Ophthalmic lens with surface structures
OwnerWerner J. Fialainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lens, particularly a contact lens, including surface structures on at least one of the lens surfaces. The surface structures improve lubrication conditions of the lens and increase lens comfort. Within the optical portion of the lens the surface structures comprise annular grooves of given depth and shape such that the optical performance of the lens is not adversely affected by these grooves. Appropriate surface structures on the non-optical portion may be formed in any shape and geometry.
Claims25
A monofocal contact lens comprising:
- a front surface having a substantially convex shape associated therewith;
- and
- a back surface having a substantially concave shape associated therewith;
- wherein at least one of the front and back surfaces is not substantially smooth and includes means for increasing a surface area thereof to provide improved lens wearer comfort, and further wherein the means for increasing a surface area comprises surface structures provided by a plurality of substantially annular grooves which include a depth t measured from an envelope comprising a smooth curve at said surface such that a value t(nL-ni) is larger than λ/14, being a wavelength of light, nL being the refractive index of the lens, and ni being the refractive index of the medium within the groove.
A multifocal contact lens comprising:
- a front surface of substantially convex shape;
- a back surface of substantially concave shape;
- and
- surface structure optics provided on one of the front and back surfaces;
- wherein the surface not including the surface structure optics includes means for increasing a surface area thereof to provide increased lens wearer comfort, and further wherein the means for increasing a surface area includes surface structures comprising a plurality of substantially annular grooves which include a depth t measured from an envelope comprising a smooth curve at said surface such that a value t(nL-ni) is larger than λ/14, being a wavelength of light, nL being the refractive index of the lens, and ni being the refractive index of the medium within the groove.
An ophthalmic lens of power D, comprising:
- at least two substantially annular zones wherein a refractive power within any of said annular zones is a variable according to a power profile, wherein an average refractive power within any of said substantially annular zones is substantially equal to D and wherein the difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of said power profile within at least one zone is greater than one diopter.
A multifocal diffractive lens comprising annular zones exhibiting periodic power profiles in r2-space, wherein a light intensity in a zeroth diffractive order is at least 90% of a total transmitted light intensity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.