Patent EA-002476-B1 (EA)
Title: Scleral prosthesis for treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders
Inventor: SCHACHAR RONALD A
IPC: A61F9/007
Filed: 1998-05-21
Abstract: 1. An ocular scleral prosthesis to be inplanted in sclera of an eye in the region of the ciliary body wherein comprising: a base member having an elongated planform with a major dimension, a minor dimension, an inner major surface and an outer major surface, said outer major surface being generally smooth and adapted to contact ocular tissue within a pocket surgically formed within scleral tissue of an eye, and a ridge member on said base member exerting an outward traction applied to a pocket expanding the sclera upward in the region of the ciliary body. 2. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said anterior rim is anteriorly concave and said posterior rim is posteriorly convex. 3. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said outer major surface of said base is planar. 4. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said outer major surface of said base is outwardly convex along said major dimension. 5. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said planform is generally rectangular. 6. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said planform has semicircular ends. 7. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said planform is elliptical. 8. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said ridge extends along substantially the entire major dimension of said base. 9. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said ridge extends along a portion of said major dimension of said base member. 10. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said ridge has a maximum height above said base located intermediate between said anterior edge and said posterior edge. 11. The prosthesis of Claim 10 wherein said maximum height of said ridge is located less than halfway from said anterior edge to said posterior edge. 12. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said maximum height of said ridge is located about 12% of the distance from said anterior edge to said posterior edge. 13. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein further comprises an anterior edge said maximum height of said ridge is located at said anterior edge. 14. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said major dimension is about 5 millimeters. 15. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said minor dimension is about 2 millimeters. 16. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is made of a physiologically acceptable metal. 17. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is made of metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, gold, tantalum, stainless steel, and physiologically acceptable alloys. 18. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is made of a ceramic material. 19. The prosthesis of Claim 18 wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, and high-strength glasses. 20. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is made of a synthetic resin. 21. The prosthesis of Claim 20 wherein said synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), polycarbonate, and silicone resins. 22. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is made of a reinforced composite material. 23. The prosthesis of Claim 22 wherein said reinforced composite material is a glass-fiber-reinforced synthetic resin. 24. The prosthesis of Claim 22 wherein said reinforced composite material is a carbon-fiber-reinforced material. 25. The prosthesis of Claim 22 wherein said reinforced composite material is carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon. 26. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is made of flexible material and is provided with an internal cavity filled with a fluid or a gel. 27. The prosthesis of Claim 26 wherein said fluid is water or a physiological saline solution. 28. The prosthesis of Claim 26 wherein said gel is a silicone material, or collagen, or gelatin. 29. The prosthesis of Claim 26 wherein said fluid is a physiologically acceptable oil. 30. The prosthesis of Claim 29 wherein said fluid is a silicone oil. 31. The prosthesis of Claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is provided with at least one hole for the passage of a suture. 32. A method for treating presbyopia comprising: forming a plurality of elongated pockets, each having a lengthwise dimension, in a sclera of said eye, said lengthwise dimension being oriented generally transversely to a meridian of said eye, said pockets having an anterior margin and a posterior margin, said anterior margin being located a distance of from about 0.5 millimeters to about 4.5 millimeters posterior to said limbus; and positioning in each of said pockets a prosthesis according to Claim 1, with said anterior edge of said prosthesis oriented toward the anterior portion of said eye and said inner major surface with said ridge oriented inwardly. 33. A method for treating hyperopia comprising: forming a plurality of elongated pockets, each having a lengthwise dimension, in a sclera of said eye, said lengthwise dimension being oriented generally transversely to a meridian of said eye, said pockets having an anterior margin and a posterior margin, said anterior margin being located a distance of from about 0.5 millimeters to about 4.5 millimeters posterior to said limbus; and positioning in each of said pockets a prosthesis according to Claim 1, with said anterior edge of said prosthesis oriented toward the anterior portion of said eye and said inner major surface with said ridge oriented inwardly. 34. A method for treating primary open angle glaucoma comprising: forming a plurality of elongated pockets, each having a lengthwise dimension, in a sclera of said eye, said lengthwise dimension being oriented generally transversely to a meridian of said eye, said pockets having an anterior margin and a posterior margin, said anterior margin being located a distance of from about 0.5 millimeters to about 4.5 millimeters posterior to said limbus; and positioning in each of said pockets a prosthesis according to Claim 1, with said anterior edge of said prosthesis oriented toward the anterior portion of said eye and said inner major surface with said ridge oriented inwardly. 35. A method for treating ocular hypertension comprising: forming a plurality of elongated pockets, each having a lengthwise dimension, in a sclera of said eye, said lengthwise dimension being oriented generally transversely to a meridian of said eye, said pockets having an anterior margin and a posterior margin, said anterior margin being located a distance of from about 0.5 millimeters to about 4.5 millimeters posterior to said limbus; and positioning in each of said pockets a prosthesis according to Claim 1, with said anterior edge of said prosthesis oriented toward the anterior portion of said eye and said inner major surface with said ridge oriented inwardly.