Lens element

Abstract

To provide a lens element that inhibits or at least slows the progression of refractive errors of the eye, such as myopia or hyperopia. [Solution] A lens element intended to be worn in front of a wearer's eye, comprising: - a refractive area having a first refractive power based on a prescription for correcting anomalous refraction of the person's eye and a second refractive power different from the first refractive power; - a plurality of at least three optical elements, at least one of which has the optical function of not focusing an image on the retina of the eye, thereby slowing the progression of anomalous refraction of the eye.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lens element intended to be worn in front of a person's eye to inhibit the progression of an ocular refractive error, such as myopia or hyperopia. [Background technology]

[0002] Myopia of the eye is characterized by the eye focusing distant objects in front of the retina. Myopia is usually corrected using concave lenses, and hyperopia is usually corrected using convex lenses.

[0003] It has been observed that some individuals, especially children, when corrected using conventional single vision optical lenses, image inaccurately when viewing objects at close distances, i.e. in near vision situations. Due to this imaging defect on the part of a myopic child who is corrected for distance vision, the image of the near object is formed behind the retina, and also in the foveal area.

[0004] Such imaging defects may affect the progression of myopia in such individuals: for the majority of said individuals, it may be observed that the myopic defect increases over time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 107919 Brochure [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2017 / 176921 Brochure [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Eyal Ben-Eliezer et al., APPLIED OPTICS, Vol. 44, No. 14, 10 May 2005 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Thus, there appears to be a need for a lens element that prevents or at least slows the progression of refractive errors of the eye, such as myopia or hyperopia. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To this end, the present invention provides a lens element intended to be worn in front of a human eye, comprising: - a refractive area having a first refractive power according to a prescription for correcting anomalous refraction of said eye of the person and a second refractive power different from the first refractive power; - a plurality of at least three optical elements, at least one of which has a function of not focusing an image on the retina of the eye, thereby slowing down the progression of anomalous refraction of the eye; A lens element including:

[0009] Advantageously, by having a second refractive power in the refractive area different from the first refractive power correcting the anomalous refraction of the human eye, the defocusing of light rays in front of the retina can be increased in case of myopia.

[0010] In other words, the inventors have observed that having a second refractive power in the refractive area that is different from the refractive power that corrects anomalous refraction, in combination with an optical element that has the optical function of not focusing an image on the retina of the eye, helps to slow the progression of anomalous refraction of the eye, such as myopia or hyperopia.

[0011] The solution of the present invention also serves to improve the aesthetics of the lens and compensate for the associated lag.

[0012] According to further embodiments, which may be considered alone or in combination, - the difference between the first and second refractive powers is 0.5 D or more; and / or the refractive area is formed as an area other than an area formed as a plurality of optical elements; and / or at least one optical element has an aspheric optical function; and / or at least one, e.g. all, of the optical elements has an optical function of focusing an image at a location other than the retina; and / or in the refractive area the refractive power has a continuous variation, and / or - in the refractive area, the refractive power has at least one discontinuity, and / or - the lens element is divided into a central zone having a refractive power equal to the first refractive power and five complementary zones of four quadrants at 45°, at least one of the quadrants having a refractive power equal to the second refractive power; and / or - the central zone includes a frame reference point facing the pupil of a person gazing straight ahead in a standard wearing situation and having a diameter of more than 4 mm and less than 20 mm; and / or - at least the lower quadrant has a second refractive index; and / or - the refractive area has a progressive addition diopter function, and / or - at least one of the temporal and nasal quadrants has a second refractive power; and / or - the four quadrants have concentric power progression, and / or - for any circular zone having a radius between 2 mm and 4 mm and having a geometric center located at a distance of the frame reference facing the pupil of a user gazing straight ahead in a standard wearing situation of the said radius + 5 mm or more, the ratio between the sum of the areas of the parts of the optical elements located inside the said circular zone and the area of ​​the said circular zone is between 20% and 70%; and / or at least three optical elements are non-contiguous; and / or at least one of the optical elements is a spherical microlens; and / or at least one of the optical elements is a multifocal refractive microlens; and / or at least one multifocal refractive microlens has an aspheric surface with or without any rotational symmetry; and / or at least one of the optical elements is a toric refractive microlens; and / or at least one of the optical elements is a cylindrical microlens; and / or at least one multifocal refractive microlens has a toric surface; and / or at least one of the optical elements is made of a birefringent material, and / or at least one of the optical elements is a diffractive lens; and / or at least one diffractive lens has a metasurface structure; and / or - at least one optical element has a shape configured to create a focal plane in front of the retina of the human eye; and / or at least one optical element is a multifocal binary component, and / or at least one optical element is a pixelated lens; and / or at least one optical element is a π-Fresnel lens; and / or at least a part, e.g. all, of the optical element is located in front of the ophthalmic lens; and / or at least a part, e.g. all, of the optical element is arranged on the rear surface of the ophthalmic lens; and / or at least a part, e.g. all, of the optical element is disposed between the front and back surfaces of the ophthalmic lens; and / or at least some, e.g. all, of the optical functions include high order optical aberrations; and / or - the lens element comprises an ophthalmic lens having a refractive area and a clip-on having a plurality of at least three optical elements adapted to be removably attached to the ophthalmic lens when the lens element is worn; and / or - the optical element is configured such that, along at least one section of the lens, the mean sphere of the optical element increases from the point of said section towards the periphery of said section, and / or - the optical element is configured such that along at least one section of the lens, the mean cylinder power of the optical element increases from the point of said section towards the periphery of said section, and / or - the optical element is configured such that along at least one section of the lens, the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder of the optical element increases from the center of said section towards the periphery of said section, and / or - the refractive area comprises an optical center and the optical element is configured such that along any section passing through the optical center of the lens, the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder of the optical element increases from the optical center towards the periphery of the lens; and / or - the refractive area comprises a distance vision reference point, a near vision reference and a meridian connecting the distance vision reference point and the near vision reference point, and the optical element is configured such that, in a normal wearing situation, along any horizontal section of the lens, the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder of the optical element increases from the intersection of said horizontal section with the meridian towards the periphery of the lens; and / or the growth function of the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder along a section varies as a function of the position of said section along the meridian, and / or the growth function of the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder along the section is asymmetric, and / or - the optical element is configured such that in a normal wearing situation at least one section is a horizontal section, and / or - the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder of the optical element increases from a first point of the section towards the periphery of the section and decreases from a second point of the section towards the periphery of the section, the second point being closer to the periphery of the section than the first point; and / or the increasing function of the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder along at least one horizontal section is a Gaussian function, and / or the increasing function of the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder along at least one horizontal section is a quadratic function, and / or at least one, e.g. at least 70%, e.g. all, of the optical elements are active optical elements that can be activated by an optical lens controller device; and / or - the active optical element comprises a material having a variable refractive index, the value of which is controlled by an optical lens controller device; and / or - at least one optical element has a contour shape that can be engraved into a circle having a diameter of 0.8 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less; and / or the optical elements are positioned in a mesh structure, and / or the network is a structured network, and / or the structured network is a rectangular network, a hexagonal network, a triangular network or an octagonal network, and / or the lens element further comprises at least four optical elements organized into at least two groups of optical elements; and / or - each group of optical elements is organized into at least two concentric rings having the same center, the concentric rings of each group of optical elements being defined by an inner diameter corresponding to the smallest circle tangent to at least one optical element of said group and an outer diameter corresponding to the largest circle tangent to at least one optical element of said group; and / or at least some, e.g. all, of the concentric rings of an optical element are centred on the optical centre of the surface of the lens element on which said optical element is arranged, and / or - the concentric rings of the optical element have a diameter between 9.0 mm and 60 mm; and / or - the distance between two consecutive concentric rings of the optical element is 5.0 mm or more, and the distance between two consecutive concentric rings is defined by the difference between the inner diameter of the first concentric ring and the outer diameter of the second concentric ring, the second concentric ring being closer to the periphery of the lens element.

[0013] Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lens element according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic side view of a lens element according to the present invention. [Diagram 3]1 illustrates an example of a Fresnel height profile. [Figure 4] 3 illustrates an example of a diffractive lens radial profile. [Diagram 5] 3 shows a π Fresnel lens profile. [Figure 6a] 1 illustrates a binary lens embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6b] 1 illustrates a binary lens embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6c] 1 illustrates a binary lens embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7a] 4 shows the astigmatism axis γ of the lens based on the TABO standard. [Figure 7b] 4 shows the cylinder axis γAX in the reference used to characterize the aspheric surface. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lens element according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale, for example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] The present invention relates to lens elements that are intended to be worn in front of a person's eye.

[0017] In the remainder of the description, terms such as "top", "bottom", "horizontal", "vertical", "superior", "lower", "front", "rear" or other terms indicating relative positions may be used. These terms are to be understood in the context of the wear of the lens elements.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the term "lens element" can refer to an uncut optical lens, a spectacle optical lens with an edge to fit into a particular spectacle frame, or an ophthalmic lens and an optical device adapted to be positioned on the ophthalmic lens. The optical device can be located on the front or back surface of the ophthalmic lens. The optical device can be an optical patch. The optical device can be adapted to be removably positioned on the ophthalmic lens, for example a clip configured to be clipped to a spectacle frame having an ophthalmic lens.

[0019] The lens element 10 according to the invention is adapted for a person and is intended to be worn in front of said person's eyes.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a lens element 10 according to the present invention includes: - 12 refraction areas; a plurality of at least three optical elements 14; Includes.

[0021] The refractive area 12 has a first refractive power P1 based on the prescription of the person's eye to which the lens element is to be fitted, the prescription being adapted to correct anomalous refraction of the person's eye.

[0022] The term "prescription" is to be understood as meaning a set of optical properties, for example refractive power, astigmatism, prism light blur, determined by an ophthalmologist or optometrist to correct a visual defect of the eye by means of a lens placed in front of the eye. For example, a prescription for a myopic eye has a value of refractive power and a value of astigmatism with respect to the axis of far vision.

[0023] The refractive area 12 further has a second refractive power P2 different from at least the first refractive power P1.

[0024] In the sense of the present invention, two refractive powers are considered to be different if the difference between the two refractive powers is 0.5D or more.

[0025] If the anomalous refraction of the person's eye corresponds to myopia, the second refractive power is greater than the first refractive power.

[0026] If the anomalous refraction of the person's eye corresponds to hyperopia, the second refractive power is smaller than the first refractive power.

[0027] The refractive area is preferably formed as an area other than the area formed by the plurality of optical elements, in other words the refractive area is an area complementary to the area formed by the plurality of optical elements.

[0028] The refractive area may have a continuously varying refractive power, for example, the refractive area may have a multifocal progressive design.

[0029] The optical design of the refractive area is - a fitting cross with negative refractive power, a first zone that extends toward the temporal side of the refractive area when the lens element is being worn by a wearer; In the first zone, the refractive power increases when moving towards the temporal side and over the nasal side of the lens, the refractive power of the ophthalmic lens is approximately the same as the fitting cross.

[0030] Such an optical design is disclosed in more detail in US Pat. No. 5,399,633.

[0031] Alternatively, the refractive power in the refractive area may have at least one discontinuity.

[0032] As represented in FIG. 1, the lens element is divided into a central zone 16 having a power equal to a first refractive power and four complementary zones Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 at 45°, at least one of the quadrants having at least one point whose power is equal to the second refractive power.

[0033] In the sense of the present invention, "quadrant at 45°" is to be understood as an equiangular quadrant of 90° oriented in the directions 45° / 225° and 135° / 315° according to the TABO standard, as shown in FIG.

[0034] Preferably, the central zone 16 has a frame reference point facing the pupil of a person gazing straight ahead in a standard wearing situation, and has a diameter of no less than 4 mm and no more than 22 mm.

[0035] A wearing situation is to be understood as the position of the lens element relative to the wearer's eye, defined, for example, by the angle of pre-wear, the cornea-lens distance, the pupil-cornea distance, the centre of rotation (CRE) of the eye-pupil distance, the CRE-lens distance and the curvature angle.

[0036] The cornea-lens distance is the distance along the visual axis of the eye in the primary position (usually taken as horizontal) between the cornea and the rear surface of the lens, and is equal to, for example, 12 mm.

[0037] The pupil-corneal distance is the distance along the visual axis of the eye between the pupil and the cornea and is usually equal to 2 mm.

[0038] The CRE-pupillary distance is the distance along the visual axis of the eye between the eye's center of rotation (CRE) and the cornea, and is, for example, equal to 11.5 mm.

[0039] The CRE-lens distance is the distance along the visual axis of the eye in the first eye position (usually interpreted as horizontal) between the CRE of the eye and the back surface of the lens, and is equal to, for example, 25.5 mm.

[0040] The angle of ophthalmos when worn is the angle in the vertical plane at the intersection of the normal to the back surface of the lens in the first position with the visual axis of the eye, i.e. the angle in the vertical plane at the intersection of the normal to the back surface of the lens in the first position with the visual axis of the eye, i.e. equal to -8°.

[0041] The curvature angle is the angle in the horizontal plane at the intersection of the normal to the back surface of the lens in the first position with the visual axis of the eye, i.e., the angle in the horizontal plane at the intersection of the normal to the back surface of the lens in the first position with the visual axis of the eye, i.e., equal to 0°.

[0042] An example of a standard wearing situation can be defined by a prespective angle during wearing of -8°, a cornea-lens distance of 12 mm, a pupil-cornea distance of 2 mm, a CRE-pupillary distance of 11.5 mm, a CRE-lens distance of 25.5 mm, and a curvature angle of 0°.

[0043] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least the lower quadrant Q4 has a second refractive power different from the first refractive power corresponding to a prescription for correcting the ametropia.

[0044] For example, the refractive area may have a progressive diopter function that extends between an upper quadrant Q2 and a lower quadrant Q4.

[0045] Advantageously, in such an arrangement, the multifocality of the lens allows compensation for the associated lag, for example when a person views at close viewing distances.

[0046] According to an embodiment, at least one of the temporal quadrant Q3 and the nasal quadrant Q1 has a second refractive power, for example the temporal quadrant Q3 has a variable power with the decentering of the lens.

[0047] Advantageously, such a configuration provides more efficient ametropic control in peripheral vision and is more effective in the horizontal axis.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the four quadrants Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 have concentric power progression.

[0049] At least one optical element of the plurality of at least three optical elements 14 has an optical function of not focusing an image onto the retina of a person's eye when the lens element is worn in a normal wearing situation.

[0050] Advantageously, such optical function of the optical element combined with a refractive area having at least one refractive power different from the prescribed refractive power can slow down the progression of anomalous refraction in the eye of a person wearing the lens element.

[0051] The optical element may be a non-continuous optical element, as depicted in FIG.

[0052] In the sense of the present invention, two optical elements are discontinuous if, for every path linking the two optical elements, the refractive power based on the prescription of the human eye can be measured at least along a portion of each path.

[0053] Two optical elements are discontinuous if, for all paths linking the two optical elements, the curvature of said sphere can be measured along at least a portion of each path.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the lens element 10 according to the present invention includes an object-side surface F1 formed as a convex curved surface facing the object side, and an eye-side surface F2 formed as a concave surface having a curvature different from that of the object-side surface F1.

[0055] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a portion, for example all, of the optical element is disposed in front of the lens element.

[0056] At least a portion, for example all, of the optical elements may be disposed behind the lens element.

[0057] At least a portion, for example all, of the optical element may be disposed between the front and back surfaces of the lens element. For example, the lens element may include zones of different refractive index that form the optical element.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the invention, a central zone of the lens, which corresponds to a zone centered on the optical center of the lens element, does not contain any optical elements. For example, a lens element may include an empty zone having a diameter equal to 0.9 mm, centered on the optical center of said lens element and containing no optical elements.

[0059] The optical center of the lens element may be located at the fitting point of the lens.

[0060] Alternatively, the optical element may be disposed in front of the lens element.

[0061] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical elements are positioned in a mesh structure.

[0062] The network in which the optical elements are positioned may be a structured network.

[0063] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the optical elements are positioned along a number of concentric rings.

[0064] The concentric rings of optical elements may be annular rings.

[0065] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lens element may further include at least four optical elements organized into at least two groups of optical elements, each group of optical elements organized into at least two concentric rings having the same center, each concentric ring of each group of optical elements defined by an inner diameter and an outer diameter.

[0066] The inner diameter of the concentric rings of each group of optical elements corresponds to the smallest circle tangent to at least one optical element of said group of optical elements, and the outer diameter of the concentric rings of optical elements corresponds to the largest circle tangent to at least one optical element of said group.

[0067] For example, a lens element may have n rings of optical elements, f inner1 refers to the inner diameter of the concentric ring closest to the optical center of the lens element, and f outer1 refers to the outer diameter of the concentric ring closest to the optical center of the lens element, and f inner n refers to the inner diameter of the ring closest to the periphery of the lens element, and f outer n refers to the outer diameter of the concentric ring closest to the periphery of the lens element.

[0068] The distance D between two consecutive concentric rings of optical elements i and i+1 i teeth, D i =|f inner i+1 -f outer i | where fouter i refers to the outer diameter of the first ring of optical element i, and f inner i+1 refers to the inner radius of the second ring of optical element i+1 that is contiguous with the first ring and closer to the periphery of the lens element.

[0069] According to another embodiment of the invention, the optical elements are organized into concentric rings that are centered on the optical center of the surface of the lens element on which they are disposed and link the geometric centers of each optical element.

[0070] For example, a lens element may have n rings of optical elements, where f1 refers to the diameter of the ring closest to the optical center of the lens element, and f n refers to the diameter of the ring closest to the periphery of the lens element.

[0071] The distance D between two consecutive concentric rings of optical elements i and i+1 i teeth,

number

[0072] The concentric rings of optical elements may be annular rings.

[0073] Advantageously, the optical centre of the lens element and the centre of the concentric rings of the optical element coincide, e.g. the geometric centre of the lens element, the optical centre of the lens element and the centre of the concentric rings of the optical element coincide.

[0074] In the sense of the present invention, the term coincidence is to be understood as actually close together, for example less than 1.0 mm apart.

[0075] Distance D between two consecutive concentric rings i can vary according to i. For example, the distance D between two consecutive concentric rings i can vary from 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm.

[0076] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance D between two consecutive concentric rings of the optical element i is greater than 2.00 mm, preferably 3.0 mm, and more preferably 5.0 mm.

[0077] Advantageously, the distance D between two successive concentric rings of the optical element is greater than 2.00 mm. i This allows a larger refractive area to be managed between these rings of optical element, thus providing better vision.

[0078] Consider an annular zone of a lens element having an inner diameter of more than 9 mm and an outer diameter of less than 57 mm, having a geometric center located at a distance of the optical center of the lens element of less than 1 mm, and the ratio of the sum of the areas of the parts of the optical element located inside said circular zone to the area of ​​said circular zone is between 20% and 70%, preferably between 30% and 60%, more preferably between 40% and 50%.

[0079] In other words, the inventors have observed that for a given value of said ratio, organizing the optical elements into concentric rings spaced apart by more than 2.0 mm makes it possible to provide an annular zone of refractive area that is easier to manufacture than a controlled refractive area when the optical elements are arranged in a hexagonal network or randomly on the surface of the lens element, thereby providing a better correction of the anomalous refraction of the eye and therefore better visual acuity.

[0080] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diameter d of all optical elements of the lens element i are identical.

[0081] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance D between two consecutive concentric rings i and i+1 is i may increase as i increases towards the periphery of the lens element.

[0082] The concentric rings of optical elements may have a diameter between 9 mm and 60 mm.

[0083] According to an embodiment of the invention, the lens element includes optical elements arranged in at least 2, preferably more than 5, more preferably more than 10 concentric rings. For example, the optical elements may be arranged in 11 concentric rings centered on the optical center of the lens.

[0084] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the optical elements has an optical function of focusing an image at a location other than the retina.

[0085] Preferably, at least 50%, such as at least 80%, such as all, of the optical elements have the optical function of focusing an image onto a location other than the retina.

[0086] According to an embodiment of the invention, the optical element is configured such that, at least along one section of the lens, the mean sphere of the optical element increases from a point of said section towards the periphery of said section.

[0087] The optical element may be further configured such that along at least one section of the lens, e.g. at least the same section as the section where the mean sphere of the optical element increases, the mean cylinder increases from a point on said section, e.g. the same point as the mean sphere, towards the periphery of said section.

[0088] Advantageously, having an optical element configured such that along at least one section of the lens the mean sphere and / or mean cylinder of the optical element increases from the point of said section towards the periphery of said section, allows for increased defocusing of light rays in front of the retina in case of myopia or behind the retina in case of hyperopia.

[0089] In other words, the inventors have observed that having an optical element configured along at least one section of a lens such that the mean sphere of the optical element increases from the point of the section towards the periphery of the section, helps to slow the progression of refractive errors of the eye, such as myopia or hyperopia.

[0090] As is known, the minimum curvature CURV min is the formula

number

[0091] Similarly, the maximum curvature CURV max is the formula

number

[0092] If the surface is locally spherical, the local minimum radius of curvature R min and the local maximum radius of curvature R max are the same, and therefore the minimum curvature CURV min and maximum curvature CURV max It can be recognized that if the surface is aspheric, the local minimum radius of curvature R min and the local maximum radius of curvature R max is different.

[0093] Minimum curvature CURV min and maximum curvature CURV max From these equations, the SPH method can be used according to the type of surface being considered. min and SPH maxWe can infer the minimum and maximum spheres denoted as

[0094] If the surface under consideration is the object side surface (also called the front surface), then the formula is:

number

[0095] If the surface under consideration is the eye-facing surface (also called the back surface), then the formula is:

number

[0096] As is well known, the mean spherical power SPH at any point on an aspheric surface is mean Also, the formula

number

[0097] The formula for mean sphere therefore depends on the surface under consideration. If the surface is an object-side surface, then:

number

number

[0098] Any aspheric characteristic of a lens can be expressed in terms of local mean sphere and local mean cylinder. A surface can be considered locally aspheric if the cylinder is at least 0.25 diopters.

[0099] In the case of an aspheric surface, the local cylinder axis γ AX FIG. 7a shows the astigmatism axis γ as defined in the TABO criterion, and FIG. 7b shows the cylinder axis γ in the criterion defined to characterize aspheric surfaces. AX Shows.

[0100] Cylinder power axis γ AX is the maximum curvature CURV relative to the reference axis in the sense of the selected rotation max In the criteria defined above, the reference axis is horizontal (the angle of this reference axis is 0°), and the meaning of rotation is when looking at the wearer (0°≦γ AX ≦180°), counterclockwise for each eye. Therefore, the cylinder axis γ AX The axis value of represents the diagonal oriented axis, which extends from the upper right quadrant to the lower left quadrant when looking at the wearer.

[0101] The optical element may be configured such that along at least one section of the lens, the mean sphere and / or mean cylinder of the optical element increases from the center of the section towards the periphery of the section.

[0102] According to an embodiment of the invention, the optical element is configured such that, in a normal wearing situation, at least one section is a horizontal section.

[0103] The mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder may increase according to an increasing function along at least one horizontal section, the increasing function being a Gaussian function that may be different for the nasal and temporal portions of the lens to take into account asymmetries of the human retina.

[0104] Alternatively, the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder may increase according to an increasing function along at least one horizontal section, the increasing function being a quadratic function, which may be different for the nasal and temporal portions of the lens and may take into account asymmetries of the human retina.

[0105] According to an embodiment of the invention, the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder of the optical element increases from a first point of the section towards the periphery of the section and decreases from a second point of the section towards the periphery of the section, the second point being closer to the periphery of the section than the first point.

[0106] Such an embodiment is illustrated in Table 1, which provides the mean sphere of the optical elements according to the radial distance to the optical center of the lens element.

[0107] In the example of Table 1, the optical element is a microlens arranged on a spherical front surface having a curvature of 329.5 mm, the lens element is made of an optical material having a refractive index of 1.591, and the wearer's prescribed optical power is 6 D. The optical element is to be worn in a standard wearing situation, and the wearer's retina is considered to have a defocus of 0.8 D at an angle of 30°.

[0108] [Table 1]

[0109] As shown in Table 1, starting near the optical center of the lens element, the mean sphere of the optical element increases toward the periphery of the section and then decreases toward the periphery of the section.

[0110] According to an embodiment of the invention, the mean cylinder power of the optical element increases from a first point of the section towards the periphery of the section and decreases from a second point of the section towards the periphery of the section, the second point being closer to the periphery of the section than the first point.

[0111] Such an embodiment is shown in Tables 2 and 3, which provide the amplitude of the cylindrical power vector projected onto a first direction Y corresponding to a local radial direction and a second direction X perpendicular to the first direction.

[0112] In the example of Table 2, the optical element is a microlens disposed on a spherical anterior surface having a curvature of 167.81 mm, the lens element is made of a material having a refractive index of 1.591, and the wearer's prescribed optical power is -6D. The lens element is to be worn in a standard wearing situation, and the wearer's retina is considered to have a defocus of 0.8D at an angle of 30°. The element is determined to provide a peripheral defocus of 2D.

[0113] In the example of Table 3, the optical element is a microlens disposed on a spherical anterior surface having a curvature of 167.81 mm, the lens element is made of a material having a refractive index of 1.591, and the wearer's prescribed optical power is -1 D. The lens element is to be worn in a standard wearing situation, and the wearer's retina is considered to have a defocus of 0.8 D at an angle of 30°. The optical element is determined to provide a peripheral defocus of 2 D.

[0114] [Table 2]

[0115] [Table 3]

[0116] As shown in Tables 2 and 3, starting near the optical center of the lens element, the cylinder power of the optical element increases toward the periphery of the section and then decreases toward the periphery of the section.

[0117] According to an embodiment of the invention, the refractive area includes an optical center and the optical element is configured such that along any section through the optical center of the lens, the mean sphere and / or mean cylinder of the optical element increases from the optical center towards the periphery of the lens.

[0118] For example, the optical elements may be regularly distributed along a circle centered on the optical center of the refractive area.

[0119] The circular optical element, 10 mm in diameter and centered on the optical center of the refractive area, can be a microlens with a mean spherical power of 2.75D.

[0120] The circular optical element, 20 mm in diameter and centered on the optical center of the refractive area, can be a microlens with a mean spherical power of 4.75D.

[0121] The circular optical element, 30 mm in diameter and centered on the optical center of the refractive area, can be a microlens with a mean spherical power of 5.5D.

[0122] The circular optical element, 40 mm in diameter and centered on the optical center of the refractive area, can be a microlens with a mean spherical power of 5.75D.

[0123] The mean cylinder power of the different microlenses can be adjusted based on the shape of the human retina.

[0124] According to an embodiment of the invention, the refractive area includes a distance vision reference point, a near vision reference and a meridian connecting the distance vision reference point and the near vision reference point. For example, the refractive area may have a progressive multifocal lens design adapted for a person's prescription or adapted to slow the progression of ametropia in the eye of the person wearing the lens element.

[0125] Preferably, according to such an embodiment, the optical element is configured such that, in a normal wearing situation, along any horizontal section of the lens, the mean sphere and / or mean cylinder of the optical element increases from the intersection of said horizontal section with the meridian towards the periphery of the lens.

[0126] The meridian corresponds to the locus of intersection of the main gaze direction with the surface of the lens.

[0127] The growth function of mean sphere and / or mean cylinder along a section may differ depending on the position of said section along the meridian.

[0128] In particular, the growth function of the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder along the section is asymmetric, for example the growth function of the mean sphere and / or the mean cylinder is asymmetric along the vertical section and / or along the horizontal section in a standard wearing situation.

[0129] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the optical elements has an aspheric optical function.

[0130] Preferably at least 50%, such as at least 80%, such as all, of the optical elements 14 have aspheric optical functions.

[0131] In the sense of the present invention, an "aspheric optical function" is to be understood as not having a single focal point.

[0132] Advantageously, such optical functionality of the optical element can reduce deformation of the retina of the wearer's eye and slow the progression of ametropia in the eye of a person wearing the lens element.

[0133] At least one element having an aspheric optical function is transparent.

[0134] Advantageously, the non-continuous optical elements are not visible on the lens element and do not affect the aesthetics of the lens element.

[0135] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lens element may include an ophthalmic lens having a refractive area and a clip-on having a plurality of at least three optical elements adapted to be removably attached to the ophthalmic lens when the lens element is worn. Advantageously, when a person is in a long-distance environment, for example outdoors, the clip-on may be separated from the ophthalmic lens and eventually replaced with a second clip-on without any of the at least three optical elements. For example, the second clip-on may have a solar tint. A person may also use the ophthalmic lens without any additional clip-on.

[0136] Optical elements may be added to the lens element independently on each surface of the lens element.

[0137] These optical elements can be added in a defined array, such as rectangular, hexagonal or random.

[0138] The optical element may cover a particular zone of the lens element, such as the center of any other area.

[0139] The density or power of the optical element may be adjusted according to the zone of the lens element. Typically, the optical element is positioned at the periphery of the lens element to increase the effect of the optical element in myopia control, for example to compensate for peripheral defocus due to the peripheral shape of the retina.

[0140] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for any circular zone having a radius of 2 mm to 4 mm and having a geometric center located at a distance of the optical center of a lens element that is greater than or equal to the radius + 5 mm, the ratio of the sum of the areas of the portions of the optical elements located inside the circular zone to the area of ​​the circular zone is 20% to 70%, preferably 30% to 60%, more preferably 40% to 50%.

[0141] The optical elements can be made using different techniques such as direct surfacing, molding, casting or injection, embossing, thin film processing or photolithography.

[0142] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one, e.g. all, of the optical elements have a shape configured to create a focal plane in front of the retina of the human eye, in other words, such optical elements are configured such that, in the presence of a light beam, every section plane in which the light beam converges is located in front of the retina of the human eye.

[0143] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one, for example all, of the optical elements having aspheric optical functions is a multifocal refractive microlens.

[0144] In the sense of the present invention, a "microlens" has a contour shape that can be engraved into a circle having a diameter of 0.8 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, preferably 1.0 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less.

[0145] In the sense of the present invention, the optical element is a "multifocal refractive microlens" and includes bifocal (having two focal powers), trifocal (having three focal powers), multifocal progressive lenses with continuously varying focal powers, e.g. aspheric progressive lenses.

[0146] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the optical elements, preferably more than 50%, more preferably more than 80% of the optical elements, is an aspherical microlens. In the sense of the invention, an aspherical microlens has a continuous refractive power evolution over its surface.

[0147] An aspheric microlens can have an asphericity between 0.1D and 3D. The asphericity of an aspheric microlens corresponds to the ratio of the optical refractive power measured at the center of the microlens to the optical refractive power measured at the periphery of the microlens.

[0148] The center of the microlens may be defined by a spherical area centered on the geometric center of the microlens and having a diameter equal to 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably 2.0 mm.

[0149] The periphery of the microlens may be defined by an annular zone centered on the geometric center of the microlens and having an inner diameter of 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm and an outer diameter of 0.70 mm to 0.80 mm.

[0150] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the aspheric microlens has an optical refractive power of 2.0D to 7.0D in absolute value at the geometric center, and an optical refractive power of 1.5D to 6.0D in absolute value at the periphery.

[0151] The asphericity of an aspheric micro-lens, prior to coating the surface of the lens element on which the optical element is disposed, is variable according to the radial distance from the optical center of said lens element.

[0152] Furthermore, the asphericity of the aspheric microlens after coating the surface of the lens element on which the optical element is disposed is further variable according to the radial distance from the optical center of said lens.

[0153] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one multifocal refractive microlens has a toric surface, which is a surface of revolution that can be created by rotating a circle or an arc around an axis of rotation (ultimately positioned at infinity) that does not pass through the center of curvature.

[0154] The toric surface lens has two different radial profiles at right angles to each other, thus resulting in two different focal powers.

[0155] The toric and spherical surface components of a toric lens result in astigmatic rays as opposed to a single focus.

[0156] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the optical elements having aspheric optical function, for example all of the optical elements, is a toric refractive micro-lens, for example a toric refractive micro-lens having a sphere value of 0 diopters (δ) or more and +5 diopters (δ) or less and a cylinder value of 0.25 diopters (δ) or more.

[0157] In a particular embodiment, the toric refractive micro-lenses may be purely cylindrical, meaning that the minimum meridian power is zero while the maximum meridian power is strictly positive, for example less than 5 diopters.

[0158] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one, for example all, of the optical elements are made of a birefringent material. In other words, the optical elements are made of a material that has a refractive index that depends on the polarization direction and the propagation direction of the light. Birefringence can be quantified as the maximum difference between the refractive indices exhibited by the materials.

[0159] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one, for example all, of the optical elements has a discontinuity, such as a discontinuous surface, for example a Fresnel surface, and / or a refractive index profile with discontinuities.

[0160] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a Fresnel height profile of an optical element that may be used in the present invention.

[0161] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one, for example all, of the optical elements are made of diffractive lenses.

[0162] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a diffractive lens radial profile of an optical element that may be used in the present invention.

[0163] At least one, for example all, of the diffractive lenses may have a metasurface structure as disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,399,323.

[0164] A diffractive lens may be a Fresnel lens whose phase function ψ(r) has a π phase jump at the nominal wavelength, as seen in Figure 5. For clarity, one may give these structures the name "π Fresnel lens" in contrast to monofocal Fresnel lenses, whose phase jumps are multiples of 2π. A π Fresnel lens, whose phase function is displayed in Figure 5, diffracts light primarily in two diffraction orders associated with diopter power 0δ and a positive diopter power P, e.g., 3δ.

[0165] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one, for example all, of the optical elements are multifocal binary components.

[0166] For example, a binary structure as represented in Fig. 6a shows two main diopter powers, denoted -P / 2 and P / 2. When associated with a refractive structure as represented in Fig. 6b, with a diopter power of P / 2, the final structure represented in Fig. 6c has diopter powers 0δ and P. The illustrated case relates to P=3δ.

[0167] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one, for example all, of the optical elements is a pixelated lens. An example of a multifocal pixelated lens is disclosed in "Pixelated Lenses for High-Performance Cameras," IEEE Transactions on Physics, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 1111-1115, 2003.

[0168] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one, for example all, of the optical elements has an optical function having high order optical aberrations, for example the optical elements are microlenses made up of continuous surfaces defined by Zernike polynomials.

[0169] The invention has been described above by means of embodiments, without limiting the general inventive concept.

[0170] Many further modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the exemplary embodiments described above, which are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is determined solely by the appended claims.

[0171] The word "comprising" in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that different features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0172] 10 Lens Elements 12 Refraction Area 14 Optical elements 16 Central Zone

Claims

1. 1. A lens element intended to be worn in front of a human eye, comprising: a refractive area having a refractive power according to a prescription for said eye, and at least two discontinuous optical elements, said at least two discontinuous optical elements being aspheric microlenses having an aspheric optical function of not forming an image on the retina of said eye, thereby slowing down the progression of anomalous refraction of said eye; Including, A lens element, wherein for every circular zone having a radius between 2 mm and 4 mm and a geometric center located at a distance of said radius + 5 mm from a frame reference facing the pupil gazing straight ahead in a standard wearing situation, the ratio between the sum of the areas of the portions of said at least two discontinuous optical elements located inside said circular zone and the area of ​​said circular zone is between 20% and 70%.

2. The lens element of claim 1 , wherein the at least two non-contiguous optical elements are independent.

3. The lens element of claim 1 , wherein the at least two non-contiguous optical elements are positioned in a network structure.

4. A lens element according to claim 3 , wherein the network is a structured network.

5. The lens element of claim 1 , wherein the at least two non-contiguous optical elements are arranged along a plurality of concentric rings.

6. The lens element of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two non-contiguous optical elements has an optical function of focusing an image to a location other than the retina.

7. The lens element of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two non-contiguous optical elements is a toric refractive microlens.

8. 2. The lens element of claim 1, wherein at least two non-contiguous optical elements are configured such that along at least one cross-section of the lens element, a mean sphere of the at least two non-contiguous optical elements increases from a center of the cross-section toward a peripheral portion of the cross-section.

9. The lens element of claim 1 , wherein the refractive area is formed as an area other than an area formed to include the at least two discontinuous optical elements.

10. 2. The lens element of claim 1, further comprising at least four optical elements, the at least four optical elements being organized into at least two non-contiguous groups of optical elements, each of the non-contiguous groups of optical elements being organized into at least two concentric rings having a common center, each of the concentric rings being defined by an inner diameter corresponding to a smallest circle tangent to at least one optical element in each group and an outer diameter corresponding to a largest circle tangent to at least one optical element in each group.

11. 2. The lens element of claim 1, wherein the distance between two consecutive concentric rings of the optical element is 5.0 mm or more, and the distance between two consecutive concentric rings is defined by the difference between an inner diameter of a first concentric ring and an outer diameter of a second concentric ring, the second concentric ring being closer to a periphery of the lens element.

12. 1. A lens element intended to be worn in front of a human eye, comprising: a refractive area having a refractive power according to a prescription for said eye, and at least two non-contiguous optical elements, at least one of which has an optical function of imaging at a location other than the retina of said eye, thereby slowing down the progression of anomalous refraction of said eye; Including, 1. A lens element, wherein the at least two non-contiguous optical elements are configured such that along at least one cross-section of the lens element, a mean sphere of the at least two non-contiguous optical elements increases from a center of the cross-section toward a peripheral portion of the cross-section.

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