Intraocular lens adapted for accommodation via electrical signals
A lens system is provided. The lens system can include a lens adapted to be part of the optical pathway of an eye and a sensor. The sensor is adapted to sense a condition. The lens system also includes a control unit. The control unit is adapted to receive a signal from the sensor. The signal includes information about the condition. The control unit is operable to alter the shape of the lens based at least partly upon the condition. The lens can be adapted for positioning inside the capsular bag of the eye, in the posterior chamber of the eye, in place of the capsular bag of the eye or in the cornea. The sensor can be a tension sensor. The condition can be the amount of tension at the zonules of the eye. The control system can include a fluidic pressure generator and a fluid flow control device.
1 . A lens system comprising:
a lens positioned within an eye; and
a control unit, wherein said control unit is operable with said lens to alter the focal length of said lens based at least partly upon a condition.
2 . The lens system of claim 1 , wherein said lens is adapted for positioning at a location selected from the group consisting of inside the substantially capsular bag of the eye, inside the capsular bag of the eye in which an anterior portion of the capsular bag around the optical axis of the eye is removed, inside the capsular bag of the eye in which a posterior portion of the capsular bag around the optical axis of the eye is removed, the posterior chamber of the eye, the anterior chamber of the eye, in place of the capsular bag of the eye, and the cornea.
3 . The lens system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor, wherein said sensor is adapted to sense the condition and wherein said control unit is adapted to receive a signal from said sensor, wherein the signal includes information about the condition.
4 . The lens system of claim 3 , wherein said condition is the amount of tension at the zonules of the eye.
5 . The lens system of claim 1 , wherein said control system is operable with said lens to alter the focal length of said lens by passing a current through said lens.
6 . The lens system of claim 1 , wherein said control system includes a fluidic pressure generator and a fluid flow control device, wherein said lens includes a chamber adapted to receive a fluid, and wherein said control system is operable with said lens to alter the focal length of said lens by changing the fluidic pressure in the chamber.
7 . The lens system of claim 6 , wherein the chamber is at least partly enclosed by a flexible membrane.
8 . A lens comprising:
a chamber adapted to house a substance,
said lens being adapted to be positioned in an eye, wherein said lens is coupled to a control unit, wherein the control unit is operable to control the focal length of said lens by influencing the substance.
9 . The lens of claim 8 , wherein influencing the substance includes applying an electrical field across the substance.
10 . The lens of claim 8 , wherein influencing the substance includes changing the pressure of the substance in the chamber.
11 . The lens of claim 8 , wherein the control unit receives a signal from a sensor, wherein the signal includes information about a condition.
12 . The lens of claim 11 , wherein the condition is the amount of tension at the zonules of the eye.
13 . A control unit comprising:
an electronic circuit; wherein said control unit is coupled to a lens, said lens including a chamber, which is adapted to house a substance, said lens being adapted to be positioned in an eye, said electronic circuit being operable to control the focal length of the lens.
14 . The control unit of claim 13 , wherein said electronic circuit being operable to control the focal length of the lens by applying an electric field to the substance.
15 . The control unit of claim 13 , wherein said electronic circuit receives a signal from a sensor, wherein the signal includes information about a condition.
16 . The control unit of claim 15 , wherein the condition is the amount of tension at the zonules of the eye.
17 . An intraocular lens, comprising:
a lens body; and
a control system adapted to alter the refractive properties of the lens body such that the lens body at least partly assists in accommodation.
18 . The intraocular lens of claim 17 , wherein the control system is adapted to alter the refractive properties of the lens body by altering the shape of the lens body.
19 . The intraocular lens of claim 17 , wherein the control system is adapted to alter the shape of the lens body by altering the fluidic pressure in at least one chamber in the lens body.
20 . The intraocular lens of claim 17 , wherein the control system is adapted to alter the refractive properties of the lens body by altering the refractive index of at least one portion of the lens body.
21 . A lens system comprising:
a lens positioned along the optical path of an eye; and
a control unit, wherein said control unit is operable with said lens to alter the focal length of said lens based at least partly upon a condition.
22 . The lens of claim 21 , wherein said lens is positioned within the eye.
23 . The lens of claim 21 , wherein the control unit is operable to alter the focal length of said lens in response to a manual input.
24 . The lens of claim 21 , wherein the control unit is operable to automatically alter the focal length of said lens.