Abstract: For use with a surgical tool for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis, a system and method is disclosed for determining a position on the sclera for locating the scleral pocket. The system and method determines an optimum location for the scleral pocket. The system and method determines a location on the sclera that represents the intersection of the lens equatorial plane with the external surface of the sclera. The front of the scleral pocket is placed at a location that is four hundred fifty microns posterior to the intersection of the lens equatorial plane with the external surface of the sclera.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: Presbyopia and other eye disorders are treated by implanting within a plurality of elongated pockets formed in the tissue of the sclera of the eye transverse to a meridian of the eye, a prosthesis adapted for contact with the sclera of an eyeball, and comprising a body having a first end and a second end wherein the body has (i) a planform adapted to expand the contacted sclera to increase the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle of the eyeball, and (ii) means for stabilizing the prosthesis within the surgically formed pocket within the sclera of the eyeball.

Abstract: Presbyopia is treated by implanting within a plurality of elongated pockets formed in the tissue of the sclera of the eye transverse to a meridian of the eye, a prosthesis having an elongated body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface to contact the base and flap of the scleral pocket. The first and second surfaces are spaced apart a distance so that the implanted prosthesis exerts an outward force on the flap of the scleral pocket which results in an outward traction on at least the anterior margin of the scleral pocket. The combined effect of the implanted prostheses is to exert a radially outward traction on the sclera in the region overlying the ciliary body which expands the sclera in the affected region together with the underlying ciliary body. The expansion of the ciliary body restores the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle in the presbyopic eye and thereby increases the amplitude of accommodation.

Abstract: Presbyopia may be treated by implanting a scleral prosthesis within a plurality of elongated pockets formed in the tissue of the sclera of the eye. The implanted prosthesis exerts traction on the sclera in the region overlying the ciliary body which expands the sclera and the underlying ciliary body. This restores the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle and increases the amplitude of accommodation. A prosthesis of the present invention that contacts the sclera of an eyeball comprises a body having a first end and a second end. The body has (i) a planform for expanding the contacted sclera to increase the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle of the eyeball, and (ii) a structure that stabilizes the prosthesis within the surgically formed pocket within the sclera of the eyeball.

Abstract: For use with a surgical tool for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis, a system and method is disclosed for determining a position on the sclera for locating the scleral pocket. The system and method determines an optimum location for the scleral pocket. The system and method determines a location on the sclera that represents the intersection of the lens equatorial plane with the external surface of the sclera. The front of the scleral pocket is placed at a location that is four hundred fifty microns posterior to the intersection of the lens equatorial plane with the external surface of the sclera.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the scieral curvature, velocity and resonant frequency of the tissues of the eye is disclosed. The device preferably comprises a laser with a narrow frequency that is directed at selected tissue of the eye to determine the displacement, phase and frequency shift of the detected light in order to quantify the curvature, and/or velocity and resonant frequency of the selected eye tissue. The curvature of the sclera is used to measure intraocular pressure and the velocity of the surfaces of the eye in response to a vibratory stimulus can also be used to quantify intraocular pressure and stress on different parts of the eye to detect disease such as glaucoma, keratoconus, corneal ectasia, scleral malacia, decline in accommodative amplitude, nuclear sclerosis, macular degeneration and retinopathy.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: A prosthesis for scleral expansion includes a central body portion and at least one end portion having a width greater than the width of the central body portion. The end portion therefore inhibits rotation of the prosthesis about a long axis when the prosthesis is implanted within a scleral pocket or tunnel. The other end of the central body portion may have a blunted end portion including grooves for receiving a edge or lip of an incision forming the scleral tunnel to inhibit the prosthesis from sliding within the scleral tunnel. Curvature of the bottom surface of the central body portion may be greater than the curvature of the innermost surface of the scleral tunnel so that contact between the scleral and the bottom surface of the prosthesis is primarily with the end portions.

Abstract: A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.

Abstract: A surgical blade is disclosed for use with a surgical tool for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The surgical blade comprises a rotatable support arm capable of being rotated by the surgical tool and a detachable curved cutting blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. The surgical tool causes the curved cutting blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the curved cutting blade is detached from the rotatable support arm. The curved cutting blade is then removed from the incision by pulling the curved cutting blade forward out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.

Abstract: A prosthesis for scleral expansion includes a central body portion and at least one end portion having a width greater than the width of the central body portion. The end portion therefore inhibits rotation of the prosthesis about a long axis when the prosthesis is implanted within a scleral pocket or tunnel. The other end of the central body portion may have a blunted end portion including grooves for receiving a edge or lip of an incision forming the scleral tunnel to inhibit the prosthesis from sliding within the scleral tunnel. Curvature of the bottom surface of the central body portion may be greater than the curvature of the innermost surface of the scleral tunnel so that contact between is the scleral and the bottom surface of the prosthesis is primarily with the end portions.

Abstract: A surgical blade is disclosed for use with a surgical tool for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The surgical blade comprises a rotatable support arm capable of being rotated by the surgical tool and a detachable curved cutting blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. The surgical tool causes the curved cutting blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the curved cutting blade is detached from the rotatable support arm. The curved cutting blade is then removed from the incision by pulling the curved cutting blade forward out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.

Abstract: A prosthesis for scleral expansion includes a central body portion and at least one end portion having a width greater than the width of the central body portion. The end portion therefore inhibits rotation of the prosthesis about a long axis when the prosthesis is implanted within a scleral pocket or tunnel. The other end of the central body portion may have a blunted end portion including grooves for receiving a edge or lip of an incision forming the scleral tunnel to inhibit the prosthesis from sliding within the scleral tunnel. Curvature of the bottom surface of the central body portion may be greater than the curvature of the innermost surface of the scleral tunnel so that contact between the scleral and the bottom surface of the prosthesis is primarily with the end portions.

Abstract: Presbyopia and other eye disorders are treated by implanting within a plurality of elongated pockets formed in the tissue of the sclera of the eye transverse to a meridian of the eye, a prosthesis having an elongated base member having an inward surface adapted to be placed against the inward wall of the pocket and having a ridge on the inward surface of the base extending along at least a major portion of the major dimension of the base. The combined effect of the implanted prostheses is to exert a radially outward traction on the sclera in the region overlying the ciliary body which expands the sclera in the affected region together with the underlying ciliary body. The expansion of the ciliary body restores the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle in the presbyopic eye and thereby increases the amplitude of accommodation. Introduced is an improved scleral prosthesis for the treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders.