AU2008201900B2

AU2008201900B2 - Eyeglass having variable index layer

Info

Publication number: AU2008201900B2
Application number: AU2008201900A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andreas W Dreher
Original assignee: Essilor International Compagnie Generale dOptique SA
Current assignee: EssilorLuxottica SA
Priority date: 2001-10-25
Filing date: 2008-04-30
Publication date: 2011-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-23
Also published as: AU2008201900A1

Abstract

Abstract An eyeglass manufacturing method using epoxy aberrator includes two lenses with a variable index material, such as epoxy, sandwiched in between. The epoxy is then cured to different indexes of refraction that provide precise corrections for the patient's wavefront aberrations. The present invention further provides a method to produce an eyeglass that corrects higher order aberrations, such as those that occur when retinal tissue is damaged due to glaucoma or macular degeneration. The manufacturing method allows for many different applications including, but not limited to, supervision and transition lenses.

Description

p/00/0oII Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Eyeglass having variable index layer The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: EYEGLASS HAVING VARIABLE INDEX LAYER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an eyeglass lens having a layer with a variable index of refraction. In one or more preferred embodiments, the present invention pertains to patient-specific spectacle lenses manufactured with an variable index aberrator in order to more accurately correct lower order aberrations and additionally correct higher order aberrations. The present specification also discloses a means for correcting vision problems caused by retinal dysfunction. DEFINITION In the specification the term "comprising shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term "comprising" such as "comprise" and "comprises" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present manufacturing techniques for eyeglass lenses are capable of producing lenses that correct only the lower order (sphere and cylinder) aberrations. Customarily, lens blanks are available in discrete steps of refractive power of 0.25 diopters. In most cases, these steps are too large to create optimum vision for a patient's eye. Current manufacturing techniques do not effectively treat vision problems resulting from retinal dysfunction. For example, in macular degeneration, patients suffer from vision loss in selective areas of the fundus, typically close to the center of vision. Laser treatment of the affected areas further destroys retinal tissue, causing blindness at the treated areas. Clinical studies have shown that the human eye and brain are capable of switching to other areas of the 5 retina to substitute the damaged area with an undamaged area. In other words, damaged areas in the retina are essentially bypassed by the brain. Ultimately, vision loss will occur as a portion of an image falls on the damaged retina. Consequently, there is a need to manufacture an eyepiece such that the image may be "warped" around the dysfunctional tissue in order to allow the entire image to focus on the remaining healthy tissue. 1A SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a method for making a lens, comprising: imaging a patient's eye to determine a wavefront prescription; selecting a first lens and a second lens; coating said first lens with a material having an index of refraction that can be changed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation; placing said second lens on said material such that said material is sandwiched between said first lens and said second lens; and curing said material on said first lens in accordance with said wavefront prescription. In one embodiment the first and second lenses are sandwiched together with a layer of epoxy, preferably ultra-violet curing epoxy. Subsequently, the epoxy aberrator is exposed to curing radiation in a pre-programmed way in order to fine-tune the refractive properties of the spectacle lens to the exact spherical and cylindrical prescription of the patient's eye. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for correcting retinal dysfunction, comprising: identifying a patient having dysfunctional retinal tissue such that a portion of an image projected onto a retina by an eye of said patient is unseen by said patient; and placing a lens in front of said eye, said lens comprising wavefront aberrator that warps said image around said dysfunctional retinal tissue such that said portion of an image is seen by said patient. The lens further comprises a first layer and a second layer wherein said first layer is coated with a material having an index of refraction that can be changed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation; and wherein said second layer is placed on said material such that said material is sandwiched between said first layer and said second layer. In a further aspect, the invention provides a retinal dysfunction-correcting spectacle lens comprising: a low order aberration-correcting first lens and a layer of curable material that is sandwiched between a second lens and the lower order aberration-correcting first lens, said layer of curable material has been cured by exposure to ultraviolet radiation to provide a layer of variable refractive index which corrects at least one high order aberration and said high order aberration correction provides improved vision to a person having the retinal dysfunction.. In a further aspect, the invention provides a lens for correcting a person's vision, the lens comprising: a first layer comprising a first lens or lens blank having a constant index of refraction; a second layer comprising a stopper and a material having an index of refraction that can be changed by exposure to radiation; and a third layer comprising a second lens or lens blank having a constant index of refraction, the second layer being sandwiched between the first layer and the third layer. 2 Another application of the present invention is to manufacture multi-focal or progressive addition lenses constructed with a layer of variable index material sandwiched in between the two lens blanks. The drawback of progressive addition lenses today is that, like regular spectacle lenses constructed with a layer of variable index material sandwiched in between the two lens blanks. The drawback of progressive addition lenses today is that, like regular spectacle lenses, a true customization for a patient's eye cannot be achieved due to the current manufacturing techniques. Using the two lenses and epoxy, a customized progressive addtion lens or reading lens can be manufactured by appropriately programming the curing of the epoxy aberrator 2A The present invention advantageously provides an opportunity for lenses that give patients "supervision." In order to achieve supervision, higher order aberrations of the patient's eye need to be corrected. Since these higher order aberrations, unlike the spherical and cylindrical refractive error, are highly asymmetrical, centering of the eye's optical axis with the zone of higher order correction ("supervision zone") is important. To minimize this effect, one could devise a spectacle lens that incorporates a supervision zone only along the central optical axis, allowing the patient to achieve supervision for one or more discrete gazing angles. The remainder of the lens would then be cured to correct only the lower order aberrations. An optional transition zone could be created between the supervision zone and the normal vision zone allowing for a gradual reduction of higher order aberrations. Again, all of this would be achieved by spatially resolved programming of the epoxy aberrator's curing. In order to cover a larger field of view with supervision, a multitude of supervision "islands" might be created. The supervision islands then are connected by transition zones that are programmed to gradually change the higher order aberrations in order to create smooth transitions. Lastly, the present invention may be used to "warp" the retinal image so that damaged portions of the retina will be bypassed by the image. In order to do this, the visual field of the patient needs to be mapped with a perimeter or micro-perimeter. From this map of healthy retina, spectacle lenses could be manufactured using the epoxy aberrator. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which like reference characters refer to 5 similar parts, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an eyeglass that incorporates a supervision zone for long distance applications; Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a top view of a progressive addition lens, which includes a supervision ) zone and reading zone; 3 Figure 4 shows a top view of a reading or special application lens; Figure 5A shows a top view of a lens including a multitude of supervision islands, which cover a larger view with supervision; Figure 5B shows a top view of a multi-focal lens including a multitude of reading islands, allowing for far vision correction and simultaneous reading correction; Figure 6 shows a text object imaged onto a damaged retina; Figure 7 shows the image of the same object as Figure 6 from the patient's perspective; Figure 8 shows the patient's view of the image after the brain shuts down the damaged retina; Figure 9 shows an image focused on a damaged retina, with a corrective lens in place; Figure 10 shows the image as the patient initially sees it; 4 Figure I1 shows the image as the patient sees it after the brain shuts down the damaged retina; and Figure 12 shows a sequence of manufacture for the present invention. 4A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to Figure 1, a lens assembly that incorporates a supervision zone is shown and generally designated 100. Figure I shows that the lens assembly 100 includes an upper lens 102, a variable index layer 103, and a lower lens 104. In a-preferred embodiment, the variable index layer 5 is made of ultra-violet curing epoxy which exhibits an index of refraction that can be changed lIy exposure to ultraviolet radiation. However, it is to be appreciated that other materials which exhibit similar characteristics, namely a variable index of refraction, may be incorporated into the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. The variable index layer 103 makes up the normal vision zone 106, the transition zone 110, 10 and the supervision zone 108, where the epoxy at each zone is cured to a specific index of refraction. The normal vision zone 106 corrects the lower order spherical and cylindrical aberrations of the patient's eye. The transition zone I10 allows for a gradual reduction of higher order aberrations. The supervision zone 108 lies along the patient's optical axis (not shown) and corrects the higher order aberrations allowing the patient to achieve supervision for one or more discrete gazing angles. The 15 shape of the lens 100 is meant to be exemplary of the shape of a typical eyeglass lens, and any shape, including highly curved lenses, may be used while not departing from the present invention. Referring now to Figure 2, a cross section of lens 100 is represented such that upper lens 102 has a thickness 112, epoxy layer 103 has a thickness 116, and the lower lens 104 has a thickness 114. The epoxy layer 103 is sandwiched between the upper lens 102 and the lower lens 104 and is held in 20 place by a stopper 118. DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Figure 3, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as a progressive addition lens and generally-designated 200. Figure -3 shows a top view of a transition lens 200 in which there is a supervision zone 202, a transition zone 204, and a shot distance viewing 25 zone 206. The normal vision zone 208 of the progressive addition lens 200 is.corrected for the lower aberrations. Again, the creation of the various'vision zones is by means of selectively curing the epoxy aberrator sandwiched between two glass (or plastic) blanks, not through the traditional means of grinding or molding these features into a blank. The transition lens 200 has a similar cross section to that depicted in Figure 2. 30 Referring now to Figure 4, another alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as a reading lens and generally designated 300. Figure 4 shows a top view of a reading lens 300 in which there is a supervision zone 302, a transition zone 304, and a-normal vision zone 306. The reading lens 300 has a similar cross section to that depicted in Figure 2. The supervision zone 302 may be used for, but not limited to, high-resolution applications such as reading, precision close up work, 35 etc.

Referring now to Figure 5A, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as a supervision lens that covers a larger field of view and is generally designated 400. Figure SA shows a top view of a supervision lens 400 in which there is a plurality of supervision islands 402, and a transition zone 404. The plurality of supervision islands 402 create a larger field of view for the 5 patient, while the transition zone 404 is manufactured to gradually change the higher order aberrations in order to create smooth transitions. Referring now to Figure 5B, another alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as a multi-focal lens that allows for simultaneous correction for far vision and reading vision and is generally designated 450. Figure 5B shows a top view of a multi-focal lens 450 in which there 10 is a plurality of optical islands 452, each representing the patient's reading prescription while the background zone 454 represents the patient's far vision prescription, or vice versa. Ideally, the diameter of the optical islands is on the order of 100 microns so that a maximum number of optical islands falls within the typical pupil size of 2 to 6 mm diameter. One special application of this invention is the use for correcting vision problems caused by. 15 retinal dysfunction, e.g., by eye diseases like glaucoma or macular degeneration. Figure 6 shows an eye generally designated 500, in which an image 502 is imaged by the eye's cornea and lens 504 onto the inner surface of the eye 500 where there is damaged retinal tissue 506. The patient initially sees only a portion of the image and an obstruction, as shown in Figure 7. Eventually the brain shuts off the damaged portion of the retina and the patient's view no longer includes the obstruction, such a 20 view is represented in Figure 8. Although the patient no longer sees an obstruction, a portion of the image remains unseen. The present invention is capable of correcting this phenomenon as illustrated in Figures 9-11. Figure 9 again shows an eye generally designated 600, in which an object 602 is imaged through the eye's cornea and lens 604 onto the inner surface of the eye 600 where there is damaged retinal tissue 606. However, a lens 608 manufactured using the epoxy wavefront aberrator 25 is placed in front of the eye 600. The retinal image 609 of the object 602 is warped around damaged retinal tissue 606 such that none of the image 602 is lost. Figure 10 shows the image the patient sees. As previously mentioned, over time the brain will terminate the signals generated by the damaged retinal tissue 606 and the patient will see the entire image 602 as shown in Figure 11.. Figure 12 shows a flow chart in which the steps for manufacturing the lens are disclosed and 30 generally designated 700. First the patient's eye must be imaged in order to determine the wavefront prescription. Second, both the upper and lower lenses must be selected. This selection corrects both the patient's spherical and cylindrical aberrations to within 0.25 diopters. Next, one side of the first lens is coated with epoxy. The second lens in then placed on the epoxy coated surface of the first lens, such that the epoxy is sandwiched between the two lenses. Finally the epoxy is cured to match 35 the wavefront prescription.

While the different embodiments of the present invention as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein 5 shown other than as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for making a lens, for correcting a person's vision, comprising: imaging a patient's eye to determine a wavefront prescription; selecting a first lens and a second lens; 5 coating said first lens with a material having an index of refraction that can be changed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation; placing said second lens on said material such that said material is sandwiched between said first lens and said second lens; and curing said material on said first lens in accordance with said wavefront prescription. 0

2. The method of claim I in which said material is an epoxy.

3. The method of claim I or 2 in which said material is an ultra-violet curing epoxy.

4. A lens for correcting a person's vision, the lens comprising: a first layer comprising a first lens or lens blank having a constant index of refraction; a second layer comprising a stopper and a material having an index of refraction that can 5 be changed by exposure to radiation; and a third layer comprising a second lens or lens blank having a constant index of refraction, the second layer being sandwiched between the first layer and the third layer.

5. The lens of claim 4 in which the material is an ultraviolet curing epoxy.

6. A method of making a lens for correcting a person's retinal dysfunction, comprising: 20 identifying a patient having dysfunctional retinal tissue such that a portion of an image projected onto a retina by an eye of said patient is unseen by said patient; and placing a lens in front of said eye, said lens comprising wavefront aberrator that warps said image around said dysfunctional retinal tissue such that said portion of an image is seen by said patient, wherein said lens comprises: 8 a first layer and a second layer, wherein said first layer is coated with a material having an index of refraction that can be changed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation; and wherein said second layer is placed on said material such that said material is sandwiched between said first layer and said second layer. 5

7. The method of claim 6 wherein: the first layer comprises a lens or lens blank having a constant index of refraction; and the second layer comprises a material having a varying index of refraction, the second layer having a substantially constant thickness.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the lens comprises correction for at least one low order 0 aberration and at least one high order aberration.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein retinal dysfunction is macular degeneration and the material is a layer of a curable material that has been cured to provide a layer having a variable refractive index which corrects the at least one high order aberration.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the curable material is an epoxy. 5

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the epoxy is cured by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

12. A retinal dysfunction-correcting spectacle lens comprising: a low order aberration correcting first lens and a layer of curable material that is sandwiched between a second lens and the lower order aberration-correcting first lens, said layer of curable material has been cured by exposure to ultraviolet radiation to provide a layer of variable refractive index which corrects at 20 least one high order aberration and said high order aberration correction provides improved vision to a person having the retinal dysfunction.

13. The lens of claim 12 wherein the retinal dysfunction is macular degeneration.

14. The lens of claim 12 or 13 wherein the curable material is an epoxy.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the first layer is a first lens and the second layer is a 25 second lens. 9