Ophthalmic lens with optimal power profile

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens includes an optical zone having a center and a spaced-apart periphery. The optical zone has a first corrective power range in a first region and a second corrective power range in an annular region surrounding the first optical zone. The second corrective power is corrective of spherical aberration of an eye. The optical zone has a power profile that gradually changes from the first corrective power to the second corrective power. A central progressive zone that provides intermediate vision correction may be applied to a central region of the lens. The progressive zone has a diameter that is less than or equal to the diameter of an aperture of a pupil when subjected to bright light.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefits under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 496,456, filed Aug. 20, 2003, incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application incorporates by reference co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 616,378, entitled “Method for Manufacturing a Contact Lens”, filed on Jul. 9, 2003, commonly assigned to the asignee of the present application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.[0002] The present invention relates to ophthalmic lenses and, more specifically to an ophthalmic lens having an optimal power profile for vision. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Contact lenses are ophthalmic lenses worn on the anterior cornea that are widely used for correcting many different types of vision deficiencies. These include defects such as near-sightedness (myopia) and far-sightedness (hypermetropia), astigmatism, and defects in near range vision usually associated with aging (presbyopia). A typical ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] In another aspect, the invention is an ophthalmic lens having an optical axis, a central optical zone and a peripheral optical zone surrounding the central optical zone. The central optical zone has a first diameter and a first corrective power range corresponding to near and intermediate vision. The peripheral optical zone has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The peripheral optical zone is coaxial or nearly coaxial with the central optical zone and provides distance intermediate vision correction.

Problems solved by technology

While there exist contact lenses that provide intermediate correction, having to change back and forth between normal lenses and intermediate lenses is awkward for the user.

Intermediate mono-vision is not well tolerated by most individuals.

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