WO2001021352A1

WO2001021352A1 - Apparatus and method for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens

Info

Publication number: WO2001021352A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/001140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Combe
Original assignee: The Fred Hollows Foundation
Priority date: 1999-09-22
Filing date: 2000-09-20
Publication date: 2001-03-29
Also published as: AUPQ302299A0

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens blank. The apparatus (10) includes at least one lathe (12, 14) having a chuck (19, 23) with an opening (62, 72) and/or a milling machine having a milling nest (82) with an opening (84). The lens blank is held adjacent the chuck(s) (19, 23) and/or milling nest (82) by a vacuum applied to the opening (62, 72, 84) of same. A method for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens blank that includes the step of retaining said blank adjacent the chuck(s) (19, 23) and/or milling nest (82) by applying a vacuum to the opening (62, 72, 84) of same and a first cut lens (98) of an IOL with an annular strengthening rim (104) about its periphery are also disclosed.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING AN

INTRAOCULAR LENS

Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL).

Background of the Invention

The use of IOL's in treating cataract blindness is well known. IOL's are made from perspex material and consist of an internal circular lens, known as an optic, with two curved locating arms, known as haptics, extending from opposing sides of the optic. The haptics locate the optic in the centre of the eye.

IOL's are manufactured from cylindrical perspex lens blanks. A first lathe cuts one side of the lens blank to form the posterior surface of the optic and produces what is know as a 'first cut lens'. A second lathe cuts the other side of the lens to form the anterior surface of the optic and produces what is know as a 'second cut lens'. A milling machine then removes sections of the second cut lens external to the optic in order to leave the haptics. The machined IOL's are then polished.

Hitherto, the lens blanks and the first and second cut lenses are attached to an arbour by wax and the arbours are inserted into the collets of the first and second lathes and the milling nest of the milling machine.

Operators must manually attach the lens blank and cut lenses to the arbours using water-soluble wax. Known arbours only give 0.010 mm of engagement along the periphery of the lens blank. This, along with other factors such as operator error and/or variable wax pressure, often leads to misalignment of the lens blank on the arbour, leading to 10 to 25% of lenses being rejected for not complying with product tolerances.

The wax composition also has physico chemical and thermodynamic properties that cause variation in the process and inconsistent adhesion force which can lead to the blank separating from the arbour during the machining processes. The wax viscosity can also vary over time and create air pockets at the arbour/lens blank interface, leading to a reduction in adhesion force and separation. Alternatively, a reduction in wax viscosity can lead to bleeding of wax through the arbour/lens blank interface.

The manufacturing method associated with the wax mounting process is time- consuming and labor-intensive. Firstly, wax is used to mount the blanks to a first cut arbour for performing the first lathe cut. The first cut lenses must then be separated from the arbour and both the lenses and the arbour cleaned. The first cut lenses are then similarly mounted to a second cut arbour for the second lathe cut and the milling cut. The second cut lenses must also be separated from the second cut arbour and both the lenses and the arbour cleaned. This method currently has a cycle time of about 6 minutes and requires 3 operators.

Because the current arbour/lens blank attachment method is a time consuming process, the standard practice is to attach a batch of lens blanks to the arbours, to enable a relatively smooth production flow to occur. This requires large quantities of arbours to be held in stock and used as work in process (WIP). Apart from the cost of having all these parts on hand, there is also the associated logistics of controlling and moving a physically large batch. A batch of 100 "blocked" arbours weighs approximately 6 kg and takes up a volume of 12,500 cc, whereas the lens blanks weigh approximately 0.5 kg and occupy a volume of 75 cc. The large quantity of arbours also introduces another variable into the manufacturing process, arising from the variation in the manufacture of these arbours. Not only is the dimensional variation important, it has also been observed that arbours may not be dynamically balanced and thus affect the image quality (resolution and astigmatism) of the resultant IOL. The wax mounting process also requires a number of ancillary machines and parts including a controlled temperature bath, specialised racks to submerge the arbours in the bath during removal of the wax, a wax liquefying dispenser, first and second cut arbours, first cut mounting station and WIP arbour mounting trays. All of these ancillary items consume valuable space in the production area, which is a sterile, class 10,000, clean room (AS 1386).

It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens blank, the apparatus including: at least one lathe having a chuck with an opening and/or a milling machine having a milling nest with an opening, wherein said blank is held adjacent the chuck(s) and/or milling nest by a vacuum applied to the opening of same.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes: at least one lathe having a chuck with chuck vacuum means, for cutting sides of the lens blank to form optic posterior and anterior surfaces; and a milling machine having a milling nest with a milling nest vacuum means, for removing sections of the cut lens blank external to its optic to form haptics. In a more preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes: a first lathe having a first chuck with first chuck vacuum means, for cutting a first side of the lens blank to form the posterior surface of its optic, resulting in a first cut lens; a second lathe having a second chuck with second chuck vacuum means, for cutting a second side of the first cut lens to form the anterior surface of the optic, resulting in a second cut lens; and a milling machine having a milling nest with a milling nest vacuum means, for removing sections of the second cut lens external to the optic to form haptics.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a first autoloader adapted to position one of a plurality of lens blanks adjacent the opening of the first chuck. The first autoloader preferably has at least one channel for retaining the plurality of lens blanks. The first autoloader desirably also has a first plunger and a first plunger vacuum means to retain the lens blanks adjacent to the first plunger.

Preferably, one or both of the first plunger and the first chuck are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the lens blank for positioning the lens blank adjacent the first chuck, whereby transfer of the lens blank to the first chuck is effected by substantially simultaneous switching off the first plunger vacuum means and switching on of the first chuck vacuum means.

Preferably also, one or both of the first and second chucks are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the first cut lens for transferring the first cut lens to the second chuck, whereby transfer of the first cut lens is effected by substantially simultaneous switching off of the first chuck vacuum means and switching on of a second chuck vacuum means.

Desirably, one or both of the second chuck and milling nest are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the second cut lens for transferring the second cut lens to the milling nest, whereby transfer of the second cut lens is effect by substantially simultaneous switching off of the second chuck vacuum means and switching on of a milling nest vacuum means. Alternatively, the apparatus desirably includes a second autoloader adapted to position one of a plurality of the second cut lenses adjacent to the opening of the milling nest. The second autoloader preferably has at least one channel for retaining the plurality of second cut lenses. The second autoloader desirably also has a second plunger and a second plunger vacuum means to retain the second cut lens adjacent to the second plunger.

Desirably, one or both of the second plunger and the milling nest are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the second cut lens for transferring the second cut to the milling nest, whereby transfer of the second cut lens is effected by simultaneous switching off of the second plunger vacuum means and switching on of the milling nest vacuum means.

Preferably, the first chuck includes an o-ring adjacent and around the first chuck opening to assist in the vacuum retention of the lens blank.

Preferably also, the first cut lens includes an annular ring adjacent a periphery thereof and the second chuck includes a tacky material adjacent and around the second chuck opening to engage the annular ring and assist in the mounting of the first cut lens. Advantageously, the annular ring tapers inwardly from the periphery of the first cut lens toward a central section thereof and the tacky material includes a corresponding taper for engaging the taper of the annular ring. Preferably, the milling nest vacuum means engages the optic and the milling nest further includes a blower in communication with the periphery of the optic to assist in removing the cut sections between the haptic and the optic.

The milling nest desirably includes a movable clamp which is adapted to engage the periphery of the second cut lens to assist in keeping the second cut lens in position. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens blank using at least one lathe having a chuck with an opening and/or milling machine having a milling nest with an opening, the method including: retaining said blank adjacent the chuck(s) and/or milling nest by applying a vacuum to the opening of same.

Preferably, the at least one lathe has a chuck and a chuck vacuum means and said milling machine has a milling nest and a milling nest vacuum means, and the method further comprises: retaining said blank adjacent said at least one lathe with said chuck vacuum means and cutting sides of the lens blank to form optic posterior and anterior surfaces; and retaining said first cut lens adjacent said milling nest with said milling nest vacuum means and removing sections of the cut lens blank external to its optic to form haptics.

Desirably, the apparatus comprises a first lathe with a first chuck and a first chuck vacuum means, a second lathe with a second chuck and a second chuck vacuum means and said milling machine has a milling nest with a milling nest vacuum means, and the method further comprises: retaining said blank adjacent said first lathe with said first chuck vacuum means and cutting a first side of the lens blank to form a first cut lens; retaining said first cut lens adjacent said second lathe with said second chuck vacuum means and cutting a second side of the first cut lens to form a second cut lens; and retaining said second cut lens adjacent said milling nest with said milling nest vacuum means and removing sections of the second cut lens external to the optic to form haptics.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a first cut lens of an IOL, wherein the first cut lens includes an annular strengthening rim about its periphery. The rim preferably has a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of the apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an autoloader used with the apparatus of Fig. 1 or with the milling nest of Fig. 5; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a first cut chuck used with the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a second cut chuck used with the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a milling nest used with a milling machine; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a preferred embodiment of a first cut lens;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a preferred embodiment of a second cut lens;

Fig. 8a is a front view of an IOL; Fig. 8b is a side view of the IOL shown in Fig. 8a; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a milling nest used with a milling machine.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 shows partially a preferred embodiment of an apparatus 10 for manufacturing an IOL according to the invention. The apparatus 10 includes a first cut lathe 12, a second cut lathe 14 and an autoloader 16, which are mounted on a base 17. The first cut lathe 12 includes a first spindle 18, a first chuck 19 attached to an end of the first spindle 18 and a first tool holder 20. Similarly, the second cut lathe 14 includes a second spindle 22, a second chuck 23 attached to an end of the second spindle 22 and a second tool holder 24. The first and second spindles 18 and 22 are movable along a first axis 26 and a second axis 28, which is perpendicular to the first axis 26. The first and second tool holders 20 and 24 are extendable and retractable along a third axis 30 and rotatable about an axis 32, relative to the first and second chucks 19 and 23. A computer 34 controls the first and second lathes 12 and 14 and autoloader 16, using a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) system. The programming and use of CNC systems are well known.

Fig. 2 shows an autoloader 16, which includes a body 40 and a base 41. The body 40 includes two body members 42, each having a channel 44 formed therein. The channels 44 face each other and are separated to define a retaining slot 45 therebetween. The retaining slot 45 holds a plurality of vertically stacked lens blanks or second cut lenses in edge-to-edge fashion. A plunger 50 is disposed adjacent a bottom end 43 of the retaining slot 45, and is extendable and retractable along an axis 54. The plunger 50 has an opening 52 in communication with a vacuum connector (not shown). A vacuum source (not shown) is connected to the vacuum connector to produce a vacuum at the opening 52 of the plunger 50. Locating discs 46 and flexible flaps 48 are arranged adjacent the bottom end 43 for retaining the lowermost of the vertically stacked lens blanks or second cut lenses in a position adjacent the plunger 50.

Fig. 3 shows a first chuck 19 of the first cut lathe 12. The first chuck 19 includes a first chuck body 60 having a bore 64 therethrough. An opening 62 is formed at one end other end 63 of the first chuck body 60 is connected to a vacuum source (not shown) to produce a vacuum at the opening 62 via the bore 64. An o-ring 66 is disposed adjacent and around the opening 62.

Fig. 4 shows a second chuck 23 of the second cut lathe 14. The second chuck 23 is similar in construction to the first chuck 19 shown in Fig. 3. The second chuck 23 includes a second chuck body 70 having a bore 76 therethrough. An opening 72 is formed at one end 71 of the second chuck body 70, which is in fluid communication with the bore 76. The other end 73 of the second chuck body 70 is connected to a second chuck vacuum source (not shown) to similarly produce a vacuum at the opening 72 via the bore 76. The opening 72 includes an elastomeric insert 78 formed from a "tacky" material, such as 3M's vinyl polysiloxane hydrophilic impression material. This material has proved effective for about 5000 manufacturing cycles. The insert 78 has an annular taper 80 formed at the periphery thereof, the purpose of which will be explained below. Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a milling nest 80, which includes a milling nest body 82. One side of the milling nest body 82 includes a first opening 84 and a second opening 86 concentric with, and smaller than, the first opening 84. The second opening 86 is in communication with a vacuum source (not shown) via a vacuum connector 92 to produce a vacuum at the second opening 86. An o-ring 85 is disposed adjacent and around the periphery of the second opening 86. The nest body 82 also includes apertures 88 formed external the periphery of second opening 86. The apertures 88 are connected to an air supply means (not shown) via a connector 90. The milling nest 80 also includes a movable second cut lens clamp 94. The milling nest body 82 is rotatable in the anticlockwise direction indicated by arrow 93.

The operation of the apparatus 10 will now be described. Firstly, a plurality of 18 mm diameter lens blanks are manually inserted into the retaining slot 45 of the autoloader 16. The lowermost lens blank is positioned adjacent the plunger 50. An operator then starts the machining sequence which causes the first spindle 18 to move along the first axis 26 until the first chuck 19 is in alignment with the plunger 50 of the autoloader 16. The plunger vacuum source then supplies a vacuum to the plunger opening 52 to attract and engage the lowermost lens blank thereto. The plunger 50 then advances the lens blank toward the first chuck 19, until the lens blank is positioned adjacent the first chuck 19. The lens blank is transferred to the first chuck 19 by the simultaneous switching off of the first plunger vacuum source and switching on of the first chuck vacuum source. The o-ring 66 in the first chuck 19 assists in the sealing, gripping and vacuum retention of the lens blank. The first spindle 18 then moves to the machining position shown in Fig. 1 and the first lathe 12 cuts a first (posterior) side of the lens blank to form a first cut lens 98, as shown in Figure 6.

The first cut lens 98 includes a posterior surface 106 of an optic 105 and a strengthening rim 104 around the periphery 110 of the first cut lens 98. The rim 104 includes a tapered portion 108 from the periphery 110 towards the optic 105.

After the first cut is performed, the first and second spindles 18 and 22 move toward each other along the first axis 26 until they are in alignment with each other. The first and second spindles 18 and 22 then move toward each other along the second axis 28 until the first and second chucks 19 and 23 are in adjacent opposing positions either side of the first cut lens 98. The first cut lens 98 is then transferred from the first chuck 19 to the second chuck 23 by the simultaneous switching off of the first chuck vacuum source and switching on of the second chuck vacuum source.

The first spindle 18 then returns to a position opposite the autoloader 16 for the first chuck 19 to receive another lens blank from same. The second spindle 22 moves to the machining positions shown in Fig. 1 and the second lathe 14 cuts the second (anterior) side 112 of the first cut lens 98 to form a second cut lens 120, as shown in Figure 7. The second cut lens 120 includes an anterior surface 114 of the optic 105.

Machining the anterior surface of the first cut lens 98 to form the second cut lens

120 reduces the thickness of the first cut lens 98. The strengthening rim 104 allows the anterior surface of the first cut lens 98 to be machined without the vacuum causing flexure in the thinning first cut lens as it nears completion into the second cut lens 120.

The taper 80 of the insert 78 corresponds to the taper 108 of the first cut lens 98 which assists in the sealing, gripping and vacuum retention of the first cut lens 98.

After the second cut is performed, the second spindle 22 moves towards the centre of the base 17 along the first axis 26. The second chuck vacuum source is then turned off and a gentle puff of air is pumped through the opening 72 to blow the second cut lens 120 off the second chuck 23 and into a collecting tray (not shown). The second spindle 22 then moves to the first spindle 18 for the second chuck 23 to receive the next first cut lens 98 to continue the cycle described above. A milling machine (not shown) is used to perform a milling cut to form the haptics. The milling machine is controlled by the same CNC system as the first and second lathes 12 and 14.

The second cut lenses 120 are stacked in a second autoloader (not shown) similar to the first autoloader shown in Fig. 2. When the CNC system initiates the milling machine, the second autoloader plunger engages, again by vacuum, the lowermost second cut lens in the retaining slot and pushes the second cut lens toward the milling nest 80, see

Fig. 5. The transfer from the second plunger to the milling nest 80 is effected by the simultaneous switching off of the second plunger vacuum source and switching on of the milling nest vacuum source. The o-ring 85 adjacent the second opening 86 of the milling nest assists in sealing, gripping and vacuum retention of the second cut lens 120.

The milling nest body 82 then rotates by 90 degrees so that the second cut lens

120 is held in position under the cutting head (not shown) of the milling machine. The clamp 94 passes a detent ball (not shown) at this position, which drives the clamp 94 into a position engaging the periphery 110 of the second cut lens 120, to assist in holding the second cut lens 120 in position. The milling machine then moves down along the vertical axis until the milling tool penetrates the second cut lens 120 and proceeds to remove sections of the second cut lens 120 external to the optic 105 to leave haptics 125 of the IOL 130, as shown in Figs. 8a and 8b. The milling nest body 82 then rotates another 90 degrees in the same direction where air is supplied to the apertures 88 external the periphery of the second opening 86 to remove the cut sections between the haptic 125 and the optic 105. The milling nest body 82 rotates a further 90 degrees, where the vacuum source to the second opening 86 is remove and a gentle puff of air is used to blow the IOL 130 off the body 82 into a collection tray (not shown). The milling nest body 82 completes its cycle by rotating a further 90 degrees to be in a position ready to accept the next second cut lens 120 from the second autoloader.

The machined IOL's are then completed by polishing.

A vacuum of about 630 mm Hg has been found to be suitable for retaining the lens blanks/cut lenses adjacent the plunger, chucks and milling nest.

The CNC system controls the operation cycle of the apparatus 10, which includes movement of the first and second lathes 12 and 14, the first autoloader 16 and the second autoloader, the milling nest 80, the milling machine, as well as the supply of vacuum or positive pressure air to the various parts of the apparatus 10, as required.

In an alternative embodiment, the second spindle 22 and milling nest 80 are movable such that the second chuck 23 and the milling nest 80 are in opposing positions either side of the second cut lens 120 and the second cut lens 120 is transferred directly from the second chuck 23 to the milling nest 80. Transfer of the second cut lens 120 from the second chuck 23 to the milling nest 80 can be effected by the simultaneous switching off of the second chuck vacuum source and switching on of the milling nest vacuum source. The second autoloader and loading thereof is not required in this embodiment. Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of milling nest 140. The milling nest 140 is identical to the nest 80 shown in Fig 5 (and like reference numerals are used to indicate like feaures), except for the addition of a further clamping device 142 which assists in holding the second cut lens after the milling operation has commenced. The device 142 provides additional torsional restraint during the milling process.

The present invention provides a number of advantages over the prior art. Firstly, the use of vacuums to retain the lens blanks/cut lenses adjacent the plungers, chucks and milling nest has eliminated the need for arbours and the complicated wax mounting process. This results in less ancilliary parts being required and reduces the amount of consumables required and occupied floor space. Secondly, the process substantially eliminates operator errors and inaccurately machined arbours which has reduced the number of rejected (out of tolerance) lenses from 10 to 25% to less than 1% in trial runs. Thirdly, automation of the process has reduced the manufacturing cycle time from about 6 minutes to about 2 minutes and the number of operators from 3 to 1. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications to the embodiment shown can be made.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens blank, the apparatus including: at least one lathe having a chuck with an opening and/or a milling machine having a milling nest with an opening, wherein said lens blank is held adjacent the chuck(s) and/or milling nest by a vacuum applied to the opening of same.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one lathe has a chuck vacuum means, for cutting sides of the lens blank to form optic posterior and anterior surfaces; and said milling machine has a milling nest with a milling nest vacuum means, for removing sections of the cut lens blank external to its optic to form haptics.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes: a first lathe having a first chuck with a first chuck vacuum means, for cutting a first side of said lens blank to form the posterior surface of its optic, resulting in a first cut lens; a second lathe having a second chuck with a second chuck vacuum means, for cutting a second side of said first cut lens to form the anterior surface of the optic, resulting in a second cut lens; and said milling machine has a milling nest with a milling nest vacuum means, for removing sections of the second cut lens external to the optic to form haptics.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the apparatus includes a first autoloader adapted to position one of a plurality of said lens blanks adjacent the opening of the first chuck.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first autoloader has at least one channel for retaining the plurality of lens blanks.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first autoloader includes a first plunger and a first plunger vacuum means to retain the lens blanks adjacent to the first plunger.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein one or both of the first plunger and the first chuck are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the lens blank for positioning the lens blank adjacent the first chuck, whereby transfer of the lens blank to the first chuck is effected by substantially simultaneous switching off the first plunger vacuum means and switching on of the first chuck vacuum means.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein one or both of the first and second chucks are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the first cut lens for transferring the first cut lens to the second chuck, whereby transfer of the first cut lens is effected by substantially simultaneous switching off of the first chuck vacuum means and switching on of a second chuck vacuum means.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein one or both of the second chuck and milling nest are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the second cut lens for transferring the second cut lens to the milling nest, whereby transfer of the second cut lens is effect by substantially simultaneous switching off of the second chuck vacuum means and switching on of a milling nest vacuum means.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the apparatus includes a second autoloader adapted to position one of a plurality of the second cut lenses adjacent to the opening of the milling nest.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second autoloader includes at least one channel for retaining the plurality of second cut lenses.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second autoloader includes a second plunger and a second plunger vacuum means to retain the second cut lens adjacent to the second plunger.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein one or both of the second plunger and the milling nest are adapted for relative movement into adjacent opposing positions either side of the second cut lens for transferring the second cut to the milling nest, whereby transfer of the second cut lens is effected by simultaneous switching off of the second plunger vacuum means and switching on of the milling nest vacuum means.

14. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 13, wherein the first chuck includes an o-ring adjacent and around the first chuck opening to assist in the vacuum retention of the lens blank.

15. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 14, wherein the first cut lens includes an annular ring adjacent a periphery thereof and the second chuck includes a tacky material adjacent and around the second chuck opening to engage the annular ring and assist in the mounting of the first cut lens.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the annular ring tapers inwardly from the periphery of the first cut lens toward a central section thereof and the tacky material includes a corresponding taper for engaging the taper of the annular ring.

17. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 16, wherein the milling nest vacuum means engages the optic and the milling nest further includes a blower in communication with the periphery of the optic to assist in removing the cut sections between the haptic and the optic.

18. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 18, wherein the milling nest includes a movable clamp which is adapted to engage the periphery of the second cut lens to assist in keeping the second cut lens in position.

19. An IOL produced by the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A method for use in manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens blank using an apparatus with at least one lathe having a chuck with an opening and/or a milling machine having a milling nest with an opening, the method including: retaining said blank adjacent the chuck(s) and/or milling nest by applying a vacuum to the opening of same.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said at least one lathe has a chuck and a chuck vacuum means and said milling machine has a milling nest and a milling nest vacuum means, the method further comprising: retaining said blank adjacent said at least one lathe with said chuck vacuum means and cutting sides of the lens blank to form optic posterior and anterior surfaces; and retaining said first cut lens adjacent said milling nest with said milling nest vacuum means and removing sections of the cut lens blank external to its optic to form haptics.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises a first lathe with a first chuck and a first chuck vacuum means, a second lathe with a second chuck and a second chuck vacuum means and said milling machine has a milling nest with a milling nest vacuum means, the method further comprising: retaining said blank adjacent said first lathe with said first chuck vacuum means and cutting a first side of the lens blank to form a first cut lens; retaining said first cut lens adjacent said second lathe with said second chuck vacuum means and cutting a second side of the first cut lens to form a second cut lens; and retaining said second cut lens adjacent said milling nest with said milling nest vacuum means and removing sections of the second cut lens external to the optic to form haptics.

23. An IOL produced by the method of claim 20, 21 or 22.

24. A first cut lens of an IOL, wherein the first cut lens includes an annular strengthening rim about is periphery.

25. The first cut lens as claimed in claim 24, wherein the rim has a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface.