Multifocal Lenses with Ocular Side Segments for Add Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional multifocal lenses are often bulky and cannot provide specialized power enhancements or accommodate specific vision requirements, such as those needed by golfers or pilots, and lack the ability to offer large 'add power' enhancements.
Innovation Solution
The use of digital surfacing techniques to create and apply round or geometrically shaped lens segments on the back surface of multifocal lenses, enhancing power additions and providing specialized vision areas, such as golf or pilot segments, by combining with front surface multifocal segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional multifocal lenses are used to provide seamless progression of powers, then clear vision at all distances is achieved, but the lenses become bulky and create a 'coke bottle effect' at the periphery
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is divided into distinct segments: a multifocal portion with progressive powers and a separate ocular side segment with specialized power enhancements. This segmentation allows each portion to serve its specific function without compromising the other, providing clear vision at all distances while maintaining a thinner, more aesthetically pleasing overall lens shape.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens are assigned different optical properties. The multifocal portion provides seamless power progression for general vision, while the ocular side segment provides localized power enhancements for specific needs (such as reading or specialized activities). This local differentiation allows the lens to be optimized for both aesthetic appearance and functional performance in specific areas.
2Reliability
If traditional multifocal lenses are designed for normal clear vision, then seamless power progression is achieved, but specialized power enhancements and large 'add power' enhancements cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The lens combines multiple functions within a single optical element. The multifocal portion provides standard progressive vision correction, while the ocular side segment adds specialized power enhancements for specific tasks such as reading, golf, or piloting. This multi-functionality allows the lens to serve both general vision needs and specialized requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the lens into a multifocal portion and an ocular side segment, the invention enables independent optimization of each portion. The ocular side segment can be designed with large add powers and specialized optical characteristics without affecting the seamless progression of the multifocal portion, thereby providing both normal clear vision and specialized power enhancements.
3Manufacturing precision
If digital surfacing techniques are used to create non-spherical back surface segments, then precise optical quality and patient-specific benefits are achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical surfacing methods with digital surfacing techniques. This substitution enables precise control over the back surface segment geometry, allowing for non-spherical shapes and patient-specific customization. The digital approach provides manufacturing precision while the modular segment design helps manage the complexity of the overall manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for creating and/or manufacturing progressive lenses (e.g., bifocal, multifocal, and so on) having ocular side (e.g., back side or surface) lens segments, are described. For example, the systems and methods may apply round lens segments to ocular sides or surfaces of progressive lenses, providing the lenses with specializing vision lens segments and/or power enhancement lens segments, which may combine with front surface power additions provided by the multifocal lens segments applied to the front surfaces of the lenses.