Contact or intraocular lens and method for its preparation

• US 6,533,416 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coopervision International Limited (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ocular Sciences Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Fermigier, Bruno, Legras, Richard, Chateau, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US09/910,491
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/161, 351/162, 351/177, 623/6.27
• US Class Current: 351/160.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1645 Toric lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/002 Designing or making customized prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0053 differing in optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/02 Mislocation tolerant lenses or lens systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/22 Correction of higher order and chromatic aberrations, wave front measurement and calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

Toric contact or intraocular lenses having a correcting portion characterized by one or more novel constructions that each produce an optical path that improves angular misalignment tolerance. The lens may be constructed with a “smooth atoric” aspect where the optical path through the correcting portion of the lens corrects for both astigmatism and an axisymmetric aberration other than astigmatism, there being no sudden surface discontinuity between the regions that provide the different corrections (thus, “smooth”). In another embodiment, the lens may be constructed with so-called “sectors” circumferentially arranged around the optical axis such that an optical path through the correcting portion of the lens varies as a function of the angular separation from the reference meridian plane, and the correcting portion is divided into at least two sectors having different astigmatism correction axes. In either embodiment, the correcting surface may be provided on either or both of the anterior or posterior faces of the lens, and the optical performance of the lens in case of angular displacement (the “angular misalignment tolerance”) is increased. Specifically, the angular misalignment tolerance is increased by at least 30% over a standard toric lens of the same class. Definition of the particular shape of the lens enables a mold die of that shape to be formed, or lens machining tools may be used.

Claims

1. Contact or intraocular lens comprising a correcting portion (5) in order to correct the vision of a possibly myopic or hyperopic and/or possibly presbyopic astigmatic eye, comprising an optical axis (2) and a reference meridian (8);

characterized in that it introduces, for correction of only the astigmatism, an optical path varying as a function of the distance (h) with regard to the optical axis (2) and as a function of the angular separation (θ

) with regard to the reference meridian (8), at least when this distance is between 0.4 mm and 2.4 mm, according to the following equation;

2. Lens according to claim 1, characterized in that the term δ

_A(h,θ

) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\delta <br><br>}}_A<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h,\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}\right)=\underset{i\in <br><br>E}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\cos <br><br>\left[i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}-\mathrm{\phi <br><br>}\right)\right]$

in which equation;

N is the set of whole numbers; and

β

_i(h) is a set of functions satisfying the following condition;

$\underset{i\in <br><br>N^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left[{\left(\frac{1}{h_{\max }-h_{\min }}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\int <br><br>}_{h_{\min }}^{h_{\max }}<br><br>\frac{2<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)}{h^2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br><br><br>h\right)}^2\right]\ge <br><br>0.005<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>m^{-2}$

in which inequation N′

is equal to N disqualifying 0 and 2, while h_min and h_max are the minimum distance and the maximum distance, respectively, with regard to the optical axis (2) of the zone of the correcting portion (5) provided to correct the astigmatism.

3. Lens according to claim 2, characterized in that each one of the functions β

_i(h) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)=\frac{h^2}{2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i$

in which equation α

_i, for i ε

N, is a constant coefficient.

4. Lens according to claim 3, characterized in that the optical path δ

_A(h,θ

) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\delta <br><br>}}_A<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h,\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}\right)=\frac{C+c}{2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>h^2<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\sin }^2<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}-\mathrm{\phi <br><br>}+\mathrm{\eta <br><br>}\right)$

in which equation is equal to ψ

for θ

−

φ

between 0° and

180°

, and equal to −

ψ

for θ

−

φ

between 180° and

360°

, c and ψ

being predetermined constants.

5. Lens according to claim 4, characterized in that the constants c and ψ

have, depending on the value of C, the values given by the table below, at ±

0.125 diopter (D) for C+c, and at ±

1°

for ψ

;

6. Lens according to claim 4, characterized in that the constants c and ψ

have, depending on the value of C, the values given in the table below at ±

0.125 diopter (D) for C+c, and at ±

1°

for ψ

;

7. Lens according to claim 4, characterized in that the constant c is equal to zero and in that the constant ψ

takes on the value given by the formula below at ±

1°

;

$\mathrm{\psi <br><br>}=\frac{114}{C.\mathrm{DP}}$

in which formula DP is the pupil diameter expressed in millimeter (mm), ψ

being expressed in degrees (°

) and C in diopters (D).

8. Lens according to claim 3, characterized in that the optical path δ

_A(h,θ

) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\delta <br><br>}}_A<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h,\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}\right)=\frac{C+c}{2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>h^2<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\sin }^2<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}-\mathrm{\phi <br><br>}+\mathrm{\eta <br><br>}\right)$

in which equation π

is equal to ψ

for θ

−

φ

between 0° and

90°

, and for θ

−

φ

between 180° and

270°

, and equal to −

ψ

for θ

−

φ

between 90° and

180°

, and for θ

−

φ

between 270° and

360°

, and ψ

being predetermined constants.

9. Lens according to claim 8, characterized in that the constants c and ψ

have, depending on the values of C, the values given in the table below at ±

0.125 diopter (D) for C+c and at ±

1°

C. for ψ

;

10. Lens according to claim 8, characterized in that the constants c and ψ

have, depending on the value of C, the values given in the table below at ±

0.125 diopter (D) for C+c and at ±

1°

C. for ψ

;

11. Lens according to claim 8, characterized in that the constant c is equal to zero and in that the constant ψ

takes on the value given by the formula below at ±

1°

;

$\mathrm{\psi <br><br>}=\frac{90}{C.\mathrm{DP}}$

in which formula DP is the pupil diameter expressed in millimeters (mm), ψ

being expressed in degrees (0) and C in diopters (D).

12. Lens according to claim 1, characterized in that the term δ

_A(h,θ

) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\delta <br><br>}}_A<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h,\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}\right)=\underset{i\in <br><br>E}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\cos <br><br>\left[i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}-\mathrm{\phi <br><br>}\right)\right]$

in which equation;

E is a finite set comprising the whole numbers starting from 0; and

β

_i(h) is a set of functions satisfying the following condition;

$\underset{i\in <br><br>E^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left[{\left(\frac{1}{h_{\max }-h_{\min }}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\int <br><br>}_{h_{\min }}^{h_{\max }}<br><br>\frac{2<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)}{h^2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br><br><br>h\right)}^2\right]\ge <br><br>0.005<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>m^{-2}$

in which inequation E′

is equal to E disqualifying 0 and 2, while h_min and h_max are the minimum distance and the maximum distance, respectively, with regard to the optical axis (2) of the zone of the correcting portion (5) provided to correct the astigmatism.

13. Lens according to claim 12, characterized in that each one of the functions β

_i(h) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)=\frac{h^2}{2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i$

in which equation each α

_i, for i ε

E, is a constant coefficient.

14. Lens according to claim 13, characterized in that the set E comprises the whole numbers from 0 to 10 and in that the coefficients α

_i have, as a function of C, values such that they satisfy the inequation;

$\sqrt{\underset{i\in <br><br>E}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>{\left({\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i-{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}\right)}^2}\le <br><br>0.05<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>m^{-1}$

the coefficients α

_i′

having the values given in the table below;

15. Lens according to claim 13, characterized in that the set E comprises the whole numbers from 0 to 10 and in that the coefficients α

_i have, as a function of C, values such that they satisfy the inequation;

$\sqrt{\underset{i\in <br><br>E}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>{\left({\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i-{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}\right)}^2}\le <br><br>0.05<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>m^{-1}$

the coefficients α

_i′

having the values given in the table below;

16. Lens according to claim 13, characterized in that the set E comprises the whole numbers from 0 to 10 and in that the coefficients α

_i have, as a function of C, values such that they satisfy the inequation;

$\sqrt{\underset{i\in <br><br>E}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>{\left({\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i-{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}\right)}^2}\le <br><br>0.05<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>m^{-1}$

the coefficients α

_i′

having the values given in the table below;

17. Lens according to claim 13, characterized in that the set E comprises the whole numbers from 0 to 10, and in that the coefficients α

_i have, as a function of C, values such that they satisfy the inequation;

$\sqrt{\underset{i\in <br><br>E}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\left({\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i-{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_i^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}\right)}^2}\le <br><br>0.05<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>m^{-1}$

the coefficients α

_i′

having the values given in the table below;

18. Lens according to claim 12, characterized in that each of the functions β

_i(h) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)=\frac{h^2}{2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_{i,j}$

in which equation j is a whole number which varies as a function of h by stages, and each α

_i, regardless of what i and j are, is a predetermined constant coefficient.

19. Lens according to claim 12, characterized in that each one of the functions β

_i(h) satisfies the equation;

${\mathrm{\beta <br><br>}}_i<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(h\right)=\frac{h^2}{2}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\underset{j=0}{\overset{M}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}_{i,j}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>h^j$

in which equation M is a predetermined whole number and each α

_ij, regardless of what i and j are, is a predetermined constant coefficient.

20. Lens according to claim 1, characterized in that it introduces, in total, an optical path δ

(h,θ

) satisfying, at least for h located between 0.4 mm and 2.4 mm, the equation;

21. Lens according to claim 1, characterized in that it introduces, in total, an optical path δ

_inf(h,θ

) satisfying, at least for h located between 0.4 mm and 2.4 mm, the inequation;

22. Lens according to claim 1, characterized in that it introduces, in total, an optical path δ

(h,θ

) satisfying, at least for h located between 0.4 mm and 2.4 mm, the inequation;

23. Method for the preparation of a contact or intraocular lens according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:

a) a step of determination of the optical path that must be introduced by the correcting portion of this lens;

b) a step of selection of the shape of the posterior surface of said correcting portion from a series of predetermined shapes, in order to procure optimal comfort for the wearer of the lens;

c) a step of determination of the shape of the anterior surface of said correcting portion, starting from said shape selected for the posterior surface in step b) and from the optical path determined in step a); and

d) a step of manufacturing said lens with the correcting portion presenting the anterior surface and the posterior surface thus determined.

24. Method for the preparation of a contact or intraocular lens according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:

a) a step of determination of the optical path that must be introduced by the correcting portion of this lens;

b) a step of selection of the shape of the anterior surface of said correcting portion from a series of predetermined shapes;

c) a step of determination of the shape of the posterior surface of said correcting portion, starting from said shape selected for the anterior surface in step b) and from the optical path determined in step a);

d) a step of manufacturing said lens with said correcting portion presenting said posterior surface and anterior surface thus determined.

25. A contact or intraocular lens comprising a portion for correcting the vision of an astigmatic eye, the lens defining an optical axis and a reference meridian line perpendicular thereto, the lens further having a generally convex anterior face and a generally concave posterior face, wherein one of the anterior or posterior faces is shaped so as to correct for astigmatism in that an optical path through the correcting portion of the lens varies as a function of the angular separation from the reference meridian line, and wherein the correcting portion is divided into at least two sectors having different astigmatism correction axes, the lens further having an angular misalignment tolerance that is increased by at least about 30% over a standard toric lens of the same class.

26. The lens of claim 25, wherein the correcting portion is defined generally within a circle about the optical axis having a radius between about 0.4 mm and 2.4 mm.

27. The lens of claim 25, wherein the two sectors are separated by a line passing through the optical axis and angularly oriented with respect to the reference meridian line by an angle φ

, where φ

is the nominal axis required to correct the astigmatism of the eye.

28. The lens of claim 27, wherein each of the two sectors has an astigmatism correction axis that differs from φ

.

29. The lens of claim 28, wherein one of the two sectors has an astigmatism correction axis that is equal to φ

−

ψ

, while the other of the two sectors has an astigmatism correction axis that is equal to φ

+ψ

, where ψ

is non-zero.

30. The lens of claim 25, wherein the correcting portion is divided into four sectors, at least two of which have different astigmatism correction axes.

31. The lens of claim 30, wherein the four sectors are separated by two perpendicular lines intersecting at the optical axis so as to define two pairs of sectors that are diametrically-opposed across the optical axis, one of the lines being angularly oriented with respect to the reference meridian line by an angle φ

.

32. The lens of claim 31, wherein each pair of sectors that are diametrically-opposed across the optical axis have equal astigmatism correction axes.

33. The lens of claim 32, wherein two of the sectors have astigmatism correction axes equal to φ

−

ψ

, while the other two sectors have astigmatism correction axes equal to φ

+ψ

, where ψ

is non-zero.

34. A contact or intraocular lens comprising a portion for correcting the vision of an astigmatic eye, the lens having anterior and posterior faces and defining an optical axis and a reference meridian line perpendicular thereto, wherein at least one of the anterior or posterior faces has an non axisymmetric shape that is not purely toric, and wherein the distribution of an optical path through the correcting portion of the lens is the sum of several optical paths that include at least:

an optical path that characterizes a correction of astigmatism; and

an optical path that characterizes an non axisymmetric aberration other than astigmatism,

the lens further having an angular misalignment tolerance that is increased by at least about 30% over a standard toric lens of the same class.

35. The lens of claim 34, wherein only the anterior face is non axisymmetric.

36. The lens of claim 34, wherein only the posterior face is non axisymmetric.

37. The lens of claim 34, wherein both the anterior and posterior faces are non axisymmetric.

38. The lens of claim 34, wherein the optical path through the correcting portion of the lens also corrects for spherical error.

39. The lens of claim 34, wherein the optical path through the correcting portion of the lens also includes a multifocal correction for presbyopia.

40. The lens of claim 34, wherein the optical path through the correcting portion of the lens also includes a progressive power correction for presbyopia.

41. The lens of claim 34, wherein the optical path through the correcting portion of the lens also corrects for a coma-like aberration.