Automatically-adapting ophthalmic lens and intraocular lens

An intraocular/intraocular lens which automatically adapts in radius to the corneal radius of the eye of a user includes a reversible gel layer. The reversible gel layer includes a contact surface. Radius of curvature of the contact surface changes when under a chemical reaction of the reversible gel layer induced by temperature, light, or acidity, the reaction being reversible.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 106121027 filed on Jun. 23, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to eye health, and automatically-adapting ophthalmic lens and intraocular lens.

BACKGROUND

Ophthalmic/intraocular lens are commonly worn by users to correct vision, or for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. Usually, radius of curvature of an ophthalmic/intraocular lens is predetermined. However, radiuses of cornea curvature of different users are very different, and an ophthalmic/intraocular lens having a predetermined radius of curvature probably will not be matched with the corneas of different users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an automatically-adapting ophthalmic lens1including a matrix10and a reversible gel layer20.

The matrix10and the reversible gel layer20all can be made of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel.

In at least one embodiment, when the ophthalmic lens is a hydrogel lens, the matrix10and the reversible gel layer20are made of hydrogel, and, when the ophthalmic lens is a silicone hydrogel lens, the matrix10and the reversible gel layer20are made of silicone hydrogel.

The matrix10includes a back surface101. The reversible gel layer20is formed on the back surface101. The reversible gel layer20includes a contact surface201away from the back surface101.

In this exemplary embodiment, radius of curvature of the contact surface101can be 8.8 millimeters, 8.6 millimeters, or 8.4 millimeters, before the ophthalmic lens1is worn.

When ophthalmic lens1is placed on the eye, the reversible gel layer20can have a reversible chemical reaction which changes its shape. The physical movement of molecular structure in the reversible gel layer20being limited by the eye of wearer, the reversible gel layer20can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus radius of curvature of the contact surface201changes to match radius of corneal curvature of eye of wearer.

The reversible gel layer20can be a thermally reversible gel layer, a light induced reversible gel layer, a redox agent induced reversible gel layer, or an acid-base (pH value) induced reversible gel layer.

When the reversible gel layer20is a thermally reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer20can includes thermally reversible block copolymer, and the thermally reversible block copolymer can have a reversible chemical reaction which changes its shape under a change of temperature. Such as, when a temperature is around the temperature of a human body, such as in a range of 30 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, the reversible chemical bonds are polymerized, and the reversible gel layer20solidifies. When the ophthalmic lens1is worn, the block copolymer can have a reversible chemical reaction under the body temperature, then the reversible gel layer20can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus radius of curvature of the contact surface101changes to equal to radiuses of corneal curvature of the eye of wearer.

The block copolymer can be ethylene-oxide-propylene-oxide block copolymer, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer, or other thermally reversible block copolymer.

When the reversible gel layer20is a light induced reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer20can have a reversible chemical reaction under an irradiation by light. When the ophthalmic lens1is worn, the reversible gel layer20can have a reversible chemical reaction under sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light, then the reversible gel layer20can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus radius of curvature of the contact surface101can be changed to equal corneal radius of the eye of wearer.

The reversible gel layer20can include one or more of disulfide chemical bonds, hydrazone chemical bonds, phenyl boronic acid chemical bonds, metal coordination bonds, and cyclodextrin host-guest interaction bonds. The reversible gel layer20can further include catalyst of light.

When the reversible gel layer20is a redox agent induced reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer20can have a reversible chemical reaction under an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent. The protein in human tears can be an oxidizing agent in the reversible chemical reaction. When the ophthalmic lens1is worn, the reversible gel layer20can have a reversible chemical reaction under the tears protein, then the reversible gel layer20can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus radius of curvature of the contact surface101can be changed to equal corneal radiuses of the eye of wearer.

The reversible gel layer20can includes reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds. Before being used, the reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds are disconnected. When the reversible gel layer20is in contact with the tears protein, the reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds can be reconnected. The reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds can be disconnected by a reducing agent, such as cysteine. Thus, the ophthalmic lens1can be received in a reducing agent before being used, and the reducing agent includes cysteine.

When the reversible gel layer20is an acid-base induced reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer20can have a reversible chemical reaction under a pH value around the pH value of the human tears, which is in a range of about 6 to about 7.5. When the ophthalmic lens1is worn, the reversible gel layer20can have a reversible chemical reaction under the tears, then the reversible gel layer20can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus radius of curvature of the contact surface101can be suitably changed.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an automatically-adapting intraocular lens3including a reversible gel layer30.

The reversible gel layer30can be made of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel.

In at least one embodiment, when the intraocular lens3is a hydrogel lens, the reversible gel layer30is made of hydrogel, and when the intraocular lens3is a silicone hydrogel lens, the reversible gel layer30is made of silicone hydrogel.

The reversible gel layer30includes a contact surface301for being in contact with eye of wearer.

When intraocular lens3is placed on the eye, the reversible gel layer30can have a reversible chemical reaction which changes its shape. The physical movement of molecular structure in the reversible gel layer30being limited by the eye of wearer, the reversible gel layer30can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus radius of curvature of the contact surface301can be suitably changed.

The reversible gel layer30can be a thermally reversible gel layer, a light induced reversible gel layer, a redox agent induced reversible gel layer, or an acid-base (pH value) induced reversible gel layer.

When the reversible gel layer30is a thermally reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer30can includes a block copolymer, and the block copolymer can have a reversible chemical reaction which changes its shape under a change of temperature. Such as, when a temperature is around the temperature of a human body, such as in a range of 30 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, the reversible gel layer30is polymerized and solidifies. When the intraocular lens3is worn, the block copolymer can have a reversible chemical reaction under the body temperature, then the reversible gel layer30can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus, radius of curvature of the contact surface301changes to equal to radiuses of corneal curvature of the eye of wearer.

The block copolymer can be ethylene-oxide-propylene-oxide block copolymer, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer, or other thermally reversible block copolymer.

When the reversible gel layer30is a light induced reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer30can have a reversible chemical reaction under an irradiation by light. When the intraocular lens3is worn, the reversible gel layer30can have a reversible chemical reaction under sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light, then the reversible gel layer30can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus, radius of curvature of the contact surface101can be changed to equal to radiuses of corneal curvature of the eye of wearer.

The reversible gel layer30can includes one or more of disulfide chemical bonds, hydrazone chemical bonds, phenyl boronic acid chemical bonds, metal coordination bonds, and cyclodextrin host-guest interaction bond. The reversible gel layer30can further includes catalyst of light.

When the reversible gel layer30is a redox agent induced reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer30can have a reversible chemical reaction under an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent. The protein in human tears can be an oxidizing agent in the reversible chemical reaction. When the intraocular lens3is worn, the reversible gel layer30can have a reversible chemical reaction under the tears protein, then the reversible gel layer30can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus, radius of curvature of the contact surface301can be changed to equal to radiuses of corneal curvature of the eye of wearer.

The reversible gel layer30can includes reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds. Before being used, the reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds are disconnected. When the reversible gel layer30is in contact with the tears protein, the reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds can be reconnected. The reversible disulfide/polysulfide chemical bonds can be disconnected by a reducing agent, such as cysteine. Thus, the intraocular lens3can be received in a reducing agent before being used.

When the reversible gel layer30is an acid-base induced reversible gel layer, the reversible gel layer30can have a reversible chemical reaction under a pH value around a pH value of the human tears, which is in a range of about 6 to about 7.5. When the intraocular lens3is worn, the reversible gel layer30can have a reversible chemical reaction under the tear, then the reversible gel layer30can be closely in contact with eyeball of the wearer, thus, radius of curvature of the contact surface301can be changed to equal to radiuses of corneal curvature of the eye of wearer.