Method and device for folding and introducing an implant, made of a soft plastic, of a biconvex or plano-convex lens with lateral plastic haptic plates

摘要

The present invention "method and device for folding and introducing an implant, made of a soft plastic, of a biconvex or plano-convex lens with lateral plastic haptic plates" permits symmetrical folding of the lens about its central longitudinal axis to a small dimension and introduction of the lens folded in this way into an opening arranged for eye operations. The invention proposes a simple, reliable method for handling the lens implant and a device which can be used for this purpose. In contrast to the problematical handling of conventional folding forceps, the implant is centrically guided on a groove-like or sleeve-shaped longitudinal guide in a lubricating liquid under an oblong, plate-like folded web which is thin in comparison with its width. As a result of lateral narrowing of the spacing between the wall of the longitudinal guide and the folded web, the two portions of the lens and the haptic plates located opposite each other on the sides of the lens axis are bent toward one another until they are ultimately folded together at the end of the folded web by the constantly narrowing regions between the lateral wall of the longitudinal guide and the folded web. With release from the folded web the folded implant can then be pushed together with the lubricating liquid from the housing opening into the eye opening provided for the operation.