Holographic ophthalmic lens

• US 20010055094A1
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xiaoxiao Zhang
• Original Assignee: Xiaoxiao Zhang
• Inventors: Zhang, Xiaoxiao
• Application Number:
  US09/918,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055094A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/159
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/00 Optical parts characterised by the material G02B1/00

Abstract

The invention provides a method for producing a corrective optical lens. The method has the steps of introducing a polymerizable optical material in a mold for an ophthalmic lens, or a holographic recording medium; and exposing the polymerizable material in the mold or the recording medium to electromagnetic waves, wherein the electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes while polymerizing the polymerizable material or while exposing the recording medium, thereby the pattern is recorded in the lens to form a volume grating structure, thereby forming a volume holographic element, wherein the pattern diffracts light entering said front curve to correct the ametropic conditions when placed on, in or in front of an eye.

Claims

1. A method for producing an optical lens for correcting ametropic conditions, said lens having a front curve and a base curve, which method comprises the steps of:

a) introducing a polymerizable optical material in a mold for an optical lens; and

b) exposing said polymerizable material in said mold to electromagnetic waves, wherein said electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes while polymerizing said polymerizable material, thereby said pattern is recorded in said lens to form a volume grating structure, thereby forming a volume holographic element,

wherein said pattern diffracts light entering said front curve to correct said ametropic conditions when placed on, in or in front of an eye.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein said method further comprises the steps of providing an additional layer polymerizable optical material and exposing said polymerizable material to electromagnetic waves such that said lens forms a combination volume holographic element.

3. The method of

claim 1

wherein said electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

4. The method of

claim 3

wherein said laser means are U.V. laser beams.

5. The method of

claim 1

wherein said method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

6. A lens produced from the method of

claim 1

.

7. A flexible method for producing a optical lens having a corrective power, comprising the steps of:

a) introducing a polymerizable optical material in a mold for an optical lens; and

b) exposing said polymerizable material in said mold to a pattern of electromagnetic waves, said electromagnetic waves polymerizing said optical material and said pattern imparting a volume grating structure in said ophthalmic lens as it is being polymerized, thereby forming a volume holographic element,

wherein said volume grating structure is adapted to provide said corrective power of said optical lens when said optical lens is placed on, in or in front of a mammalian eye.

8. The method of

claim 7

wherein said method further comprises the steps of providing an additional layer polymerizable optical material and exposing said polymerizable material to electromagnetic waves such that said lens forms a combination volume holographic element.

9. The method of

claim 7

wherein said electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

10. The method of

claim 9

wherein said laser means are U.V. laser beams.

11. The method of

claim 7

wherein said method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

12. A lens produced from the method of

claim 7

.

13. A method for producing an ophthalmic lens for correcting ametropic conditions, said lens having a front curve and a base curve, which method comprises the steps of:

a) exposing a holographic recording medium to electromagnetic waves, wherein said electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes of a volume grating structure and said pattern is designed to diffract light entering said front curve to at least partially correct said ametropic conditions,

b) developing the exposed holographic recording medium, and

c) encapsulating the developed recording medium in a biocompatible optical material, thereby forming said optical lens.

14. The method of

claim 13

wherein said method further comprises the step of providing an additional layer of an exposed holographic recording medium such that said recording medium forms a combination volume holographic element.

15. The method of

claim 13

wherein said electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

16. The method of

claim 15

wherein said laser means are U.V. laser beams.

17. The method of

claim 13

wherein said method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

18. A lens produced from the method of

claim 13

.

19. A method for producing a lens for correcting ametropic conditions of an eye, said lens having a front curve and a base curve, which method comprises the steps of:

a) introducing a polymerizable optical material in a mold for an optical lens; and

b) exposing said polymerizable material in said mold to electromagnetic waves, wherein said electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes while polymerizing said polymerizable material, thereby a volume grating structure is formed in said lens,

wherein said pattern modifies light entering said lens to correct said ametropic conditions.

20. The method of

claim 19

wherein said volume grating structure forms a volume holographic element and said method further comprises the steps of providing an additional layer polymerizable optical material and exposing said polymerizable material to electromagnetic waves such that said lens forms a combination volume holographic element.

21. The method of

claim 19

wherein said electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

22. The method of

claim 21

wherein said laser means are U.V. laser beams.

23. The method of

claim 19

wherein said method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

24. A lens produced from the method of

claim 19

.