Search

EP-4041130-B1 - INTRAOCULAR LENS HAVING A TARGET BENDING POINT ON THE HAPTIC

EP4041130B1EP 4041130 B1EP4041130 B1EP 4041130B1EP-4041130-B1

Inventors

  • Sutter, Florian

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20201110

Claims (6)

  1. Intraocular lens (1, 11) as an implant for replacing a natural lens in the capsular bag of an eye, comprising: • a lens body (2, 12) for forming the central optical lens, which has an optical axis (OA), • a haptic device (3, 13) attached to the edge of the lens body (2, 12), for fixing the intraocular lens (1, 11) in the capsular bag and/or for stretching the capsular bag and/or for centring the lens body (2, 12) in the capsular bag, • wherein the haptic device (3, 13) lies in a bearing plane (E) which is perpendicular to the optical axis (OA) of the lens body (2, 12), • wherein the haptic device (3, 13) comprises at least one at least partially arcuate holding element (4, 14), • wherein the at least one holding element (4, 14) has at least one predetermined bending point (5, 15, 16), wherein the predetermined bending point or several predetermined bending points (15, 16) on at least one of the holding elements (14) is/are designed as a recess with a smooth edge profile, and wherein the predetermined bending point is designed as a material cutout and as a weakening at one location in the region of the width of the holding element, in order to more easily yield during insertion into the capsular bag and to bend in the bearing plane, characterized in that the width of the predetermined bending point (5, 15, 16) in the bearing plane (E) is less than the thickness in the direction of the optical axis (OA), wherein all of the holding elements (4, 14) are designed as C-haptics and both sides of the predetermined bending point (5, 15, 16) are adjoined by a region whose width in the bearing plane (E) is at least as great as, in particular greater than, the thickness of the corresponding holding element (4, 14) in the direction of the optical axis (OA).
  2. Intraocular lens (1, 11) according to Claim 1, characterized in that : • the haptic device (3, 13) comprises two or more holding elements, and/or • the holding elements (4, 14) are arranged curved in the same direction.
  3. Intraocular lens (1, 11) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding elements (4, 14) around the lens body (2, 12): • are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a line in the bearing plane (E) perpendicular to the optical axis (OA), and/or • are arranged, in the bearing plane (E), at the same angular intervals with respect to the centre of the lens body (2, 12).
  4. Intraocular lens (1, 11) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess of the at least one predetermined bending point (5, 15, 16) is designed open.
  5. Intraocular lens (1, 11) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess of the at least one predetermined bending point (5, 15, 16) is arranged on the inner side of the respective arcuate holding element (4, 14).
  6. Intraocular lens (1, 11) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that • the lens body (2, 12) and/or the envelope of the lens body and also the haptic device (3, 13) are produced in one piece and/or from the same material.

Description

The invention relates to an intraocular lens as an implant for replacing a natural lens in the capsular bag of an eye according to the preamble of claim 1. Various designs of intraocular lenses are known from the prior art, for example from the CN 207136934 U or the US 2019/183632 A1 . The object of the invention is to provide an intraocular lens that enables better and safer positioning of the optical lens during insertion. Starting from an intraocular lens of the type mentioned above, the problem is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1. The measures mentioned in the dependent claims make advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention possible. Typically, the intraocular lens according to the invention can be used in cases of diseases, age-related conditions, or the like, where the natural lens in the eye, more precisely, in the capsular bag, needs to be replaced because it has become cloudy, for example, as a result of cataracts. The cloudy lens can be removed from the capsular bag through an access point via the cornea or the sclera. The capsular bag itself is attached to the zonular fibers, which in turn, it is attached to the ciliary muscle. The intraocular lens is inserted into the capsular bag whenever possible. The intraocular lens according to the invention is held and centered within the capsular bag. It initially comprises, as its optical part, a lens body to form the central optical lens. Accordingly, the optical lens has an optical axis, i.e., an axis of symmetry of the lens, which itself represents a substantially rotationally symmetric, toric, or multifocal optical system. At the edge of the lens body of the intraocular lens according to the invention, a so-called haptic or haptic device is attached, which fixes the lens in the capsular bag. It is designed in such a way that it slightly stretches the capsular bag and centers the lens within it, thus making subsequent slippage of the lens more difficult and enabling the desired optical image. The haptic device lies in a mounting plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens body. In the present case, the device has at least one retaining element that is at least partially arcuate. This can be an arm projecting radially from the lens, or one that curves slightly outwards. It is also conceivable that closed geometric shapes such as rings or the like could be used as retaining elements. This arm or retaining element is fundamentally flexible and also possesses a certain degree of elasticity; that is, the entire intraocular lens (haptic with lens body) can, due to its flexibility, be easily inserted into the eye even through narrow openings, for example, by rolling the lens up. The lens can also readily adapt to the geometric conditions within the eye. Adjusting the lens capsule. Due to a certain elasticity, the haptic device presses against the lens capsule, tensioning it laterally in the bearing plane and slightly stretching it. This force between the edge of the lens capsule and the haptic device simultaneously stretches the lens body and holds it in a fixed position within the lens capsule, preventing it from shifting. This ensures optimal optical centering. The intraocular lens according to the invention is characterized in that the mounting element has at least one predetermined bending point, the width of which in the bearing plane is less than the thickness in the direction of the optical axis. In order for a force to be exerted on the lens body via the mounting element, thus fixing and centering it, it is advantageous that the total diameter of the intraocular lens, including the haptic device, is slightly larger in the non-implanted case than the diameter of the capsular bag after removal of the natural lens. This allows the haptic device or the mounting elements to be easily compressed radially or towards the optical axis, and their elasticity to exert a force on the capsular bag or on the lens body, thus holding it in its position. When the retaining elements are pressed radially inwards towards the optical axis during insertion into the lens capsule, they will generally bend at the point of least mechanical resistance. With conventional intraocular lenses of the prior art, the force acting radially towards the lens body during insertion into the lens capsule can overstress the elasticity of the retaining elements, causing them to bend. This can cause the lens to buckle, resulting in one or both of the lens elements yielding, for example, in the direction of the optical axis/perpendicular to the mounting plane, and tilting out of the plane in this direction. As a direct consequence, the lens body, or rather its optical axis, is also tilted relative to the eye's optical axis. This means that the implanted conventional lens does not provide the desired optical image, which impairs visual acuity without additional optical correction (glasses or contact lenses). In practice, it is observed that the