Abstract: An ocular implant including a hydrophobic pseudo-endothelial implant and a binding agent applied thereto, the binding agent capable of bonding the implant to a posterior portion of a cornea such that the implant serves as a water barrier enabling dehydration of the cornea.

Abstract: Annular cornea implant for inserting into a cornea pocket of the human eye via a narrow, tunnel-shaped access, with the end shape of the cornea implant depending on the shortsightedness or astigmatism to be corrected. To enable the cornea implant to be implanted in the cornea pocket in a simple manner and in an optimum position, the implant has a shape memory which is impressed on the basis of the geometry and/or material of the implant, and is designed in such a way that the deformability from a starting shape enables the insertion of the cornea implant into the cornea pocket via the narrow access, and the cornea implant has an adjustment force in the end shape thereof, which enables an essentially independent unfolding of the cornea implant in the cornea pocket.

Abstract: An ocular implant including a hydrophobic pseudo-endothelial implant and a binding agent applied thereto, the binding agent capable of bonding the implant to a posterior portion of a cornea such that the implant serves as a water barrier enabling dehydration of the cornea.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a surgical kit for preparing a damaged area of a human knee to receive at least one graft. The kit includes a moldable material positioned over the damaged area to form a template. Desirably, a tape is placed over the template and cut to correspond to a template area so that the tape is used to determine the number and/or a dimension of the openings and the number and/or dimension of a corresponding graft to be inserted into each opening. The graft is adhered to a surface of the tape.

Abstract: Methods of correcting vision are described. The methods include inserting a lens into a corneal epithelial pocket or a pocket created between a corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient and Bowman's membrane of the eye. A lens is inserted into the pocket to correct vision. Certain methods include one or more steps of cooling the corneal epithelium, and applying an aqueous liquid to the eye. The lenses that are inserted into the pocket can include collagen, including recombinant collagen, synthetic polymeric materials, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system adapted to modify refractivity of a cornea of an eye, including a first component, and adapted to be implanted at a first depth in the cornea. A second component, separate from the first component, is adapted to be implanted at a second depth in the cornea at a position relative to the first component, such that an axis passing through the eye parallel to the optical axis passes through the second component without passing through the first component. The second depth is closer to the front surface of the cornea than is the first depth.

Abstract: A method of correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising the steps of marking at least one axis on the surface of the cornea. A portion of the cornea is then separated, forming a first anterior facing surface and a second posterior facing surface. An inlay having at least one axis indicated on the surface thereof is positioned between the first and second surfaces, and the at least one axis on the inlay is aligned with the at least one axis on the surface of the cornea. This results in precise positioning and orientation of the inlay and thus correction of astigmatic error in the cornea.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of performing a penetrating keratoplasty in living eye in which a full-thickness corneal graft obtained from a corneal donor is positioned in a full-thickness open bed in the recipient's cornea, the graft is held with suture to prevent sliding out of position, and the suture is finally removed, said corneal graft being circular, having step-like edge-to-edge lateral profile with the diameter of the posterior surface being larger than the diameter of the anterior surface, said full-thickness open recipient bed being prepared to be essentially complementary to the donor corneal graft and said suture being so lax to induce a post-operation astigmatism not higher than 4 dioptres (D). The suture is normally removed not later than three months from surgery.

Abstract: A system adapted to modify refractivity of a cornea of an eye, including a first component, and adapted to be implanted at a first depth in the cornea. A second component, separate from the first component, is adapted to be implanted at a second depth in the cornea at a position relative to the first component, such that an axis passing through the eye parallel to the optical axis passes through the second component without passing through the first component. The second depth is closer to the front surface of the cornea than is the first depth.

Abstract: Transplantation of epithelial stem cells, cultured ex vivo on specifically treated amniotic membrane, yields, with that amniotic membrane, a surgical graft having expanded epithelial stem cells. The method of creating this graft and the graft itself provide simple and effective means to reconstruct damaged tissue, a preferred example being corneal tissue. The source of the epithelial stem cells can be a very small explant from healthy autologous and allogeneic tissue biopsy. The amniotic membrane is treated such that its extracellular matrix is maintained, but its cells are killed.

Abstract: A partially hydrated lens is provided for implantation into a cornea. The partially hydrated lens has a water content less than the water content of the cornea, resulting in an osmotic pressure differential between the lens and the cornea which improves adhesion between the lens and the corneal tissue. It also causes the lens to expand and flatten when implanted, and to naturally center itself while flattening. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lens is maintained in its partially hydrated state by storage in a hypertonic hydration medium.

Abstract: This invention relates to a contact lens made of donor corneal tissue, to a method of preparing that lens, and to a technique of placing the lens on the eye. The lens is made of donor corneal tissue that is acellularized by removing native epithelium and keratocytes. These cells are replaced with human epithelium and keratocytes to form a lens that has a structural anatomy similar to human cornea. The ocular lens is used to correct conditions such as astigmatism, myopia, aphakia, and presbyopia.

Abstract: This relates to a lens made of donor corneal tissue suitable for use as a contact lens or an implanted lens, to a method of preparing that lens, and to a technique of placing the lens on the eye. The lens is made of donor corneal tissue that is acellularized by removing native epithelium and keratocytes. These cells optionally are replaced with human epithelium and keratocytes to form a lens that has a structural anatomy similar to human cornea. The ocular lens may be used to correct conditions such as astigmatism, myopia, aphakia, and presbyopia.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for holding and packaging intracorneal implants are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a holder body having a surface sized and adapted to carry an intracorneal implant, and a through hole extending through the surface, preferably sized and adapted to facilitate suction being applied to the intracorneal implant located in proximity to the surface. A cap member preferably is provided and is sized and adapted to be secured to the holder body so as to hold an intracorneal implant between the surface of the body and the cap member. Methods for packaging intracorneal implants and for providing intracorneal implants ready for use are provided and may involve using such apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is a device that improves visual acuity by reshaping the cornea, by subjectively altering the corneal curvature in the optic zone by increasing the mechanical stiffness of the cornea outside (and/or slightly inside) the optic zone. One or more of the corneal battens are inserted into the cornea, after selectively distorting the natural corneal shape. Once inserted the stiffness of the corneal batten prevents the cornea from returning to its original curvature.

Abstract: It is an intraocular ring of open ring shape when inserting, so that it can be inserted from a small incision, and after being inserted into the capsule, by engaging the engaging mechanisms having mutually complementary male and female structures provided at ends of the intraocular ring, the intraocular ring having a nearly same compressive load as in closed ring is presented. Being made of an elastic material, it is an intraocular ring composed to contact with the entire inner circumference of the equatorial area in the capsule when inserted into the lenticular capsule, and engaging mechanisms are disposed at both ends in a partially cut-off state of the intraocular ring, and by engagement of the engaging mechanisms, a continuous ring shape without cut section is formed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for corneal surgery, apt to increase the accuracy of the surgical interventions, comprising a chassis, apt to be placed onto the eyeball for the centration with respect to the eyeball of the apparatus itself; at least one surgical device, apt to operate onto the corneal tissue, insertable in the apparatus; surgical device positioning means, movable with respect to the chassis, apt to be handled by a user for bringing the surgical device in an operative position; and surgical device moving means, also movable with respect to the chassis, apt to be handled by a user to actuate the surgical device, in the operative position, according to a pre-set actuating path (FIG. 1).

Abstract: This invention involves an improved surgical method and associated apparatus for correcting refractive defects of the vision, using an intracorneal implant. A small radial incision is made in the periphery of the cornea, near the limbus and a blunt spatula is used to separate the lamellae of the corneal stroma. A circular interlamellar pathway through the stroma is formed using either a single 360 degree blunt, arc-shaped dissector tool or a pair of clockwise and counterclockwise 180-200 degree dissector tools. The circular pathway created defines the margin or outer boundary of an intracorneal channel that will be formed. The intracorneal channel is then expanded radially inward in a controlled stepwise fashion to widen the channel or to create an intracorneal pocket. This is done by introducing a dissector tool with a side leg into the incision and moving the dissector tool in an arc-shaped path to widen the intracorneal channel.