Abstract: A preloaded intraocular lens injection device includes a retainer for releasably holding an IOL in an unstressed state. The retainer and IOL are removably attached to an injector body and are sealed in the same package for delivery to a surgeon. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer and IOL are coupled together and sealed in one package and the injector body is sealed in a separate package with the surgeon attaching the retainer to the injector body at the time of surgery. To deliver the IOL through the injector body, the retainer is removed from the injector body causing the IOL to release from the retainer and become located in an unstressed state in the injector body. A compressor is moved to the closed position to compress the IOL, the injector tip is inserted through a small incision in an eye and a plunger is advanced to push the IOL through and out the injector body tip and into an eye.

Abstract: A method of folding a multiple element IOL comprising folding the first lens element and second lens element such that the second lens element at least partially surrounds the first lens element and such that, after folding, both the first lens element and the second lens element are substantially aligned along the optical axis. A hinged apparatus such as a cartridge may be used to cause the second lens element to be folded. A method of loading a multielement IOL comprising folding the haptics such that a portion of the haptics contacts an exterior side of one of the first lens element and the second lens element.

Abstract: A device for injecting an intraocular lens (IOL) into an eye, the device having an injector body including a lumen and an open tip wherethrough the IOL is expressed from the device. An IOL loading bay is located in the passageway wherein the IOL is positioned and compressed. The injector tip is dimensioned to allow the surgeon to choose an insertion depth between first, second and third transition points defined on the tip, the first and second transition points having a larger diameter than the third transition point which is located closer to the open tend of the tip. If the surgeon wishes to insert through a very small incision size (e.g., about 2.4 mm), the surgeon will insert the tip only up to the third transition point. The injector is stable during delivery of the IOL therethrough due to a spreading of the tip within the eye which effectively anchors the tip during IOL delivery.

Abstract: A preloaded intraocular lens injection device includes a retainer for releasably holding an IOL in an unstressed state. The retainer and IOL are removably attached to an injector body and are sealed in the same package for delivery to a surgeon. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer and IOL are coupled together and sealed in one package and the injector body is sealed in a separate package with the surgeon attaching the retainer to the injector body at the time of surgery. To deliver the IOL through the injector body, the retainer is removed from the injector body causing the IOL to release from the retainer and become located in an unstressed state in the injector body. A compressor is moved to the closed position to compress the IOL, the injector tip is inserted through a small incision in an eye and a plunger is advanced to push the IOL through and out the injector body tip and into an eye.

Abstract: A preloaded intraocular lens injection device includes a retainer for releasably holding an IOL in an unstressed state. The retainer and IOL are removably attached to an injector body and are sealed in the same package for delivery to a surgeon. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer and IOL are coupled together and sealed in one package and the injector body is sealed in a separate package with the surgeon attaching the retainer to the injector body at the time of surgery. To deliver the IOL through the injector body, the retainer is removed from the injector body causing the IOL to release from the retainer and become located in an unstressed state in the injector body. A compressor is moved to the closed position to compress the IOL, the injector tip is inserted through a small incision in an eye and a plunger is advanced to push the IOL through and out the injector body tip and into an eye.

Abstract: A preloaded intraocular lens injection device includes a retainer for releasably holding an IOL in an unstressed state. The retainer and IOL are removably attached to an injector body and are sealed in the same package for delivery to a surgeon. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer and IOL are coupled together and sealed in one package and the injector body is sealed in a separate package with the surgeon attaching the retainer to the injector body at the time of surgery. To deliver the IOL through the injector body, the retainer is removed from the injector body causing the IOL to release from the retainer and become located in an unstressed state in the injector body.

Abstract: A preloaded intraocular lens injection device includes a retainer for releasably holding an IOL in an unstressed state. The retainer and IOL are removably attached to an injector body and are sealed in the same package for delivery to a surgeon. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer and IOL are coupled together and sealed in one package and the injector body is sealed in a separate package with the surgeon attaching the retainer to the injector body at the time of surgery. To deliver the IOL through the injector body, the retainer is removed from the injector body causing the IOL to release from the retainer and become located in an unstressed state in the injector body. A compressor is moved to the closed position to compress the IOL, the injector tip is inserted through a small incision in an eye and a plunger is advanced to push the IOL through and out the injector body tip and into an eye.

Abstract: A method of folding a multiple element IOL comprising folding the first lens element and second lens element such that the second lens element at least partially surrounds the first lens element and such that, after folding, both the first lens element and the second lens element are substantially aligned along the optical axis. A hinged apparatus such as a cartridge may be used to cause the second lens element to be folded. A method of loading a multielement IOL comprising folding the haptics such that a portion of the haptics contacts an exterior side of one of the first lens element and the second lens element.

Abstract: A lens delivery system having a plunger, an injector body and a nozzle portion connected to the injector body, the nozzle portion having a hinged lid and a hollow body with a lens holding platform formed beneath the hinged lid. The cartridge has an elongated nozzle tube or tip with a bore, the bore communicating with the lens holding platform. The bottom of the bore is rounded, which causes the edges of the lens between the lens haptics to fold upwardly as the lens is pushed down the bore from the platform by the plunger. A removable pin fits into the lid and prevents the lens from moving down the bore of the tip during shipment and storage.

Abstract: A lens delivery system having a plunger, an injector body and a nozzle portion connected to the injector body, the nozzle portion having a hinged lid and a hollow body with a lens holding platform formed beneath the hinged lid. The inside of the hinged lid contains ribs that help to hold a lens stationary on the platform when the lid is closed. The cartridge has an elongated nozzle tube or tip with a bore, the bore communicating with the lens holding platform. The bottom of the bore is rounded, which causes the edges of the lens between the lens haptics to fold upwardly as the lens is pushed down the bore from the platform by the plunger. The central portion of the optic of the lens is prevented from moving upward during folding by a projection in the lid between the ribs. A removable pin fits into the lid and prevents the lens from moving down the bore of the tip during shipment and storage.

Abstract: A foldable lens having a plurality of generally “T”-shaped haptics that vault the lens posteriorly when implanted in the eye while still providing stable fixation of the lens within the eye. Such a construction ensures firm contact between the optic and the posterior capsule while still allowing the anterior capsule and the posterior capsule to contact and cause fibrosis about the haptics.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting a flexible intraocular lens or other flexible membrane into an eye which includes a compressor for laterally compressing the lens into a small cross-sectional configuration to pass the lens through a narrow incision. The compressor includes retainers along the interior of the inserter to maintain the side edges of the lens in a substantially planar orientation during compression. The retainers preferably extend through the inserter to hold the lens during advancement toward the eye to prevent an uncontrolled rotation of the lens. A haptic guide may be placed through the distal end of the inserter to properly position the leading loop haptic of the lens.

Abstract: A device for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye which includes a tubular member with an passage and a plunger movably received in the passage. The passage has an open distal end adapted to be received into an eye for implantation of a lens, and a staging area for initially receiving the lens into the passage. The tubular member includes an opening to permit loading of a lens into the staging area, and a cover movable between an open position to expose the staging area and a closed position to enclose the staging area. The distal end of the plunger has a visual indicator which provides a contrasting image as compared to the staging area. The visual indicator enables the surgeon to easily see whether the distal tip of the plunger is improperly positioned in the staging area before loading the lens.

Abstract: A device for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye which includes a tubular member with an passage and a plunger movably received in the passage. The passage has an open distal end adapted to be received into an eye for implantation of a lens, and a staging area for initially receiving the lens into the passage. The tubular member includes an opening to permit loading of a lens into the staging area, and a cover movable between an open position to expose the staging area and a closed position to enclose the staging area. The distal end of the plunger has a visual indicator which provides a contrasting image as compared to the staging area. The visual indicator enables the surgeon to easily see whether the distal tip of the plunger is improperly positioned in the staging area before loading the lens.

Abstract: A lens injector cartridge having an asymmetric bore. The asymmetric bore initiates the folding of the lens on one side only, thereby reducing the amount of energy imparted to the lens and the potential for damage to the lens. The gentle folding of the lens also assists in positioning the travel of the haptics down the bore, thereby reducing the potential for damage to the haptics.

Abstract: A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye is formed at the distal end of a cannula. The cannula has a lumen which directs the flexible membrane through an incision and into the eye. The distal end is beveled so as to provide ease of entry into the incision and to orient the discharge opening for the flexible membrane at an inclination to the longitudinal axis of the lumen. The cannula walls about the beveled end are tapered to form a smaller sized end without impeding the advance of the membrane.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting a flexible intraocular lens or other flexible membrane into an eye which includes a compressor for laterally compressing the lens into a small cross-sectional configuration to pass the lens through a narrow incision. The compressor includes retainers along the interior of the inserter to maintain the side edges of the lens in a substantially planar orientation during compression. The retainers preferably extend through the inserter to hold the lens during advancement toward the eye to prevent an uncontrolled rotation of the lens.

Abstract: A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye is formed at the distal end of a cannula. The cannula has a lumen which directs the flexible membrane through an incision and into the eye. The distal end is beveled so as to provide ease of entry into the incision and to orient the discharge opening for the flexible membrane at an inclination to the longitudinal axis of the lumen. The cannula walls about the beveled end are tapered to form a smaller sized end without impeding the advance of the membrane.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (20) for use as an artificial lens implant is disclosed. The intraocular lens includes a lens body (21) having first and second relatively rigid members (24) and (30). Hinges (40) and (45) provide means for resiliently cooperatively connecting the first section (24) to the second section (30). The first section (24) is foldable with respect to the second section (30), wherein the lens body (21) may be folded from an operational configuration to a smaller insertion configuration making implantation possible through a smaller cut in the cornea of the eye than would otherwise be possible and after insertion and upon release of the hinges (40) and (45) the lens body (21) returns to the operational configuration without further manipulation. Three embodiments of the intraocular lens (20), (50) and (80) are disclosed.

Abstract: A bifocal intraocular lens (20) for use as an artificial lens implant is disclosed. The bifocal intraocular lens (20) includes a lens body (21) having a chord (20b) and also having first and second relatively rigid members (24) and (30). The first section (24) is positioned on one side of the chord (20b) and the second section (30) is positioned on the other side of the chord (20b). The first section (24) has a focal length and the second section (30) has a focal length different from the focal length of the first section (24). Three embodiments of the bifocal intraocular lens (20, 50 and 80) are disclosed.