Patent ID: 8414646

Claim:
An intraocular lens (IOL) for insertion into a capsular bag having a zonular contact region, the IOL comprising: a shape changing optical element having a lens body comprising: an inner lens portion comprised of a single, compressible material; and an outer lens portion encapsulating the inner lens portion, the outer lens portion comprising an anterior surface having a center section surrounding the optical axis of an eye and an annular region extending radially outward from the center section, wherein the compressible material is configured to outwardly bow at the center section creating an accommodated shape change upon application of a compressive force applied radially inward at an oblique angle to the optical element, and wherein the optical element resists the accommodated shape change in the annular region; and an accommodating element comprising: at least one force transmitting element; and a plurality of spaced apart contacting elements each adapted to contact a portion of the zonular contact region; and a first linking arm comprising: a first end obliquely connected to a first region of one of the plurality of spaced apart contacting elements where the contacting element contacts an anterior portion of the capsular bag; and a second end, a second linking arm comprising: a first end obliquely connected to a second region of the contacting element where the contacting element contacts a posterior portion of the capsular bag; and a second end, wherein the second end of the first linking arm and the second end of the second linking arm are flexibly connected to each other at a point where each respective second end also connects to the force transmitting element, wherein the accommodating element is configured to transmit the compressive force and to cooperate with at least one of the ciliary muscle of the mammalian eye, the zonules of the mammalian eye and the vitreous pressure in the eye to effect the accommodated shape change to the optical element.