IOL Diffractive Structures for Chromatic Aberration Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intraocular lenses (IOLs) suffer from chromatic aberrations, which degrade their efficiency in concentrating light energy onto the retina and are not designed to address these aberrations inherent in the lens or the patient's optical system, leading to suboptimal vision correction.
Innovation Solution
The development of an IOL with two diffractive structures and an optical filter that corrects chromatic aberrations for different wavelength ranges, where a first diffractive structure addresses long wavelengths above 550 nm and a second structure corrects within the 450 nm to 550 nm range, while allowing some aberration in the longer range, combined with an optical filter that limits the spectrum of colors requiring correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional IOLs are used, then the lens structure is simple, but chromatic aberrations degrade light concentration efficiency and vision quality
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is divided into multiple diffractive structures with different profiles, each targeting specific wavelength ranges. The first diffractive structure corrects chromatic aberration for wavelengths above 550 nm, while the second diffractive structure corrects for wavelengths between 450-550 nm, allowing segmented correction of different spectral components to improve overall vision quality
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the IOL are assigned different optical properties through varying diffractive structure profiles. The central region and peripheral region have different diffractive profiles optimized for their respective functions, with the first profile addressing long wavelengths and the second profile addressing shorter wavelengths, creating local optimization of chromatic correction
2Reliability
If diffractive structures with high power are used to correct chromatic aberration, then chromatic correction improves, but visual disturbances like glare increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial correction by allowing some chromatic aberration to remain in certain wavelength ranges rather than correcting all wavelengths equally. The first diffractive structure corrects long wavelengths while the second corrects shorter wavelengths, but each with different correction amounts, achieving sufficient chromatic correction without excessive correction that would cause glare
Solution Approach 2:
The diffractive structure profiles are specifically designed with different parameters for different regions. The first diffractive structure has a profile optimized for wavelengths above 550 nm, while the second has a profile optimized for 450-550 nm wavelengths, changing the correction parameters to match the spectral characteristics of different wavelength ranges
3Reliability
If extensive refractive material is used to correct chromatic aberration, then chromatic correction improves, but lens thickness and incision size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional refractive correction methods with diffractive structures. Instead of using extensive refractive material to correct chromatic aberration, the invention uses surface-relief diffractive patterns that achieve chromatic correction through diffraction effects, significantly reducing the amount of bulk material needed and enabling thinner lens designs
Solution Approach 2:
The IOL combines multiple diffractive structures with different profiles in a single lens element. This composite approach integrates the first diffractive structure and second diffractive structure with complementary correction characteristics, achieving comprehensive chromatic aberration correction across the visible spectrum without requiring additional thick refractive layers
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively manages chromatic aberration correction across various lighting conditions, improving visual acuity without requiring extensive refractive material or high diffractive power, reducing the likelihood of visual disturbances like glare and allowing for thinner lens designs with smaller incisions.
Implementation Method 1
a first diffractive structure adapted to produce a focus for visible light in a first wavelength range above 550 nm and to reduce longitudinal chromatic aberration
Implementation Method 2
a second diffractive structure outside the first diffractive structure in a radial direction and adapted to produce a focus for visible light in a second wavelength range between 450 nm and 550 nm
Implementation Method 3
an optical filter operable to filter out at least visible light having a wavelength less than 450 nm
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmic lens includes an optical filter operable to filter out at least visible light having a wavelength less than 450 nm. The lens also includes a first diffractive structure adapted to produce a focus for visible light in a first wavelength range above 550 nm and to reduce longitudinal chromatic aberration to less than one diopter for incoming visible light in the first wavelength range. The lens also includes a second diffractive structure outside the first diffractive structure in a radial direction and adapted to produce a focus for visible light in a second wavelength range between 450 nm and 550 nm. The second diffractive structure is also adapted to reduce longitudinal chromatic aberration for incoming visible light in the second wavelength range to less than one diopter while allowing longitudinal chromatic aberration in the first wavelength range in an amount greater than the first diffractive structure.