An Artificial Lens Capsule with a Lens Radial Stretching System Mimicking Dynamic Eye Focusing

Presbyopia is a common eye disorder among aged people which is attributed to the loss of accommodation of the crystalline lens due to the increasing stiffness. One of the potential techniques to correct presbyopia involves removing the lens substance inside the capsule and replacing it with an artificial lens. The development of such devices, e.g., accommodating intraocular lenses (AIOLs), relies on the understanding of the biomechanical behaviour of the lens capsule and the essential design verification ex vivo. To mimic the eye's dynamic focusing ability (accommodation), an artificial lens capsule (ALC), from silicone rubber accompanied by a lens radial stretching system (LRSS) was developed. The ALC was manufactured to offer a dimension and deforming behaviour replicating the human lens capsule. The LRSS was calibrated to provide a radial stretch simulating the change of diameter of capsules during accommodating process. The biomechanical function of the ALC was addressed by studying its evolution behaviour and reaction force under multiaxial stretch from the LRSS. The study highlighted the convenience of this application by performing preliminary tests on prototypes of ophthalmic devices (e.g., AIOLs) to restore accommodation.