Anterior chamber lens

Claim 1

An anterior chamber intraocular lens comprising: an optic having an anterior surface, a posterior surface and a surrounding circumferential edge and having first and second bores entering at said edge of said optic at opposite peripheral portions of said edge, said bores extending substantially parallel to each other and extending into said optic generally parallel to the plane which is perpendicular to the optical axis of the optic; first and second flexible, resilient filamentary haptic means extending from said optic for engaging the peripheral anatomy of the eye; said first and second haptic means each having a first end and a second end; said first end of said first haptic means fixed to said optic at a point spaced circumferentially from said first bore an arc distance therealong of less than 180 degrees; said second end of said first haptic means extending into said first bore; said first end of said second haptic means fixed to said optic at a point spaced circumferentially from said second bore an arc distance therealong of less than 180 degrees, said second end of said second haptic means extending into said second bore; each of said first and second haptic means including (a) a first leg extending from said first end outwardly of said optic; (b) a second leg extending transversely of said optic for engaging the peripheral anatomy of the eye; (c) a third leg extending from said second leg to said second end of said haptic means; said first, second and third legs of each haptic forming a unitary haptic means and having smooth, connecting portions; each of said first legs of said first and second haptic means including a concave portion extending back toward said respective third leg to provide a greater flexibility to each of said first and second haptic means; each of said concave portions extending a distance toward said respective third leg so that a plane including the optical axis of said optic and intersecting said concave portion of said first haptic means will also intersect the concave portion of said second haptic means; further including locking means cooperatively associated with each of said second ends of said first and second haptic means and the respective one of said first and second bores in said optic; wherein a portion of said optic surrounding the entry area of each of said first and second bores extends thereinto to define a flange for reducing the size thereof in said entry area; said second end of said first and second filamentary haptic means including an enlarged head larger than the respective first or second bores in said entry area but smaller than the remainder of the respective first or second bores so that said enlarged head may be forced past said flange into the remainder of said respective first or second bores to restrain the removal of said enlarged head of said second end from said respective first or second bores; and wherein said enlarged head and said flange are sufficiently resilient to permit said enlarged head to contract as it is forced through said flange and then to expand once it passes said flange and enters the remainder of said respective first and second bores.