Ocular Lens

Abstract

An ocular lens has a refractive optics structure formed from a polyisobutylene-based material and a glassy segment that is non-reactive to ocular fluid and that maintains in vivo transparency for a substantial time period. The material has a central elastomeric polyolefinic block and thermoplastic end blocks (such as a triblock polymer backbone comprising polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene). The material is preferably flexible such that the refractive optics structure can be folded upon itself and introduced through a small scleral incision. The lens device includes an optic portion and preferably either an annular haptic element or one or more haptic elements adapted to rest within a capsular bag formed by a surgical procedure. A portion of the lens device may be loaded with at least one therapeutic agent that interferes with proliferation of the epithelial cells of the eye to protect against PCO.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . An ocular lens device for use in an ocular environment comprising:
 a deformable refractive optics structure that is configurable into an arrangement where the refractive optics structure is folded or rolled upon itself, said refractive optics structure having a radius of curvature that varies according to accommodating forces applied by the ciliary muscles of the ocular environment.   
     
     
         56 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said refractive optics structure is foldable such that said device can be introduced through a small scleral incision.   
     
     
         57 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 57 , wherein:
 the small sclera incision comprises a slit having a length of 2 mm or less.   
     
     
         58 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said refractive optics structure is realized from a polyisobutylene-based polymer that is non-reactive in the ocular environment.   
     
     
         59 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer includes a glassy segment.   
     
     
         60 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer is processed to remove salts therefrom.   
     
     
         61 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer does not contain any cleavable group which will release in the presence of ocular fluid.   
     
     
         62 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 59 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer comprises a vinyl aromatic polymer.   
     
     
         63 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 62 , wherein:
 said vinyl aromatic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, and α-methylstyrene.   
     
     
         64 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 59 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer comprises a methacrylate polymer.   
     
     
         65 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 64 , wherein:
 said methacrylate polymer is selected from the group of a methylmethacrylate polymer, a ethylmethacrylate polymer, and a hydroxymethacrylate polymer.   
     
     
         66 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said refractive optics structure is realized from a material having a general block structure with a central elastomeric polyolefinic block and thermoplastic end blocks.   
     
     
         67 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 66 , wherein:
 said material comprises a triblock polymer backbone comprising Poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene).   
     
     
         68 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 66 , wherein:
 said material has a general block structure selected from the group consisting of:
 a) BAB or ABA, 
 b) B(AB) n , or A(BA) n , and 
 c) X-(AB) n , or X-(BA) n ; 
   where A is an elastomeric polyolefinic block, B is a thermoplastic block, n is a positive whole number and X is a starting seed molecule.   
     
     
         69 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 68 , wherein:
 said material comprises a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a star-shaped block copolymer and multi-dendrite-shaped block copolymer.   
     
     
         70 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 55 , further comprising:
 an optic portion and at least one haptic element that are adapted to rest within a capsular bag formed by a surgical procedure, wherein said at least one haptic element supports said optic portion.   
     
     
         71 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said at least one haptic element comprises an annular surface that surrounds and extends radially outward from said optic portion.   
     
     
         72 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 71 , wherein:
 said optic region is configured to be substantially disposed along a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the ocular environment, and said annular surface projects radially outward from said optic portion at an angle relative to said plane, said angle between 0 and 45 degrees.   
     
     
         73 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 72 , wherein:
 said angle is between 10 and 20 degrees.   
     
     
         74 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 73 , wherein:
 said angle is 15 degrees.   
     
     
         75 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said optic portion has a front convex surface and a flat back surface.   
     
     
         76 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said optic portion has a wall in its periphery which is thicker than the minimum thickness of said optic portion.   
     
     
         77 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said optic portion has a stepped wall structure at its periphery.   
     
     
         78 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said optic portion and said at least one haptic element are formed from said material.   
     
     
         79 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said optic portion is formed from said material, and said at least one haptic element is formed from a different material.   
     
     
         80 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer blocks ultra-violet light.   
     
     
         81 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer is loaded with at least one therapeutic agent that interferes with proliferation of the epithelial cells of the eye.   
     
     
         82 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said refractive optics structure is formed and molded at temperatures that are significantly less that the melting point of the polyisobutylene-based polymer.   
     
     
         83 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said refractive optics structure is formed by compression molding in conjunction with rapid heating to a temperature at or near the melting point of the polyisobutylene-based polymer and rapid cooling.   
     
     
         84 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 83 , wherein:
 time duration encompassing the rapid heating and the rapid cooling defines a heating-cooling cycle that is less than three minutes.   
     
     
         85 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 84 , wherein:
 said heat-cooling cycle is less than one minute.   
     
     
         86 . An ocular lens according to  claim 83 , wherein:
 the rapid heating and rapid cooling is applied to the refractive optics structure during compression molding with the refractive optics structure disposed within a compression mold.   
     
     
         87 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 58 , wherein:
 said refractive optics structure is formed by dissolving said polyisobutylene-based polymer in a solvent to form a solution and casting the solution.   
     
     
         88 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 87 , wherein:
 the casting of the solution forms at least one lens preform, and said refractive optics structure is formed by compression molding of said at least one lens preform.