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 for use in an ocular environment comprising:
 a deformable lens element;   at least one haptic element extending radially outward from said lens element, wherein said at least one haptic element is coated with a polymer layer comprising polyisobutylene and at least one therapeutic agent that interferes with proliferation of epithelial cells in the ocular environment.   
     
     
         56 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said lens element is not coated with said polymer layer.   
     
     
         57 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one therapeutic agent is selected from the groups of cytostatic agents and anti-migratory agents.   
     
     
         58 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one therapeutic agent comprises paclitaxel or an analog of paclitaxel.   
     
     
         59 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one haptic element transfers accommodating forces applied by the ciliary muscles of the ocular environment to said lens element in order to vary radius of curvature of said lens element.   
     
     
         60 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one haptic element is adapted to rest within a capsular bag formed by a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         61 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one haptic element extends radially outward from said lens element from said lens element in a symmetric manner about the periphery of said lens element.   
     
     
         62 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said ocular lens is configurable into an arrangement where the lens element is folded or rolled upon itself.   
     
     
         63 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said lens elements has two and only two refractive surfaces extending radially away from a central optical axis passing through the lens element.   
     
     
         64 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said lens element comprises a polyisobutylene-based polymer.   
     
     
         65 . An ocular lens according to  claim 64 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer is processed to remove salts therefrom.   
     
     
         66 . An ocular lens according to  claim 64 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer further comprises a vinyl aromatic polymer.   
     
     
         67 . An ocular lens according to  claim 66 , wherein:
 said vinyl aromatic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, and α-methylstyrene.   
     
     
         68 . An ocular lens according to  claim 64 , wherein:
 said polyisobutylene-based polymer further comprises a methacrylate polymer.   
     
     
         69 . An ocular lens according to  claim 68 , wherein:
 said methacrylate polymer is selected from the group of a methylmethacrylate polymer, a ethylmethacrylate polymer, and a hydroxymethacrylate polymer.   
     
     
         70 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said lens element is realized from a polymeric material having a general block structure with a central elastomeric polyolefinic block and thermoplastic end blocks.   
     
     
         71 . An ocular lens according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said polymeric material has a triblock polymer backbone comprising Poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene).   
     
     
         72 . An ocular lens according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said polymeric 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.   
     
     
         73 . An ocular lens according to  claim 70 , wherein:
 said polymeric material comprises a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a star-shaped block copolymer and multi-dendrite-shaped block copolymer.   
     
     
         74 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one haptic element comprises an annular surface that surrounds and extends radially outward from said lens element.   
     
     
         75 . An ocular lens according to  claim 74 , wherein:
 said lens element 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.   
     
     
         76 . An ocular lens according to  claim 75 , wherein:
 said angle is between 10 and 20 degrees.   
     
     
         77 . An ocular lens according to  claim 75 , wherein:
 said angle is 15 degrees.   
     
     
         78 . An ocular lens device according to  claim 55 , wherein said lens element has at least one of the following features:
 a) a front convex surface;   b) a flat back surface;   c) a wall in its periphery which is thicker than the minimum thickness of said lens element; and   d) a stepped wall structure at its periphery.   
     
     
         79 . An ocular lens according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one haptic element comprise a plurality of haptic elements that are distributed symmetrically about the periphery of said lens element.   
     
     
         80 . An ocular device according to  claim 55 , wherein:
 said at least one haptic element terminates at an edge offset radially from said lens element, wherein the edge is operably disposed adjacent a ciliary body of the ocular environment.