Fluorosilicone-Silica Composite for Accommodating Intraocular Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intraocular lenses (IOLs) primarily designed for distance vision fail to correct presbyopia, and existing surgical procedures like LASIK do not effectively address this condition, leading to an unmet need for a solution that can accommodate near-to-far focus changes, especially in the growing aging population with cataracts and refractive errors.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric material comprising a fluorosilicone polymer and up to 30 weight % of a silica component with a surface area of at least 280 m2/g, which is optically clear and has a low Young's modulus, allowing it to respond to the eye's natural accommodative forces, is used in the fabrication of accommodating intraocular lenses to resist fluid diffusion and biological adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional IOL materials are used, then the lens maintains structural stability, but it cannot respond to the eye's natural accommodative forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material consisting of fluorosilicone polymer combined with silica particles (280-300 m²/g surface area). The fluorosilicone provides flexibility and responsiveness to accommodative forces, while the silica particles maintain structural stability and prevent protein adhesion, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the material parameters by controlling the silica particle surface area (280-300 m²/g) and fluorosilicone composition to achieve a specific Young's modulus range that allows both flexibility for accommodation and structural integrity, demonstrating parameter optimization to resolve the contradiction.
2Ease of manufacture
If hydrophilic materials are used, then the lens is easier to manufacture, but fluid diffusion degrades the lens characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The fluorosilicone polymer creates a hydrophobic environment that resists fluid diffusion and protein adhesion, protecting the lens material from degradation by aqueous humor and other biological fluids, thus maintaining reliability while allowing ease of manufacture through standard silicone processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The silica particles with high surface area (280-300 m²/g) create a controlled porous structure that provides hydrophobicity and resistance to fluid diffusion while maintaining optical clarity and manufacturability through established silicone rubber processing techniques.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional LASIK procedures are used, then myopia is corrected, but presbyopia cannot be treated
Solution Approach 1:
The accommodating IOL is designed to dynamically change its focal length in response to ciliary muscle contraction and zonular tension changes, enabling the lens to shift focus between near and far distances, thereby providing adaptability for presbyopia correction while maintaining surgical reliability through implantable stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The polymeric material effectively corrects presbyopia by allowing the intraocular lenses to change focus and maintain optical clarity, reducing the need for reading glasses and enhancing the range of accommodation, while preventing fluid and biological material diffusion, thus improving patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
the added hydrophobicity of the fluorosilicone polymer allows it to effectively resist diffusion of fluid from the eye
Implementation Method 2
has a sufficiently low Young's modulus such that it can effectively respond to the eye's natural accommodative forces
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates generally to a polymeric material for use in accommodating intraocular lenses for implantation in a lens chamber of a subject's eye. The present disclosure is directed to a polymeric material which comprises a fluorosilicone polymer and a silica component. The presently disclosed polymeric material is both optically clear and has a sufficiently low Young's modulus such that it can effectively respond to the eye's natural accommodative forces and thus can be used in accommodating intraocular lenses. When used in the fabrication of an intraocular lenses, the polymeric material disclosed herein protect the physical characteristics of the lens as the added hydrophobicity of the fluorosilicone polymer allows it to effectively resist diffusion of fluid from the eye and the adhesion of biologica materials.