Electro-chromic ophthalmic devices

• US 10,729,539 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2017
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald, Kokonaski, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Leslie
• Application Number:
  US15/789,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20180289470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1627 for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/22 Correction of higher order and chromatic aberrations, wave front measurement and calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses

Abstract

An intraocular lens system is presented that comprises an electro-active lens comprising multiple independently controllable zones or pixels, and a controller capable of being remotely programmed.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a base optic;

a dynamic optical element, embedded in the base optic, to provide a variable optical tint, the variable optical tint changing an amount of light illuminating a retina of a person using the ophthalmic device, the dynamic optical element comprising an electro-chromic material configured to change transmittance in response to an applied voltage, the applied voltage causing ions to move between an inner layer and an outer layer of the electro-chromic material;

a controller, operably coupled to the dynamic optical element, to control the variable optical tint provided by the dynamic optical element; and

a power supply, embedded in the base optic, to provide electrical power to the controller.

2. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the base optic is configured to provide a fixed non-zero optical power.

3. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the base optic is configured to serve as a protective capsule.

4. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the transmittance of the electro-chromic material changes by up to about 90 percent in response to the applied voltage.

5. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the dynamic optical element is configured to change the variable optical tint in response to a user command from a remote control.

6. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a photosensor configured to measure a change in brightness, the change in brightness triggering a change in the variable optical tint provided by the dynamic optical element.

7. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the electro-chromic element is configured to change transmittance without constant voltage after the change has been initiated.

8. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the electro-chromic element has memory.

9. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the electro-chromic element is configured to become transparent is response to a voltage having a polarity opposite the applied voltage.

10. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a base optic to provide a fixed optical power;

a photosensor configured to measure a change in brightness;

an electro-chromic element, embedded in the base optic such that each side of the electro-chromic element contacts the base optic, having a transmittance that can be varied from about 5 percent to at least about 80 percent; and

a controller, operably coupled to the electro-chromic element and the photosensor, to vary the transmittance provided by the electro-chromic element in response to the change in brightness.

11. The ophthalmic device of claim 10, wherein the electro-chromic element is configured to change the transmittance of the electro-chromic element in milliseconds or less.

12. The ophthalmic device of claim 10, wherein the electro-chromic element is configured to vary an amount of light hitting a retina of a person using the ophthalmic device.

13. The ophthalmic device of claim 10, wherein the electro-chromic element extends across an optical axis of the base optic.

14. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a biconvex base optic to provide a fixed optical power;

a photosensor configured to measure a change in brightness;

an electro-chromic element, embedded in the base optic, having a transmittance that can be varied from about 5 percent to at least about 80 percent; and

a controller, operably coupled to the electro-chromic element and the photosensor, to vary the transmittance provided by the electro-chromic element in response to the change in brightness.

15. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a base optic;

a dynamic optical element, in optical communication with the base optic and extending across an optical axis of the base optic, to provide a variable optical tint, the dynamic optical element comprising an electro-chromic material configured to change transmittance in response to an applied voltage, the applied voltage causing ions to move between an inner layer and an outer layer of the electro-chromic material; and

a controller, operably coupled to the dynamic optical element, to control the variable optical tint provided by the dynamic optical element.

16. A method comprising:

providing electrical power to a controller with a power supply embedded in a base optic of an ophthalmic device; and

controlling, with the controller, a variable optical tint of a dynamic optical element embedded in the base optic, the variable optical tint changing an amount of light illuminating a retina of a person using the ophthalmic device,

wherein controlling the variable optical tint of the dynamic optical element comprises applying a voltage to an electro-chromic material, the voltage causing ions to move between an inner layer and an outer layer of the electro-chromic material, thereby causing a change in transmittance of the electro-chromic material.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a fixed, non-zero optical power with the base optic.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

protecting the dynamic optical element with the base optic.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the transmittance of the electro-chromic material changes by up to about 90 percent in response to the voltage.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a user command from a remote control; and

triggering a change in the variable optical tint provided by the dynamic optical element in response to the user command.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

measuring a change in brightness; and

triggering a change in the variable optical tint provided by the dynamic optical element in response to the change in brightness.