Folded intraocular lens, method of implanting folded intraocular lens

摘要

An intraocular lens is folded on itself one or more times and is releasably held in the folded configuration by a very small, flexible retainer so as to be implantable in an eye through a smaller incision than would otherwise be required. The retainer is secured around the folded lens in a transverse direction and is held taut by the resiliency of the lens. The retainer is released in the eye as by severing, following which the lens is unfolded and positioned in the eye and the retainer is removed. The technique is especially useful following removal of a cataract by the phako-emulsification technique, because the same small incisions can be used for implanting the lens.