Multifocal aspheric lens

• US 6,457,826 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John B.W. Lett
• Original Assignee: John B.W. Lett
• Inventors: Lett, John B. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US09/369,680
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/161, 351/162, 351/177, 623/6.23, 623/6.24, 623/6.27, 623/6.28
• US Class Current: 351/161
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1618 Multifocal lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/164 Aspheric lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/042 Simultaneous type
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/044 Annular configuration, e.g. pupil tuned

Abstract

The present invention provides a lens having a plurality of vision areas. The plurality of areas including a first vision area, a second vision area surrounding the first vision area, and a third vision area surrounding the second vision area. The first vision area having a first power, the second vision area having a range of powers, and the third vision area having a second power distinct from the first power. One of the first, second and third vision areas having an aspheric surface designed to provide a monotonic gradient in power and the other areas having either spherical surfaces to provide single power values or aspheric surfaces designed to correct optical aberrations within these single power areas.

Claims

1. A multifocal contact lens comprising:

a plurality of areas including a first vision area, a second vision area surrounding the first vision area, and a third vision area surrounding the second vision area, the first vision area having a first substantially single power, the second vision area having a range of powers, the third vision area having a second substantially single power distinct from the first single power, at least one of the first, second and third vision areas having an aspheric surface and the other areas having spherical surfaces wherein the first vision area, the second vision area and the third vision area include intervening transition areas having a single direction of concavity wherein the first vision area has a near correction power and the third vision area has a distance correction power.

2. The lens of claim 1 wherein the first vision area is a center area.

3. The lens of claim 2 wherein the first vision area and third vision area are spherical surfaces and the second vision area is an aspherical surface.

4. The lens of claim 3 wherein the second vision zone has an inner lens diameter between 1.2 mm and 2.1 mm and an outer lens diameter between 2.3 mm and 3.0 mm.

5. The lens of claim 3 wherein the first vision area, the second vision area and the third vision area cover the pupil of a user.

6. The lens of claim 5 wherein the lens includes a UV blocking material.

7. The lens of claim 5 wherein the lens is printed.

8. The lens of claim 5 wherein the lens is pad printed.

9. The lens of claim 8 wherein a flexible pad is depressed against the surface of the lens in order to deposit a pattern.

10. The lens of claim 9 wherein an ink is used including a pigment, an enhancing paste and an activation solution.

11. The lens of claim 5 wherein the area adjacent to an iris of a user includes a band of dark substantially light-absorbing color.

12. The lens of claim 5 wherein the first vision area, the second vision area and the third vision area are located on a first surface of the lens and a toric surface is located on a second surface of the lens.

13. The lens of claim 3 or claim 12 wherein the lens includes a colorant.

14. The lens of claim 12 wherein the first vision area, the second vision area and the third vision area are located on a posterior surface of the lens.

15. The lens of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the lens is lathed.

16. The lens of claim 5 wherein the lens is cast molded.

17. The lens of claim 5 wherein the lens includes an annular iris color zone.

18. A multifocal contact lens comprising:

a plurality of areas including a first vision area, a second vision area, and a third vision area, the second vision area between the first vision area and the third vision area, the first, second and third vision areas having distinct powers with a monotonic power change and defining a portion of a surface profile of the lens wherein the direction of concavity does not change.

19. The lens of claim 18 wherein the lens is cast molded.

20. The lens of claim 18 wherein the lens is lathed.

21. The lens of claim 20 wherein the lens includes a toric surface portion.

22. The lens of claim 18 wherein the lens includes an annular iris color zone.

23. The lens of claim 18 wherein the second vision area is an optical area having a range of powers for improving vision over a range of distances.

24. The lens of claim 23 wherein the first vision area is a center area and the third vision area is an outer area.

25. The lens of claim 24 wherein the plurality of vision areas are concentric.

26. The lens of claim 25 wherein the lens includes a colorant.

27. The lens of claim 26 wherein the lens includes a green colorant and is translucent.

28. The lens of claim 25 wherein the lens includes an annular iris color zone.

29. The lens of claim 25 wherein the lens includes a UV blocking material.

30. The lens of claim 25 wherein the lens is printed.

31. The lens of claim 30 wherein the lens is pad printed.

32. The lens of claim 30 wherein a flexible pad is depressed against the surface of the lens to deposit a pattern on the surface of the lens.

33. The lens of claim 25 wherein the first vision area, the second vision area and the third vision area are located on a first surface of the lens and a toric surface is located on a second surface of the lens.

34. An ophthalmic kit for use with a multifocal contact lens comprising:

a sterile packaged contact lens in a bacteriostatic or sterile solution, said lens having a plurality of areas including a first vision area, a second area, and a third vision area, the second vision area between the first vision area and the third vision area, the first, second and third vision areas having distinct powers with a monotonic power change and defining a portion of a surface profile of the lens wherein the direction of concavity does not change.

35. The ophthalmic kit of claim 34 wherein the lens is secured in a vial.

36. The ophthalmic kit of claim 34 wherein the lens is secured in a blister package.

37. The ophthalmic kit of claim 34 further comprising a wetting solution.

38. A method of using a multifocal contact lens comprising the steps of:

a user placing the contact lens over a pupil of the user'"'"'s eye, the contact lens having a plurality of areas including a first vision area, a second area, and a third vision area, the second vision area between the first vision area and the third vision area, the first, second and third vision areas having distinct powers with a monotonic power change and defining a portion of a surface profile of the lens wherein the direction of concavity does not change.

39. Multifocal contact lens comprising:

a first spherical zone in the center of the contact lens having a diameter between 1.2 and 2.1 mm, configured to provide vision for near objects;

an aspheric zone surrounding the first spherical zone;

a second spherical zone surrounding the aspheric zone configured to provide vision for distant objects wherein the first spherical zone, the aspheric zone and the second spherical zone include intervening transition areas having a single direction of concavity and a substantially monotonic power change.

40. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the first spherical zone has a diameter between 1.5 and 1.9 mm.

41. The contact lens of claim 40 wherein the first spherical zone has a diameter of 1.86 mm.

42. The contact lens of claim 40 wherein the first spherical zone has a diameter of 1.83 mm.

43. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the aspheric zone has an inner lens diameter between 1.2 mm and 2.1 mm, and an outer lens diameter between 2.3 mm and 3.0 mm.

44. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the second spherical zone has an inner diameter of between 2.3 mm and 3.0 mm, and an outer diameter between 4.0 mm and 8.4 mm.

45. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the first spherical zone has an area within the range of approximately 1.5 mm² and 3.5 mm².

46. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the second aspherical zone has an area within the range of approximately 1 mm² and 6 mm².

47. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is a phakic intraocular lens.

48. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is an aphakic intraocular lens.

49. The contact lens of claims 39 wherein the lens is implanted into the posterior chamber of the eye.

50. The contact lens of claims 39 wherein the lens is implanted into the anterior chamber of the eye.

51. The contact lens of claims 39 wherein the lens is implanted into the lens capsule of the eye.

52. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is implanted into the cornea.

53. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is an extended wear contact lens, wherein the contact lens may be worn in the eye continuously for a period of 1 to 30 days.

54. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is a frequent replacement contact lens, wherein the lens is replaced between 1 week and 12 weeks.

55. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is disposable contact lens.

56. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is a daily disposable contact lens.

57. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is a rigid contact lens.

58. The contact lens of claim 39 wherein the lens is a rigid gas permeable contact lens.

59. The contact lens of claim 39 further includes a toric surface portion.

60. The contact lens of claim 39 further includes an ultraviolet light blocking material.

61. The contact lens of claim 60 wherein the ultraviolet light blocking material includes benzotriazole.

62. The contact lens of claim 61 further includes benzphenone.

63. The contact lens of claim 59 further includes a colorant.

64. A method of manufacturing a made-to-order multifocal contact lens comprising the steps of:

measuring at least one of a user'"'"'s pupil sizes and a required add power for the lens;

manufacturing a multifocal lens having a plurality of vision areas including at least one of sizing the spherical and aspherical areas to suit the needs of the user and providing the lens with an add power corresponding to the required add power of the user, the lens including a first vision area, a second vision area surrounding the first vision area, and a third vision area surrounding the second vision area, the first vision area having a first substantially single power, the second vision area having a range of powers, the third vision area having a second substantially single power distinct from the first single power, at least one of the first, second and third vision areas having an aspheric surface and the other areas having spherical surfaces wherein the first vision area, the second vision area and the third vision area include intervening transition areas having a single direction of concavity and a monotonic power change.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the lens includes a colorant.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the lens is printed.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the lens is pad printed.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein a flexible pad is depressed against the surface of the lens in order to deposit a pattern.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein an ink is used including a pigment, an enhancing paste and an activation solution.

70. The method of claim 64 wherein the lens includes an annular iris color zone.

71. The method of claim 64 wherein the lens includes a UV blocking material.

72. The method of claim 64 wherein the lens includes a toric surface portion.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the toric surface is located on an anterior surface of the lens and the plurality of vision areas are located on a posterior surface of the lens.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein the toric surface portion is molded and the plurality of vision areas are lathed.

75. The method of claim 64 wherein the lens area adjacent to an iris of a user that includes a dash band of substantially light-absorbing color.

76. The method of claim 64 wherein the lens includes an opaque colorant.