OPHTHALMIC DEVICES HAVING A DEGRADATION RESISTANT POLYMER
Disclosed are ophthalmic devices configured to be implanted in an eye of a patient. In one embodiment, the ophthalmic device includes a mask configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient and comprising a highly fluorinated polymeric material in which the number of carbon-fluorine bonds equals or exceeds the number of carbon-hydrogen bonds in the highly fluorinated polymeric material. The highly fluorinated polymeric material can be resistant to degradation upon exposure to ultraviolet light. The mask further includes an aperture configured to transmit light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture.
1 . An ophthalmic device, comprising:
a mask configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient and comprising a highly fluorinated polymeric material in which the number of carbon-fluorine bonds equals or exceeds the number of carbon-hydrogen bonds in the highly fluorinated polymeric material,
the mask further comprising an aperture configured to transmit light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture; and
a plurality of holes in the substantially opaque portion configured to reduce the tendency of visible light that passes through the holes to produce visible diffraction patterns.
2 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the mask comprises a coating comprising the highly fluorinated polymeric material.
3 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the coating is at least on an anterior surface of the mask.
4 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the highly fluorinated polymeric material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).
5 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the mask comprises a second polymer different from the highly fluorinated polymeric material.
6 . The ophthalmic device of claim 5 , wherein the second polymer comprises one or more generally UV transparent or reflective polymers.
7 . The ophthalmic device of claim 5 , wherein the mask comprises a blend of the highly fluorinated polymeric material and the second polymer.
8 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the substantially opaque portion comprises an opacification agent selected from the group consisting of organic dyes, organic pigments, inorganic dyes, and inorganic pigments.
9 . The ophthalmic device of claim 8 , wherein the opacification agent is applied to one or more surfaces of the mask.
10 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the substantially opaque portion comprises carbon.
11 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein highly fluorinated polymeric material comprises at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, poly-1,1,2-trifluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxyethylene, fluorinated polyimide, and fluorinated acrylate.
12 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein highly fluorinated polymeric material comprises one or more of the following monomer units: tetrafluoroethylene —(CF 2 —CF 2 )—, vinylidene fluoride —(CF 2 —CH 2 )—, 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene —(CF 2 —CHF)—, hexafluoropropene —(CF(CF 3 )—CF 2 )—, and vinyl fluoride —(CH 2 —CHF)—.
13 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the highly fluorinated polymeric material comprises one or more monomers that comprise at least one of oxygen and chlorine.
14 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a dimension generally transverse to the optical axis, the dimension being about 2.2 millimeters or less.
15 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the mask has a thickness between an anterior surface and a posterior surfaces of about 20 microns or less.
16 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the mask comprises about 80-100% of the highly fluorinated polymeric material.
17 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the mask comprises about 40-60% of the highly fluorinated polymeric material.
18 . A corneal inlay, comprising:
an anterior surface configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer;
a posterior surface configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer;
an aperture configured to transmit light therethrough and a non-transmissive portion disposed about the aperture; and
a plurality of holes extending at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface, the plurality of holes being configured to substantially eliminate diffraction patterns visible to the patient due to the transmission of visible light through the at least some of the holes;
wherein the corneal inlay comprises a highly fluorinated polymeric material in which the number of carbon-fluorine bonds equals or exceeds the number of carbon-hydrogen bonds.
19 . An ophthalmic device, comprising:
a mask configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient and comprising a fluorinated polymer having one or more carbon-fluorine bonds,
the mask further comprising an aperture configured to transmit light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture; and
a plurality of holes in the substantially opaque portion configured to reduce the tendency of visible light that passes through the holes to produce visible diffraction patterns.
20 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the mask is embedded within a lens body.
21 . The ophthalmic device of claim 20 , wherein the lens body is an intraocular lens.
22 . The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the mask is provided on a surface of a lens body.
23 . The ophthalmic device of claim 19 , wherein the mask is embedded within a lens body.
24 . The ophthalmic device of claim 23 , wherein the lens body is an intraocular lens.
25 . The ophthalmic device of claim 19 , wherein the mask is provided on a surface of a lens body.