Methods for designing and making contact lenses having aberration control and contact lenses made thereby

• US 6,082,856 A
• Filed: 11/09/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wavesource, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Polyvue Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Campbell, Charles E., Dunn, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US09/188,432
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 351/160 R, 351/160 H, 351/161, 351/162, 351/177
• US Class Current: 351/160.00H
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/028 Special mathematical design techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

A method for constructing a soft contact lens having a prescribed power correction for focusing light on the retina of an eye is described. The method provides a soft contact lens that, when in place ("flexed") on the wearer'"'"'s eye, is designed and manufactured to provide a substantially ellipsoidal anterior surface. In the method, an eye model including a cornea, a crystalline lens and a retina is constructed. Then a shape for an anterior surface of the cornea is selected to be a conic section having an eccentricity in the range of about 0.14<e<0.63. Next, a preliminary soft contact lens is selected having a center thickness, a radius, a posterior contact lens surface and an anterior contact lens surface to provide a prescribed plus or minus correction power such that, when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea, the anterior contact lens surface defining a conic section having a shape factor in the range of 0<E<1 or -1<E<0. An analysis is performed using the preliminary soft contact lens and eye model tracing light ray paths through the contact lens/eye system. The shape factor of the anterior contact lens surface when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea is varied within the range of 0<E<1 or -1<E<0 to achieve an contact lens/eye system wherein a trace of light ray paths is optimized for sharpest focus by minimizing a retinal spot size of the rays. Thus, an optimized anterior contact lens surface for the soft contact lens when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea is defined. A thickness profile is calculated for the optimum contact lens using the differences in distance between the anterior surface of the cornea and the optimized anterior contact lens surface at various values of the contact lens radius from the center of the contact lens. Contact lenses having the calculated thickness profile can be made by conventional methods. Both monofocal and multifocal lenses having optimized aberration correction can be made.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a soft contact lens having a prescribed power correction for focusing light on the retina of an eye, said method comprising:

constructing an eye model including a cornea, a crystalline lens and a retina;

selecting a shape for an anterior surface of the cornea to be a conic section having an eccentricity in the range of about 0.14<

e<

0.63;

selecting a preliminary soft contact lens having a center thickness, a radius, a posterior contact lens surface and an anterior contact lens surface to provide a prescribed plus or minus correction power such that, when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea, the anterior contact lens surface defining a conic section having a shape factor in the range of 0<

E<

1 or -1<

E<

0;

performing an analysis using the preliminary soft contact lens and eye model tracing light ray paths through the contact lens/eye system;

varying the shape factor of the anterior contact lens surface when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea to achieve an contact lens/eye system wherein a trace of light ray paths is optimized for sharpest focus by minimizing a retinal spot size of the rays, the shape factor being varied within the range of 0<

E<

1 or -1<

E<

0, thereby defining an optimized anterior contact lens surface for the soft contact lens when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea;

calculating a thickness profile for the optimum contact lens using the differences in distance between the anterior surface of the cornea and the optimized anterior contact lens surface at various values of the contact lens radius from the center of the contact lens; and

determining a shape for manufacture of said soft contact lens by selecting a first surface for said soft contact lens and calculating a second surface for said soft contact lens using said first surface and said thickness profile.

2. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 1, wherein the prescribed correction power is from -20 D to +20 D.

3. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 1, wherein the center thickness of the contact lens is in the range of about 0.02 mm to about 1.0 mm.

4. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 1, wherein the anterior surface of the cornea of the eye model has an eccentricity in the range of about 0.35 to about 0.60.

5. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 1, wherein the center thickness of the contact lens is in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.

6. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 1, wherein the anterior surface of the cornea of the eye models has an eccentricity in the range of about 0.45 to about 0.55.

7. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 1, said method further comprising:

selecting the shape of a first surface of a relaxed contact lens; and

calculating a set of points defining a second surface of said relaxed contact lens using said thickness profile.

8. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 7, wherein said first surface is selected to be a spherical surface.

9. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 7, wherein said first surface is selected to be an ellipsoidal surface.

10. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 7, said method further comprising machining onto a contact lens blank said first and second surfaces.

11. The method for constructing a soft contact lens in accord with claim 7, said method further comprising molding a contact lens having said first and second surfaces.

12. A method for constructing a multi-focal soft contact lens having a center circular zone for a first prescribed vision correction and an outer zone circumscribing the center zone for a second prescribed vision correction, one of the zones having a prescribed far distance vision correction for focusing light on the retina of an eye, said method comprising:

constructing an eye model including a cornea, a crystalline lens and a retina;

selecting a shape for an anterior surface of the cornea to be a conic section having an eccentricity in the range of about 0.14<

e<

0.63;

selecting a preliminary soft contact lens having a center thickness, a radius, a posterior contact lens surface and an anterior contact lens surface to provide a prescribed distance vision correction power in one of the zones such that, when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea, the anterior contact lens surface in a region of the distance vision correction power zone defines a conic section having a shape factor in the range of 0<

E<

1 or -1<

E<

0;

performing an analysis using the preliminary soft contact lens and eye model tracing light ray paths through the contact lens/eye system in zone having distance vision correction power;

varying the shape factor of the anterior contact lens surface in the zone having distance vision correction power when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea to achieve an contact lens/eye system wherein a trace of light ray paths is optimized for the zone having distance vision correction power for sharpest focus by minimizing a retinal spot size of the rays, the shape factor being varied within the range of 0<

E<

1 or -1<

E<

0, thereby defining an optimized anterior contact lens surface for the zone having distance vision correction power for the soft contact lens when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea;

calculating a thickness profile for the zone having distance vision correction power for the optimum contact lens using the differences in distance between the anterior surface of the cornea and the optimized anterior contact lens surface at various values of the contact lens radius from the center of the contact lens for the zone having distance vision correction power; and

determining a shape for manufacture of said soft contact lens by selecting a first surface for said soft contact lens and calculating a second surface for said soft contact lens using said first surface and said thickness profile for the zone having distance vision correction power.

13. The method for constructing a multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 12, said method further comprising:

selecting the shape of a first surface of a relaxed contact lens; and

calculating a set of points defining for the zone having distance vision correction power of a second surface of said relaxed contact lens using said thickness profile.

14. The method for constructing a multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 13, wherein said first surface is selected to be a spherical surface.

15. The method for constructing a multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 13, wherein said first surface is selected to be an ellipsoidal surface.

16. The method for constructing a multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 13, said method further comprising machining onto a contact lens blank said first and second surfaces.

17. The method for constructing a multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 13, said method further comprising molding a contact lens having, said first and second surfaces.

18. A soft contact lens having a prescribed power correction for focusing light on the retina of an eye and having aberration correction, said contact lens being constructed by a method including the steps of:

constructing an eye model including a cornea, a crystalline lens and a retina;

selecting a shape for an anterior surface of the cornea to be a conic section having an eccentricity in the range of about 0.14<

e<

0.63;

selecting a preliminary soft contact lens having a center thickness, a radius, a posterior contact lens surface and an anterior contact lens surface to provide a prescribed plus or minus correction power such that, when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea, the anterior contact lens surface defining a conic section having a shape factor in the range of 0<

E <

1 or -1<

E<

0;

performing an analysis using the preliminary soft contact lens and eye model tracing light ray paths through the contact lens/eye system;

varying the shape factor of the anterior contact lens surface when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea to achieve an contact lens/eye system wherein a trace of light ray paths is optimized for sharpest focus by minimizing a retinal spot size of the rays, the shape factor being varied within the range of 0<

E<

1 or -1<

E<

0, thereby defining an optimized anterior contact lens surface for the soft contact lens when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea; and

calculating a thickness profile for the optimum contact lens using the differences in distance between the anterior surface of the cornea and the optimized anterior contact lens surface at various values of the contact lens radius from the center of the contact lens.

19. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 18, wherein the prescribed correction power is from -20 D to +20 D.

20. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 18, wherein the center thickness of the contact lens is in the range of about 0.02 mm to about 1.0 mm.

21. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 18, wherein the anterior surface of the cornea of the eye model has an eccentricity in the range of about 0.35 to about 0.60.

22. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 18, wherein the center thickness of the contact lens is in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.

23. The soft contact lens in ac co rd with claim 18, wherein the anterior surface of the cornea of the eye model has an eccentricity in the range of about 0.45 to about 0.55.

24. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 18, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

selecting the shape of a first surface of a relaxed contact lens; and

calculating a set of points defining a second surface of said relaxed contact lens using said thickness profile.

25. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 24, wherein said first surface is selected to be a spherical surface.

26. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 24, wherein said first surface is s elected to be an ellipsoidal surface.

27. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 24, wherein said method further comprising machining onto a contact lens blank said first and second surfaces.

28. The soft contact lens in accord with claim 24, wherein said method further comprising molding a contact lens having said first and second surfaces.

29. A multi-focal soft contact lens having a center circular zone for a first prescribed vision correction and an outer zone circumscribing the center zone for a second prescribed vision correction, one of the zones having a prescribed distance vision correction power for focusing light on the retina of an eye and having aberration correction, said contact lens being constructed by a method including the steps of:

constructing an eye model including a corneal a crystalline lens and a retina;

selecting a shape for an anterior surface of the cornea to be a conic section having an eccentricity in the range of about 0.14<

e<

0.63;

selecting a preliminary soft contact lens having a center thickness, a radius, a posterior contact lens surface and an anterior contact lens surface to provide a bed distance vision correction power in one of the zones such that, when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea, the anterior contact lens surface in a region of the distance vision correction power zone defines a conic section having a shape factor in the range of 0<

E<

1 or -1<

E<

0;

performing an analysis using the preliminary soft contact lens and eye model tracing light ray paths through the contact lens/eye system in zone having distance vision correction power;

varying the shape factor of the anterior contact lens surface in the zone having distance vision correction power when applied to the anterior surface of the cornea to achieve an contact lens/eye system wherein a trace of light ray paths is optimized for the zone having distance vision correction power for sharpest focus by minimizing a retinal spot size of the rays, the shape factor being varied within the range of 0<

E<

1 or -1<

E<

0, thereby defining an optimized anterior contact lens surface for the zone having distance vision correction power for the soft contact lens when applied to the anterior surface of t h e cornea; and

calculating a thickness profile for the zone having distance vision correction power for the optimum contact lens using the differences in distance between the anterior surface of the cornea and the optimized anterior contact lens surface at various values of the contact lens radius from the center of the contact lens for the zone having distance vision correction power.

30. The multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 29, said method further comprising:

selecting the shape of a first surface of a relaxed contact lens; and

calculating a set of points defining for the zone having far distance correction power of a second surface of said relaxed contact lens using said thickness profile.

31. The multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 30, w herein said first surface is selected to be a spherical surface.

32. The multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 30, wherein said first surface is selected to be an ellipsoidal surface.

33. The multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 30, said method further comprising machining onto a contact lens blank said first and second surfaces.

34. The multi-focal soft contact lens in accord with claim 30, said method further comprising molding a contact lens having said first and second surfaces.

35. A soft contact lens comprising the structural characteristics of a lens selected from the group consisting of the following contact lenses wherein the anterior surface of the contact lens has an apical radius of curvature and eccentricity defined in the table below and the posterior surface of the contact lens is a spherical surface having an apical radius of curvature of 8.6 mm:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Apical radius Center Lens Corrective of curvature thickness No. power (D) (mm) Eccentricity (mm) ______________________________________ 1 -10 10.75 -.59 0.10 2 -8 10.25 -.51 0.10 3 -6 9.80 -.42 0.125 4 -4 9.38 -.29 0.15 5 -2 9.01 .12 0.175 6 0 8.66 .32 0.20 7 2 8.34 .41 0.225 8 4 8.05 .47 0.25 9 6 7.77 .51 0.275 10 8 7.52 .52 0.30 ______________________________________

36. A soft contact lens comprising the structural characteristics of a lens selected from the group consisting of the following contact lenses wherein the anterior surface of the contact lens has an apical radius of curvature and eccentricity defined in the table below and the posterior surface of the contact lens is a spherical surface having an apical radius of curvature of 8.6 mm:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Apical radius Center Lens Corrective of curvature thickness No. power (D) (mm) Eccentricity (mm) ______________________________________ 1 -10 10.73 -.56 0.10 2 -8 10.24 -.49 0.10 3 -6 9.79 -.39 0.12 4 -4 9.38 -.26 0.15 5 -2 9.00 .16 0.17 6 0 8.66 .33 0.20 7 2 8.34 .42 0.23 8 4 8.05 .47 0.25 9 6 7.78 .51 0.28 10 8 7.51 .53 0.30 ______________________________________