Method for Designing Edge-to-Edge Photochromic Soft Contact Lenses

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to novel soft contact lenses with edge-to-edge photochromic materials, wherein the geometry of the optical and peripheral regions of the lens is optimized to impart an optimal cosmetic effect to the eye. The vision correction and mechanical components of the soft contact lens are designed independently of each other. The design of each component (vision and mechanical) is achieved by using diffractive optics.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The present disclosure relates to ophthalmic devices such as wearable lenses, which include contact lenses, implantable lenses, inlays and onlays, and any other type of device including optical components, and more particularly, to ophthalmic devices and methods for designing edge-to-edge photochromic ophthalmic devices.

[0003] 2. Discussion of Related Fields

[0004] Soft contact lenses are primarily designed to correct vision impairments, but other aspects of the lens are also considered during the design process, such as handling (for lens insertion and removal), comfort, fit, or any other aspect that needs to be considered during the design process. Standard cosmetic lenses such as tinted lenses provide cosmetic enhancement in the corneal region. Generally, printed patterns and / or tinted areas do not extend up to the edge of the lens and thus do not visually affect the scleral region of the eye.

[0005] In the present disclosure, a soft contact lens may comprise a monomer mixture containing a photochromic dye material or may be formed from a monomer mixture containing a photochromic dye material. In one aspect, since the photochromic dye is fully mixed with the lens material monomers, the photochromic region can cover the entire surface of the lens, thus affecting not only the corneal region of the eye but also the sclera. Once the lens is on the eye and the photochromic dye is activated, the outer region of the lens can darken (e.g., exhibiting a decrease in transmittance T% and a darker appearance to an observer). If the peripheral thickness of the lens and the amount of photochromic dye are not properly selected, the transition from the lens edge to the sclera will not look aesthetically appealing to the wearer, due at least to the rapid change in darkness in this region. In addition, vision correction provided by a contact lens is typically obtained by adjusting the refractive power within the optical region. For lenses with large power corrections, there are significant changes in thickness in this optical region. High plus power lenses (e.g., above +6.00 D) will have a thick central optical region, while high minus power lenses (e.g., below -6.00 D) will have a thick peripheral optical region. For example, a high plus power lens will have a thick central optical region that thins towards the edge of the region, while a high minus power lens will have a thin central optical region that thickens towards the edge of the region. The minimum thickness at the center or edge of the optical zone is mainly driven by the material modulus. The change in the thickness of the optical zone is also driven by the selection of the optical zone diameter. These significant changes in thickness within the optical zone will also have an impact on the aesthetics of the lens.

[0006] Improvements are still needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present disclosure relates to ophthalmic lenses and methods in which the lens thickness profile is designed to optimize the color change and appearance of the lens on the eye when the photochromic dye is activated. The present disclosure relates to a soft contact lens having an edge-to-edge photochromic material, wherein the optical and peripheral regions of the lens are designed to impart a desired cosmetic effect to the eye.

[0008] The photochromic effect within the pupil region must be constant across its entire aperture. The so-called photochromic effect is the amount of light transmitted to the eye, which is described as %T, and this %T represents the percentage of light that passes through when the dye is activated. This can be achieved by offsetting the front surface curvature from the back surface by an amount such that the radial thickness along the region remains constant or substantially constant. The radial thickness is the lens thickness calculated in a direction perpendicular to the back surface of the lens. This setting provides the same amount of %T regardless of the region of the lens used. Vision correction obtained through refractive power cannot be achieved in this way because, based on the rules of refraction (Snell's law of refraction), the front and back surfaces of the lens need to have different curvatures to provide a specific refractive power.

[0009] It may be desirable for the photochromic effect in the peripheral region not to differ too much from the inner region. If the peripheral region is much thicker than the optical region, the periphery will appear darker and will not be cosmetically appealing to the wearer. This will occur in lenses with high negative powers, as Figure 1 shown, where the central thickness is minimal and the peripheral thickness is maximal, thus providing the largest thickness difference. Similarly, for lenses with high positive powers, as Figure 2 shown, a large thickness difference will occur between the edge of the optical zone and the peripheral region.

[0010] For those skilled in the art of soft contact lens design, there is no difficulty in designing a contact lens with a constant thickness from its geometric center to its edge ( Figure 3 ). Such lenses will provide a purely cosmetic benefit but will not provide proper vision correction, and that's all.

[0011] In the present disclosure, vision correction (e.g., according to a target vision profile) can be obtained using diffractive optical methods, where the vision correction is designed for a given thickness profile within the optical zone. The thickness profile may not be optimized for the optical aspects of the lens, but rather for its mechanical and geometric aspects for cosmetic, comfort, handling, and fitting purposes. More specifically, the cosmetic appearance or cosmetic profile of the lens may include a target lens thickness or percentage of photochromic dye, which results in a specific level of %T and darkness upon activation, or both. Other characteristics or performance metrics may be included in the cosmetic profile.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, aspects of lens comfort, handling, and fit, defined by lens material properties in combination with the mechanical and geometric properties of the lens, can be optimized or customized independently of vision correction. The mechanical properties of the lens material can depend on the amount of photochromic material added to the base monomers that form the lens material. Since vision correction can be separated (e.g., completely separated, independent) from the mechanical aspects of the lens, the geometry can be cosmetically optimized to achieve the best visual effect on the eye, particularly for the peripheral region of the lens that covers a portion of the sclera, where the photochromic dye may be more visually apparent to the wearer when activated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure as illustrated in the drawings below.

[0014] Figure 1 Is a cross-section of a high minus power lens, where the thickest region in the central optical zone is at its center.

[0015] Figure 2 Is a cross-section of a high plus power lens, where the thickest region in the central optical zone is at its edge.

[0016] Figure 3 Is a cross-section of a lens where the radial thickness remains constant from the center to the edge.

[0017] Figures 4A to 4B Shows examples of the radial peripheral thickness of single vision contact lenses for multiple SKUs in the range of -12.0D to +8.00D.

[0018] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Are two views of an exemplary diffractive surface.

[0019] Figure 6A and Figure 6B Show examples of a soft contact lens containing 1% of the activated photochromic dye and a soft contact lens containing 4% of the activated photochromic dye.

[0020] Figure 7 Is an example of a soft contact lens containing 4% of the activated photochromic dye.

[0021] Figure 8 Is an example of a soft contact lens containing 1% of the activated photochromic dye.

[0022] Figure 9 Is an example of a soft contact lens containing 1% of the activated photochromic dye.

[0023] Figure 10is a cross-section of a lens, in which the thickness distribution in the central optical zone and the peripheral zone has been designed to optimize the cosmetic appearance of the lens on the eye when the photochromic dye is activated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the present disclosure, a contact lens may include a front or refractive surface, a rear or back surface, and an edge. The front and rear surfaces of the lens are described by at least three regions, namely, an inner region for obtaining vision correction, an outer periphery of the lens that provides mechanical stability of the lens on the eye, and an intermediate region located between the inner region and the outer region, which is used to smoothly blend the two aforementioned regions so that no discontinuity occurs.

[0025] The "optical zone" is defined as the generally central portion of the lens that includes vision correction for the refractive anomaly and / or presbyopia of the wearer. "Refractive anomaly" is defined as the optical power typically required to provide good visual acuity at a distance. It has been recognized that this will include myopia or hyperopia. Presbyopia is corrected by adding an algebraic positive optical power to a portion of the optical zone to correct the near visual acuity requirements of the wearer. It has been recognized that these optical powers can be generated by refractive devices, or diffractive devices, or both.

[0026] The peripheral zone can provide stability of the lens on the eye, including centering and orientation. This region of the lens also provides mechanical properties such as handling, comfort, and fit related to ease of insertion and ease of removal. The tightness of the lens on the eye drives a loose fit that can cause excessive movement or a tight fit that can cause insufficient movement. When the optical zone includes non-rotationally symmetric features (such as astigmatism correction and / or higher-order aberration correction), orientation stability may be desirable. The intermediate zone can blend the optical zone and the peripheral zone using a tangent curve. It is important to note that both the optical zone and the peripheral zone can be designed independently, but sometimes their designs are highly relevant when specific requirements are necessary. For example, the design of a toric lens with an astigmatic optical zone may require a peripheral zone to hold the lens in a predetermined orientation on the eye.

[0027] The photochromic effect can be cosmetically obtained with a constant thickness over the entire inner and outer regions of the lens. This cannot be achieved in the inner region of the lens because vision correction is typically obtained through refractive power, which requires a thickness change at the center or at the edge of the central optical zone of the lens to accommodate the curvature change of the front surface of the lens.

[0028] Figures 4A to 4BShows examples of the lens radial thickness of a single-vision soft contact lens for SKUs in the range of -12.0D to 8.00D. The center thickness (CT) can vary from 0.70 mm to 0.270 mm across the SKU range, where the minimum and maximum thickness values are driven by the lens material refractive index, the choice of optical zone diameter, and the mechanical properties of the lens material. The maximum peripheral thickness (PT) can vary based on the same lens material and lens design choices as the CT.

[0029] The mechanical components of the lens can be designed to optimally provide a cosmetic effect. The target photochromic effect (e.g., based on a cosmetic profile) can be cosmetically achieved at a constant thickness across the entire inner and outer regions of the lens. For example, the center thickness can be adjusted based on the desired darkness driven by the amount of photochromic dye present in the monomer mixture. For low concentrations (e.g., concentrations below 1.00%) of the photochromic dye, a larger center thickness may be required to achieve the same amount of darkness as obtained with a higher concentration of the photochromic dye. The center thickness can also be adjusted based on the desired %T amount, which can also result in different darkness levels.

[0030] For those skilled in the art of soft contact lens design, it is known that a thicker peripheral region provides better handling performance. The thickness in the peripheral region can depend on the material stiffness. A harder lens material requires a smaller thickness in the periphery to achieve the same handling performance compared to a softer material. The thickness difference between the edge of the optical zone and the inner region of the periphery is managed by an intermediate region, which is intended to blend these two regions in a smooth manner. For photochromic lenses, the peripheral thickness may need to be compromised such that the peripheral region of the lens is thicker than the inner region of the lens to maintain handling performance and still provide a better cosmetic effect than conventional lenses.

[0031] Other criteria can also be considered during the lens design process, such as lens inversion, lens folding, and lens wrapping, which are typically evaluated through FEA modeling. Such criteria related to the mechanical properties of the lens can also be included in the process of optimizing the cosmetic effect and adjusted according to the desired lens performance.

[0032] The vision correction component (e.g., based on a vision profile) can be designed based on the selected thickness profile of the inner region of the lens. For those skilled in the art of soft contact lens design, it should be well understood that the inner region can be optimized for multiple levels of thickness. It must be noted that this second step of the present disclosure can be performed in parallel with the first step of the present disclosure.

[0033] There are beneficial effects in using diffraction methods because the diffractive optical zone can produce a power at the surface of the lens that is independent of the surface shape. Additionally, the lens power can be a combination of refractive power and diffractive optical power that provides the overall desired power. The diffractive lens surface has general characteristics depicted by the planar surface distribution and cross-sectional surface distribution as shown in Figure 5A and Figure 5B . It consists of many small zones separated by steps. These steps are exaggerated in the figure, but they are typically only a few micrometers high. This structure will be added to the base curve below. Each zone corresponding to a ring has approximately the same surface area, and the width decreases as the ring is farther from the geometric center. Given the radial distance r i from the center of the boundary of the i-th zone, the general simplified formula is

[0034]

[0035] where P is the diffractive optical power at the design wavelength ω, in diopters. A convenient use of units is to set the wavelength in micrometers (e.g., 0.543) and the power in diopters to the radius in mm.

[0036] One way to consider a diffractive lens is to note that light waves are periodic and they repeat after each wavelength. The zone boundaries are typically set at positions where the optical path to the desired image point increases by a certain wavelength. This can be thought of as seeing the light propagate across the surface to identify the individual waves. For a standard single-focus diffractive lens, the physical step height is placed at the step position to delay the light by 1 wavelength. The region between the steps is a paraboloid that also essentially focuses the light to the desired image position. At the design wavelength, in principle, all the light is correctly focused, and the ray-tracing concept of all the rays entering the focus is consistent with the wavefront concept of light.

[0037] The diffractive structure can be implemented as a physical micro-relief on one of the lens surfaces in the lens surface, and it is presumed that this will be in contact with the tear film having a refractive index of about 1.336. An alternative form is to produce a physical distribution at the intersection of two surfaces of different materials within the lens itself. The height of each step is given by

[0038] h = ω / (n2 - n1) (2)

[0039] where n2 and n1 are the refractive index values of the two materials. Using refractive index values of, for example, 1.42 and 1.336, for a wavelength of 0.543 um, the physical step height will be approximately 6.5 micrometers.

[0040] The number of zones for a given diffractive lens diameter is given by formula 1, which can be rearranged as

[0041] N zones = ((0.5. diameter)2 .P) / (2.ω) (3)

[0042] For a diffraction diameter of 8.5 mm and a dioptric power of 4.0 D, this will be 66 zones, each zone having a step at a boundary of 6.5 microns.

[0043] The width of the outer zone is also given in Table 1 below. This gives an indication of the accuracy required to fabricate the steps so as not to block a significant portion of the zones. For a 4.0 D with a diameter of 8.5 mm, an outer zone width of 32 microns is about 1 / 5 of the step height.

[0044] Table 1

[0045]

[0046]

[0047] For those skilled in the art of soft contact lens design, there are other key aspects in the design of a diffractive surface that drives optical performance that have not been described in detail. These can include longitudinal chromatic aberration, diffraction efficiency, and scattering from the steps.

[0048] The diffractive surface can be placed on the front surface of the lens or on the back surface of the lens. The diffractive surface must always be covered by the tear film, where the tear film surface is continuous and without a pattern from the diffractive structure. The diffractive surface can preferably be placed on the back surface of the lens. The diffractive power can also be divided between the two surfaces so as to minimize the zone height for high lens powers. Another solution is to embed the diffractive surface within the lens.

[0049] For soft contact lenses based on refractive power, the optical zone diameter varies across the SKU range due to thickness constraints. High minus power lenses (e.g., below -6.00 D) that require a flat front curvature have a smaller optical zone diameter than low power lenses due to the large thickness at the edge of the optical zone. To control the thickness at this location, the optical zone diameter is reduced such that the thickness is of approximately the same magnitude as the maximum peripheral thickness ( Figure 4A and Figure 4B ). High plus power lenses (requiring a stepped front curvature) also have a smaller optical zone diameter than low power lenses due to the large thickness at the center of the optical zone. To control the thickness at this location, the optical zone diameter is reduced such that the center thickness is of approximately the same magnitude as the maximum peripheral thickness.

[0050] Since the optical device is designed based on the diffraction principle and is independent of the base surface / carrying surface, there is no longer a thickness constraint, allowing the SKU to have the same OZ diameter across the entire SKU range. Typically, the OZ diameter is in the range of 7.00 mm to 9.50 mm, which depends on those thickness constraints. For diffractive designs, the optical zone diameter is not limited to a small diameter for high power SKUs. The OZ diameter is preferably set to at least 8.50 mm and preferably a minimum of 9.00 mm. The only constraint that could drive the OZ diameter to a smaller value would be the size of the diffractive zone. The width of the outer zone of the diffractive surface must be wide enough to still be manufacturable.

[0051] Examples

[0052] The thickness ratio can be defined as the ratio of the center thickness to the maximum peripheral thickness. The thickness ratio is introduced in the exemplary part of the second paragraph. The smaller the ratio, the greater the thickness difference between the center thickness and the maximum peripheral thickness. A ratio of one would correspond to a lens of constant thickness.

[0053] In Figure 6A and Figure 6B , the standard geometry of a soft contact lens such as an Acuvue2 lens is used to obtain a photochromic lens. The prescription of the lens is -1.00 D. The amount of dye varies from 1.0% to 4.0% between the first embodiment (A) and the second embodiment (B). Both images show the lens when the dye is activated. In each case, it is clear to distinguish the optical zone from the periphery of the lens due to the difference in darkness. In this embodiment, the center thickness of the lens is approximately 0.124 mm, and the maximum peripheral thickness is approximately 0.240 mm. The CT / PT thickness ratio is approximately 0.51.

[0054] In the second embodiment ( Figure 7 ), a -1.00 D power photochromic lens is obtained using 1% of a photochromic dye added to the monomer mixture. The center thickness of the lens is approximately 0.080 mm, and the maximum peripheral thickness is approximately 0.203 mm. The CT / PT thickness ratio is approximately 0.39. Similar to the previous embodiment, the darkness of the optical zone is lighter than the peripheral region of the lens. When the photochromic dye is activated, these two regions are extremely different from each other.

[0055] In Figure 8 , a -1.00 D power photochromic lens is obtained using 1% of a photochromic dye added to the monomer mixture. The center thickness of the lens is approximately 0.158 mm, and the maximum peripheral thickness is approximately 0.187 mm. The CT / PT thickness ratio is approximately 0.85. In another embodiment ( Figure 9), a -1.00 D powered photochromic lens is also obtained by using 1% of a photochromic dye added to the monomer mixture. The center thickness of the lens is about 0.117 mm, and the maximum peripheral thickness is about 0.182 mm. The CT / PT thickness ratio is about 0.64. Thus, by thickening the optical zone while thinning the peripheral zone, a balance of darkness across the lens can be achieved while reducing the amount of transmitted light (%T). In a preferred embodiment, the CT / PT thickness ratio must be at least greater than 0.65 to obtain a cosmetically acceptable lens, but preferably greater than 0.85. Figure 10 Shows the radial peripheral thickness of a soft contact lens with a thickness ratio of 0.85. For the same thickness ratio that will result in better handling performance, a greater center thickness will provide a thicker peripheral thickness.

[0056] In the provided examples, the ratio is defined by CT and the maximum peripheral thickness because the refractive lens power is -1.00 D. For plus-powered lenses, the thickness ratio should be defined by the edge thickness of the optical zone and the maximum peripheral thickness. Preferably, the thickness ratio should be defined by the minimum thickness within the optical zone and the maximum peripheral thickness.

[0057] If a certain amount of photochromic dye is gradually applied in the peripheral zone of the lens, a lower aspect ratio can be obtained, thereby providing a thicker peripheral thickness to further improve handling if needed.

[0058] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art of soft contact lens design that adding a diffractive component to a lens having a thickness profile corresponding to one of the last examples will not change the cosmetic characteristics of the lens when the photochromic dye will be activated.

[0059] Design Method

[0060] The present disclosure relates to a method of designing a soft contact lens with a photochromic material, wherein the optical zone and the peripheral zone of the lens are designed to provide an optimal cosmetic effect to the eye. The contact lens includes a rigid substitute covered with an epidermis of a material commonly used for soft contact lenses. The reactive photochromic dye material can be part of the monomers forming the outer skin of the lens (mixed with the main monomers of the material constituting the soft contact lens) or part of the rigid material of the substitute, or both, such that the photochromic zone of the lens is defined within the geometric center of the lens or up to its edge in the case where the photochromic zone is constructed within the outer skin, or is defined by a combination of the outer skin and the substitute.

[0061] One purpose of the alternative is to provide the desired vision correction using a diffractive optical device as the means for creating the desired vision correction. The methods of the present disclosure can be applied to any type of vision correction, including but not limited to lower order aberrations such as defocus caused by myopia or hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, etc.; and higher order aberrations caused by conditions such as keratoconus; or any other vision correction using patient specific vision information. One advantage of using a diffractive optical device is that the mechanical geometry of the alternative does not have to vary greatly to provide a large range of vision correction.

[0062] Soft contact lenses are primarily designed to correct vision impairments, but other aspects of the lens are also considered during the design process, such as handling (for lens insertion and removal), comfort, fit, or any other aspects that need to be considered during the design process. Standard cosmetic lenses such as tinted lenses provide cosmetic enhancement in the corneal region. Generally, printed patterns and / or tinted areas do not extend up to the edge of the lens and thus do not visually affect the scleral region of the eye.

[0063] In the present disclosure, the photochromic region can cover the entire surface of the lens, thus affecting not only the corneal region of the eye but also the sclera. Once the lens is on the eye and the photochromic dye is activated, the outer region of the lens will also have the potential to darken. If the peripheral thickness of the lens and the amount of photochromic dye are not properly selected, the transition from the lens edge to the sclera will not look aesthetically appealing to the wearer due to the rapid change in darkness in this region. The design of the present invention provides a solution to this visual effect, where the peripheral thickness is designed to optimize the color change and appearance of the lens on the eye when the photochromic dye is activated.

[0064] Since the vision correction aspect of the lens is provided by the alternative and the remaining aspects of the lens such as handling, comfort, fit, or any other aspects required to be considered during the design process are provided by the outer skin, the mechanical and optical properties are independently controlled, thus providing multiple beneficial effects for the contact lens. A unique soft skirt can be designed for specific needs such as handling, fit, comfort, or can be designed the same across the entire SKU range such that it provides:

[0065] - The same or substantially the same handling performance across the entire SKU range

[0066] - The same or substantially the same fit across the entire SKU range

[0067] - The same or substantially the same comfort performance across the entire SKU range

[0068] The diffractive optical device can be applied to the front surface of the alternative, the back surface of the alternative, or a combination of both.

[0069] The following are examples of how two components can be combined to obtain different photochromic effects:

[0070] - where the alternative provides only a specific case of a photochromic region defined only in the central region of the lens.

[0071] - where the skin provides only another specific case of a photochromic region defined from edge to edge of the lens.

[0072] - where the alternative and the skin provide another specific case of a photochromic region defined from edge to edge of the lens. In this specific case, the effect (darkness level) of the photochromic dye can be the same or different in the two regions.

[0073] Although the embodiments shown and described are believed to be the most practical and preferred, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the specific designs and methods described and shown, and that these variations can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is not limited to the specific construction described and shown, but should be construed to conform to all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A photochromic ophthalmic lens, comprising: a body including an optical zone and a peripheral zone disposed adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the optical zone includes a refractive structure, and wherein the optical zone and the peripheral zone contain a photochromic dye; and a diffraction structure disposed within the optical zone or adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens has a thickness distribution configured based on an aesthetic distribution associated with a target transmission level of light, and wherein the aesthetic distribution of the photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a target lens thickness and a percentage of the photochromic dye so as to produce a specific level of %T and darkness when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein the %T represents the percentage of light passing through when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein a visual acuity distribution associated with the photochromic ophthalmic lens is defined based at least on the diffraction structure, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a soft contact lens, wherein a thickness ratio is defined as the ratio of the center thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens to the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein for a plus-powered lens, the thickness ratio is defined by the edge thickness of the optical zone of the photochromic ophthalmic lens and the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 0.65 and less than 1.

2. A photochromic ophthalmic lens, comprising: a body including an optical zone and a peripheral zone disposed adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the optical zone includes a refractive structure, and wherein the optical zone and the peripheral zone contain a photochromic dye; and a diffraction structure disposed within the optical zone or adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens has a thickness distribution configured based on an aesthetic distribution associated with a target transmission level of light, and wherein the aesthetic distribution of the photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a target lens thickness and a percentage of the photochromic dye so as to produce a specific level of %T and darkness when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein the %T represents the percentage of light passing through when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein a visual acuity distribution associated with the photochromic ophthalmic lens is defined based at least on the diffraction structure, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a soft contact lens, wherein a thickness ratio is defined as the ratio of the center thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens to the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein for a plus-powered lens, the thickness ratio is defined by the edge thickness of the optical zone of the photochromic ophthalmic lens and the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 0.75 and less than 1.

3. A photochromic ophthalmic lens, comprising: a body including an optical zone and a peripheral zone disposed adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the optical zone includes a refractive structure, and wherein the optical zone and the peripheral zone contain a photochromic dye; and a diffraction structure disposed within the optical zone or adjacent to the optical zone, The photochromic ophthalmic lens has a thickness distribution configured based on a cosmetic distribution associated with a target transmission level of light, and wherein the cosmetic distribution of the photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a target lens thickness and a percentage of photochromic dye so as to produce a specific level of %T and darkness when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein the %T represents the percentage of light that passes through when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein a vision distribution associated with the photochromic ophthalmic lens is defined based at least on the diffraction structure, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a soft contact lens, wherein a thickness ratio is defined as the ratio of the central thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens to the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein, for a plus-powered lens, the thickness ratio is defined by the edge thickness of the optical zone of the photochromic ophthalmic lens and the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 0.85 and less than 1.

4. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The thickness distribution is optimized based on the cosmetic distribution on the vision distribution.

5. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The cosmetic distribution includes a target amount of the photochromic dye in the optical zone and the peripheral zone.

6. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The vision distribution includes a refractive power distribution.

7. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The vision distribution is defined based on at least the refractive structure and the diffraction structure.

8. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The vision distribution is associated with a target refractive power.

9. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to claim 8, wherein, The target refractive power is between -20D and +20D.

10. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to claim 8, wherein, The target refractive power is between -12D and +8D.

11. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed on a posterior optical surface of the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

12. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed on an anterior optical surface of the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

13. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed on one or more of the anterior optical surface or the posterior optical surface of the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

14. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is embedded in the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

15. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed adjacent to a periphery of the optical zone.

16. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed adjacent to the peripheral zone.

17. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed around a circumference of the optical zone.

18. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed circumferentially around at least a portion of the optical zone.

19. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure is disposed circumferentially around the optical zone at a predetermined radius from a center of the optical zone.

20. The photochromic ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The diffraction structure includes mechanical features configured to exhibit optical diffraction of incident light.

21. A method of manufacturing a photochromic ophthalmic lens, comprising: determining a vision distribution; determining a cosmetic distribution associated with a target transmission level of light; forming a body including an optical zone and a peripheral zone disposed adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the optical zone includes a refractive structure, and wherein the optical zone and the peripheral zone contain a photochromic dye, and wherein one or more of the optical zone and the peripheral zone have a thickness distribution configured based on the cosmetic distribution, and wherein the cosmetic distribution of the photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a target lens thickness and a percentage of photochromic dye so as to produce a specific level of %T and darkness when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein the %T represents the percentage of light that passes through when the photochromic dye is activated; and Forming a diffractive structure disposed within or adjacent to the optical zone based on the vision distribution, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens comprises a soft contact lens, wherein the thickness ratio is defined as the ratio of the central thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens to the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein for a plus-powered lens, the thickness ratio is defined by the edge thickness of the optical zone of the photochromic ophthalmic lens and the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 0.65 and less than 1.

22. A method of manufacturing a photochromic ophthalmic lens, comprising: Determining a vision distribution; Determining a cosmetic distribution associated with a target transmission level of light; Forming a body comprising an optical zone and a peripheral zone adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the optical zone comprises a refractive structure, and wherein the optical zone and the peripheral zone contain a photochromic dye, wherein one or more of the optical zone and the peripheral zone have a thickness distribution configured based on the cosmetic distribution, and wherein the cosmetic distribution of the photochromic ophthalmic lens comprises a target lens thickness and a percentage of the photochromic dye to produce a specific level of %T and darkness when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein the %T represents the percentage of light transmitted when the photochromic dye is activated; and Forming a diffractive structure disposed within or adjacent to the optical zone based on the vision distribution, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens comprises a soft contact lens, wherein the thickness ratio is defined as the ratio of the central thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens to the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein for a plus-powered lens, the thickness ratio is defined by the edge thickness of the optical zone of the photochromic ophthalmic lens and the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 0.75 and less than 1.

23. A method of manufacturing a photochromic ophthalmic lens, comprising: Determining a vision distribution; Determining a cosmetic distribution associated with a target transmission level of light; Forming a body comprising an optical zone and a peripheral zone adjacent to the optical zone, wherein the optical zone comprises a refractive structure, and wherein the optical zone and the peripheral zone contain a photochromic dye, wherein one or more of the optical zone and the peripheral zone have a thickness distribution configured based on the cosmetic distribution, and wherein the cosmetic distribution of the photochromic ophthalmic lens comprises a target lens thickness and a percentage of the photochromic dye to produce a specific level of %T and darkness when the photochromic dye is activated, and wherein the %T represents the percentage of light transmitted when the photochromic dye is activated; and Forming a diffractive structure disposed within or adjacent to the optical zone based on the vision distribution, wherein the photochromic ophthalmic lens comprises a soft contact lens, The thickness ratio is defined as the ratio of the central thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens to the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein, for a plus-powered lens, the thickness ratio is defined by the edge thickness of the optical zone of the photochromic ophthalmic lens and the maximum peripheral thickness of the photochromic ophthalmic lens, and wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 0.85 and less than 1.

24. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The thickness distribution is optimized based on the cosmetic distribution over the visual acuity distribution.

25. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, The cosmetic distribution includes target amounts of the photochromic dye in the optical zone and the peripheral zone.

26. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The visual acuity distribution includes a refractive power distribution.

27. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The visual acuity distribution is defined based on at least the refractive structure and the diffractive structure.

28. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The visual acuity distribution is associated with a target refractive power.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein, The target refractive power is between -20D and +20D.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein, The target refractive power is between -12D and +8D.

31. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The diffractive structure is provided on the posterior optical surface of the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

32. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, The diffractive structure is provided on the anterior optical surface of the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

33. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, The diffractive structure is provided on one or more of the anterior optical surface or the posterior optical surface of the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

34. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, The diffractive structure is embedded in the photochromic ophthalmic lens.

35. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, The diffractive structure is provided adjacent to the periphery of the optical zone.

36. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, The diffractive structure is provided adjacent to the peripheral zone.

37. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The diffractive structure is provided around the circumference of the optical zone.

38. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The diffractive structure is provided circumferentially around at least a portion of the optical zone.

39. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, The diffractive structure is provided circumferentially around the optical zone at a predetermined radius from the center of the optical zone.

40. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein The diffractive structure includes mechanical features configured to exhibit optical diffraction of incident light.

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