Lens assembly for depth of focus

Abstract

An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus has a frame configurated to vault posteriorly in an eye and an optic attached thereto. Pressure from ciliary muscle contraction moves the optic anteriorly to focus the eye for near vision.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a pair of rigid spaced-apart posteriorly vaulted frame members adapted for engagement with the periphery of a capsular bag of the eye, said pair of frame members disposed oppositely and longitudinally about an optic, said frame members having end portions extending oppositely and transversely to engage in the peripheral portion of the capsular bag, said frame members having lateral edges disposed on the outer periphery of the frame members, and    a web secured to and extending between said frame members and having thereon said optic.    
     
     
         2 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame members have end loop portions extending oppositely and transversely to engage in the peripheral portion of the capsular bag.  
     
     
         3 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said loop portions are extensions of the frame members.  
     
     
         4 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the web being secured to the frame members by integral molding with the frame members.  
     
     
         5 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the web being secured to the frame members by fastener elements.  
     
     
         6 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the web being secured to the frame members by fastener elements.  
     
     
         7 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the optic is formed of a flexible optical material.  
     
     
         8 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame members are formed of a generally rigid material and the optic is formed of a flexible optical material.  
     
     
         9 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame members have folding portions formed of a relatively soft material to provide for folding of the frame for insertion into an eye.  
     
     
         10 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a frame having haptics extending oppositely and longitudinally, said haptics having lateral edges disposed on an outer periphery of the frame, said frame being configurated to vault posteriorly in an eye of a person,    said frame having end portions to engage in the periphery of the capsular bag of an eye,    said frame defining a generally circular opening disposed through said frame, said opening positioned between inner portions of said haptics,    an optic sized and configurated to engage in an edge portion of said frame opening, and    interengaging features on the frame and on the optic for attachment of the optic to the frame for limited optic movement relative to the frame, said interengaging features comprising transverse slots in the frame spaced oppositely from said opening, and mounting portions extending oppositely from the optic and having transverse ridges at end portions thereof for retention in the slots, at least one of said slots having a widened portion with slot end shoulders to retain at least one of said ridges for prevention of optic lateral movement, and a notch extending from each of said slots toward said frame opening for facilitating the folding of the frame for insertion thereof through a slit in an eye,    whereby light refracted by the cornea of the eye travels an increased distance to the optic to substantially increase depth of focus.    
     
     
         11 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a frame having haptics extending oppositely and longitudinally, said haptics having lateral edges disposed on an outer periphery of the frame, said frame being configurated to vault posteriorly in an eye of a person,    said frame having end portions to engage in the periphery of the capsular bag of an eye,    said frame defining a generally circular opening disposed through said frame, said opening positioned between inner portions of said haptics,    an optic sized and configurated to engage in an edge portion of said frame opening, and    interengaging features on the frame and on the optic for attachment of the optic to the frame for limited optic movement relative to the frame, said interengaging features comprising transverse slots in the frame spaced oppositely from said opening, and mounting portions extending oppositely from the optic and having transverse ridges at end portions thereof for retention in the slots, at least one of said slots has a widened portion with slot and end shoulders to retain at least one of said ridges for prevention of topic lateral movement, and a portion of the haptic between each slot and said frame opening having a reduced longitudinal dimension to facilitate folding of the frame longitudinally for insertion of the frame through a slit in an eye,    whereby light refracted by the cornea of the eye travels an increased distance to the optic to substantially increase depth of focus.    
     
     
         12 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a frame of generally rigid material and configurated to vault posteriorly in an eye of a person, said frame having haptics extending oppositely and longitudinally, said haptics having lateral edges disposed on the outer periphery of the frame,    said frame defining a central generally circular opening disposed through said frame,    said frame having transverse slots spaced oppositely from said frame opening, and    an optic adapted to be disposed adjacent said frame opening, said optic having mounting portions extending oppositely therefrom for engagement in said frame slots to retain the optic relative to the frame, said optic mounting portions extending oppositely from the optic having transverse ridges at end portions thereof for retention in the slots, and    a notch extending from at least one of said slots toward said frame opening to facilitate folding of the frame for insertion thereof through a slit in an eye,    whereby light refracted by the cornea of the eye travels an increased distance to the optic to substantially increase depth of focus.    
     
     
         13 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a frame of generally rigid material and configurated to vault posteriorly in an eye of a person, said frame having haptics extending oppositely and longitudinally, said haptics having lateral edges disposed on the outer periphery of the frame,    said frame defining a central generally circular opening disposed through said frame,    said frame having transverse slots spaced oppositely from said frame opening, and    an optic adapted to be disposed adjacent said frame opening, said optic having mounting portions extending oppositely therefrom for engagement in said frame slots to retain the optic relative to the frame, said optic mounting portions extending oppositely from the optic having transverse ridges at end portions thereof for retention in the slots, and a notch extending from each of said slots toward said frame opening for facilitating the folding of the frame for insertion thereof through a slit in an eye,    whereby light refracted by the cornea of the eye travels an increased distance to the optic to substantially increase depth of focus.    
     
     
         14 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a frame of generally rigid material and configurated to vault posteriorly in an eye of a persion, said frame having haptics extending oppositely and longitudinally, said haptics having lateral edges disposed on the outer periphery of the frame,    said frame defining a central generally circular opening disposed through said frame,    said frame having transverse slots spaced oppositely from said frame opening, and    an optic adapted to be disposed adjacent said frame opening, said optic having mounting portions extending oppositely therefrom for engagement in said frame slots to retain the optic relative to the frame, said optic mounting portions extending oppositely from the optic having transverse ridges at end portions thereof for retention in the slots, and a portion of the haptic between each of said slots and said frame opening having a reduced longitudinal dimension to facilitate folding of the frame longitudinally for insertion of the frame through a slit in an eye,    whereby light refracted by the cornea of the eye travels an increased distance to the optic to substantially increase depth of focus.    
     
     
         15 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a frame of generally rigid material and configurated to vault posteriority in an eye of a person, said frame having haptics extending oppositely and longitudinally, said haptics having lateral edges disposed on the outer periphery of the frame,    said frame defining a central generally circular opening disposed through said frame,    said frame having transverse slots spaced oppositely from said frame opening, and    an optic adapted to be disposed adjacent said frame opening, said optic having mounting portions extending oppositely therefrom for engagement in said frame slots to retain the optic relative to the frame wherein an enlarged opening is defined in each of said haptics, and extends into proximity with said slots to define a substantially narrow hinge portion to substantially narrow haptic portions to facilitate bending of the lens along its longitudinal axis,    whereby light refracted by the cornea of the eye travels an increased distance to the optic to substantially increase depth of focus.    
     
     
         16 . An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus, comprising: 
 a pair of relatively rigid spaced-apart frame members adapted for engaegment with the periphery of a capsular bag of the eye, said pair of frame members disposed oppositely and longitudinally about said optic, said frame members having end portions extending oppositely and transversely to engage in the peripheral portions of the capsular bag, said frame members having lateral edges disposed on the outer periphery of the frame members, and    a web secured to and extending between said frame members and having thereon an optic, the web having portions extending oppositely from the optic, the web portions being bifurcated and having lugs and loops thereon, and said frame members having slits defined therein to receive the lugs of the web portions, and the lugs and loops being generally disposed equidistant from a center of the optic.    
     
     
         17 . An intraocular lens assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said lens assembly is foldable longitudinally through the optic but rigid in each of the two haptics.