement assembly. The movement assembly preferably circumscribes the optic and includes a member having a proximal end portion coupled to the optic and a distal end portion extending away from the optic and adapted to contact a capsular bag of the eye.