Intraocular, accommodating lens and methods of use

1. An intraocular lens (IOL), the IOL comprising:

a shape changing optical element comprising an inner lens portion surrounded by an outer lens portion having a single, reduced thickness area located on an anterior surface surrounding the optical axis that is configured to outwardly bow upon application of a compressive force squeezing equatorial regions of the optical element together creating an accommodated shape, wherein the remainder of the outer lens portion has a thickness greater than the reduced thickness area and is resistant to reshaping under the compressive force; and

an accommodating element coupled to the shape changing optical element near the equatorial regions, the accommodating element comprising:

(i) at least one force transmitting element; and

(ii) a plurality of spaced apart contacting elements

wherein the accommodating element is configured to cooperate with the ciliary muscle of the mammalian eye to transmit the compressive force to the optical element.

2. The IOL of claim 1 , wherein the accommodating element is configured and positioned relative to the optical element to increase the compressive force transmitted to the optical element.

3. The IOL of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart contacting elements is orange slice shaped.

4. The IOL of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart contacting elements is a resilient bag.

5. The IOL of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart contacting elements is a resilient filament framework.

6. The IOL of claim 1 , wherein an equatorial groove is circumferentially defined in each of the plurality of spaced apart contacting elements and wherein the accommodating element further comprises a capsular tensioning ring disposed within the equatorial groove.

7. The IOL of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart contacting elements further comprises an interior wall, posterior wall and an anterior wall to define an interior central chamber, the anterior wall comprised of material having a lower Young's modulus than interior wall and the posterior wall, wherein the interior chamber is configured to cooperate with the force transmitting element to effect accommodating and disaccommodating movement of the anterior wall.

8. The IOL of claim 1 , wherein the accommodating element has an elastic modulus greater than the elastic modulus of the optical element.

9. An intraocular lens (IOL) comprising:

a shape changing optical element comprising:

(i) an inner lens portion;

(ii) an outer lens body encompassing the inner lens portion and having a single, reduced thickness area located on an anterior surface surrounding the optical axis of an eye, wherein the remainder of the outer lens body has a thickness greater than the reduced thickness area and is resistant to reshaping under a compressive force; and

(iii) a first equatorial region and a second equatorial region; and

an accommodating element disposed between and circumferentially about the optical element, the accommodating element comprising:

(i) a first arcuate contacting element;

(ii) a first force transmitting element coupled to the first arcuate contacting element at a first end and coupled to the first equatorial region of the shape changing optical element at a second end;

(iii) a second arcuate contacting element;

(iv) a second force transmitting element coupled to the second arcuate contacting element at a first end and coupled to the second equatorial region of the shape changing optical element at a second end;

wherein the accommodating element is configured to transmit the compressive force applied radially inward to the optical element in cooperation with the ciliary muscle of the mammalian eye, and

wherein the compressive force is transmitted from the first and second arcuate contacting elements through the first and second force transmitting elements to squeeze the first equatorial region and the second equatorial region together causing the reduced thickness area to outwardly bow creating an accommodated shape change.

10. The IOL of claim 9 , wherein the first and second force transmitting elements are medially disposed force transmitting elements connecting the accommodating element to the optical element, the force transmitting elements configured and positioned relative to the accommodating element and the optical element to transmit radially the compressive force to the optical element.

11. The IOL of claim 10 , wherein the accommodating element is configured and positioned relative to the optical element to increase the compressive force provided to the optical element.

12. The IOL of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second contacting elements is orange slice shaped.

13. The IOL of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second contacting elements is selected from the group of a resilient bag and a resilient filament framework.

14. The IOL of claim 9 , wherein an equatorial groove is circumferentially defined in each of the contacting elements and wherein the accommodating element further comprises a capsular tensioning ring disposed within the equatorial groove.

15. The IOL of claim 9 , wherein the accommodating element further comprises an interior wall, posterior wall and an anterior wall to define an interior central chamber, the anterior wall comprised of material having a lower Young's modulus than the interior wall and the posterior wall, wherein the interior chamber is configured to cooperate with the contacting elements to effect the compressive force.