Diffractive lens exhibiting enhanced optical performance
First Claim
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;
whereinthe 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.
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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.
152 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A multifocal ophthalmic lens, comprising:
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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;
whereinthe 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification