Diffractive lens exhibiting enhanced optical performance

• US 8,231,219 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amo Groningen B.V (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Amo Groningen B.V (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Weeber, Hendrik A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stultz, Jessica T
• Application Number:
  US12/429,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20090268155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 351168-172, 351/159.44, 359/558, 359/571
• US Class Current: 351/168
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1618 Multifocal lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1654 Diffractive lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/042 Simultaneous type
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/044 Annular configuration, e.g. pupil tuned

Abstract

The present invention provides improved ophthalmic lenses and methods for their design and use. Monofocal and multifocal diffractive ophthalmic lenses having reduced light scatter, improved light energy distribution properties, and/or other improvements in optical performance are provided. These properties are provided, at least in part, by the diffractive profiles of the invention, often having subtlety shaped echelettes with appropriately curving profiles. Smooth diffractive profiles may be used reduce light scatter. Diffractive profiles may be configured to limit the light energy in certain selected orders, thereby improving viewing quality and mitigating unwanted effects such as dysphotopsia. Diffractive profiles of may additionally or alternatively vary the light energy distributed between individual echelettes, providing additional advantages in various viewing situations.

Claims

1. A multifocal ophthalmic lens, comprising:

an anterior face with an anterior refractive profile and a posterior face with a posterior refractive profile, the faces disposed about an optical axis;

a diffractive profile imposed on one of the refractive profiles, the diffractive profile characterized by a continuous function over a plurality of echelettes and having, in the visible waveband, a zeroth diffractive order associated with a far focus, a first diffractive order associated with an add power of the lens, and a minus one diffractive order associated with a non-viewing diffractive order closest to the far focus;

wherein

the minus one diffractive order has a lower diffraction efficiency than a reference lens having the same refractive profiles and add power, the reference lens having a diffractive profile that is parabolic.

2. The multifocal ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the diffraction efficiency of the minus one diffractive order is less than about 4 percent.

3. The multifocal ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the diffraction efficiency of the minus one diffractive order is less than 2.5 percent.

4. The multifocal ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the diffractive profile is characterized by a continuous function over a plurality of echelettes, the continuous function defined by the relationship: