Lens design to enhance vision quality

• US 20020044255A1
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Ye, Ming
• Granted Patent: US 6,695,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/168
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/042 Simultaneous type
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/044 Annular configuration, e.g. pupil tuned

Abstract

A contact lens includes a central zone and a peripheral zone. The central zone extends radially from a center to a central intermediate edge and has a radius corresponding to a radius of a contracted pupil of a user when subjected to a high ambient light condition. The central zone also has a constant first refractive power across the central zone. The peripheral zone extends radially from the central intermediate edge to an outer edge and has a radius corresponding to a dilated pupil of the user. The peripheral zone has a refractive power that is equal to the first refractive power at the intermediate edge and that increases radially to a second refractive power, different from the first refractive power, at the outer edge. The contact lens also includes a non-optical zone that extends radially from the outer edge to an outermost radius corresponding to a radius of a user'"'"'s cornea.

Claims

1. A contact lens, comprising:

a. a central zone extending radially from a center to a central intermediate edge, the central zone having a radius corresponding to a radius of a contracted pupil of a user when subjected to a high ambient light condition, the central zone having a constant first refractive power across the central zone; and

b. a peripheral zone extending radially from the central intermediate edge to an outer edge and having a radius corresponding to a radius of a dilated pupil of the user, the peripheral zone having a refractive power that is equal to the first refractive power at the intermediate edge and that changes radially and progressively toward a second refractive power, different from the first refractive power, at the outer edge.

2. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the first refractive power is zero diopters.

3. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the first refractive power is a refractive power sufficient to correct a spherical aberration of a user'"'"'s eye.

4. The contact lens of claim 1, further comprising a non-optical zone extending radially from the outer edge to an outermost radius.

5. The contact lens of claim 4, wherein the outermost radius corresponds at least to a radius of a user'"'"'s cornea.

6. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the radius of the central zone is not greater than 3 mm.

7. The contact lens of claim 6, wherein the radius of the central zone is from 1 mm to 2 mm.

8. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the peripheral zone has a radius between 0.5 mm and 6 mm.

9. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the second correction power is between the first correction power minus 0.6 diopters and the first correction power minus 1.3 diopters.

10. A lens, comprising:

a. a central zone extending radially from a center to a central intermediate edge, the central zone having a radius corresponding to a radius of a contracted pupil of a user when subjected to a high ambient light condition, the central zone having a constant first refractive power across the central zone;

b. a peripheral zone extending radially from the central intermediate edge to an outer edge and having a radius corresponding to a radius of a dilated pupil of the user, the peripheral zone having a refractive power that is equal to the first correction power at the intermediate edge and that increases radially to a second refractive power at the outer edge; and

c. a non-optical zone extending radially from the outer edge to an outermost radius corresponding to a radius of a user'"'"'s cornea.

11. The lens of claim 10, wherein the second correction power is between the first correction power minus 0.6 diopters and the first correction power minus 1.3 diopters.

12. The lens of claim 10, wherein the lens comprises a contact lens.