Flexible refracting membrane adhered to spectacle lens

• US 3,904,281 A
• Filed: 06/28/1971
• Issued: 09/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: Arthur Jampolsky
• Inventors: Jampolsky, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubin, David H.
• Application Number:
  US05/165,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 351/175,159,44,47 350/211
• US Class Current: 351/159.09
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/10 Optical elements and systems for visual disorders other than refractive errors, low vision
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/001 specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/14 Mirrors; Prisms

Abstract

An ophthalmic device for treating or diagnosing an eye disorder comprising the combination of a spectacle lens and a flexible membrane formed of a transparent plastic and having opposed light transmitting surfaces, one of which is planarly smooth for being pressure-adhesively conformed to the ocular surface of the spectacle lens and the other of which has formed therein a plurality of stepped ridges constituting a Fresnel refracting surface which refracts the light transmitted through the lens and membrane in a manner enabling the treatment or diagnosis of the disorder.

Claims

1. A device for use in combination with a spectacle lens through which light rays are transmitted to an eye, comprising:

a. a thin, flexible membrane formed of light transmitting plastic material and having opposed surfaces;

b. one of said opposed surfaces being planarly smooth and adapted for adherence in conforming relationship to a light transmitting surface of said spectacle lens and;

c. the other of said opposed surfaces having formed therein light refracting elements, the refractive properties of which are substantially unaffected by such adherence and which refractive properties differ from those of said element for refracting the light rays transmitted by said element and said membrane to said eye in a predetermined manner.

2. The device of claim 1 in which:

d. said light refracting elements constitute a Fresnel lens of predetermineD prescription.

3. The device of claim 1 in which:

d. said light refracting elements constitute a Fresnel prism of predetermined prescription.

4. A device for use in combination with a spectacle lens for diagnosing or treating a disorder of the eye comprising:

a. a flexible membrane formed of light transmitting, plastic material and having opposed surfaces;

b. one of said opposed surfaces being planarly smooth and adapted for adherence in conforming relationship to a light transmitting surface of said spectacle lens; and

c. the other of said opposed surfaces having formed therein a plurality of stepped ridges which constitute a Fresnel refracting surface which refracts the light transmitted through said spectacle lens and said membrane to said eye in a manner enabling diagnosis or treatment of said disorder;

d. the thickness of said membrane from said one of said opposed surfaces to the crests of said ridges being not greater than 1/4 inch;

e. the minimum thickness of said membrane from said one of said opposed surfaces to the troughs of said ridges being 0.001 inch; and

f. the minimum ridge spacing between said ridges being 0.001 inch.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

g. said Fresnel refracting surface is a Fresnel prism.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein:

g. said Fresnel refracting surface is a Fresnel lens.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein:

g. said thickness of said membrane from said one of said opposed surfaces to the crest of the ridges is not greater than 1/16 inch;

h. said minimum thickness of said membrane from said one of said opposed surfaces to the troughs of said ridges being in the range of about 0.01 to 0.02 inch; and

i. the spacing between said ridges is in the range of 0.002 and 0.25 inch.

8. A device for ophthalmic use in treating a disorder of the eye comprising the combination of:

a. a spectacle lens of predetermined prescription;

b. a thin, flexible membrane formed of light transmitting plastic material and having opposed surfaces;

c. one of said opposed surfaces being planarly smooth and adhered in conforming relationship to a light transmitting surface of said lens through which said light rays are transmitted to said eye and;

d. the other of said opposed surfaces having formed therein light refracting elements, the refractive properties of which are substantially unaffected by such adherence and which refractive properties differ from those of said lens for refracting the light rays transmitted by said lens and said membrane to said eye in a predetermined manner.

9. A device for ophthalmic use in treating a disorder of the eye comprising the combination of:

a. a spectacle lens of predetermined prescription;

b. a flexible membrane formed of light transmitting plastic material and having opposed surfaces;

c. one of said opposed surfaces being planarly smooth and adhered to a light transmitting surface of said spectacle lens in conforming relationship thereto;

d. the other of said opposed surfaces having formed therein a plurality of stepped ridges which constitute a Fresnel refracting surface which refracts the light rays transmitted through said spectacle lens and said membrane to the eye in a manner enabling treatment of said disorder;

e. the thickness of said membrane from said one opposed surface to the crests of said ridges being not greater than 1/4 inch;

f. the minimum thickness of said membrane from said one opposed surface to the troughs of said ridges being 0.001 inch; and

g. the minimum spacing between said ridges being 0.001 inch.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein:

h. said Fresnel refracting surface is a Fresnel prism.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein:

h. said Fresnel refracting surface is a Fresnel lens.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein:

h. said thickness of said membrane from said one of said oppOsed surfaces to the crest of the ridges is not greater than 1/16 inch;

i. said minimum thickness of said membrane from said one of said opposed surfaces to the troughs of said ridges being in the range of about 0.01 to 0.02 inch; and

j. the spacing between said ridges is in the range of 0.002 and 0.25 inch.