Vision correction with laser refractive index changes
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsLeonard Zheleznyak, Scott Catlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems wherein laser induced refractive index changes by focused femtosecond laser pulses in optical polymeric materials or optical tissues is performed to address various types of vision correction.
Claims17
An optical contact lens including central optical and outer peripheral zones comprising an optical polymer material, wherein select regions of the contact lens have been irradiated with a focused, visible or near-IR laser below the optical breakdown threshold of the optical polymer material to provide refractive structures that exhibit a change in refractive index, and exhibit little or no scattering loss, and wherein ablation or removal of the optical polymeric material is not observed in the irradiated regions,
- wherein laser-irradiated refractive structures provided in the central optical zone of the contact lens provide one or more of the following when the contact lens is employed by a patient:
- extended depth of focus;
- a multifocal;
- a trifocal;
- higher order aberration corrections;
- rotationally symmetric or asymmetric single rings;
- or custom corrections,
- and wherein the outer peripheral zone includes stabilization features to maintain orientation of the contact lens relative to a user's eye.
An optical contact lens for improving visual performance in a patient, including central optical and outer peripheral zones comprising an optical polymer material, wherein select regions of the contact lens in the central and outer zones have been irradiated with a focused, visible or near-IR laser below the optical breakdown threshold of the optical polymer material to provide refractive structures that exhibit a change in refractive index, and exhibit little or no scattering loss, and wherein ablation or removal of the optical polymeric material is not observed in the irradiated regions,
- wherein laser-irradiated refractive structures provided in the central optical zone of the contact lens provide one or more of the following when the contact lens is employed by a patient:
- extended depth of focus by inducing a higher order aberration;
- diffractive multifocal;
- trifocal;
- chromatic aberration correction;
- higher order aberration corrections;
- rotationally symmetric or asymmetric single ring;
- or custom corrections.
A method for modifying a contact lens for improving visual performance in a patient, wherein the contact lens includes central optical and outer peripheral zones comprising an optical polymer material, comprising:
- modifying the refractive index of the optical polymer material in the central and outer peripheral zones by irradiating select regions with a focused, visible or near-IR laser below the optical breakdown threshold of the optical polymer material to provide refractive structures that exhibit a change in refractive index, and exhibit little or no scattering loss, and scanning over the select regions with the laser such that ablation or removal of the optical polymer material is not observed in the irradiated region,
- wherein refractive structures provided in the central optical zone of the contact lens provide one or more of the following when the contact lens is employed by a patient:
- extended depth of focus by inducing a higher order aberration;
- diffractive multifocal;
- trifocal;
- chromatic aberration correction;
- higher order aberration corrections;
- rotationally symmetric or asymmetric single ring;
- or custom corrections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.