Patent Publication Number: US-2006004446-A1

Title: Intraocular lens implant

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to optical implants generally and more particularly to intraocular lens implants for patients suffering from tunnel vision.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The following U.S. Pat. Nos. of the inventor are believed to represent the current state of the art:  
      5,814,103; 5,876,442; 5,928,283; 6,007,579 and 6,066,171.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention seeks to provide an optical implant suitable for alleviating the tunnel vision symptom characteristic of glaucoma and retinosis pigmentosa.  
      There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an intraocular lens implant particularly suitable for use by patients suffering from tunnel vision. The implant includes a sealed implant housing associated with mounting haptics and defining a forward end and a rearward end, at least one negative lens arranged adjacent the forward end and at least one positive lens arranged rearwardly of the negative lens.  
      Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the positive lens forms a rearward window of the sealed implant housing.  
      Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one air gap is defined within the sealed implant housing. Preferably, two air gaps are provided and include a first air gap disposed between the negative lens and the forward end of the sealed implant housing and a second air gap disposed between the negative lens and the positive lens.  
      Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the positive lens includes first and second positive lenses, which contact each other at a contact location.  
      Preferably, an air gap is defined between portions of the first and second positive lenses surrounding the contact location.  
      Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the intraocular lens implant also includes a resilient element disposed within the sealed implant housing in operative engagement with the first and second positive lenses, thereby urging the first and second positive lenses into contact at the contact location.  
      Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sealed housing includes a glass housing, which is sealed by glass laser welding.  
      Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the surfaces of the positive lens and the negative lens, which lie within the sealed housing, are coated with optical coatings.  
      Preferably, the negative lens and the positive lens include at least one of refractive and diffractive optical elements.  
      Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the intraocular lens implant is in operative association with at least one negative lens disposed outside an eye in which the implant is located.  
      Preferably, the sealed implant housing includes a generally annular element, which is sealed to a window at the forward end.  
      Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sealed implant housing includes first and second generally cylindrical portions sealed together in a nesting arrangement, thereby defining a shoulder.  
      Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first positive lens is sealed to one of the first and second cylindrical portions at the rearward end to define a rearward window.  
      Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first positive lens defines a rearward window of the sealed implant housing.  
      Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the negative lens and the second positive lens define a doublet having an air gap therebetween.  
      Preferably, the negative lens and the second positive lens define a doublet having an air gap therebetween and are fixed to each other. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a simplified illustration of a field of view widening telescopic implant implanted in the eye of a wearer wearing contact lenses;  
       FIG. 2  is a simplified illustration of a field of view widening telescopic implant implanted in the eye of a wearer not wearing glasses or contact lenses;  
       FIG. 3  is a simplified illustration of a field of view widening telescopic implant implanted in the eye of a wearer wearing glasses; and  
       FIG. 4  is a simplified sectional illustration of a field of view widening telescopic implant constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified illustration of a field to view widening telescopic implant  10  implanted in the eye of a wearer wearing a contact lens  12 . It is seen that both the contact lens  12  and the implant  10  cooperate to widen the field of view of the user.  
      Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified illustration of a field of view widening telescopic implant  16  implanted in the eye of a wearer not wearing glasses or contact lenses. Here the implant  16  is operative to widen the field of view of the user.  
      Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which is a simplified illustration of a field of view widening telescopic implant  20  implanted in the eye of a wearer wearing glasses  22 . It is seen that both the glasses  22  and the implant  20  cooperate to widen the field of view of the user.  
      Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a simplified sectional illustration of a field of view widening telescopic implant constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of  Fig. 4  can be employed in any of the operational contexts shown in  FIGS. 1-3  with suitable selection of lenses. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the implant preferably comprises an implant body  100 , which is supported by haptics  102  via a haptic mounting structure  104 . The implant body  100  typically comprises mutually sealed forward and rearward cylindrical housing portions  106  and  108  respectively and a transparent forward window  11 O sealing the forward cylindrical portion  106 .  
      Typically, the implant body  100  is formed of glass housing portions, which are sealed by glass laser welding.  
      Disposed rearwardly of the forward window  110  in forward cylindrical portion  106  is a negative lens  112 . Fixed to negative lens  112  as a doublet is a magnificationl lens  114 , which resides partially in the forward cylindrical housing portion  106  and partially in the rearward cylindrical housing portion  108 . Disposed rearwvardly of the magnification lens  114  is a positive lens  116 , which is mounted in sealing engagement with the rearward cylindrical housing portion  108  of implant body  100  and defines a rearward facing window.  
      Preferably, the negative lens  112  and the positive lens  116  include refractive and diffractive optical elements.  
      Typically, the negative lens  112  and the positive lens  116  are coated with optical coatings.  
      It is an important feature of the present invention that the interior of the implant body  100  is sealed from the exterior thereof, so as to prevent liquids or vapors from entering the implant. It is also an important feature of the present invention that three air gaps, designated by reference numerals  120 ,  122  and  124 , are provided to enhance refraction. The precision of the location of a contact point  126  between lenses  114  and  116  and of a peripheral contact area  128  between lenses  112  and  114  relative to an axis  130  is also of importance to maintain desired focus.  
      In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a resilient  0 -ring  132  or other element having a similar function is provided to urge and retain lenses  114  and  116  in touching engagement at contact point  126 .  
      Alternatively, the implant body may be formed of a single cylinder or of any suitable number of cylindrical portions. Furthermore, any suitable combination of any suitable number of lenses may be employed. Preferably, the haptics  102  are formed of a suitable polymer, the implant body  100  is formed of biocompatible glass and the forward window  110  and the lens  116  are formed of glass and are laser welded in sealing engagement with body  100 .  
      It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the specification and which are not in the prior art.