Method for refracting and dispensing electro-active spectacles

• US 6,491,394 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E-Vision Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: e-Vision, LLC (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Katzman, Dan, Dustin, Dwight P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/602,014
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 351/215, 351/216, 351/228, 351/232, 351/246, 351/49, 351/54, 351/55, 351/161, 351/168, 351/169, 359/652, 359/655, 359/665, 359/666, 359/494, 359/245, 359/246, 359/254
• US Class Current: 351/228
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/04 Trial frames; Sets of lenses for use therewith lenses per se G02C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/08 Auxiliary lenses; Arrangements for varying focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F

Abstract

An electro-active spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens includes a first lens optic. The disclosed lens also includes a first electro-active zone positioned in a cooperative relationship with the first lens optic. In certain embodiments, the electro-active lens includes a range finder positioned in a cooperative relationship with the electro-active lens.

Claims

1. A method for determining an individual'"'"'s vision prescription, comprising the activities of:

refracting the individual using an electro-active lens; and

obtaining a correction needed for the individual,

the correction obtained including a correction for the astigmatic error of the individual.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising testing the individual'"'"'s vision.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising quantifying the individual'"'"'s vision.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the individual'"'"'s refractive error.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the individual'"'"'s refractive error using an auto-refractor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the individual'"'"'s refractive aberrations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the individual'"'"'s optical aberrations.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the individual'"'"'s ocular aberrations.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the individual'"'"'s ocular aberrations using an auto-refractor.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising testing the individual'"'"'s vision while the wearer is looking through an electro-active lens.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising quantifying the individual'"'"'s vision while the wearer is looking through an electro-active lens.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the individual'"'"'s vision while the wearer is looking through an electro-active lens.

10. A method for determining an individual'"'"'s vision prescription, comprising the activities of:

refracting the individual using an electro-active lens;

obtaining a correction needed for the individual; and

measuring the individual'"'"'s ocular aberrations using a wavefront analyzer.

11. A method for determining an individual'"'"'s vision prescription, comprising the activities of:

refracting the individual using an electro-active lens;

obtaining a correction needed for the individual; and

measuring the individual'"'"'s ocular aberrations using an auto-refractor in association with a wavefront analyzer.

12. A method for determining an individual'"'"'s vision prescription, comprising the activities of:

refracting the individual using an electro-active lens;

obtaining a correction needed for the individual; and

measuring the individual'"'"'s refractive error using an auto-refractor in association with a wavefront analyzer.

13. A method for determining an individual'"'"'s vision prescription, comprising the activities of:

refracting the individual using an electro-active lens;

obtaining a correction needed for the individual; and

measuring the individual'"'"'s wavefront distortion using an auto-refractor in association with a wavefront analyzer.

14. A method for determining an individual'"'"'s vision prescription, comprising the activities of:

refracting the individual using an electro-active lens; and

obtaining a correction needed for the individual; and

analyzing the individual'"'"'s wavefront distortion using a wavefront analyzer.

18. A method for dispensing electro-active spectacles comprising the activities of:

obtaining a correction needed for a wearer of the electro-active spectacles by refracting the wearer with an electro-active lens,

the correction obtained including a correction for the astigmatic error of the individual; and

providing the electro-active spectacles containing the correction.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

programming the electro-active lens; and

dispensing the electro-active lens.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting a corrective power of an electro-active lens of the spectacles.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting a controller of the spectacles.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting a processor of the spectacles.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising controlling a controller of the spectacles.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising programming a controller.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising programming a controller to be coupled to an electro-active zone.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising decoupling a controller from an electro-active zone.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling a preprogrammed controller to an electro-active zone.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising programming a controller and coupling said controller to an electro-active zone.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising programming a memory.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising reprogramming a controller.

31. The method of claim 18, further comprising reprogramming a controller to be coupled to an electro-active zone.

32. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling a reprogrammed controller to an electro-active zone.

33. The method of claim 18, further comprising programming a controller and coupling said controller to an electro-active zone.

34. The method of claim 18, further comprising reprogramming a memory.

35. The method of claim 18, further comprising activating a controller.

36. The method of claim 18, further comprising activating a controller coupled to an electro-active zone.

37. The method of claim 18, further comprising sizing an electro-active lens to a spectacle frame of said electro-active spectacles.

38. The method of claim 18, further comprising edging an electro-active lens of said electro-active spectacles.

39. The method of claim 18, further comprising dimensionally adjusting an electro-active lens to fit within a spectacle frame of said electro-active spectacles.

40. The method of claim 18, further comprising rotating an electro-active lens of said electro-active spectacles to a proper astigmatic axis location.

41. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting a spectacle frame of said electro-active spectacles to fit the wearer.

42. The method of claim 18, wherein a corrective power of said electro-active spectacles is adjusted to match the correction needed.

43. The method of claim 18, wherein a corrective power of said electro-active spectacles is programmed to match the correction needed.

44. The method of claim 18, wherein a corrective power of said electro-active spectacles is adjusted to match the correction needed while the spectacles are worn by the wearer.

45. The method of claim 18, wherein a corrective power of the electro-active spectacles adjusts the wearer'"'"'s refractive error to 20/20.

46. The method of claim 18, wherein the corrective power of the electro-active spectacles adjusts the wearer'"'"'s refractive error to better than 20/20.

47. The method of claim 18, further comprising mounting an electro-active lens in a spectacle frame of said electro-active spectacles.

48. A method for refracting and dispensing eye glasses having a lens for a patient comprising the activities of:

placing an electro-active lens within the patient'"'"'s line of sight; and

refracting the patient to measure a correction needed for the patient,

the correction obtained including a correction for the astigmatic error of the individual.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the patient performs the placing activity.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the patient controls the placing activity.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the patient performs the measuring activity.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein the patient controls the measuring activity.

53. A method for adjusting electro-active spectacles comprising the activities of:

obtaining a correction needed for a wearer of the electro-active spectacles by subjectively refracting the wearer with an electro-active lens,

the correction obtained including a correction for the astigmatic error of the wearer; and

modifying the electro-active spectacles to provide the needed correction.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the patient performs the obtaining activity.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the patient controls the obtaining activity.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the patient performs the modifying activity.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the patient controls the modifying activity.

58. A method for constructing an electro-active lens comprising the activities of:

providing a single lens having a first surface, a second surface, and an outer perimeter edge;

associating an electro-active zone with the single lens,

the electro-active zone having at least two pixels; and

removing at least a portion of the outer perimeter edge of the single lens to reconfigure the shape of the single lens to conform to an eyeglass frame.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the surfacing activity includes grinding the first surface of the lens blank.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the surfacing activity includes polishing the first surface of the lens blank.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein the applying activity occurs before the surfacing activity.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the applying activity occurs after the surfacing activity.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein the applying activity occurs during the surfacing activity.

64. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

orienting an astigmatic axis of the first surface to accommodate a wearer'"'"'s astigmatic reflective error.

65. The method of claim 58 wherein the first surface is surfaced to correct for an astigmatism of a wearer.

66. The method of claim 58 wherein the electro-active zone can focus an image for a wearer at more than one distance from the wearer.

67. The method of claim 58 wherein the electro-active zone has a plurality of pixilated regions.

68. The method of claim 58 wherein the electro-active zone includes two layers of pixilated regions.

69. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

programming the electro-active zone; and

dispensing the electro-active lens to a wearer.

70. The method of claim 58 wherein the first surface of the lens blank is surfaced to accommodate a prescription of a wearer.

71. An electro-active lens comprising:

a single optical lens having a first surface, a second surface, and an outer perimeter edge; and

an electro-active zone supported by the single optical lens,

the electro-active zone having at least two pixels,

the electro-active zone sized to be contained within the outer perimeter edge of the single optical lens,

the outer perimeter edge of the single optical lens being removable to conform the shape of the single optical lens to an eyeglass frame.

72. An electro-active lens comprising:

a single optical lens having a first surface, a second surface, and an outer perimeter edge; and

an electro-active zone supported by the single optical lens,

the electro-active zone having at least two layers of pixelated regions,

the electro-active zone having an outer perimeter edge.

73. The electro-active lens of claim 72 wherein the entire outer perimeter edge of the electro-active zone lies within the outer perimeter edge of the single optical lens.