Interfacial refraction accommodating lens (IRAL)
This invention relates to intraocular lenses. More particularly, this invention relates to intraocular lenses that have the ability to alter the light refractive power in response to changes in the tension of the ciliary muscle or ciliary body of the eye or any other accommodative forces. Lenses of this invention are generally referred to as interfacial, i.e., lens properties being defined as the interface of two liquids having different refractive indices, refractive accommodating lenses (IRAL).
1. An implantable interfacial refraction accommodating ophthalmic lens assembly which adjusts its focal distance in response to changes in the tension of the ciliary muscle of the eye of the user of said lens, the lens comprising a flexible optic chamber and cooperating haptics:
the optic chamber is defined by opposed, substantially parallel visually transparent circular discs, which are flexibly coupled at their edges and spaced apart to define a closed fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber including first and second liquids, the liquids having different refractive indices and being immiscible so as to define a spherical or lenticular interface therebetween;
the haptics being coupled to the edge of the optic chamber and to the fluidic chamber so that application of force to the haptics by changes in the tension of the ciliary muscle of the eye deforms the fluidic chamber and changes the sphericity of the liquid interface;
whereby the focal length of the lens changes in response to application of force to the haptics to change focus of the user.
2. A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein the lens assembly is foldable.
3. A lens assembly according to claim 2 wherein the lens is adopted to be implantable into the eye using IOL injectors.
4. A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein the difference between the refractive indices of the first and second liquids (ΔRI) is at least about 0.1.
5. A lens assembly according to claim 1 wherein the difference between the refractive indices (ΔRI) is at least about 0.2.