Progressive lens

• US 6,652,096 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision Incorporated (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Sola International Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: Varnas, Saulius Raymond, Morris, Michael Alan, Miller, Anthony Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US09/980,091
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 351/169, 351/177
• US Class Current: 351/169
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/06 bifocal; multifocal ; progressive G02C7/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/061 Spectacle lenses with progressively varying focal power
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/063 Shape of the progressive surface

Abstract

A series of progressive opthalmatic lens elements, each lens element including a lens surface having an upper viewing zone having a surface power to achieve a refracting power corresponding to distance vision; a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision; a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism connecting the upper and lower zones, said corridor having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone; the progressive opthalmatic lens series including a first set of lens elements having a base curve(s) suitable for use in providing a range of distance prescriptions for a first category of patient; and a second set of lens elements having a base curve(s) suitable for use in providing a range of distance prescriptions for a second category of patient; each lens element within a set differing in prescribed addition power and including a progressive design, in at least one of the upper and lower viewing zones, depending upon the addition power of the lens element; the lens elements in the first set differing substantively in progressive design from the corresponding lens elements in the second set due to the differences in base curve(s).

Claims

1. A progressive opthalmatic lens element including a lens surface having

an upper viewing zone having a surface power corresponding to distance vision,

a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision;

and

an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone and including

a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism;

the corridor exhibiting a power progression from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the threshold of the lower viewing zone,

the corridor and lower viewing zone exhibiting a power progression profile having at least two segments with different slopes, the slopes of which being related at least in part to the prescribed addition power and the depth of focus of the wearer.

2. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the lens element has an addition power from approximately 0.75 D to 1.50 D and as exhibits a relatively shallow power progression within the upper part of the corridor;

and

a relatively steep power progression from the lower part of the corridor to the near vision measurement point (NMP).

3. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 2, wherein the power progression profile includes a first segment within the upper part of the corridor from the fitting cross (FC) to the highest reading point (HRP) and a second segment within the lower part of the corridor from the highest reading point to the near vision measurement point (NMP).

4. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the lens element has an addition power of from approximately 1.75 D to 3.00 D and exhibits a relatively steep power progression within the upper part of the corridor;

and

a relatively shallow power progression from the lower part of the corridor to the near vision measurement point.

5. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 4, wherein the power progression profile includes a first segment within the upper part of the corridor from the fitting cross (FC) to the highest reading point (HRP) and a second segment within the lower part of the corridor from the highest reading point to the near vision measurement point (NMP).

6. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 5, wherein the relatively steep power progression in the first segment is such that the effective corridor length is very short.

7. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 6, wherein the effective corridor length is approximately 11 mm, for addition powers up to approximately 2.50 D and increasing with increased addition power thereabove up to approximately 13 mm for addition powers above 3.0 D.

8. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the distribution of surface astigmatism and/or ray traced RMS power error exhibits a relatively low gradient proximate the distance periphery and a relatively high gradient proximate the near periphery.

9. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 8, wherein the ratio of the maximum rate of change of the ray traced RMS power error along the vertical lines offset 15 mm from the fitting cross (FC) to the maximum horizontal rate of change of the RMS power error at the level of the near vision measurement point (NMP) is less than approximately 0.60.

10. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 1, wherein the location of the corridor is dictated at least in part by the visual fixation locus;

the visual fixation locus being inset generally horizontally nasally below the fitting cross of the lens element.

11. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 10, wherein the degree of inset varies along the eyepath profile relative to up to three reference points therealong.

12. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 11, wherein, at the 0.5 D local addition power point (LAP) the degree of horizontal inset decreases with increasing addition power.

13. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 12, wherein, at the highest reading point (HRP) the inset is generally constant and corresponds to that of a reading distance of approximately 40 cm.

14. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 13, wherein the horizontal inset at the NMP is a generally constant 2 mm up to addition powers of approximately 2.50 D, and then increases gradually with increasing addition power, up to a value of approximately 2.8 mm for a 3.50 D addition power.

15. The lens element of claim 1, wherein the lens element is a member of a series of lens elements, the lens elements having different addition powers and wherein the slopes of said at least two segments of each lens element in the series are determined at least in part based on the addition power of that lens element and the depth of focus of the wearer as indicated by the prescribed addition power.

16. A progressive opthalmatic lens element including a continuous lens surface having

an upper viewing zone having a surface power corresponding to distance vision,

a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision;

and

an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone and including

a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism;

the corridor exhibiting a power progression from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the threshold of the lower viewing zone;

the corridor and lower viewing zone exhibiting a multi-segmented power progression profile having at least two segments of different slopes.

17. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 16, wherein the power progression includes a first segment from the fitting cross (FC) to the 0.5 D Local Addition Power (LAP) point;

the fitting cross (FC) being located at (0, y_FC) wherein the value of y_FC varies from approximately 2 mm to 6 mm above the geometric centre of the lens element; and

the 0.5 D LAP point exhibiting an inset which is a function of the addition power ranging from approximately 2.0 mm for addition powers of 1.00 D and below, to approximately 0.5 mm for addition powers of approximately 2.50 D and above.

18. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 17, including a second segment from the 0.50 D LAP point to the highest reading point (HRP);

the position of the HRP being located at (2, y_FC−

11) for addition powers up to 2.50 D and ranging to (2, y_FC−

13) for addition powers of approximately 3.00 D and above.

19. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 18, wherein the power progressive profile includes a third segment from the HRP to the near vision measurement point (NMP), located at approximately (x, y_FC−

16);

wherein the x coordinate is approximately 2 mm for addition powers less than or equal to approximately 2.50 D, and is inset by an amount determined by the reciprocal of the addition power for addition powers greater than 2.50 D;

the slope of the power progression within the third segment varying from steeper than in the second segment for low addition powers through generally equal to that within the second segment at medium addition powers, to relatively shallow at high addition powers.

20. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 19, wherein the x coordinate is adjusted to be equal to the point at which the chief ray from the near object point intersects the lens surface.

21. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 19, wherein the power progression includes a fourth segment from the NMP to the maximum addition power (MAP) point, at approximately (x, y_FC−

18.5);

wherein the x coordinate is approximately 2 mm for addition powers less than or equal to approximately 2.50 D, and is inset by an amount determined by the reciprocal of the addition power for addition powers greater than 2.50 D.

22. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 21, wherein the x coordinate is adjusted to be equal to the point at which the chief ray from the near object point intersects the lens surface.

23. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 16, wherein the value of the Reading Contour for low to medium addition powers, P_r, varies with addition power.

24. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 23, wherein the relationship between the value of the Reading Contour, defined as the mean addition power at the highest reading point (HRP) and the nominal addition power, A, is given by the formula

25. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 24 wherein, for addition powers above 2.00 D, the value of the Reading Contour varies such that the difference between the power at the NMP and the HRP gradually increases from 0.5 D for a 2.25 D to 2.50 D addition powers up to 1.00 D for a 3.50 D addition power.

26. A progressive opthalmatic lens element including a first lens surface having

an upper viewing zone having a surface power corresponding to distance vision;

a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision; and

an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone and including

a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism;

the corridor and lower viewing zone exhibiting a power progression profile having at least two segments, with different slopes, the slopes of which being related at least in part to the prescribed addition power and depth of focus of the wearer; and

a lens base surface bearing a surface correction(s) to at least partially adjust for an observed optical aberration(s) within the upper viewing zone due to obliquity of incoming rays crossing the lens surface.

27. The lens element of claim 26, wherein the lens element is a member of a series of lens elements, the lens elements having different addition powers and wherein the slopes of said at least two segments of each lens element are determined at least in part based on the addition power of that lens element and the depth of focus of the wearer as indicated by the prescribed addition power.

28. A progressive opthalmatic lens element according to claim 27, wherein the optical aberration is introduced by pantoscopic tilt and/or wrap of the lens element in an “

as worn”

configuration;

the lens base surface having a generally aspheric component that is asymmetric in the vertical (y) and/or horizontal (x) direction.

29. A series of progressive opthalmatic lens elements each including

a lens surface having an upper viewing zone having a surface power corresponding to distance vision,

a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision;

and

an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone and including

a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism;

the corridor and lower viewing zone exhibiting a power progression profile having at least two segments, the slopes of which are related at least in part to the prescribed addition power and the depth of focus of the wearer; and

a lens base surface bearing a surface correction to at least partially adjust for an observed optical aberration(s) within the upper viewing zone due to obliquity of the incoming rays;

the lens base surface correction being described by a polynomial asymmetric along the vertical (Y) and/or horizontal (X) meridian; and

whose coefficients are chosen to minimise a merit function constructed of the sum of a selected optical aberration(s) within the upper and/or lower viewing zone.

30. A method of designing progressive opthalmatic lens elements including a first lens surface having

an upper viewing zone having a surface power corresponding to distance vision,

a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision;

and

an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone and including

a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism;

the corridor exhibiting a power progression from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the threshold of the lower viewing zone,

the corridor and lower viewing zone exhibiting a power progression profile having at least two segments, the slopes of which are related at least in part to the prescribed addition power and the depth of focus of the wearer;

the lens base surface bearing a surface correction(s) to at least partially adjust for an observed optical aberration(s) within the upper viewing zone;

which method includes

selecting a base surface function for the lens surface in the form of an n'"'"'th order asymmetric polynomial;

$z=\underset{k=0,1,2,\mathrm{\dots <br><br>}}{\overset{n}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\underset{j=0,1,2,\mathrm{\dots <br><br>}}{\overset{k}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>C_{k-j,j}<br><br>x^{k-j}<br><br>y^j.$

31. A method according to claim 30, further including selecting a merit function relating to at least one optical aberration characteristic of the lens to be minimised;

computing the coefficients of the asymmetric polynomial surface function that minimise the said merit function within the upper viewing zone of the opthalmatic lens element;

replacing the coefficients for a spherical base curve in the original design with the computed coefficients to obtain a new optically optimised design; and

fabricating an opthalmatic lens element having a lens surface shaped according to said modified merit function.

32. A method according to claim 31, further including selecting a modified merit function relating at least one optical aberration characteristic and at least one lens cosmetic characteristic to a merit figure.

33. A series of progressive opthalmatic lens elements, each lens element including a lens surface having

an upper viewing zone having a surface power to achieve a refracting power corresponding to distance vision;

a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision; and

an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone and including a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism;

the progressive opthalmatic lens series including

first, second and third sets of lens elements having at least one base curve suitable for use in providing a range of distance prescriptions for myopes, emmetropes or hyperopes, respectively, each lens element within a set differing in prescribed addition power and including a progressive design,

the corridor and lower viewing zone exhibiting a power progression profile having at least two segments the slopes of which are related to the prescribed addition power and depth or focus of the wearer;

each lens element within a set

having an addition power of from approximately 0.75 D to 1.50 D, exhibiting a relatively shallow power progression in the first segment and a relatively steep power progression in the second segment; and

having an addition power of from approximately 1.75 D to 3.00 D, exhibiting a relatively steep power progression in the first segment and a relatively shallow power progression in the second segment.

34. A lens element series according to claim 33 wherein the location of the corridor in each lens element within a set is dictated at least in part by the visual fixation locus;

the visual fixation locus being inset generally horizontally nasally below the fitting cross of the lens element;

the degree of inset varying along the eyepath profile relative to up to three reference points therealong.

35. A lens element series according to claim 34, wherein at the 0.5 D local addition power point (LAP) the degree of horizontal inset decreases with increasing addition power;

at the highest reading point (HRP) the inset is generally constant and corresponds to that of a reading distance of approximately 40 cm;

at the near measurement point the horizontal inset is a generally constant 2 mm up to addition powers of approximately 2.50 D, and then increases gradually with increasing addition power, up to a value of approximately 2.8 mm for a 3.50 D addition power.

36. A series of progressive opthalmatic lens elements, each lens element including a lens surface having

an upper viewing zone having a surface power to achieve a refracting power corresponding to distance vision;

a lower viewing zone having a greater surface power than the upper viewing zone to achieve a refracting power corresponding to near vision; and

an intermediate zone extending across the lens element having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone and including a corridor of relatively low surface astigmatism;

the progressive opthalmatic lens series including

a first, second and third set of lens elements having at least one base curve suitable for use in providing a range of distance prescriptions for myopes, emmetropes or hyperopes, respectively, each lens element within a set differing in prescribed addition power and including a progressive design,

the corridor and lower viewing zone exhibiting a multi-segmented power progression profile;

wherein the power progression of each lens element within a set includes a first segment from the fitting cross (FC) to the 0.5 D Local Addition Power (LAP) point;

the fitting cross (FC) being located at (0, y_FC) wherein the value of y_FC varies from approximately 2 mm to 6 mm above the geometric center of the lens element; and

the 0.5 D LAP point exhibiting an inset which is a function of the addition power ranging from approximately 2.0 mm for addition powers of 1.00 D and below, to approximately 0.5 mm for addition powers of approximately 2.50 D and above;

a second segment from the 0.50 D LAP point to the HRP;

the position of the HRP being located at (2, y_FC−

11) for addition powers up to 2.50 D and ranging to (2, y_FC−

13) for addition powers of approximately 3.00 D and above;

a third segment from the HRP to near vision measurement point (NMP), located at approximately (x, y_FC−

16);

wherein the x coordinate is approximately 2 mm for addition powers less than or equal to approximately 2.50 D, and is inset by an amount determined by the reciprocal of the addition power for addition powers greater than 2.50 D;

the slope of the power progression within the third segment varying from steeper than in the second segment for low addition power through generally equal to that within the second segment at medium addition powers, to relatively shallow at high addition powers.

37. A progressive opthalmatic lens element series according to claim 36, wherein the power progression includes a fourth segment from the NMP to the maximum addition power (MAP) point, at approximately (x, y_FC−

18.5);

wherein the x coordinate is approximately 2 mm for addition powers less than or equal to approximately 2.50 D, and is inset by an amount determined by the reciprocal of the addition power for addition powers greater than 2.50 D.

38. A progressive opthalmatic lens element series according to claim 37, wherein the value of the Reading Contour P. varies with addition power.

39. A progressive opthalmatic lens element series according to claim 38, wherein the relationship between the value of the Reading Contour and addition power is given by the formula

40. A progressive opthalmatic lens element series according to claim 39, wherein, for addition powers above 2.00 D, the Reading Contour varies such that the difference between the power of the NMP and the HRP gradually increases up to 1.00 D for a 3.50 D addition power.