System and method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye
First Claim
1. A method for improving the vision of a human eye, the method comprising:
- providing a corneal inlay comprising a centrally located pinhole aperture having a central axis and an outer periphery, the corneal inlay further comprising an anterior surface and a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed about the pinhole aperture, each of said small holes configured to transmit substantially less light than the pinhole aperture, the structure comprising a material configured to prevent transmission of a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface, wherein the distance from the outer periphery of said pinhole aperture to at least one of said small holes is less than the distance of the outer periphery of said pinhole aperture to the central axis of the pinhole aperture; and
inserting the corneal inlay into the cornea.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient'"'"'s depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient'"'"'s eye to increase the depth of focus.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for improving the vision of a human eye, the method comprising:
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providing a corneal inlay comprising a centrally located pinhole aperture having a central axis and an outer periphery, the corneal inlay further comprising an anterior surface and a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed about the pinhole aperture, each of said small holes configured to transmit substantially less light than the pinhole aperture, the structure comprising a material configured to prevent transmission of a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface, wherein the distance from the outer periphery of said pinhole aperture to at least one of said small holes is less than the distance of the outer periphery of said pinhole aperture to the central axis of the pinhole aperture; and inserting the corneal inlay into the cornea. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28)
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5. A method for improving the vision of a human eye, the method comprising:
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providing an ophthalmic device comprising a pinhole aperture, an anterior surface, and a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed about the pinhole aperture, each of said small holes configured to transmit substantially less light than the pinhole aperture, the structure comprising a material configured to prevent transmission of a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface; arranging the small holes disposed about the pinhole aperture to influence light interference properties of the ophthalmic device; and inserting the ophthalmic device into the cornea. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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9. A method for improving the vision of a human eye, the method comprising:
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providing an ophthalmic device comprising a pinhole-like optical aperture, an anterior surface, and a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed about the pinhole-like optical aperture, each of said small holes configured to transmit substantially less light than the pinhole like optical aperture, the structure comprising a material configured to prevent transmission of a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface; wherein the structure comprises a weave; and inserting the ophthalmic device into the cornea.
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14. A method for improving the vision of a human eye, the method comprising:
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providing an ophthalmic device comprising a pinhole aperture, an anterior surface, and a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed about the pinhole aperture, each of said small holes configured to transmit substantially less light than the pinhole aperture, the structure comprising a material configured to prevent transmission of a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface; wherein the ophthalmic device reinforces at least some relatively parallel light and attenuates at least some relatively diverging light; and inserting the ophthalmic device into the cornea.
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25. A method for improving the vision of a human eye, the method comprising:
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providing a corneal inlay comprising a centrally located pinhole aperture, an anterior surface, and a structure surrounding a plurality of small holes disposed about the pinhole aperture, each of said holes being substantially smaller than the pinhole aperture, wherein at least three of the small holes are intersected by a line intersecting the pinhole aperture, the structure comprising a material configured to absorb a substantial portion of light incident on the anterior surface; and inserting the corneal inlay into the cornea.
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Specification