Equipment for production of intraocular lenses (iol)

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EQUIPMENT

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The set of equipment for the production of IOL from silicone compound consists of both general-purpose equipment (providing a clean room, thermal cabinets for curing, microscopes, spectrophotometer, dioptrimeter, radius meter, hand tools, etc.), and specialized equipment designed for this technology such as IOL curing moulds and vacuum surface modification unit. The technology allows to modify the surface of IOL in such a way that a molecular layer of a completely inert substance is formed on it. Therefore, no deposits are left on IOL and it is completely safe for patient's eye.

General-purpose equipment is publicly available and has many options depending on production level. Specialized equipment, vacuum surface modification unit in particular, is available.

Specialized equipment’s capacity is 32 lenses simultaneously. The installation and process management is based on modern hardware components which is makes it possible to duplicate the equipment.

The installation is equipped with visual monitors. An operator has only to load and unload IOL and execute visual control during initial and final operational cyclinstallation takes. All the processes within the cycle of operation of the unit are made automatically. The unit is powered by a single-phase 220 V.

IOL curing moulds are available. Moulds made of quartz glass and moulds made of stainless steel are designed to shape IOL and could be replicated.

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TECHNOLOGY

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Manufacturing procedure of making IOL from silicon material allows producing a wide range of products. These can be simple spherical IOL, multifocal IOL, aspheric IOL, phakic IOL for correction of high degree of myopia and hyperopia. In terms biocompatibility there is no critical difference in the manufacture of IOL of various kinds. The technological process is one for all of them. Only design of mould makes the difference.

The silicone compound for IOL production has a set of unique characteristics:

  • - excellent optical properties;
  • - natural absorption of the UV spectrum;
  • - simple moulding;
  • - long-term stability;
  • - density comparable to the density of intraocular fluid which provides the buoyancy of the lens;
  • - hydrophobic lens surface prevents the adhering to the natural lens of the eye (for phakic IOL).

The raw material for IOL production is a silicone compound with refraction index of 1.46. There are positive practical developments for 1.50 compound which allows the production of thinner IOL.

Manufacturing procedure consists of the following operations: pouring silicone compound into a mould for curing, thermal curing, extraction of IOL from the mould, accumulation and transfer of IOL into a vacuum surface modification unit, packaging and sterilization of IOL.

The curing mode is monitored one time when switching to a new batch of silicone compound which quality is also confirmed. Testing is made by spectroscopy of finished IOL.

The above specified manufacturing procedure has been repeatedly tested production conditions. Simple silicone IOL and phakic IOL made under the technology were used in the clinical practice of S.N. FEDOROV NMRC "MNTK "EYE MICROSURGERY" (Moscow and branches). The Act of IOL clinical trial is available.

Present set of equipment, technology and control methods at hand allows the production of biocompatible IOL from silicone compound to be started. Latest samples of IOL made in 2023 are available.

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CONTACTS

E-mail: pavlov@siliol.com