Novel intraocular lens for reducing glare

Abstract

An intraocular lens implantable in an eye includes an optic for placement in the capsular bag of the eye and for directing light toward the retina of the eye. The optic has a central optical axis, an anterior face, an opposing posterior face and a peripheral edge between the faces. The peripheral edge has one or more curved or angled surfaces that reduce glare within the IOL. For instance, a rounded transition surface on the anterior side of the peripheral edge diffuses the intensity of reflected light, or a particular arrangement of straight edge surfaces refracts the light so as not to reflect, or does not reflect at all. The intersection of the peripheral edge and at least one of the anterior face and the posterior face, preferably both of such faces, forms a peripheral corner located at a discontinuity between the peripheral edge and the intersecting face or faces. The present IOLs inhibit cell growth from the eye in front of or in back of the optic and reduce glare obtained in the eye in which the IOL is located.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intraocular lens that reduces glare from incoming light rays, comprising: 
 a centered optic sized and adapted for placement in the capsular bag of an eye and shaped to direct light toward the retina of the eye, the optic having: 
 a central optical axis;  
 an anterior face and an opposed posterior face;  
 a corrective portion through both faces for focusing light rays striking the anterior face onto the retina of the eye; and  
 a peripheral edge surface between at least the anterior and posterior faces and circumscribing the optic that includes at least one portion that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays; and,  
 a peripheral corner edge located at a discontinuity between the peripheral edge surface and the posterior face for inhibiting cell growth onto the optic; and  
   at least one fixation member extending outward from the optic and adapted to locate the optic in the eye.    
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge surface includes a convex portion located adjacent the anterior face that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light.  
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein, from the anterior face to the posterior face, the peripheral edge surface comprises, in sequence, a convex portion, a portion with a linear cross-sectional configuration, and the peripheral corner edge, and wherein the entire peripheral edge surface is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays.  
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein, from the anterior face to the posterior face, the peripheral edge surface comprises, in sequence, a convex portion, two portions with linear cross-sectional configurations one which describes a cylindrical surface around the optical axis and the other which describes a partial conical surface around the optical axis, and the peripheral corner edge, and wherein the entire peripheral edge surface is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays.  
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens of any of claims  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein any portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is physically roughened.  
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens any of claims  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein any portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is chemically roughened.  
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens any of claims  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein any portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is frosted.  
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens any of claims  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein any portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is textured.  
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the anterior face includes an anterior peripheral region between the corrective portion and the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays.  
     
     
         10 . The intraocular lens of  claim 9 , wherein the anterior peripheral region is substantially planar and perpendicular to the central optical axis.  
     
     
         11 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the posterior face includes a posterior peripheral region between the corrective portion and the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays.  
     
     
         12 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral corner edge is formed by an angle at the intersection of the peripheral edge surface and the posterior face of between about 45°-135°.  
     
     
         13 . The intraocular lens of  claim 1 , wherein the optic has a Diopter power of at least 20.  
     
     
         14 . An intraocular lens that inhibits cell growth thereon and reduces glare from incoming light rays, comprising: 
 a centered optic sized and adapted for placement in the capsular bag of an eye and shaped to direct light toward the retina of the eye, the optic having: 
 a central optical axis;  
 an anterior face and an opposed posterior face;  
 a corrective portion through both faces for focusing light rays striking the anterior face onto the retina of the eye; and  
 a peripheral edge surface between the anterior and posterior faces and circumscribing the optic, the peripheral edge surface having a curved portion located on the anterior side of the peripheral edge surface adjacent the anterior face for reducing glare from incoming light rays, and wherein at least a portion of the peripheral edge surface is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays; and  
   at least one fixation member extending outward from the optic and adapted to locate the optic in the eye.    
     
     
         15 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the curved portion is convex.  
     
     
         16 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the curved portion is concave.  
     
     
         17 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is physically roughened.  
     
     
         18 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is chemically roughened.  
     
     
         19 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is frosted.  
     
     
         20 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light is textured.  
     
     
         21 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the anterior face includes an anterior peripheral region between the corrective portion and the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays.  
     
     
         22 . The intraocular lens of  claim 21 , wherein the anterior peripheral region is substantially planar and perpendicular to the central optical axis.  
     
     
         23 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the posterior face includes a posterior peripheral region between the corrective portion and the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays.  
     
     
         24 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the optic further includes a peripheral corner edge located at a discontinuity between the peripheral edge surface and the posterior face for inhibiting cell growth onto the optic.  
     
     
         25 . The intraocular lens of  claim 24 , wherein the peripheral corner edge is formed by an angle at the intersection of the peripheral edge surface and the posterior face of between about 45°-135°.  
     
     
         26 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the optic has a Diopter power of at least 20.  
     
     
         27 . The intraocular lens of  claim 14 , wherein the peripheral edge surface further includes at least one surface with a linear cross-sectional configuration.  
     
     
         28 . The intraocular lens of  claim 27 , wherein the peripheral edge surface includes two surfaces with linear cross-sectional configurations, one which describes a cylindrical surface around the optical axis and the other which describes a partial conical surface around the optical axis.  
     
     
         29 . The intraocular lens of  claim 28 , wherein, from the anterior face to the posterior face, the peripheral edge surface comprises, in sequence, the curved portion, the partial conical surface, and the cylindrical surface.  
     
     
         30 . The intraocular lens of  claim 29 , wherein the entire peripheral edge surface is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light.  
     
     
         31 . The intraocular lens of  claim 30 , wherein the anterior face includes an anterior peripheral region between the corrective portion and the peripheral edge surface that is at least partially opaque to the transmission of light to help reduce glare from incoming light rays.