Method and device for manipulation of an intraocular lens

Abstract

A method for charging a deformable intraocular lens into a receptacle through a slit or opening in the receptacle periphery, the lens in un-deformed state comprising a) a roughly disc shaped optic part configured to act as a lens when inserted into an eye and b) at least two elongated haptic legs, each leg having an inner end attached to the optic part, an outer end being free and intermediate points in between the inner end and the free end, each leg being curved in unstressed state and being flexible to at least a less curved configuration under stress. The method comprises the steps of i) stretching the legs to align the legs along a substantially straight line, ii) aligning or maintaining the substantially straight line over and substantially parallel with the slit or opening of the receptacle, and iii) transferring at least the two legs through the slit or opening into the receptacle. A device for stretching the haptics of a lens comprises i) at least two haptic guiding surfaces arranged for each of the at least two haptic legs, the guiding surfaces having less curvature than the legs in un-stressed state, ii) a seat for the lens arranged with respect to the guiding surfaces so as to allow, when a lens is positioned in the seat, contact between a first point on the leg and its guiding structure and iii) a lens guiding arrangement allowing the lens to be moved along a path bringing at least a second point on the leg into contact with, or closer to, its guiding structure or a transfer opening allowing passage of the lens with the haptics, having said less curvature, to a receptacle.