Method for Producing an Ophthalmic Lens and an Optical Component for Carrying Out Said Method

• US 20070247588A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Essilor International SA (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Essilor International SA (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Cano, Jean-Paul, Coudray, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/177
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0087 with index gradient
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/12 Locally varying refractive index, gradient index lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/18 Cellular lens surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/02 Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an ophthalmic lens exhibiting optical function coexisting in producing an optical component (10) incorporating at least one type of active material (2) which is distributed in a parallel direction to the surface thereof. Said active material exhibits a radiation-modifiable optical property. The active material (5) portions disposed through the component (10) surface are, afterwards, selectively irradiated in such a way that the optical function is obtainable by modulating said property from one portion to another one, wherein the sizes of said portions are less than 1 mm.

Claims

1. A method for producing an ophthalmic lens having at least one optical function comprising the following steps:

a) producing an optical component incorporating at least one active material distributed in parallel with a surface of the component, the active material having an irradiation-modifiable optical property; and

b) selectively irradiating portions of the active material along the surface of the component to obtain the optical function by modulating said property from one portion to another, said portions having dimensions smaller than 1 mm.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the portions of the active material have dimensions of between 5 and 100 μ

m parallel to the component surface.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the portions of the active material are distributed in the component with a hexagonal mesh.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the active material is distributed in a substantially continuous layer in at least part of the component.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the active material is distributed in portions separated from one another, formed in at least part of the component.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the active material has a thickness higher than 10 μ

m within the optical component.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which certain portions of the active material are successively irradiated.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the irradiation is carried out using a laser.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the active material contains a photoinitiator.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the active material contains a photopolymer.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the modifiable optical property comprises an absorption of light by the active material.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the modifiable optical property comprises a refringence of the active material.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the irradiation is controlled so that the optical property is modulated discretely according to a predefined set of values quantifying said property.

14. The method according to claim 13, in which the predefined set of values comprises at least ten distinct values.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the irradiation is controlled so that the modulation of the optical property exhibits jumps between adjacent portions of the active material.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, in which the optical function comprises an ametropia correction.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, in which the irradiation is controlled so that the modulation of the refringence of the active material exhibits jumps between certain adjacent portions of the active material in order to impart a Fresnel lens property to the lens.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the following step:

c) heating the optical component after irradiation, to make the active material insensitive to another irradiation.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the optical component incorporates a plurality of active materials selected so that a respective optical property of each active material can be modified selectively by irradiating the optical component, each active material being distributed parallel to the further of the component.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which the active materials are distributed in respective superimposed layers within the component.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which the active materials contain respective photoinitiators sensitive to radiations of distinct wavelengths.

22. An optical component for ophthalmic lens, incorporating at least one active material distributed parallel to a surface of the component, the active material having an irradiation-modifiable optical property for obtaining a modulation of said property between portions of the active material having dimensions smaller than 1 mm.

23. The component as claimed in claim 22, in which the active material contains a photoinitiator.

24. The component as claimed in claim 22, in which the active material contains a photopolymer.

25. The component as claimed in claim 22, in which the active material is distributed in a substantially continuous layer in at least part of the component.

26. The component as claimed in claim 22, in which the active material is distributed in portions (4) separated from one another, formed in at least part of the component.

27. The component as claimed in claim 22, in which the active material has a thickness higher than 10 μ

m within the optical component.

28. The component as claimed in claim 22, in which the modifiable optical property comprises an absorption of light by the active material.

29. The component as claimed in claim 22, in which the modifiable optical property comprises refringence of the active material.

30. The component as claimed in claim 22, incorporating a plurality of active materials, each active material having an optical property selectively modifiable by irradiation and being distributed parallel to the surface of the component.

31. The component as claimed in claim 30, in which the active materials are distributed in respective layers superimposed within the component.

32. The component as claimed in claim 30, in which the active materials contain respective photoinitiators sensitive to radiations of distinct wavelengths.