Ophthalmic lens assemblies and methods of assembly and use

A method of assembling and using an ophthalmic lens assembly, the method comprising:

• disposing a protective cover about a lens element including one or more mirror facets that include respective TIR surfaces, wherein:
• a contact lens surface of the lens element is received through a contact aperture of the protective cover,
• the protective cover is stretch-fit about a periphery of the contact lens surface to maintain a proximal-side fluid seal;
• the protective cover is stretch-fit about a distal portion of the lens element to maintain a distal-side fluid seal;
• a faceted portion of the lens element including the one or more mirror facets is disposed between the contact lens surface and the distal portion of the lens element;
• and
• one or more TIR-inducing air gaps are defined by the protective cover between an interior surface of the protective cover and the one or more mirror facets of the lens element;
• placing the contact lens surface of the lens element in contact with a portion of a curvature surface of a cornea of an eye;
• and
• reflecting illumination into the eye via the TIR surfaces and redirecting light reflected by the eye via the TIR surfaces into a direction for external viewing.

A method of assembling an ophthalmic lens assembly by disposing a protective cover about a lens element including one or more mirror facets that include respective TIR surfaces, wherein:

• a contact lens surface of the lens element is received through a contact aperture of the protective cover,
• the protective cover is stretch-fit about a periphery of the contact lens surface to maintain a proximal-side fluid seal;
• the protective cover is stretch-fit about a distal portion of the lens element to maintain a distal-side fluid seal;
• a faceted portion of the lens element including the one or more mirror facets is disposed between the contact lens surface and the distal portion of the lens element;
• and
• one or more TIR-inducing air gaps are defined by the protective cover between an interior surface of the protective cover and the one or more mirror facets of the lens element.