TELESCOPIC INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANT FOR TREATING AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field ofthe Invention
The present invention relates to a telescopic intraocular lens implant (IOL) which replaces the natural crystalline lens for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The IOL is inserted into the natural biological capsule and accommodates in response to the action ofthe ciliary body for focusing upon objects located near and far from the viewer.
Description ofthe Prior Art
AMD, the major cause of blindness in the western world, is caused by degeneration of the macular tissue of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. Two types of AMD are known. Wet or exudative AMD is caused by ingrowth blood vessels located in the choroid and is the most severe form of AMD. The swelling of these vessels and eventual leakage into the retina causes the destruction of macular tissue. The second type of AMD, dry or atropic AMD, is the most prevalent. The cause of dry AMD is not known, but is likely caused by a combination of thinning ofthe macular tissue and drusen deposit between the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane. Drusen deposit is associated with dysfunctional cellular metabolism in the RPE. Both types of AMD cause severe disruption of vision acuity and afflict millions of individuals worldwide. Some forms of laser surgery may alleviate the rate of progression of wet AMD by destroying swollen blood vessels, however, no effective treatment for dry AMD is available. Telescopic lenses for slightly improving visual acuity in patients suffering from AMD are known. However, these lenses are worn as external spectacle lenses and are much too heavy to be used properly. Recent efforts have been launched to develop IOLs for treating AMD comparable to those used to treat cataracts. These IOLs are ineffective because they are much too heavy and require a 13 mm incision ofthe cornea and biological capsule for implantation. The large incision size required to implant the heavy-weight lenses necessitates the use of sutures which may cause severe bleeding in the eye. Furthermore, the heavy weight of these IOLs can cause the cornea to reshape resulting in astigmatism. A great need exists for a lightweight telescopic IOL for treating AMD that can be embedded into the biological capsule without
requiring an incision greater than 5 mm for implantation thereof. A small incision size is desirable because the eye can repair itself at incisions of about 1 to 5 mm and therefore does not require suturing. The risk of bleeding from sutures is therefore minimized.
Various IOLs have been used to treat cataracts. The first implant of an IOL within the eye to treat cataracts occurred in 1949. This experimental surgery attempted to place the replacement lens in the posterior chamber of the eye behind the iris. Problems such as dislocation after implantation forced abandonment of this approach, and for some period thereafter IOLs were implanted in the anterior chamber ofthe eye.
Others returned to the practice of inserting the IOL in the area ofthe eye posterior to the iris, known as the posterior chamber. This is the area where the patient' s natural crystalline lens is located. When the IOL is located in this natural location, substantially normal vision may be restored to the patient and the problems of forward displacement ofthe vitreous humor and retina detachment encountered in anterior chamber IOLs are less likely to occur. IOLs implanted in the posterior chamber are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,718,870, 3,866,249, 3,913,148, 3,925,825, 4,014,049, 4,041,552, 4,053,953, and 4,285,072. None of these IOLs have accommodation capability.
IOLs capable of focusing offered the wearer the closest possible substitute to the crystalline lens. U.S. Patent No. 4,254,509 to Tennant discloses an IOL which moves in an anterior direction upon contraction ofthe ciliary body and which is located anterior to the iris. Although the Tennant IOL possesses accommodation capabilities, it presents the same disadvantages as other anterior chamber lenses. U.S. Patent No. 4,253, 199 to Banko approaches the problem of providing a focusable IOL in a different manner, by providing a replacement IOL of deformable material sutured to the ciliary body. This IOL functions in much the same manner as the natural crystalline lens, but may cause bleeding because it requires sutures. U.S. Patent No. 4,409,691 to Levy is asserted to provide an accommodating IOL positioned within the capsule. This IOL is located in the posterior area of the capsule and is biased toward the fovea or rear of the eye. The Levy IOL is deficient because it requires the ciliary muscle to exert force through the zonules on the capsule in order to compress the haptics inward and drive the optic forward for near vision. However, the ciliary muscles do not exert any force during contraction because the zonules, being flexible filaments, exert only tension, not compression on the capsule. The natural elasticity ofthe IOL causes the capsule to become more
spherical upon contraction ofthe ciliary muscle. Thus, there is no inward force exerted on the capsule to compress the haptics of the Levy IOL, and therefore accommodate for near vision. Even if such force were somehow available, the Levy IOL's haptics are loaded inward when accommodating for near vision. Since accommodation for near vision is the normal status ofthe capsule, the Levy IOL's haptics are loaded, reducing the fatigue life ofthe springlike haptics. U.S. Patent No. 5,674,282 to Cumming is directed towards an accommodating IOL for implanting within the capsule of an eye. The Cumming IOL comprises a central optic and two plate haptics which extend radially outward from diametrically opposite sides ofthe optic and are movable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the optic. However, the Cumming IOL suffers from the same shortcomings as the Levy IOL in that the haptics are biased anteriorly by pressure from the ciliary bodies. This will eventually lead to pressure necrosis ofthe ciliary body.
Finally, U.S. Patent No. 4,842,601 to Smith discloses an accommodating IOL having anterior and posterior members which urge against the anterior and posterior walls ofthe natural lens capsule. The muscular action exerted on the natural capsule will thus cause the IOL to flatten, thereby changing the focus thereof. The Smith IOL is formed of first and second plastic lens members connected to one another adjacent their peripheral edges so as to provide a cavity therebetween. The connection between the lens members is accomplished by way of a U-shaped flange on the first member which forms an inwardly facing groove for receiving an outwardly extended flange on the second member. The Smith IOL is faulty because the structure ofthe lens members makes surgical implantation thereof extremely difficult to accomplish, even for highly skilled surgeons. The Smith patent does not disclose converging and diverging optics, and also requires a large incision for placement ofthe IOL into the capsule ofthe bag.
The IOLs replaced the opaque crystalline lens symptomatic of cataracts through a small incision in the cornea and anterior wall ofthe biological capsule. The IOLs for the treatment of cataracts differed from the present invention in that the present invention utilizes diverging and converging lenses to magnify the image being viewed onto undamaged portions of the retina. Furthermore, the present invention can be utilized to treat both cataracts and AMD which can often occur simultaneously.
There is a long- felt need for a lightweight IOL capable of focusing in a manner similar to the natural lens for treating AMD and cataracts. This IOL should be readily insertable into the
capsule and should last for a substantial number of years without damaging any of the eye components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The IOL ofthe present invention addresses this need because it provides a lightweight accommodating telescopic IOL for placement within the confines of the capsule of the human eye. The present invention presents a significant advance in the art because it provides a safe and efficient treatment for AMD.
The IOL of the present invention comprises an anterior and a posterior lens member operably coupled together to change shape in response to zonular movement. The anterior lens member includes an anterior optic that converges light. The light-converging anterior optic is operably coupled with a flexible body which extends radially and posteriorily from the periphery of the anterior light-converging optic. In cross-section, the flexible body forms a pair of opposing bights presenting corresponding termini. The posterior lens member includes a light- diverging posterior optic which is operably coupled with a connector, preferably an annular flange that is arcuate in cross-section, that mates with the termini.
Implantation ofthe IOL ofthe present invention occurs in two segments. The posterior lens member is implanted within the capsule of the eye first, followed by the anterior lens member. The lens members are connected together to yield a unitary IOL capable of accommodation. Accommodation refers to the process by which the focal length ofthe IOL is changed in response to the contraction and relaxation ofthe ciliary body and is needed to permit focusing upon objects located far from and near to the viewer. The lens members and the optics are made of flexible synthetic resin material comprised of silicones, acrylates (such as polymethylmethacrylates), and mixtures thereof. Contraction of the ciliary body results in the relaxation ofthe zonular fibers thereby affecting the focal length ofthe lens. The IOL becomes more spheroid in shape and permits the viewer to focus upon objects located near to the viewer. When the object being viewed is located at a distance, the ciliary body relaxes and the zonular fibers contract causing the IOL to become discoid in shape.
Parallel rays of light are refracted through the light-converging anterior optic, and once converged, through the light-diverging posterior optic. The image being viewed is thus diverged onto a large region ofthe retina. This operation ofthe converging and diverging optics results
in magnification of the image onto undamaged regions of the retina thus enabling improved vision.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an IOL ofthe invention within the capsule of an eye, with the eye focused on an object distant from the viewer;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the rearward retinal portion of a human eye depicting the condition of drusen deposit;
Fig. 3 is a front view ofthe IOL of Fig. 1 with parts broken away to reveal the internal construction thereof, with the IOL in its flattened, rest condition;
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe rearward portion ofthe IOL of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective sectional view ofthe IOL illlustrated in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment ofthe IOL ofthe present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is in the form of an telescopic IOL for surgical replacement of the human lens in the treatment of AMD in the human eye. Fig.l shows the various components ofthe human eye 10 pertinent to this invention. Briefly, the eye 10 includes a frontal portion 12 and a rearward portion 14. The frontal portion 12 ofthe eye 10 is covered by a cornea 16 which encloses and forms an anterior chamber 18. The anterior chamber 18 contains aqueous fluid and is bounded at the rear by an iris 20. The iris 20 opens and closes to admit appropriate quantities of light into the inner portions ofthe eye 10. The eye 10 also includes a capsule 22 which ordinarily contains the natural crystalline lens (which would be located at numeral 24 in the natural, unmodified eye). The eye 10 includes a ciliary muscle or body 26 having zonular fibers 28 (also referred to as zonules) which are attached to the eye 10.
Ocular adjustments for sharp focusing of objects viewed at different distances is accomplished by the action ofthe ciliary body 26 on the capsule 22 and natural crystalline lens
24 through the zonular fibers 28. The ciliary body 26 contracts, allowing the capsule 22 to return to a more spherical shape for viewing objects near to the viewer. When the ciliary body 26 retracts, the zonular fibers 28 stretch to make the capsule 22 more discoid thus permitting objects
at a distance to be viewed in proper focus. (Fig. 1) To summarize, when the eye 10 focuses, the capsule 22 changes shape to appropriately distribute the light admitted through the cornea 16 and the iris 20. The light then travels through the vitreous humor 30, which is occupied by vitreous fluid, to a retina 32 at the rearward portion 14 ofthe eye 10. Images received by the retina 32 are transmitted through the optic nerve 34 to the brain.
The retina 32 (see Fig. 2) is composed of rods and cones which act as light receptors. The macula 36 is located in the center ofthe rearward portion ofthe retina 32 and is responsible for central vision. The outside ofthe rearward portion 14 of the eye 10 is known as the sclera 38 which joins into and forms a portion ofthe covering for the optic nerve 34. The layers located beneath the retina 32 include retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) 40 and Bruch's membrane 42. The RPE 40 is responsible for removing waste products from the retina 32 and preventing new blood vessel growth into the retina 32. Bruch's membrane 42 supports the retina 32. Compromised cellular metabolism ofthe RPE 40 results in the accumulation of yellowish debris, commonly referred to as drusen deposits 44, between the RPE 40 and Bruch's membrane 42. The accumulation of these drusen deposits 44 results in macular deterioration.
In the natural eye, light passes through the cornea 16 and the iris 20 where the light is refracted onto the natural crystalline lens 24 located in the capsule 22. Light converges at a point directly posterior to the natural crystalline lens 24 where the image is inverted. This inverted image is then brought to focus upon the macula 36 after the light has traveled through the vitreous humor 30. The image is converted to a series of electrical impulses which is then transmitted to the optic nerve 34. The optic nerve 34 carries the information to the brain where the image is translated into its upright position. In a patient with AMD, the degenerate macula 36 prevents proper receipt ofthe image thereby disabling central focus. Referring to Figs.1 and 4 -7, an IOL 46 in accordance with the invention comprises an anterior lens member 48 and a posterior lens member 50 operably coupled together by a connector, preferably an annular flange 76 which is arcuate in cross-section, that may change shape in response to zonular movement. The anterior lens member 48 includes an anterior optic 52 presenting an anterior surface 54 and a posterior surface 56. The anterior surface 54 ofthe anterior optic 52 is convex while the posterior surface 56 of the anterior optic 52 is planar (hereinafter plano-convex). Although the anterior optic 52 is illustrated as plano-convex, any converging optic may be used depending upon the user's eyesight. Examples of converging optic shapes include biconvex and
convex meniscus. The anterior optic 52 also comprises four positioning holes 70 located on its periphery that extend therethrough. (See Fig. 4) The four positioning holes 70 are located on the anterior surface 54 of anterior optic 52 at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. (See Fig. 3) However, the number and location can be varied to meet desired surgical parameters. The anterior lens member 48 further includes a flexible body 58 integral with the anterior optic 52. Flexible body 58 forms a wall 60. The IOL in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, has a wall 60 which in turn extends radially to form opposing bights 62 presenting corresponding termini 66 to mate with posterior lens member 50. Wall 60 is of uniform thickness as it extends posteriorly to meet the posterior lens member 50, until the wall 60 approaches termini 66. The thickness of wall 60 is greater at the termini 66 remote from the anterior optic 52. The ratio in thickness ofthe termini 66 to the remainder of flexible body 58 is of from about 1 : 1 to 5 : 1.
The posterior lens member 50 comprises a posterior optic 68 presenting an anterior surface 72 and a posterior surface 74. The anterior surface 72 ofthe posterior optic 68 is concave while the posterior surface 74 ofthe posterior optic 68 is convex (hereinafter concave meniscus). A concave meniscus optic is a diverging optic having a concave anterior surface wherein the concave surface has a lesser radius of curvature than the opposing convex posterior surface. Although the surface ofthe posterior optic 68 is illustrated as concave meniscus, any diverging optic may be used depending upon the user's eyesight. Examples of diverging optic shapes include biconcave and plano-concave. The posterior optic 68 is integral with an annular flange 76 and mates with termini 66 to form chamber 64. The annular flange 76 surrounds the posterior optic 68 and then extends arcuately from the posterior optic 68 to cover portions 77 of anterior lens member 48. Flange 76 has positioning holes 80 formed therein located at approximately the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. (See Figs. 3 and 7) However, the number and location of the positioning holes 80 may vary depending upon the desired surgical parameters. The IOL ofthe present invention may be formed with arcuate openings 59 formed in the flexible body 58 ofthe anterior lens member 48 as illustrated in Fig. 7. The embodiment of Fig. 7 can optionally be provided with a very thin membrane (not shown) in covering relationship as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application S/N 09/940,018, filed August 27, 2001, which is incorporated by reference herein. It is contemplated that the membrane would be formed ofthe same material as the lens members 48, 50 but would be much thinner (on the order of a few thousandths of an inch) than the remainder of the lens members 48, 50. The purpose of the
membrane is to prevent or at least impede the passage of migratory cells through openings within the IOL and into the inner chamber ofthe IOL.
The IOL of the present invention can be formed of any biologically inert material conventionally used in intraocular lens construction, (e.g., flexible synthetic resin materials). Examples of suitable lens materials include silicones, acrylates (such as polymethylmethacrylates), and mixtures thereof. It is contemplated that mixtures of silicones and acrylates comprise both chemical mixtures, such as silicone-acrylate blends, and various combinations of silicones and acrylates employed to construct the lens. It is particularly preferred that IOLs according to the present invention be constructed of a material having an elastic memory (i.e., the material should be capable of substantially recovering its original size and shape after a deforming force has been removed). An example of a preferred material having elastic memory is MEMORYLENS (available from Mentor Ophthalmics in California).
Preferably the OL will have an outer equatorial diameter (distance between outer surfaces of opposing bight sections 62) of from about 8 to 12 mm. (See Fig. 4) Preferably the IOL will have a polar height (distance between outer surfaces of opposing anterior 58 and posterior 50 lens members) of from about_3 to 5.5 mm.
The IOL 46 substitutes for the natural crystalline lens 24 of the human eye 10, and is preferably implanted into the biological capsule 22. In order to insert the inventive lens 46 into the biological capsule 22, an opthalmic surgeon would remove the natural crystalline lens 24 leaving an opening in the capsule 22. The surgeon folds the posterior lens member 50 and inserts it substantially within the capsule 22, using holes 80 therein to position the posterior lens member 50. Because the patient's eye is facing upward during surgery, the folded lens member floats downward into the eye after unfolding itself. After the posterior lens member 50 is inserted, the anterior lens member 48 is also folded and inserted into the biological capsule 22. The anterior lens member 48 also unfolds and fits over the posterior lens member 50 because it substantially fills the capsular bag 22. The surgeon uses the holes 70 on the anterior optic 52 ofthe anterior lens member 48 to position the anterior lens member 48 into place. The anterior optic 52 and posterior optic 68 are positioned such that both optics share the same optical axis. Surgical implantation ofthe IOL 46 in this manner is advantageous because it requires a small incision size of from about 1 to 5 mm. At incision sizes of this range, the capsular walls reseal themselves and therefore, do not require sutures which may cause bleeding in the eye.
The instant invention improves vision by magnifying the observed image onto undamaged regions ofthe retina 32 thereby permitting proper transmittal to the optic nerve 34. Light travels through the cornea 16 and the iris 20 as with a natural eye, however, with the inventive IOL 46, the light is refracted through the plano-convex surface of the anterior optic 52. The inventive IOL replaces the natural crystalline lens 24 ofthe human eye 10. The anterior optic 52 converges the light. Light is refracted through the posterior optic 68 where it is then magnified and projected onto a large region ofthe retina 32. The image is brought to focus upon the retina 32 and a series of electrical impulses are transmitted to the brain. The inventive IOL 46 permits an AMD patient to improve vision via utilizing principles of a Galillean telescope to refract light to undamaged portions of the retina 32.
Not only does the IOL of the present invention project an observed image onto undamaged regions ofthe retina 32, but it also accommodates in response to action ofthe ciliary body 26 in connection with the zonular fibers 28 to view objects located both near and far from the viewer. When the viewer is observing an image located at a distance, the sensory cells within the retina 32 signal the ciliary body 26 to relax, thus pulling on the zonular fibers 28 to make the capsule 22 more discoid as shown in Fig. 1. In doing so, the polar dimension ofthe capsule 22 is narrowed, which in turn causes the polar dimension of the IOL 46 to narrow in a similar manner.
The IOL of the present invention typically has a diopter value of from about .16 to 26. The diopter value of a lens is defined as the reciprocal ofthe focal length in meters:
Diopter = 1/focal length (m).
Focal length is the distance from the center of the lens to the object being viewed. The focal length must decrease as magnification increases. The diopter value expresses the refractive capacity of a lens which is associated with the radius of curvature of the optics. Generally, an increased diopter value indicates that the optic is thicker at its center and also has a lesser radius of curvature. Thus, a larger radius of curvature generally permits greater divergence of light.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. For example, while the foregoing method of inserting the inventive IOL 46 into the
capsule 22 presumed that a portion ofthe anterior wall 78 ofthe capsule 22 would be removed with the natural crystalline lens 24, it will be appreciated that it may be possible to insert the IOL 46 through an incision in the posterior wall 80 ofthe capsule 22. While the foregoing description discloses that the IOL 46 could be utilized in AMD patients, the IOL 46 may be used in any situation where the natural crystalline lens 24 needs to be replaced such as with cataracts. Furthermore, the IOL may be utilized in situations when the natural crystalline lens 24 needs to be replaced for both cataracts and AMD.
Having thus described the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: