Lenslet spectral filtering

Abstract

Improving the efficacy of myopia progression control in DIMS lenses having a base lens and a plurality of lenslets formed on the base lens. Coloring may be applied to the base lens and aligned with a blending zone between the base lens and each lenslet so as to filter / enhance certain wavelengths and thereby reduce or eliminate power loss at such blending zones.

Description

Patent Application 110000-605 / PCTLENSLET SPECTRAL FILTERINGRELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 770,102 filed March 11, 2025 entitled Lenslet Spectral Filtering, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Various lens designs have been shown to treat hyperopia and / or myopia, including lens designs for slowing the progression of myopia in children. One such lens design is a defocus-incorporated multiple segment (DIMS) lens, which aids development of the eye for proper refractive properties (emmetropization). DIMS lenses may utilize a series of smaller “lenslets”, which may include convex projections and / or concave indentations, which contribute to a base lens’s corrective power in selected locations. Examples of DIMS lenses are shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 11 ,029,540, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0003] Such lenslets, positioned on various segments or locations of a spectacle lens, may provide defocus by means of their add power. More specifically, light focuses on the front of the retina rather than on the retina; which may aid in slowing down the axial growth of the eye (e.g., myopia progression). At the same time, the lower power of the base curve of the spectacle lens provides the necessary correction for the user to see clearly; that is, light is focused on the retina.

[0004] There is also evidence that eye growth may be directed by color stimulus. The physiology of the eye indicates that longer wavelength light may control this process. When blur is detected at these wavelengths, the eye may attempt to correct by shortening axial growth, thus resulting in an eye which senses images accurately when it has matured. It is thus desirable to provide an ophthalmic lens for treatment of hyperopia and / or myopia which combines the use of lenslets with the use of color, such as described- 1 - I IPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCTin WIPO Publication No. WO2024155925, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0005] In theory, in a DIMS lens having lenslets, the base curve would have a single power and the lenslets would have a single higher power (i.e., the lenslets may have a power of 3.50 diopters higher than the base power). However, in reality, the power maps of DIMS spectacle lenses are somewhat more complex.

[0006] It has been found that, optically, the behavior of a blending zone at which the lenslets blend with the base curve of the spectacle lens (i.e., the border of each of the lenslets) is different from that of either the lenslets or the base curve. Experimentation has shown that such blending zones may exhibit a third power distinct from that of the lenslets or the base curve. This third power has been shown to be lower than the base power and, in some cases, as low as -3.00 D.

[0007] There is thus a need for enhancing or filtering certain wavelengths exclusively at the blending zone(s) on DIMS lenses with the purpose of pinpointing combinations of color enhancing / filtering at different zones (e.g., the base lens curvature, the DIMS lenses, and the blending zones) to pinpoint combinations that promise a higher efficacy of myopia progression control.SUMMARY

[0008] Disclosed herein are various systems, methods, and devices for the improvement of myopia progression control in a DIMS lens having a base lens comprised of a first power and a plurality of lenslets comprised of a second, higher power.

[0009] In some aspects, the systems, methods, and devices shown and / or described herein may comprise a spectral filter for filtering or enhancing certain wavelengths at a blending zone between the base lens and each of the plurality of lenslets so as to reduce a magnitude of loss of power at such blending zones.- 2 - IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT

[0010] In some aspects, the spectral filter may comprise coloring applied to such blending zones.

[0011] In some aspects, the spectral filter may comprise an opaque ring aligned with each blending zone in a DIMS lens.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an optical lens, including: a base lens having a first curvature; a plurality of lenslets having a second curvature; a border zone defined between the first curvature of the base lens and the second curvature of each of the plurality of lenslets; and a spectral filter aligned with the border zone.

[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an optical lens, wherein the spectral filter includes a colored segment.

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an optical lens, wherein the spectral filter includes a ring.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an optical lens, wherein the ring includes an opaque color.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an optical lens, wherein the first curvature has a first power and wherein the second curvature has a second power, wherein the second power is greater than the first power.

[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of increasing a magnitude of a blending zone power in an optical lens, including: providing a base lens having a lenslet, wherein the base lens includes a first power, wherein the lenslet includes a second power, and wherein the second power is greater than the first power; applying a spectral filter to a blending zone between the base lens and the lenslet.

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, further including printing the spectral filter onto the base lens.- 3- IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT

[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, further including forming the spectral filter by applying a color to a wafer and molding the wafer to the base lens.

[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the spectral filter includes a ring aligned underneath the blending zone between the base lens and the lenslet.

[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the spectral filter includes an opaque color.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The following figures are included to illustrate certain example aspects of the present disclosure and should not be viewed as exclusive or limiting. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The present disclosure references the drawings as follows:

[0023] Fig. 1 is a front view of a spectacle lens including lenslets in accordance with an example.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of the lenslets of the spectacle lens of Fig. 1 in accordance with an example.

[0025] Fig. 3A is a graph illustrating power levels along a horizontal cross section across a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example.

[0026] Fig. 3B is a graph illustrating power levels along a vertical cross section across a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example.

[0027] Fig. 4 is a side view of a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example.- 4- IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT

[0028] Fig. 5A is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a wavefront at different points in time as it approaches and traverses a base curve, a lenslet, and a blending zone of a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example.

[0029] Fig. 5B is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a wavefront at different points in time as it approaches and traverses a base curve, a lenslet, and a blending zone of a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example.

[0030] Fig. 5C is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a wavefront at different points in time as it approaches and traverses a base curve, a lenslet, and a blending zone of a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example.

[0031] Fig. 6 is a side view of a coated spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example.

[0032] Fig. 7A is a graph illustrating a histogram showing a quantity of individual regions of a hard coated spectacle lens having lenslets representing a given power in accordance with an example.

[0033] Fig. 7B is a graph illustrating a histogram showing a quantity of individual regions of a hard coated spectacle lens having lenslets representing a given power in accordance with an example.

[0034] Fig. 8A is a series of graphs each illustrating normalized power histogram data of a first spectacle lens having varying filter surface areas in accordance with an example.

[0035] Fig. 8B is a series of graphs each illustrating normalized power histogram data of a second spectacle lens having varying filter surface areas in accordance with an example.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein. A variety of- 5- IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCTmodifications and variations are possible in view of the teachings herein without departing their scope, spirit, or intent.

[0037] While different examples may be described in this specification, it is specifically contemplated that any of the features from the different examples can be used and brought together in any combination. In other words, the features of different examples can be mixed and matched with each other. Hence, while every permutation of features from different examples may not be explicitly shown or described, it is the intention of this disclosure to cover any such combinations, especially as may be appreciated by one of skill in the art.

[0038] The terminology used in this disclosure should be interpreted in a permissive manner and is not intended to be limiting. Unless otherwise noted, the term “about” is defined to mean plus-or-minus 10% of a stated value.

[0039] Fig. 1 is a front view of a defocus incorporated multiple segment spectacle lens in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. As discussed above, the spectacle lens is configured to assist with various sight issues, for example slowing myopia in children. The spectacle lens may include a base lens 100 and one or more lenslets 110 positioned on the base lens 100. Each lenslet 110 may comprise a convex projection extending from the base lens 100 such as shown in Fig. 4 to provide additional optical power to the base lens resulting in a segment of defocus. It will be appreciated that in some examples, the lenslets may be an indentation in the base lens 100 or a different configuration that provides a segment of defocus.

[0040] The base lens 100 may have a first power and the lenslets 110 may have a second power. The second power may be greater than the first power so as to provide defocus. In some examples, each of the lenslets 110 may comprise the same power. In other examples, one or more of the lenslets 110 may comprise a different power than one or more of the remaining lenslets 110. The power of the lenslets may be fine tuned to specific configurations depending on the desired treatment or effect that they provide.- 6- IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT

[0041] Fig. 1 illustrates an example in which the lenslets 110 may be arranged in an annulus configuration, with the lenslets formed in a ring and an empty space 150 in the middle. The configuration is on the base lens 100. It will be appreciated that configurations of lenslets may be utilized. For example, the lenslets 110 may cover more or less of the surface area of the base lens 100 than is shown in the examples of the figures. As another example, the shape of the collective lenslets 110 may vary in different examples. In some examples, the empty space 150 in the center of the lenslets 110 may be omitted.

[0042] While the figures illustrate convex, circular lenslets 110, various other shapes may be utilized. Additionally, the number of lenslets 110, the spacing between the lenslets 110, and their overall positioning and orientation with respect to each other, may vary in different examples. For example, the lenslets may be disposed in concentric rings, a honeycomb pattern or other suitable configurations.

[0043] Referring to Fig. 2, a close up portion of the lenslets of the spectacle lens of Fig. 1 is shown. The lenslets include a border zone 120 at the transition between the curvature of the lenslet and the base lens. Fig. 2 includes an X-axis and a Y-axis. These axes will be referred to below.

[0044] Fig. 3A is a graph illustrating power levels along a horizontal cross section across a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example. Fig. 3A includes a power map of a 4 mm horizontal cross section along the X-axis of the base lens 100 curve and lenslet 110; crossing one lenslet 110.

[0045] Fig. 3B is a graph including power levels along a horizontal cross section across a spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example. Fig. 3B includes a power map along the Y-axis of the base lens 100 curve and lenslet 110; crossing three lenslets 110.

[0046] Notably, it can be seen that, at the border zone 120, a power is found which is lower than each of the lenslet 110 and the base lens 100 and which gets as low as -3.00- 7 - IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCTD. The negative power suggests that the blending of the two convex curvatures of the base lens 100 and lenslets 110 is concave. The blending zone is located at the border zone.

[0047] Figs. 5A-5C provide examples of the effect of this blending zone on the vision of a user wearing a DIMS lens having lenslets.

[0048] Fig. 5A is a cross section of a wavefront 20 at different points in time as it approaches a base curve 10, a lenslet 12, and a blending zone 14 of a DIMS lens; with a focus on the portion of the wavefront 22 after being refracted by the base curve 10 only. Finally, it shows the same part of the wavefront 23 refracted by the base curve 10; now converging onto the retina 40. Intermediate steps of how the wavefront is refracted by the back side of the lens, the cornea, the crystalline lens, and the like are not shown. As can be appreciated, the purpose of the base curve 10 is to focus light on the retina to form a clear image.

[0049] Fig. 5B is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a wavefront 20 at different points in time as it approaches a base curve 10, a lenslet 12, and a blending zone 14 of a DIMS lens; with a focus on the portion of the wavefront 24 after being refracted by the lenslet 12 only. It can be seen that the wavefront 24 focuses at a position 25 in front of the retina 40. This creates a blurry image on the retina, but this mechanism has been proven to aid in slowing down the axial growth of the eye that causes myopia.

[0050] Fig. 5C is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a wavefront 20 at different points in time as it approaches a base curve 10, a lenslet 12, and a blending zone 14 of a DIMS lens; with a focus on the portion of the wavefront 20 after being refracted by the blending zone 14. It can be seen that the refracted wavefront 20 is divergent. Some of the light rays 30 refracted by the blending zone 14 are also shown. The same divergent light rays 30 refracted by the blending zone 14 are shown to be scattered at positions 32 across the retina 40, thus forming no image at all.- 8- IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT

[0051] As illustrated in Fig. 5C, it can be seen that the blending zone 14 may provide negative power, thus causing the refracted light 20 to diverge. By the time this refracted light reaches the retina 40, it is scattered across a wide area of the retina 40.

[0052] Various systems, methods, and devices have been considered to counteract this phenomenon. In some embodiments, a spectral filter may be applied to the border zones 120 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. These spectral filter may assist in reducing the ratio of intensity of any loss of power in these blending zones 120 as compared to the base lens 100 and lenslets 110. In some embodiments, the spectral filter may comprise a coloring, such as by a dye, which may be applied to the blending zones 120 surrounding each lenslet 110.

[0053] In other embodiments, an opaque ring may be positioned underneath the blending zone 120. Various colors may be utilized to form the opaque ring. Further, it should be appreciated that the shape of the spectral filtering segment may not be limited to a ring, as various other shapes may be utilized in certain examples.

[0054] It should also be appreciated that such a spectral filter may be applied selectively in some examples. Thus, in some examples, some, but not all, of the lenslets 110 may include a spectral filter. In some examples, only one lenslet 110 may include such a spectral filter. In some examples, all lenslets 110 formed on a base lens 100 may include such a spectral filter.

[0055] Application of the spectral filter may vary depending on the desired use. Generally, each spectral filter may be aligned with a corresponding blending zone 120. In one example, coloring may be printed directly onto the base lens 100 and / or lenslet(s) 110 to counteract any changes to power in the blending zone 120 by filtering light. Various colors may be utilized. In one example, a spectral filter, such as coloring, may be applied to a clear wafer and then molded to a DIMS lens. An example of a “Functional Layer Application System” is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2024 / 0181730, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.- 9- IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT

[0056] Fig. 6 is a side view of a hardcoated spectacle lens having lenslets in accordance with an example. It can be seen that a coating 130, such as a hardcoating, may be applied over the base lens 100 and the lenslets 110. One such coating is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2023 / 0161080, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0057] Figs. 7A-7B are graphs each illustrating a histogram showing a quantity of individual regions of a coated spectacle lens having lenslets representing a given power along a horizontal cross section and a vertical cross section, respectively, in accordance with an example. It can be seen that the highest quantity of regions of the lens, representing the base power in between the lenslets, is about -0.5 diopters; corresponding to the largest peak (mode) near the center of the histogram. The second largest peak, found on the right side of the histogram, representing the power of the lenslets themselves, is about 3.5 diopters. The third largest peak, found on the left side of the histogram, representing the power of the blending zones, is about -3.0 diopters.

[0058] Figs. 8A-8B are a series of graphs each illustrating normalized power histogram data of a pair of spectacle lenses having varying filter surface areas in accordance with an example. Each of the illustrated histograms have been normalized so that the total area is equal to one.

[0059] Fig. 8A depicts results with a first spectacle lens where the filter is aligned around the lenslets. Fig. 8B is results related to a second spectacle lens where the filter has some degree of misalignment. The misalignment reduces the efficacy of features in maintaining intensity in the base and add power while suppressing the concave transition region.

[0060] With reference to Figs. 8A-8B, each of the four plots represents measurements on a DIMS lens, from left to right, with (1 ) no filter or feature, (2) a filter comprised of a 0.9 mm ID / 1.1 mm OD opaque ring, (3) a filter with 0.75 mm ID / 1.1 mm OD opaque ring, and (4) 0.5 mm ID / 1.1 mm OD opaque ring, respectively. The successive plots of each- 10 - I IPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCTof Figs. 8A-8B illustrate an absence of a filter followed by three steps of progressively increased filtering by decreasing the transparent inner diameter (ID) of the ring.

[0061] Fig. 8A illustrates a normalized power histogram of a first spectacle lens with no filter, a first filter having a first surface area, a second filter having a second surface area, and a third filter having a third surface area. Fig. 8B illustrates a normalized power histogram of a second spectacle lens with no filter, a first filter having the first surface area, a second filter having the second surface area, and a third filter having the third surface area.

[0062] Each of the first, second, and third filters may comprise a donut-shaped filter which may be formed by, e.g., an ink. Each of the first, second, and third filters includes an increasing surface area of the ink such that the first filter has a first surface area, the second filter has a second surface area greater than the first surface area, and the third filter has a third surface area greater than the first and second surface areas. The increase in the respective surface areas results in each filter appearing incrementally darker than the preceding filter.

[0063] While a blue ink was utilized for the data in Figs. 8A and 8B, it should be appreciated that other colors of ink or filter configurations may be utilized in different examples.

[0064] The first filter may comprise an inner diameter which is about 70% of the outer diameter of the first filter. The second filter may comprise an inner diameter which is about 60% of the outer diameter of the second filter. The third filter may comprise an inner diameter which is about 35% of the outer diameter of the third filter. Thus, it can be appreciated that each successive filter may have an increasing surface area of the ink “donut”, with the center of the “donut” becoming incrementally smaller.

[0065] Each of the histograms illustrates plotted power data for a pair of spectacle lenses, separated by filter type. As can be seen, a “negative region” is found around -8.0 D, a “base region” is found around -4.0 D, and a “positive region” is found around 0.0 D.- 11 - I IPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT

[0066] As illustrated in Figs. 8A-8B, the “negative region” of each lens was suppressed due to the presence of each of the three filters as compared to the use of no filter. The “positive region” was suppressed more as the inner diameter of the filter was decreased. Thus, the “darkness” of the filter, which may be increased by, e.g., increasing the surface area of the ink forming the filter and thereby decreasing the inner diameter of the filter, may have a direct impact on power of a spectacle lens having lenslets. This suppression is most effective where the filter and DIMs features are well aligned to minimize loss of the desired add power and base lens.

[0067] Although the invention has been described in terms of embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.- 12 - IIPG-1 -165739

Claims

Patent Application 110000-605 / PCTWhat is claimed is:

1. An optical lens, comprising:a base lens having a first curvature;a plurality of lenslets having a second curvature;a border zone defined between the first curvature of the base lens and the second curvature of each of the plurality of lenslets; anda spectral filter aligned with the border zone.

2. The optical lens of claim 1, wherein the spectral filter is comprised of a colored segment.

3. The optical lens of claim 1 , wherein the spectral filter is comprised of a ring.

4. The optical lens of claim 3, wherein the ring is comprised of an opaque color.

5. The optical lens of claim 1 , wherein the first curvature has a first power and wherein the second curvature has a second power, wherein the second power is greater than the first power.

6. A method of increasing a magnitude of a blending zone power in an optical lens, comprising:providing a base lens having a lenslet, wherein the base lens comprises a first power, wherein the lenslet comprises a second power, and wherein the second power is greater than the first power;applying a spectral filter to a blending zone between the base lens and the lenslet.- 13 - IIPG-1 -165739Patent Application 110000-605 / PCT7. The method of claim 6, further comprising printing the spectral filter onto the base lens.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising forming the spectral filter by applying a color to a wafer and molding the wafer to the base lens.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the spectral filter is comprised of a ring aligned underneath the blending zone between the base lens and the lenslet.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the spectral filter is comprised of an opaque color.- 14 - IIPG-1 -165739

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