Ophthalmic lens with repeating wave patterns

• US 8,721,073 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bowers, Angie L., Roffman, Jeffrey H., Michalski, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US13/549,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 35115924-15927, 35115929-15932, 351/159.64, 351/159.66, 351/159.81
• US Class Current: 351/159.31
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens incorporating a repeating periodic wavelike pattern of pigmented lines is utilized to highlight, shade and expose the iris of the wearer to create an enhanced look without affecting the natural appearance of the iris. The ophthalmic lens incorporates the repeating periodic wavelike pattern of pigmented lines in a region corresponding to the wearer'"'"'s iris.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye, the ophthalmic device comprising:

a contact lens having a central zone which includes a pupil region at the center thereof and an effect zone positioned around the perimeter of the central zone, and a peripheral zone surrounding the central zone, the central zone being sized to substantially correspond in size to an iris of an eye; and

a series of pigmented lines arranged in a wavelike, repeating pattern formed in the effect zone of the central zone of the contact lens, the pigmented lines have equal widths and thickness and are configured with peaks and troughs that radiate towards and away from the pupil region, wherein the spacing between each of the pigmented lines is unequal for adding shading and depth to the iris when the contact lens is on-eye, each of the pigmented lines follows the same trajectory in the effect zone.

2. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 1, further comprising a limbal ring section positioned between the effect zone of the central zone and the peripheral zone of the contact lens.

3. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 2, wherein the limbal ring section comprises a line of predetermined thickness and color sized to substantially cover the limbus of an eye.

4. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 3, wherein the line is at least one of opaque or translucent color.

5. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 1, wherein the series of pigmented lines arranged in a wavelike, repeating pattern are derived from mathematical functions.

6. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 5, wherein the mathematical functions include trigonometric functions, polynomial functions and Fourier functions.

7. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 1, wherein the thicknesses and spacing between the series of pigmented lines are varied to create regions which substantially block visibility of the iris and regions that allow the iris to be visible.

8. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of coloring or tinting in the peripheral zone.

9. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 8, wherein the at least one of coloring or tinting is translucent.

10. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 8, wherein the at least one of coloring or tinting is opaque.

11. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 8, wherein the at least one of coloring or tinting graduates from translucent to opaque.

12. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 8, further comprising at least one of coloring or tinting in the central zone.

13. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 1, wherein the contact lens is a soft contact lens.

14. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 1, wherein the contact lens is a hard contact lens.

15. The ophthalmic device configured to alter the appearance of an eye according to claim 7, wherein the series of pigmented lines are at least one of colored or tinted to blend and enhance the iris of the wearer.