Ophthalmic Lens Element for Myopia Correction

• US 20090257026A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision Incorporated (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision Incorporated (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Spratt, Ray Steven, Varnas, Saulius Raymond, Fisher, Scott Warren
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/209
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/24 Myopia progression prevention
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/063 Shape of the progressive surface

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens element (100) for correcting myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye is disclosed. The lens element (100) includes a central zone (102) and a peripheral zone (104). The central zone (102) provides a first optical correction for substantially correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye. The peripheral zone (104) surrounds the central zone (102) and provides a second optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye. A system and method for dispensing or designing an ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye, the lens element including:

(a) a central zone providing a first optical correction for substantially correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye; and

(b) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing a second optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye.

2. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the first optical correction is specified as a first refracting power and the second optical correction is specified as a second refracting power and wherein the second refracting power provides a plus power correction relative to the first refracting power.

3. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 2 wherein the first refracting power is located at the optical centre of the ophthalmic lens element.

4. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 2 wherein the mean value of the second refracting power is a mean refracting power at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the ophthalmic lens element, as measured on the front surface of the lens element, and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

5. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 2 wherein the second refracting power is in the range of +0.50 D to +2.0 D.

6. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 2, wherein the refracting power in the central zone is in the range from piano to −

6.00 D.

7. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 6, wherein the refracting power in the central zone is in the range from piano to −

4.00 D.

8. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the central zone is a zone bounded by a 0.5 D contour of front surface astigmatism.

9. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the central zone is a zone bounded by a stepped increase in the front surface mean curvature of at least +0.5 D.

10. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the central zone is a zone bounded by a stepped increase in the front surface mean curvature of at least +1.0 D.

11. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the central zone is a zone bounded by a stepped increase in the front surface mean curvature of at least +1.5 D.

12. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the central zone is a zone bounded by a stepped increase in the front surface mean curvature of at least +2.0 D.

13. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein, within the central zone, the surface power of the front surface varies by less than 0.5 D.

14. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 13, wherein the mean refracting power of the peripheral zone is in the range of +0.50 D to +2.0 D relative to the refracting power at the optical centre of the central zone.

15. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 13, wherein the mean refracting power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +0.50 D relative to the refracting power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

16. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 13, wherein the mean refracting power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +1.00 D relative to the refracting power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

17. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 13, wherein the mean refracting power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +1.50 D relative to the refracting power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

18. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 13, wherein the mean refracting power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +2.00 D relative to the refracting power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

19. An ophthalmic lens element according claim 13, wherein the mean surface power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +0.50 D relative to the surface power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

20. An ophthalmic lens element according claim 13, wherein the mean surface power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +1.00 D relative to the surface power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

21. An ophthalmic lens element according claim 13, wherein the mean surface power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +1.50 D relative to the surface power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

22. An ophthalmic lens element according claim 13, wherein the mean surface power of the peripheral zone at a radius of 20 mm from the optical centre of the lens element as measured on the front surface of the lens, is at least +2.00 D relative to the surface power at the optical centre of the central zone and inscribes the peripheral zone over an azimuthal extent of at least 270 degrees.

23. An ophthalmic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral zone includes a blended zone that extends radially outwards from the boundary of the central zone and into the peripheral zone, and wherein the radial extent of the blended zone, within a 40 mm diameter lens element is less than the radius of the central zone for clear foveal vision.

24. A lens element according to claim 1, wherein the central zone is shaped and sized according to a typical range of eye-rotations of the wearer for central vision.

25. A lens element according to claim 24, wherein the central zone is an circular aperture having a diameter corresponds with the extent of wearer'"'"'s typical eye rotations before they engage head rotation.

26. A lens element according to claim 24 where the central zone has a rotationally symmetrical shape.

27. A lens element according to claim 24 where the central zone has an asymmetrical shape to allow for the asymmetrical distribution of the frequency of eye rotations.

28. An ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye, the lens element including:

(a) a central zone providing a first optical correction for substantially correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye; and

(b) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing a second optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye,

wherein the first optical correction is specified as a first refracting power and the second optical correction is specified as a second refracting power and wherein the second refracting power provides a plus power correction relative to the first refracting power, and wherein the refracting power in the central zone is in the range from piano to −

6.00 D.

29. A method of dispensing or designing an ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye, the method including:

(a) obtaining, for the wearer;

(i) a required value of on-axis optical correction, the on-axis optical correction for correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye; and

(ii) a required value of off-axis optical correction, the off-axis optical correction for correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye;

(b) selecting or designing an ophthalmic lens element according to the values of on-axis and off-axis correction, the ophthalmic lens element including;

(i) a central zone providing an optical correction corresponding with the on-axis optical correction; and

(ii) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing an optical correction corresponding with the off-axis optical correction.

30. A method according to claim 29, further including:

(c) determining the head movement and eye movement characteristics of the wearer; and

(d) sizing and shaping the central zone according to the head movement and eye movement characteristics of the wearer so the central zone provides an area of substantially uniform refracting power for supporting central vision throughout an angular range of eye rotations.

31. A system for dispensing or designing an ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye, the system including:

(a) an input device for accepting or obtaining optical correction values for a wearer, the optical correction values including;

(i) a required value of on-axis optical correction, the on-axis optical correction for correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye; and

(ii) a required value of off-axis optical correction, the off-axis optical correction for correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye; and

(b) a processor for processing the wearer'"'"'s optical correction values to select or design an ophthalmic lens element according to the values of on-axis and off-axis correction, the ophthalmic lens element including;

(i) a central zone providing an optical correction corresponding with the on-axis correction; and

(ii) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing an optical correction corresponding with the off-axis correction.

32. A system according to claim 31, further including:

(a) input device for accepting or obtaining head movement and eye movement characteristics for the wearer; and

(b) the processor for modifying the size and shape of the central zone according to the head movement and eye movement characteristics of the wearer so that central zone provides an area of substantially uniform refracting power for supporting central vision throughout an angular range of eye rotations.

33. A method of reducing myopia progression in a myope, the method including providing, to a myope, spectacles bearing a pair of ophthalmic lens elements, each lens element for a respective eye and including:

(a) a central zone providing an optical correction corresponding with on-axis correction for correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of a respective eye; and

(b) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing an optical correction for correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with the peripheral region of a respective eye.

34. An ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye, the lens element including:

(a) a central zone providing a first optical correction for substantially correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye, the first optical correction specified as a first refracting power; and

(b) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing a second optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye, the second optical correction specified as a second refracting power,

wherein the second refracting power provides a plus power correction relative to the first refracting power and wherein the central zone is sized and shaped to provide the first optical correction over a range of eye-rotations to support central vision throughout an angular range of eye rotations.

35. The use of an ophthalmic lens element to correct myopia in a wearer'"'"'s eye, the lens element including:

(a) a central zone providing a first optical correction for substantially correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye, the first optical correction specified as a first refracting power; and

(b) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing a second optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye, the second optical correction specified as a second refracting power,

wherein the second refracting power provides a plus power correction relative to the first refracting power and wherein the central zone is sized and shaped to provide the first optical correction over a range of eye-rotations to support central vision throughout that range.

36. An ophthalmic lens element for correcting or retarding myopia progression in a wearer'"'"'s eye, the lens element including:

(a) a central zone providing clear foveal viewing throughout an angular range of eye rotations; and

(b) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing, relative to the central zone, a plus power optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye.

37. The use of an ophthalmic lens element to correct or retard myopia progression, the lens element including:

(a) a central zone providing clear foveal viewing throughout an angular range of eye rotations; and

(b) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing, relative to the central zone, a plus power optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye.

38. A computer software program including a set of instructions that are executable by a processing unit, so that on execution of the instructions the processing unit:

(a) accepts or obtains optical correction values for a wearer, the optical correction values including;

(i) a required value of on-axis optical correction, the on-axis optical correction for correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer'"'"'s eye; and

(ii) a required value of off-axis optical correction, the off-axis optical correction for correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer'"'"'s eye; and

(b) processes the wearer'"'"'s optical correction values to recommend an ophthalmic lens element according to the values of on-axis and off-axis correction, the ophthalmic lens element including;

(i) a central zone providing an optical correction corresponding with the on-axis correction; and

(ii) a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the peripheral zone providing an optical correction corresponding with the off-axis correction.

39. A computer readable memory containing a computer software program according to claim 38.

40-41. -41. (canceled)