Small Diameter Inlays

Abstract

Provided herein are small diameter inlays for correcting vision impairments by altering the shape of the anterior corneal surface. In an embodiment, inlays having diameters smaller than the pupil are provided for correcting presbyopia. To provide near vision, an inlay is implanted centrally in the cornea to induce an “effective” zone on the anterior corneal surface, within which diopter power is increased. Distance vision is provided by a region of the cornea peripheral to the “effect” zone. In another embodiment, small diameter inlays are provided that induce effective optical zones on the anterior corneal surface that are much larger in diameter than the inlays. The increase in the effective optical zone, due at least in part to a draping effect, allows an inlay to produce a much larger clinical effect on a patient's vision than the diameter of the inlay.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cornea showing an intracorneal inlay implanted in the cornea according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an eye illustrating the use of a small diameter inlay to provide near vision according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cornea showing an inlay implanted in the cornea and a change in the anterior corneal surface induced by the, inlay including a drape region according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates various possible shapes for the drape region.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cornea showing a thickness profile for providing a desired refractive correction according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a 3D topographic difference map showing the change in the anterior corneal surface induced by an inlay according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows an average radial elevation profile induced by an inlay according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a contour map of the refractive change induced by an inlay according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for treating presbyopia using an intracorneal inlay, comprising: altering the shape of the anterior surface of a cornea to correct near vision by implanting the inlay in the cornea, wherein the inlay has a diameter of approximately 2.5 mm or less, and distance vision is provided by a region of the cornea peripheral to an area of the anterior surface affected by the inlay.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inlay has an index of refraction substantially equal to the index of refraction of the cornea.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inlay has an index of refraction higher than the index of refraction of the cornea.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inlay is implanted at a depth of 50% or less of the cornea.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inlay is implanted at a depth of 25% or less of the cornea.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a curvature of an anterior surface of the inlay is higher than the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to implantation of the inlay, performing a corrective procedure on the cornea to correct distance vision.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the corrective procedure to correct distance vision comprises a LASIK procedure.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: cutting a flap in the cornea during the LASIK procedure; andafter the LASIK procedure, reopening the flap and implanting the inlay beneath the flap.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a corrective procedure to correct distance vision concurrently with implantation of the inlay.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the corrective procedure to correct distance vision comprises a LASIK procedure.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: cutting a flap in the cornea during the LASIK procedure; andimplanting the inlay beneath the flap.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the inlay has a diameter of approximately 2 mm or less.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the inlay has a diameter of approximately 1.5 mm or less.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: cutting a flap in the cornea;lifting the flap to expose an interior of the cornea;placing the inlay in the interior of the cornea; andrepositioning the flap over the inlay.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: cutting a pocket in an interior of the cornea; andplacing the inlay in the pocket.

17. A method for correcting visional impairment, comprising: implanting an inlay having a diameter in a cornea, wherein the inlay produces an effective optical zone on the anterior surface of the cornea having a diameter greater than the diameter of the inlay.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the effective optical zone is at least 1.5 times greater than the diameter of the inlay.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the effective optical zone is at least two times greater than the diameter of the inlay.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the inlay increases the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, and an area of increased curvature has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inlay.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the area of increased curvature has a diameter at least 1.5 times greater than the diameter of the inlay.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the area of increased curvature has a diameter at least 2 times greater than the diameter of the inlay.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 4 mm.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 3 mm.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is in the range of 1.5 mm to 2 mm.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 1.5 mm.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 4 mm and the effective optical zone is 8 mm or less.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 3 mm and the effective optical zone is in the range of about 6 mm to 8 mm.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay in the range of 1.5 mm to 2 mm and the effective optical zone is in the range of about 4 mm to 5 mm.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 1.5 mm and the effective optical zone is in the range of about 2 mm to 4 mm.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 1 mm.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than 1 mm and the effective optical zone is in the range of about 2 mm to 4 mm.

33. The method of claim 17, wherein the center thickness of the inlay is less than 50 μm.

34. The method of claim 17, wherein the inlay is implanted in the cornea at a depth of 250 μm.

35. The method of claim 17, wherein the inlay is implanted in the cornea at a depth of 170 μm.

36. The method of claim 17, wherein the refractive index of the inlay is in the range of about 1.33 to 1.55.