Adjustable inlay with multizone polymerization
The present invention relates to an inlay for correcting refractive error in an eye. The inlay includes a first portion having a first volume that remains substantially constant when exposed to an energy, and a second portion having a second volume that is adapted to change when exposed to the energy. This inlay results in a device that can correct severe ametropic conditions, without ablating any portion of the inlay itself or the cornea.
1. An inlay for correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising:
a first portion having a first volume that remains substantially constant when exposed to an first energy; and
a second unpolymerized portion having a second volume that is adapted to change when exposed to said energy;
wherein said second volume is adapted to increase, when exposed to said energy, said energy being selected from the group consisting of laser light, a chemical and thermal heat.
2. An inlay for correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising:
a first portion having a first volume that remains substantially constant when exposed to an first energy; and
a second unpolymerized portion having a second volume that is adapted to change when exposed to said energy;
a layer of collagen substantially covers said inlay.
3. A method of producing an inlay having a first portion and a second portion to correct the refractive error the eye, comprising the steps of
forming an inlay having a first portion and a second portion,
exposing the first portion to a first energy to polymerize and fix the volume thereof,
positioning the inlay adjacent a surface of the cornea of the eye, and
exposing the second portion to at least one of said first energy and a second energy to change the volume thereof.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein
the forming step includes forming the inlay from a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic material, organic material, and a combination of both synthetic and organic material.
5. A method according to claim 3 , wherein
the forming step includes forming the inlay so that the second portion overlies the first portion.
6. A method according to claim 3 , wherein
the forming step includes forming the inlay so that the first portion is positioned immediately adjacent an exposed surface of the cornea.
7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein
the forming step includes forming the inlay so that the second portion overlies said first portion.
8. A method according to claim 3 , wherein
the exposing the first portion to a first energy step includes exposing the first portion to laser light.
9. A method according to claim 3 , wherein
the exposing the second portion to change the volume thereof includes exposing the second portion formed from a polycarbonate or an acrylic material to said second energy to decrease the volume thereof.
10. A method according to claim 3 , wherein
the exposing the second portion to change the volume thereof includes exposing the second portion formed of silicone polymer to said second energy to increase the volume thereof.
11. An inlay for correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising:
a polymerized first portion formed from a first material, at least a portion of said first portion positioned substantially adjacent a first surface of said inlay; and
a second portion formed from an unpolymerized second material, at least a portion of said second portion positioned substantially adjacent a second surface of said inlay;
wherein at least a portion of said second material is adapted to increase in volume, when exposed to energy selected from the group consisting of laser light, a chemical and thermal heat or decrease in volume, when exposed to a second energy, while the volume of said first material remains substantially unchanged.
12. An inlay according to claim 11 , wherein
said first material is selected from a group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic material and a silicone polymer.
13. An inlay according to claim 11 , wherein
said second material is selected from a group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic material and a silicone polymer.
14. An inlay according to claim 11 , wherein
said second portion overlies said first portion.
15. An inlay according to claim 11 , wherein
said first portion is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent an exposed surface of the cornea.
16. An inlay according to claim 15 , wherein
said second portion is adapted to overlie said first portion.
17. An inlay according to claim 11 , wherein
said second volume is adapted to decrease, when exposed to energy selected from the group consisting of laser light, a chemical and thermal heat.
18. A method producing an inlay to correct the refractive error the eye, comprising the steps of
forming a first portion of the inlay having a first material therein,
fixing the volume of the first material,
attaching a second portion of the inlay to the first portion, the second portion having an unpolymerized second material therein,
positioning the inlay in the eye, and
exposing the second material to energy to change the volume of the second portion.
19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein
the forming step includes forming the first portion of the inlay from a material selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic material and a silicone polymer.
20. A method according to claim 18 , wherein
the attaching step includes attaching the second portion of the inlay to the first portion of the inlay so that the second portion overlies the first portion.
21. A method according to claim 18 , wherein
the forming step includes forming the first portion of the inlay so that the first portion is positioned immediately adjacent an exposed surface of the cornea.
22. A method according to claim 21 , wherein
the attaching step includes attaching the second portion of the inlay to the first portion of the inlay so that the second portion overlies said first portion.
23. A method according to claim 18 , wherein
the fixing the volume of the first material step includes exposing the first material to laser light.
24. A method according to claim 18 , wherein
the exposing the second material to change the volume thereof includes exposing the second material formed from a polycarbonate or an acrylic material to an energy to decrease the volume thereof.
25. A method according to claim 18 , wherein
the exposing the second material to change the volume thereof includes exposing the second material formed from a silicone polymer to an energy to increase the volume thereof.
26. An inlay for correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising:
a first surface;
a second surface opposite said first surface;
a first portion having a first polymerized volume that remains substantially constant when exposed to an energy, said first polymerized volume being located adjacent said first surface of said inlay and extending to about the periphery of said first surface;
a second portion having a second volume that is adapted to change when exposed to said energy; and
a third portion having a third volume that is adapted to change, substantially without ablation, when exposed to said energy;
wherein said first and second portions are formed from the same material; and
wherein said third volume is adapted to increase, when exposed to energy selected from the group consisting of laser light, a chemical and thermal heat.
27. An inlay according to claim 26 , wherein
said material is selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic material and a silicone polymer.
28. An inlay according to claim 26 , wherein
said second portion overlies said first portion.
29. An inlay according to claim 26 , wherein
said first portion is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent an exposed surface of the cornea.
30. An inlay according to claim 29 , wherein
said second portion is adapted to overlie said first portion.
31. An inlay according to claim 26 , wherein
said energy is laser light.
32. An inlay according to claim 26 wherein
said third portion is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of synthetic material, organic material, and a combination of both synthetic and organic material.
33. An inlay according to claim 26 , wherein
said third volume is adapted to decrease, when exposed to energy selected from the group consisting of laser light, a chemical and thermal heat.
34. An inlay for correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising one of the following:
a first portion having a first volume that remains substantially constant when exposed to an energy, and a second portion having a second volume that is adapted to change when exposed to said energy; and
a third portion having a third volume that is adapted to change, substantially without ablation, when exposed to said energy,
wherein said third volume is adapted to increase, when exposed to energy selected from the group consisting of laser light, a chemical and thermal heat.
35. An inlay according to claim 1 , wherein
said inlay is a contact lens.
36. An inlay according to claim 35 , wherein
said contact lens is adapted to be positioned on the exterior surface of the cornea.
37. An inlay according to claim 36 , wherein
said second volume is adapted to increase or decrease when exposed to energy selected from the group consisting of laser light, a chemical, and thermal heat.