Multiple layer multifocal composite lens

• US 7,926,941 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated (Mitsui Chemicals)
• Original Assignee: Pixeloptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Iyer, Venkatramani S., Blum, Ronald D., Kokonaski, William, Haddock, Joshua N., Mattison-Shupnick, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz; Jordan M.
• Application Number:
  US12/275,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20090153795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 351/168, 351/171
• US Class Current: 351/168
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• 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

Aspects of the present invention provide multiple-layer (multi-layer) composite lenses comprising two or more materials and methods for making the same. A multi-layer composite lens of the present invention can use multiple surfaces (internal or external) to form optical elements that can contribute to a total desired add power. The multiple contributing optical elements can be aligned so as to be in optical communication to form multiple stable vision zones to enhance optical performance and the vision experience of the wearer. Distributing the total desired add power across multiple appropriately aligned optical elements that are in optical communication with one another can reduce the total distortion of the lens, minimize the number of optical discontinuities introduced, can reduce optical power jump as experienced by the wearer'"'"'s eye when traversing any discontinuity, and can reduce the visibility of any introduced optical discontinuity as perceived by an observer looking at the wearer.

Claims

1. A lens, comprising:

a distance vision zone, a far-intermediate vision zone, an intermediate vision zone and a near vision zone;

a first layer comprising a first index of refraction;

a second layer comprising a second index of refraction different than the first index of refraction;

a first surface of the first layer comprising a first incremental add power region contributing a first portion of a total add power of the lens; and

a second surface of the second layer comprising a second incremental add power region contributing a second portion of a total add power of the lens,

wherein a portion of a boundary of the second incremental add power region forms an optical discontinuity adjacent to the distance vision zone of the lens,

wherein the first and second incremental add power regions are positioned to be in optical communication so as to form the far-intermediate vision zone, the intermediate vision zone and the near vision zone.

2. The lens of claim 1, wherein the first layer of the lens is anterior to the second layer of the lens and the first surface comprises an external surface of the lens.

3. The lens of claim 2, wherein the second surface comprises an internal surface of the second layer of the lens.

4. The lens of claim 2, wherein the first incremental add power region comprises a refractive progressive optical power region.

5. The lens of claim 2, wherein the second incremental add power region comprises one of a spherical, a substantially spherical, and an aspheric optical power region.

6. The lens of claim 1, wherein the second incremental add power region is positioned 5 mm or less below a fitting point of the lens.

7. The lens of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first incremental add power region and the second incremental add power region is formed by free-forming.

11. The lens of claim 1, wherein a posterior surface of the first layer and anterior surface of the second layer are formed to substantially complement one another.

12. The lens of claim 1, further comprising a third layer between the first layer and the second layer.

13. The lens of claim 12, wherein the third layer comprises a third incremental add power region contributing a third portion of the total add power of the lens.

14. The lens of claim 12, wherein the third layer comprises a third index of refraction that is between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction.

15. The lens of claim 1, wherein the first layer of the lens is anterior to the second layer of the lens and the first surface comprises an anterior surface of the first layer of the lens.

8. A lens, comprising:

an intermediate vision zone and a near vision zone;

a first layer comprising a first index of refraction;

a second layer comprising a second index of refraction different than the first index of refraction;

a first surface of the first layer comprising a first incremental add power zone contributing a first portion of a total add power of the lens; and

a second surface of the second layer comprising a second incremental add power zone contributing a second portion of the total add power of the lens,

wherein the first incremental add power zone and the second incremental add power zone are positioned to be in optical communication so as to form the intermediate vision zone the near vision zone,

wherein a portion of a boundary of the second incremental add power zone forms an optical discontinuity on the second surface,

wherein the first and second incremental add power zones are discontinuous with respect to one another,

wherein the intermediate vision zone and the near vision zone appear to be continuous when viewed by a wearer looking through the lens.

9. The lens of claim 8, wherein the intermediate vision zone and the near vision zone are positioned within the boundary of the second incremental add power region.

10. The lens of claim 8, wherein the first incremental add power zone comprises a refractive progressive optical power region and the second incremental add power zone comprises a substantially spherical optical power region.

16. The lens of claim 8, wherein a posterior surface of the first layer and anterior surface of the second layer are formed to substantially complement one another.

17. The lens of claim 8, further comprising a third layer between the first layer and the second layer.

18. The lens of claim 17, wherein the third layer comprises a third incremental add power region contributing a third portion of the total add power of the lens.

19. The lens of claim 17, wherein the third layer comprises a third index of refraction that is between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction.

20. The lens of claim 8, wherein the first layer of the lens is anterior to the second layer of the lens and the first surface comprises an anterior surface of the first layer of the lens.