Artificial Intraocular Lenses―the Halcyon Years as Measured by Individual and Corporate Patentable Innovations

Purpose

To explore the contributions of individuals and corporate manufacturers to the design of artificial intraocular lenses (IOLs) conferred through patents.

Perspective

Historical review and analysis of IOL patents from 1950 through 2000.

Methods

The annual number of IOL patents granted to individuals and companies was obtained from an international database on intellectual property. Trends in patents issued in the United States and internationally were compared with lens use from 1950 through 2000. Patent trends were compared with lenses approved for commercial marketing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 1978 through 2000.

Results

From 1970 through 2000, the United States granted 855 patents for IOLs, far greater than the 316 patents issued internationally during the same period. Patents in the United States granted to individuals were merely 6% less than those issued to companies (404 vs 430); only 2.5% (21) were conferred to universities. Beginning in 1989, there was a marked shift in the number of patent rights to corporations rather than individuals.

Conclusions

Using patents as a surrogate for creativity in IOL development, the United States played a leading role in artificial lens design. Patents for IOLs first increased when the FDA was authorized to classify them as Class III medical devices, whereas the majority of ownerships shifted from individuals to companies after 1989. The near simultaneous rise in patentable lens innovations with IOL surgery maturating to the standard of care suggests both phenomena were products of earlier transformative events.