Patent ID: 7842087

Claim:
An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) assembly for self-anchoring implantation in a human eye having a visual axis, a sclera of tough connective tissue, an annular ciliary sulcus, and a sphincter-like ciliary body having a relaxed state for tensioning a capsular diaphragm in an anterior direction along the visual axis, the AIOL assembly comprising: a) an accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, and at least one shape memory optical element resiliently elastically deformable between a natural shape with a first Diopter strength and a deformed shape with a second Diopter strength different than said first Diopter strength whereby said AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength between a minimum Diopter strength for distance vision purposes and a maximum Diopter strength for near vision purposes; and b) a haptics system including a main body formed of a rigid material with a longitudinal axis intended to be co-directional with the human eye's visual axis and at least two haptics each with at least one pointed puncturing member capable of penetrating the tough connective tissue of the human eye's sclera for self-anchoring implantation of said haptics system in the human eye's annular ciliary sulcus, at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points adaatedt to retain said AIOL along the human eye's visual axis at an in situ manually selectively displaceable desired position there along relative to said at least two stationary anchor points so that said haptics system is capable of urging said posterior surface against the human eye's capsular diaphragm from an anterior direction for determining said AIOL's Diopter strength at said desired position, said haptics system including a portion that is capable of being physically altered for adjustment of said AIOL relative to said anchor points after implantation, whereupon relaxation of the human eye's ciliary body is capable of urging the human eye's capsular diaphragm against said posterior surface from a posterior direction for affecting said AIOL's Diopter strength.