Abstract:
A system and method for retaining an intraocular lens in an annular pouch implanted into a capsular bag of an eye. The annular pouch uses a circular ridge to maintain placement of the lens relative to the eye. Clarity of the capsular bag is retained over time because the pouch fills the capsular bag and prevents a loss of clarity in the capsular bag due to sagging.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application shares technical disclosure in common with PCT Application No. PCT/US15/45920, filed 19 Aug. 2015, titled “INTRAOCULAR LENS HOLDER,” all of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to holders for intraocular lenses, and more specifically to a system and method for retaining the shape of a capsular bag with an intraocular lens holder. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    During a cataract surgery the patient&#39;s cataracts are removed and replaced with a new lens. Typically the lens is retained merely by the capsular bag of the patient&#39;s eye. Capsular bags are extremely fragile and may not effectively secure lenses. Unsecured lenses cause vision problems due to misalignment. Furthermore, the capsular bag over time wrinkles causing vision problems and contraction of the capsular bag over the struts of the replacement lens prevents the replacement lens from being removed from the eye in the future. Currently, there are a limited few lenses that have eyelets in their haptics that can be sewn to the eye wall to stabilize them but they often tilt causing visual distortions and once they are sewn in no new lenses can be placed, nor can they be exchanged should the need arise without a major eye surgery. Thus, there exists significant room for improvement in the art for overcoming these and other shortcomings of conventional systems and methods for securing intraocular lenses. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a plan diagram of an intraocular lens pouch according to the present application; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a cross section diagram of an intraocular lens pouch from  FIG. 1 a    taken at line Ib-Ib according to the present application; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  is a plan diagram of an intraocular lens pouch with two lenses according to the present application; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  is a cross section diagram of the intraocular lens pouch of  FIG. 2 a    taken at line IIb-IIb according to the present application; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross section diagram of an intraocular lens pouch in an eye according to the present application; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a plan diagram of an intraocular lens pouch with eyelets according to the present application; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross section diagram of an intraocular lens pouch with eyelets according to the present application; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a plan diagram of an alternative intraocular lens pouch according to the present application; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7A  is a plan diagram of a cloverleaf shaped intraocular lens pouch according to the present application; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7B  is a cross section diagram of the cloverleaf intraocular lens pouch from  FIG. 7  taken at line VIIb-VIIb according to the present application. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    While the assembly and method of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    Illustrative embodiments of the intraocular lens pouch system and method are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with assembly-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of an intraocular lens pouch according to the present application is illustrated. Pouch  101  or ring is annular and or jelly bean shaped and configured for both retaining an intraocular lens and providing strength to the capsular bag of a user&#39;s eye. Jelly bean shaped should be understood to describe having a cross-sectional shape of a bean, where a shape of a top half of the pouch is different than a shape of a bottom half of the pouch. Pouch  101  has an inner surface  101   a  and an outer surface  101   b . Intraocular lens  103  has a lens portion  103   a  and at least one haptic strut  103   b . While the intraocular lens shown features two struts  103   b  it should be apparent that other variations of lenses are contemplated by this application such as lens with three and four struts. Pouch  101  entirely retains the lens  103  and acts as a barrier between the lens and the capsular bag. The lens  103  is not in contact with the eye and can easily be replaced because the eye will not have grown over the lens. 
         [0020]    Pouch  101  is fabricated from high grade surgical silicone or acrylic suitable for implanting into an eye of a patient. Other materials are contemplated so long as they are suitable for surgically implanting into an eye. Pouch  101  has a first opening  105  and a second opening  109 . First opening  105  is the larger of the two openings and has a diameter approximately 80% an outer diameter of the pouch  101 . Second opening  109  is approximately the size of the lens portion  103   a  of the intraocular lens  103 . 
         [0021]    Pouch  101  has a ridge  113  that is inwardly facing and runs along the entire circumference of the pouch  101 . Ridge  113  is located approximately half way between the first opening  105  and the second opening  109  and thereby creates a first notch and a second notch. Ridge divides the inner surface  101   a  of the pouch  101  into an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface. Intraocular lens  103  is retained by the haptic struts  103   b  of the lens being held between the ridge  113  and the inner surface  101   a . As shown the lens  103  is located between the ridge  113  and the lower inner surface. However, the lens  103  can be located between the ridge  113  and the upper inner surface. The ridge  113  keeps the lens  103  parallel or generally parallel to the pouch and minimizes lens tilt and misplacement. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  in the drawings, an alternative embodiment of an intraocular lens pouch with dual intraocular lenses according to the present application is illustrated. Pouch  201  is similar to pouch  101 , however pouch  201  holds two separate intraocular lenses. 
         [0023]    Pouch  201  or holder is annular and or jelly bean shaped and configured for both retaining an intraocular lens and providing strength to the capsular bag of a user&#39;s eye. Pouch  201  has an inner surface  201   a  and an outer surface  201   b . Intraocular lens  203  has a lens portion and at least one haptic strut. Pouch  201  is fabricated from high-grade surgical silicone, acrylic, or other materials suitable for implanting into an eye of a patient. 
         [0024]    Pouch  201  has at least a first opening  205  and preferably a second opening  209 . First opening  205  is the larger of the two openings and has a diameter approximately 80% an outer diameter of the pouch  201 . Second opening  209  is approximately the size of the lens portion of the intraocular lens  203 . 
         [0025]    Pouch  201  has a ridge  213  that is inwardly facing and runs along the entire circumference of the pouch  201 . Ridge  213  is located approximately half way between the first opening  205  and the second opening  209 . Ridge divides the inner surface  201   a  of the pouch  201  into an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface. First intraocular lens  203   a  is retained by the haptic struts of the lens being held between the ridge  213  and the inner surface  201   a . As shown the first lens  203   a  is located between the ridge  213  and the lower inner surface and the second lens  203   b  is located between the ridge  213  and the upper inner surface. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  in the drawings, an alternative embodiment of an intraocular lens pouch in an eye according to the present application is illustrated. Pouch  301  is surgically implanted into capsular bag  303  of a user during a cataract or crystalline lens removal. To implant the pouch  301  an incision is made into an anterior side of the capsular bag  303  and the pouch  301  is implanted. Next the intraocular lens  305  is inserted into the pouch through the incision. The haptic struts or legs of the lens  305  are expanded such that the lens is retained between the ridge of the pouch and the pouch itself. The incision is closed and the pouch  301  and lens  305  is held securely in the capsular bag  303  of the patient. 
         [0027]    Lens  305  can be readily replaced or rotated by eye surgery because the eye will not have grown over the haptic struts of the lens  305 . Therefore as a patient&#39;s eye changes over time, or as newer and better lenses become available, the lens can be readily changed without extensive damage to the eye from cutting out the previous lens. Furthermore, because the pouch  301  is shaped like a flattened sphere the capsular bag retains a filled shape and remains more optically clear. 
         [0028]    Referring now also to  FIG. 4  in the drawings, an alternative embodiment of an intraocular lens pouch according to the present application is illustrated. Pouch  401  is comprised of elements like pouch  101  however pouch  401  further comprises at least one hole  405 , arms  407 , and eyelets  409 . Eyelets  409  are configured to allow a surgeon to suture the pouch to the scleral wall of the eye. Arms  407  protrude from the pouch and are configured to place the eyelets  409  exterior to the capsular bag when the pouch is installed in an eye. Eyelets  409  are opening through the arms  407  suitable for suturing the pouch  401  into an inner scleral wall of an eye. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  in the drawings, an alternative embodiment of an intraocular lens pouch with eyelets in a capsular bag according to the present application is illustrated. Pouch  501  is surgically implanted into capsular bag  503  of a user during a cataract or crystalline lens removal. To implant the pouch  501  an incision is made into an anterior side of the capsular bag  503  and the pouch  501  is implanted. Next the intraocular lens  505  is inserted into the pouch through the incision. The haptic struts or legs of the lens  505  are expanded such that the lens is retained between the ridge of the pouch and the pouch itself. The incision is closed and the pouch  501  and lens  505  is held securely in the capsular bag  503  of the patient. Pouch  501  is further comprised of a first arm and a second arm each containing an eyelet  507  located through the arm. Eyelets  507  are configured to allow a surgeon to suture the pouch to the scleral wall of the eye. 
         [0030]    Lens  505  can be readily replaced or rotated by eye surgery because the eye will not have grown over the haptic struts of the lens  505 . Therefore as a patient&#39;s eye changes over time, or as newer and better lenses become available, the lens can be readily changed without extensive damage to the eye from cutting out the previous lens. Furthermore, because the pouch  501  is shaped like a jelly bean the capsular bag retains a jelly bean shape and remains more optically clear. 
         [0031]    Referring now also to  FIG. 6  in the drawings, an alternative embodiment of an intraocular lens pouch according to the present application is illustrated. Pouch  601  is comprised of elements like pouch  101  however pouch  601  further comprises at least one hole  605 , and surface texturing  609 . The at least one hole  605  is preferably four holes, equally spaced around the pouch, for use as anterior positioning holes. Hole  605  goes through a lip of the pouch and provides users assistance with manipulation of the pouch when in the eye. The user can adjust the position of the pouch relative to the eye by pushing and pulling on the pouch with the hole. The hole provides a better location to grip the pouch. Surface texturing  609  provides enhanced capsular grasp of the pouch  601 . Surface texturing  609  is a series of slight ridges or grooves located entirely across the exterior surface of the pouch. Alternative embodiments of the surface texturing include pitting or other slight surface irregularities to enhance the capsular grasp of the pouch  601 . 
         [0032]    Broken or torn posterior lens capsule are improved with a pouch that can help provide strength and retain the broken or torn capsular bag together. Referring now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B  in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a cloverleaf shaped intraocular lens pouch according to the present application is illustrated in a torn capsular bag. Pouch  701  is comprised of elements like pouch  101  such as an opening  701   a  and a ridge  701   b  to retain a lens  701   c ; however, pouch  701  further comprises four radially spaced holes  703  and the pouch flares outwardly creating an annular channel  705  around the entire exterior surface of the pouch to retain an edge of a broken capsular bag  707 . Pouch  701  features notches  709  cut into the upper surface or channel  705  to shape the pouch into a cloverleaf shape having four petals  711 . Notches provide flexibility to the pouch during insertion. While the pouch  701  is shown with four petals or extensions it should be apparent that pouches with more or less petals are contemplated by this application. The cloverleaf design enable placement of the petals  711  to overlap the anterior lens capsule so the pouch  701  remains centered and in anatomical position. The anterior curvature of the pouch  701  extends peripherally over the anterior capsular rim opening so that the pouch  701  does not drop into the back of an eye through the posterior capsular opening. 
         [0033]    The pouch or holder is an improvement over the current technology because: it increases the strength and maintains the shape of the capsular bag by filling the bag; it allows a lens to be replaced, repositioned, or rotated later because the capsular bag doesn&#39;t grow over the struts; and because the capsular bag doesn&#39;t sag over time and retains its rounded shape, it is anticipated that the untorn bag remains clearer over time which reduces or eliminates the need to have a second laser eye surgery of a clouded bag. 
         [0034]    It is apparent that a system with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.