TRANS-SCLERA PORTAL FOR DELIVERY OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS

1 - 29 . (canceled)

30 . A method of treating a patient's eye, comprising:

surgically implanting in the eye a swell loadable polymeric ocular insert with a micron scale tab that extends through the sclera as an external mass transport channel; and

placing a therapeutic agent in contact with the ocular insert to thereby load the insert with the agent.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the placing the therapeutic agent comprises one of:

dropping onto the eye eyedrops containing the therapeutic agent; and

applying to the eye an eye wash containing the therapeutic agent.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the placing the therapeutic agent comprises placing an appliance impregnated with the agent adjacent to and in removable contact with the scela and the tab; and

transferring from the appliance to the interior of the eye through the tab the therapeutic agent impregnated in the appliance.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the appliance comprises a lens body formed of a block copolymer that is phase nanophase-separated to form a periodic nanostructure of therapeutic agent-miscible domains interspersed among a hydrogel matrix, wherein the therapeutic agent is impregnated in the agent-miscible domains.

34 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising:

removing the appliance from contact with the eye;

placing a second time an appliance adjacent to and in removable contact with the sclera and the tab; and

transferring from the second placed appliance to the interior of the eye through the tab a therapeutic agent impregnated in the appliance.

35 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising:

removing the appliance from contact with the eye;

re-impregnating the appliance with a therapeutic agent; and

replacing the re-impregnated appliance adjacent to and in removable contact with the sclera and the tab.

36 . A drug-delivering contact lens system for placement in an eye, comprising:

a removable lens body comprising therapeutic receiving domains;

a therapeutic agent impregnated into the therapeutic agent receiving domains;

a transport device implantable in the eye and capable of absorbing the therapeutic agent in a presence of the removable lens body external to the eye, and capable of delivering the therapeutic agent to an interior portion of the eye.

37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the removable lens body is removed after substantial absorbing of the therapeutic agent by the transport device.

38 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the receiving domains are too small to scatter visible light.

39 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the receiving domains comprise a hydrogel matrix.

40 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the hydrogel matrix comprises HEMA or a silicone material.

41 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the receiving domains are more hydrophobic than the hydrogel matrix.

42 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the lens body is formed of one of PEA, a polymer made through metathesis polymerization, and a polymer made by controlled free radical polymerization.

43 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the lens body is reloadable with a fresh aqueous solution containing the therapeutic agent.

44 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the transport device is correspondingly reloaded with the fresh aqueous solution containing the therapeutic agent.

45 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the transport device is implantable through the sclera of the eye.

46 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the removable lens body is configured to be placed on the cornea of the eye.