Eye treatment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of determining the IOL refractive index for an ocular replacement material for replacing tissue in the capsular bag comprising combining a neutral (non-correcting) reference refractive index (“NRRI”) of between 1.421 and 1.450 with a refractive index correction factor (“RICF”) ascertained by reference to the refractive power required to correct the patient's refractive error. The present invention also relates to methods of treating presbyopia, myopia and hyperopia using the above method.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating presbyopia of a subject by replacing tissue in the subject's capsular bag, comprising replacing the tissue in the subject's capsular bag with an ocular replacement material selected to have a refractive index equivalent to a neutral reference refractive index, wherein the neutral reference refractive index is between 1.426 and 1.442. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the ocular replacement material is curable in situ. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the ocular replacement material is shaped by the subject's capsular bag. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , in which the ocular replacement material is a polymer cured in situ from a cross-linkable siloxane macromonomer. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the neutral reference refractive index is between 1.426 and 1.438. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the neutral reference refractive index is 1.427. 
     
     
         15 . A method of determining a refractive index for an ocular replacement material for replacing tissue in the capsular bag of a patient, comprising combining (i) a neutral reference refractive index of between 1.426 and 1.442 with (ii) a refractive index correction factor ascertained by reference to a refractive power required to correct a refractive error of the patient, and (iii) selecting an ocular replacement material, as an intraocular lens (IOL), having the refractive index determined. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the ocular replacement material is curable in situ. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the ocular replacement material is shaped by the subject's capsular bag. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , in which the ocular replacement material is a polymer cured in situ from a cross-linkable siloxane macromonomer. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the neutral reference refractive index is between 1.426 and 1.438. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the neutral reference refractive index is 1.427. 
     
     
         21 . An ocular replacement material selected by the method of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         22 . An ocular replacement material selected by the method of  claim 17 .