Intraocular lens

Claim 2

An intraocular lens comprising: a deformable lens body which can be so deformed to a dimension smaller than the maximum dimension of said lens body when undeformed that said lens body can be inserted into the eye, when said lens body is deformed, through a smaller opening in the eye than the opening through which said lens body could be inserted when undeformed, said lens body being capable of return to substantially its undeformed configuration after insertion into the eye; and position-fixation means connected to different peripheral regions of said lens body and adapted to seat within an eye adjacent the periphery of the iris for fixing the position of said lens within the eye.

Claim 3

A lens body for an intraocular lens and adapted for insertion into the eye through an opening therein, comprising a deformable lens body having at least one substantially rigid portion and which can be so deformed to a dimension smaller than the maximum dimension of said lens body when undeformed that said lens body can be inserted into the eye when said lens body is deformed through a smaller opening in the eye than said lens body could be inserted when undeformed, said lens body being capable of return to substantially its undeformed configuration after insertion into the eye.

Claim 4

A lens body for an intraocular lens and adapted for insertion into the eye through an opening therein, comprising a deformable lens body having at least one substantially rigid portion and which can be so deformed to a dimension smaller than the maximum dimension of said lens body when undeformed that said lens body can be inserted into the eye when said lens body is deformed through a smaller opening in the eye than said lens body could be inserted when undeformed, said lens body being capable of return to substantially its undeformed configuration after insertion into the eye.

Claim 5

A lens body for an intraocular lens and adapted for insertion into the eye through an opening therein comprising a plurality of separate portions in an initial relation and a bridging portion of said lens body connecting said plurality of portions, said bridging portion being sufficiently flexible that said plurality of portions can be overlapped upon the application of force thereto and said bridging portion being capable of returning said plurality of portions substantially to their initial relation upon release of the force therefrom.

Claim 6

A lens body for an intraocular lens and adapted for insertion into the eye through an opening therein comprising a plurality of separate portions in an initial relation and a bridging portion of said lens body connecting said plurality of portions, said bridging portion being sufficiently flexible that said plurality of portions can be overlapped upon the application of force thereto and said bridging portion being capable of returning said plurality of portions substantially to their initial relation upon release of the force therefrom.

Claim 7

A lens body in accordance with claim 3 in which said lens body has a circular periphery.

Claim 8

A lens body in accordance with claim 3 or claim 4 in which said lens body has a plurality of portions separated by at least one elongated cut extending longitudinally across said lens body to said bridging portion.

Claim 9

A lens body in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 5 in which said lens body has three portions separated by a pair of substantially parallel cuts extending longitudinally across said lens body, said bridging portion connecting said three portions of said lens body.

Claim 10

A lens body in accordance with claim 6 in which said three portions of said lens body comprise a central portion and two outer portions and in which said two outer portions can be overlapped with said central portion upon the application of force to said outer portions.

Claim 11

A lens body in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 7 in which said bridging portion is at an outer edge of said lens body and is thicker than the edge of said lens body over the major portion of the periphery of said lens body.

Claim 12

A lens body in accordance with claim 7 in which each of said two outer portions of said lens body has means for maintaining said three lens body portions in a desired fixed relation to one another when the lens is seated in the eye.

Claim 13

A lens body in accordance with claim 7 in which each of said two outer portions of said lens body has an aperture therein adapted to receive a suture for maintaining said three lens body portions in substantially their initial relation to one another when the lens is seated in the eye.

Claim 14

A lens body in accordance with claim 2 in which said lens body has a plurality of portions having means thereon for pivotably attaching each of said portions to an adjacent portion.

Claim 15

A lens in accordance with claim 11 in which said lens body has a central portion and two end portions with each end portion being piv table toward said central portion.

Claim 16

An intraocular lens according to claim 1, the lens body of which is as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12.

Claim 17

A lens body for an intraocular lens and adapted for insertion into the eye through an opening therein, comprising a deformable lens body having at least one flexible portion and which can be so folded to a dimension smaller than the maximum dimension of said lens body when undeformed that said lens body can be inserted into the eye, when said lens body is deformed, through a smaller opening in the eye than the opening through which said lens body could be inserted when undeformed, said lens body being capable of return to substantially its undeformed configuration after insertion into the eye, said lens body having a free periphery along at least one region generally parallel to the direction of the fold and having peripheral regions adjacent opposite ends of the fold which are free of substantial impediment to folding said lens body along the fold.

Claim 18

A lens body for an intraocular lens and adapted for insertion into the eye through an opening therein, comprising a deformable lens body having at least one flexible portion and which can be so folded to a dimension smaller than the maximum dimension of said lens body when undeformed that said lens body can be inserted into the eye, when said lens body is deformed, through a smaller opening in the eye than the opening through which said lens body could be inserted when undeformed, said lens body being capable of return to substantially its undeformed configuration after insertion into the eye, said lens body having a free periphery along at least one region generally parallel to the direction of the fold and having peripheral regions adjacent opposite ends of the fold which are free of substantial impediment to folding said lens body along the fold.

Claim 19

A lens body in accordance with claim 14 in which said lens body has a portion of silicone rubber.

Claim 20

A lens body in accordance with claim 14 or claim 15 in which said lens body has a portion of circular shape and in which said lens body can be deformed to a dimension smaller than the diameter of said lens body.

Claim 21

A lens body in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 16 in which said smaller dimension of said lens body is about half said maximum dimension.

Claim 22

An intraocular lens according to claim 1, the lens body of which is as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16.

Claim 23

An intraocular lens according to claim 18 in which the position-fixation means is adapted to be inserted into the eye independently of the lens body.

Claim 24

An intraocular lens in accordance with claim 19 in which said lens body has means thereon for attaching said lens body to said position-fixation member.

Claim 25

An intraocular lens in accordance with claim 19 in which the position-fixation means includes a flexible loop for supporting said lens body within the eye, and in which said lens body has means thereon for attaching said lens body to said loop within the eye.