System and method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye

• US 20060274267A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthcare Royalty Partners II LP (Toronto-Dominion Bank)
• Original Assignee: Organization - World Intellectual Property
• Inventors: Miller, David, Blanco, Ernesto
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/145 Corneal inlays, onlays, or lenses for refractive correction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1659 having variable absorption coefficient for electromagnetic radiation, e.g. photochromic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1699 Additional features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/34 Use of radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/22 Correction of higher order and chromatic aberrations, wave front measurement and calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/042 Simultaneous type
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/044 Annular configuration, e.g. pupil tuned
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/12 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/16 Shades; shields; Obturators, e.g. with pinhole, with slot G02C5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/165 with stenopaeic apertures

Abstract

A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient'"'"'s depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient'"'"'s eye to increase the depth of focus.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An ophthalmic device, comprising:

a pinhole-like optical aperture for increasing depth of field;

an optic comprising a peripheral portion of the ophthalmic device, the optic comprising;

an anterior surface configured to reside adjacent to a first corneal layer;

a posterior surface configured to reside adjacent to a second corneal layer; and

a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed in the peripheral portion of the ophthalmic device, the structure comprising a material configured to prevent transmission of a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface; and

a lens body having an optical power for vision correction

22. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein lens body is configured to correct for near vision in the pin-hole like optical aperture.

23. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein lens body is configured to correct for distance vision in the pin-hole like optical aperture.

24. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein lens body is configured to correct for intermediate vision in the pin-hole like optical aperture.

25. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, further comprising an area disposed about the optic with an optical power for vision correction.

26. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the ophthalmic device is configured to be placed beneath a corneal flap.

27. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the ophthalmic device is configured to be placed beneath the epithelium of the eye.

28. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the ophthalmic device is configured to be positioned between a flap and an exposed corneal layer wherein the posterior surface of the flap and the exposed corneal layer are naturally adjacent corneal layers.

29. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the ophthalmic device is configured to be placed in a pocket in the stroma of the cornea.

30. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the small holes are disposed about the pin-hole like optical aperture to influence light interference properties of the mask.

31. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the small holes are arranged based on the specific needs of a patient.

32. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the small holes are arranged based on a selected density of the structure to affect the amount of light transmitted through the structure.

33. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the structure comprises a weave.

34. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the pin-hole like optical aperture has a diameter in the range of about 0.05 mm to about 5.0 mm.

35. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the optic has an outer diameter in the range of about 1.0 mm to about 8.0 mm.

36. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the pin-hole like optical aperture is located substantially in the center of the ophthalmic device.

37. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the optic is configured to produce light interference to prevent transmission of light on the anterior surface.

38. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the optic is configured to reinforce at least some relatively parallel light and attenuates at least some relatively diverging light.

39. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the material is configured to absorb incident light.

40. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the ophthalmic device comprises a medical polymer.

41. The ophthalmic device of claim 21, wherein the ophthalmic device comprises a bio-compatible polymer

42. An ophthalmic device, comprising:

a lens body having an optical power for vision correction; and

an optic comprising a peripheral portion of the ophthalmic device, the optic comprising;

an anterior surface configured to reside adjacent to a first corneal layer;

a posterior surface configured to reside adjacent to a second corneal layer; and

a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed in the peripheral portion of the ophthalmic device, the structure comprising a material configured to prevent transmission of a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface;

wherein the ophthalmic device is configured to transmit light at a central portion thereof whereby depth of field is increased.