Intraocular lens with improved haptic and method of implanting same

Abstract

Opthalomogical implant device and procedure employing improved haptic structure, improved haptic suture guide, or both.

1 . A haptic for an ophthalmological implant comprising: 
 (a) an arcuate haptic;    (b) at least two spaced apart eyelets on said haptic adapted for receiving a securing member, and attaching onto said securing member.    
   
   
       2 . A ophthalmological suture guide device comprising: 
 (a) a base portion having a leading end having a blunted tip adapted for insertion into an eye, at least two channels, defined in said base portion and extending through at least said leading end for receiving an end of a suture, a needle or a combination thereof; and    (b) the spacing between said channels of said leading end approximating the spacing between suture insertions into an opthalmological body.    
   
   
       3 . A method for implanting a haptic into an eye comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an implant having at least one arcuate haptic, said haptic including at least two spaced apart eyelets adapted for receiving a securing member and attaching onto said securing member;    (b) inserting a securing member into an eye; and    (c) attaching said haptic to said securing member.    
   
   
       4 . The haptic of  claim 1  further comprising an optic secured to said haptic.  
   
   
       5 . The haptic of  claim 4  further comprising a second haptic having two spaced apart eyelets.  
   
   
       6 . The haptic of  claim 4  wherein said eyelets depend inwardly toward said optic relative to said haptic.  
   
   
       7 . The haptic of  claim 1  wherein said haptic is arcuate.  
   
   
       8 . The haptic of  claim 1  wherein each of said eyelets includes an aperture defined by an arm that depends from said haptic and folds over upon itself.  
   
   
       9 . The haptic of  claim 8  wherein a notch is defined at said arm for guiding a securing member into said eyelet.  
   
   
       10 . A suture guide according to  claim 2  wherein said base portion substantially entirely encloses said channels along the entire length of said channels.  
   
   
       11 . A suture guide according to  claim 2  wherein said base portion includes a longitudinal portion that is open.  
   
   
       12 . A suture guide according to  claim 2  wherein said channels terminate adjacent the leading end of said gripping portion and are spaced from each other at such point at about 1 to about 2.5 mm.  
   
   
       13 . A suture guide according to  claim 2  wherein said channels are defined in spaced apart finger protrusions associated with said gripping portion.  
   
   
       14 . A suture guide according to  claim 2  further comprising a member attached to said gripping portion to retrieval of said guide from a patient.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said implant is an intraocular lens.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said securing member is a suture.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said inserting step employs a suture guide device having at least two channels defined therein for guiding a suture through each channel and into an eye.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said suture is passed through a sclera of an eye.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein upon said attaching step the haptic is secured to the eye by four point fixation.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 3  further comprising a second haptic that is secured to the eye by a suture.