MXPA99008103A - Addiction lenses progress - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to progressive addition lenses, lenses in which unwanted astigmatism is reduced and the channel width is increased through the intermediate and near vision zones, as compared to conventional progressive addition lenses; achieves this result by combining a progressive addition surface with a first dioptric addition capability with at least one optical element that provides additional dioptric addition capability to the

Description

PROGRESSIVE ADDICTION LENSES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to multifocal ophthalmic lenses. In particular, the invention provides progressive addition lenses in which unwanted astigmatism in the lenses is reduced. At the same time, the channel width is increased through the intermediate and near vision zones compared to conventional progressive addition lenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of ophthalmic lenses for the correction of ametropia is well known. For example, multifocal lenses, such as progressive addition lenses ("LAP's"), are used for the treatment of presbyopia. The surface of an LAP provides far, intermediate and far vision in a gradual and continuous progression of the vertically increasing dioptric capacity of a focus distant to a near or upper to lower part of the lens. LAP's are attractive to the user because the LAP's are free of visible highlights between the different dioptric capacity zones found in other multifocal lenses, such as bifocals and trifocals.

However, an inherent disadvantage in LAPs is unwanted astigmatism in the lenses or an astigmatism introduced or caused by one or more of the surfaces of the lenses. Generally, unwanted astigmatism in the lenses corresponds approximately to the diopter's near vision of the lens. For example, an LAP with 2.00 diopters of near vision capacity will have approximately 2.00 diopters of unwanted astigmatism in the lens. Additionally, the lens area free of unwanted astigmatism is very narrow, when the user's eye is free from unwanted astigmatism when the user's eye scans the area from a distance to the near and back area. A number of lens designs have been tried, trying to overcome these disadvantages. However, although the progressive lens designs of the state of the art provide some minimal decrease in unwanted astigmatism in the lenses, large areas of the peripheries of the lenses are still unusable due to unwanted astigmatism. Thus, there is a need for an LAP that overcomes some of the problems inherent in the LAP's of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front projection view of a lens embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded side view of a lens embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is an exploded side view of a lens embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram representing a portion of a lens surface of Figure 6. Figure 5 is a side view and rear projection of a lens embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 is a front projection view of a lens embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 is a capacitance profile of the lens of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a side view of a lens embodiment of the invention. Figure 9a is a side view of one embodiment of the lens of the invention. Figure 9b is a capacitance profile of the continuous element of the lens of Figure 9a. Figure 10a is a side view of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 10b is a capacitance profile of the continuous element of the lens of Figure 10a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND ITS PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention provides progressive addition lenses, as well as methods for their design and production, in which the undesired astigmatism in the lenses that is associated with a given near dioptric capacity is reduced, as compared to the lenses of the prior art. Additionally, the minimum channel width of the lens of the invention is increased, when compared to the LAP's of the prior art. For the purposes of the invention, by "channel" is meant the optical zone that is free from unwanted astigmatism of about 0.75 diopters or more, which connects the far vision zone with the near vision zone along the central umbilical meridian and the user's eye has access to it or explores a distant object to a nearby object and back. By "lens" or "lenses" is meant any ophthalmic lens including, without limitation, frame lenses, contact lenses, intraocular lenses and the like. Preferably, the lens of the invention is a frame lens. It is a discovery of the invention that unwanted astigmatism in the lens can be reduced by combining a progressive addition surface with one or more optical elements. The optical elements provide additional dioptric capacity to the final lens, so that the astigmatism in the lens at the level found in a conventional LAP is not increased. In addition, the lens of the invention provides a minimum channel width that is increased, when compared to that of common progressive addition lenses. In one embodiment, the lens of the invention comprises, consists essentially of and consists of: a) an optical preform comprising, consisting essentially of and consisting of a progressive addition surface having a near vision zone and a first dioptric addition capability; and b) one or more continuous optical elements having a second dioptric addition capability, disposed at least one of the optical elements so as to overlap the near vision zone and wherein the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first and second dioptric addition capabilities. By "optical preform" is meant any multifocal lens, such as a lens or progressive addition optical instrument. For the purposes of the invention, by "progressive addition surface" is meant an aspherical continuous surface having far and near vision zones and a zone of increasing dioptric capacity connecting the far and near vision areas. In another embodiment, the lens of the invention comprises, consists essentially of and consists of: a) an optical preform comprising, consisting essentially of and consisting of a progressive addition surface and having a near addition zone and a first dioptric addition capability; and b) two or more discontinuous optical elements having a second diopter addition capacity, disposed at least one of the discontinuous elements in one of two or more so as to overlap the near vision zone and wherein the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first and second dioptric addition capabilities. The progressive addition surface may be on the convex or concave surface of the optical preform or in a layer on the outer concave and convex outer surfaces of the lens. The curvature of the progressive surface increases in a positive way from the far vision zone to the near vision zone. The dioptric addition capacity of the progressive surface is the amount of dioptric capacity change between the far and near vision zones. The dioptric addition capacity of the progressive addition surface used in the invention is selected, so that it is a smaller value that is needed to correct the near vision of the lens user. The dioptric addition capacity of the progressive surface can be from about +0.01 diopters to about +3.00 diopters, preferably from about +1.00 diopters to about +2.75 diopters. The dioptric addition capacity of the progressive surface is selected, based on the total addition capacity required for the finished lens in view of the maximum unwanted astigmatism of the lens associated with a given near dioptric capacity, the minimum channel width that is desired and the ability to maintain substantially cosmetically attractive lenses. By "cosmetically attractive" is meant that the visibility of the optical elements of the lens to a person observing the lens user is eliminated or minimized.

In order to have the ability of total dioptric addition to correct presbyopia of the user in the lens of the invention, at least one optical element is used that provides additional dioptric addition capability to that provided by the progressive surface. The optical elements may be continuous, discontinuous or a combination thereof. By "discontinuous" it is implied that there is a discontinuous change in the buckling value of the progressive surface to the element or from element to element or there is a change in the slope along the axes of the x and y with respect to to the z-axis of a progressive surface to the optical element and from element to element or both. By "continuous" it is implied that both the buckling and the slope of the element are substantially continuous and have less than or equal to about 0.00 to about 0.100 diopters, preferably less than or equal to about 0.00 to about 0.05 diopters, of discontinuity. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the optical elements useful in the invention may be spherical, aspherical or a combination thereof and in any convenient manner. In addition, it will be recognized that the use of any of the continuous or discontinuous elements or both will result in a lens with a continuous or discontinuous surface. In embodiments in which discontinuous elements are used, two or more discontinuous elements are used which may be on the same surface as the progressive addition surface, on a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the surface of progressive addition and the opposite surface, or any combination thereof. In embodiments in which continuous elements are used, one or more continuous elements are used which may be on a surface opposite the progressive surface, in a layer between the progressive surface, and the opposite surface, or any combination thereof. The optical element or elements are generally exposed so that the viewing area of the progressive addition surface is overlapped by at least one of the optical elements. Preferably, at least one of the elements is arranged so that the center the optical element coincides with the center of the near addition zone of the progressive addition surface. More preferably, at least one of the elements is arranged so that the center of the optical elements coincides with the center of the near addition zones and the center of the channel. For the purposes of the invention, an element can overlap the near addition zone and coincide with the center of the nearby addition channel or channel without being on the same surface as the progressive addition surface. In embodiments using discontinuous elements, a buckling discontinuity may cause the appearance of a line through the lens, which may be cosmetically unactracting, if its magnitude exceeds certain limits. A discontinuity of slope causes a duplication or disappearance of image that can be functionally unacceptable, if its magnitude exceeds certain limits. The surfaces with the discontinuity of pandeó can be coated with one or more coatings, to minimize the visibility of the line. Coatings suitable for such purpose are any coatings for use in lenses and having replacement rates that are within 20% of the geometric mean of the refill rates of the coated lens surface and air. It is a discovery of the invention that the maximum range of buckling discontinuities that can be obscured by coating application is from about 0 to about 10 microns. Thus, the range of buckling discontinuities for the discontinuous elements used in the invention vary from about 0 to about 10., preferably from about 0 to about 5 microns. The limit of buckling discontinuities corresponds to an increase in diopter capacity through an element of the dioptric capacity through a 12 mm long element that is from about 0 to about 0.125 diopters, preferably from about 0 to about 0.065. diopters. As for slope discontinuity, it has been found that the maximum slope discontinuity interval corresponds to an increase in the dioptric capacity from about 0 to about 0.25 diopters, preferably from about 0 to about 0.125 diopters. In view of other limits, it has been found that it is preferable to use at least two, preferably from about 2 to 5, discontinuous optical elements to obtain the desired increase in dioptric addition capacity. As for the spacing of the elements, the slope discontinuities give rise to the image duplication that creates unwanted astigmatism, whose magnitude is proportional to the magnitude of the slope discontinuity and to the spacing between the discontinuous optical elements. The smaller the spacing between the elements, the greater the number of images captured by the pupil that scans the optical instrument. For example, if the discontinuous elements are 2 mm apart, a pupil with a diameter of 5 mm will capture up to four images at the same time. The additional astigmatism associated with the blurring of the image can be minimized if the number of images captured by the 5 mm pupil is maintained at 2. Thus, the discontinuous elements are preferably from about 3 to about 18 mm apart, preferably from about 5 to about 15 mm apart. For such spacing, it has been found that the astigmatism associated with a slope discontinuity of 0.08 diopter decreases to less than 0.05 diopter and the image duplication is below the perceptible level of the user of the optical instrument. In cases in which a higher level of image blur or astigmatism is tolerable, the spacing of the elements may be more closed. Each discontinuous optical element can be of the same dioptric capacity or, preferably, different. In modalities that use discontinuous elements, two or more elements are probably used and the dioptric capacity changes as one moves from a first element to a second, to a third, etc. However, the increase in element-to-element capacity is preferably such that the user's perception of the dioptric capacity change is minimized or eliminated.

Generally, the change of dioptric capacity moving from element to element is less than about 1.50 diopters, preferably less than about 0.50 diopters, more preferably less than about 0.37 diopters, and most preferably less than about 0.25 diopters. The dioptric capacity of each element is determined by the radius of curvature of the element, increasing the dioptric capacity as the curvature of the element decreases. Thus, each element can provide additional dioptric addition capability to the optical preform ranging from about +0.01 diopter to about +3.00 diopter, preferably from about +0.01 to about +2.00 diopter, more preferably from about +0.01 to about +0.50. diopters, most preferably from about +0.03 to about +0.25 diopters. The dioptric addition capacity for the optical element is the incremental addition capability provided by the element, a capability that someone ordinarily skilled in the art will be reasonably capable of determining.

For example, in Figure 1, the change of diopter capacity from element to element is 0.25 diopter and the diopter capacity of the elements is +0.25 diopter for the highest element 12, +0.50 diopter for the second element 13 and +0.75 diopters for the third element 14. Thus, the dioptric addition capacity of the optical element is +0.75 diopters. As another example, in Figure 2, the dioptric capacity of the concave surface elements 22, 23 and 24 is +0.25, +0.50 and +0.75, respectively, and that of convex surface elements 25 and 26 is +0.12 and +0.24 diopters, respectively. Therefore, the total dioptric addition capacity of the lens elements is +0.99 diopters. In the lens of the invention, the dioptric addition capacity of the elements can vary from about +0.01 to about +3.00 diopters, preferably from about +0.25 to about +2.00 diopters. In embodiments of the lens of the invention in which the increase in capacity between the optical elements results in the buckling discontinuities through the channel, the buckling discontinuity is preferably set at approximately 0 microns in the middle part of the channel, adjusting the relative heights of the elements. The discontinuity of total buckling along the vertical lines of the elements can be reduced by introducing a very small angle, the segment angular discontinuity, into the horizontal segment boundaries.

You can specify the location and geometric configuration of the elements, using any known technique. For example, the location and geometric configuration is evaluated, designed, and specified, using ray tracing or measured test results of the lenses. Additionally, surfaces limited by the elements can be optimized by any known method for the best performance of imaging. For example, such optimization can be performed using commercially available optical design software. Figure 6 shows a preferred embodiment for location of discontinuous optical elements used in the lens of the invention. The area 61 is shown for viewing from a distance, together with the discontinuous optical elements 62, 63 and 64. In this embodiment, the optical elements are aligned so that their centers coincide with the center of the channel and the near vision zone of the surface of progressive addition, surface and zone that are not shown in figure 6. The surface of progressive addition has a capacity of dioptric addition of +1.25 diopters and the optical elements a capacity of dioptric addition of +0.75 diopters. Figure 7 capacity profiles for the modality of Figure 6 are shown in Figure 7, with points E-i, E2 and E3 corresponding to elements 62, 63 and 64 respectively. The inclined capacity increase is due to the dioptric addition capacity of +1.25 of the progressive surface and the steps at the points Ei, E2 and E3 are caused by the change of curvature of the discontinuous elements. Figures 2, 3 and 5 illustrate two useful shapes for the discontinuous optical elements of the invention, a step shape and a circular "skylight" shape. The elements can be formed by any known method. Suitable methods include, without limitation, grinding, molding, casting, diamond cutting, grinding, polishing, thermal shaping, or a combination thereof. In addition to the optical elements and the progressive surface, other surfaces, such as spherical and toric surfaces, designed to adapt the lens to the ophthalmic prescription of the lens user can be used. In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the concave surface 21 of the optical preform 20 is a progressive addition surface with an addition capacity of +1.00 diopters. The aspheric optical elements 21, 23 and 24 are placed on the concave surface 21 and the elements 25 and 26 on the convex surface 27. In this embodiment and preferably, the upper limit of the element 25 of the highest convex surface is aligned with the lower limit of the element 22 of the highest concave surface. In figure 2, the diopter capacity of elements 25 and 26 is +0.12 and +0.24 diopters, respectively, and that of elements 22, 23 and 24 are +0.25, +0.50 and +0.75 diopters, respectively. Therefore, the total addition capacity for the lens will be (+0.24 diopters) + (+0.75 diopters) + (+1.00 diopters) or +1.99 diopters. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the toric surface 28 is formed on the convex surface 27 of the optical preform to provide the final desired lens. In such an embodiment, in which the concave or convex surface is provided with a toric correction, at least one intermediate layer 29 is preferably provided in the lens that is of spherical geometric configuration. As for Figure 2, since only the diopter addition capacity of +1.00 of the progressive addition surface of the optical preform contributes to the astigmatism of the lens, the diopter additive capacity of +1.99 of the lens is achieved with the introduction of less astigmatism in the lens than that formed in a conventional +1.99 addition LAP. For an LAP of the prior art, with addition of +.199, astigmatism in the lens would result in approximately +1.99 diopters of astigmatism in the lens. Therefore, the astigmatism in the lens of the lens of the invention of Figure 2 is reduced compared to a progressive lens of the prior art. In addition, the width of the channel is increased through the middle and near lens viewing areas. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the optical elements 25 and 26 are immersed within the lens in a layer between the convex and concave surfaces of the lens. In this embodiment, the surface with the immersed elements is preferably of different refractive index than the toric surface 29. The difference of the refractive indexes of the surfaces is from about 0.05 to about 0.50, preferably from about 0.1 to about 0.35. . Preferably, a majority or all of what is represented in Figure 3 of the elements 31, 32 and 33 is located on the concave surface 34 of the optical preform 30, surface which is also the concave surface of the lens shown, or in a layer between the concave surface 34 and the convex surface 35 of the final lens. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the elements are located on the concave surface of the lens and in a layer between the concave and convex surface of the lens. In such modalities, the surfaces or layers containing the optical elements are preferably of refractive indices different from those of the surfaces or layers without the optical elements. The reason why such placement is preferred is that it provides a more cosmetically attractive lens in the sense that it is eliminated or reduced to the minimum of visibility of the elements for someone observing the lens user. Referring to Figure 1, another embodiment of the lens of the invention is shown. The y-axis of the lens 10 represents the main meridian line bisecting the lens 10 in a generally vertical direction. The axis of the x represents the line y = 0 of the lens 10. The distance observation zone 11 is shown. A progressive surface with a dioptric addition capacity of +1.00 and below the optical elements 12, 13 and 14 is not shown. The change in dioptric capacity between elements 12 and 13 and 13 and 14 is 0.25 diopters. The diopter capacity of element 12 is +0.25, of element 13 of +0.50 and of element 14 of +0.75 diopters. The total dioptric addition capacity of the lens 10 is, therefore, +1.75 diopters. The upper limit of the optical elements may be located above or below the line y = 0 or the line of 0-180 degrees. Generally, the optical elements are positioned so that the upper edge of the element or elements is located between approximately 0 and approximately 18.5 mm and the lower edge of the element or elements is located between approximately 5 and approximately 35 mm below the surface. line y = 0. Figure 1 represents a preferred embodiment with the highest limit of the optical elements being located below approximately 2 mm below the line y = 0 of the lens. Figure 4 is a schematic view of the surface topography of the lower left quadrant of the lens of Figure 6. The horizontal line 65 is shown, a cut through the middle part of the lens 60 at y = 0, the middle channel 66 , the lower edge 67 and the peripheral edge 68 of the lens. From Figure 4, it is seen that the discontinuous elements 62, 63 and 64 have curvatures significantly different from the surrounding areas of the lens and from each other. These elements are designed so that the buckling is continuous along the y-axis. However, due to the different curvatures of the elements, a discontinuity of the buckling increases approximately quadratically from the y-axis and is seen as the horizontal discontinuities 81, 82 and 83. To the left of the elements 62, 63 and 64 vertical discontinuities are seen, such as a vertical discontinuity 84. To reduce vertical discontinuities, angular segment discontinuities are introduced into the lens, whose function is to reduce the magnitude of vertical discontinuities, such as 84. The angular discontinuity of the segment between the zone of distance 61 and element 62 is 0.001 radial and that of elements 62 and 63 is 0.0025 radial. There is no angular segment discontinuity between elements 63 and 64. The segment angular discontinuities are not large enough to be represented in Figure 4. The horizontal and vertical discontinuities can provide practical limits to the width of discontinuous elements useful in the invention. For a capacity discontinuity, the horizontal buckling discontinuity increases in a quadratic function, such as xA2, from the channel. Thus, if the horizontal buckling discontinuity is to be maintained below the desired specified value, this condition will put a limit on the width of the discontinuous element. A similar consideration will apply to the vertical discontinuities as well as to the prism introduced by the discontinuities. In Figure 5 another embodiment of the lens of the invention is illustrated. The concave surface 41 of the optical preform 40 and the convex surface 42 are shown. The convex surface 42 is a progressive surface with a diopter addition capacity of 1.50. Optical elements 43-46 are provided which are +0.725, +1.45, +2.175 and +2.90 diopters, respectively. The elements are spaced 4 mm apart. Each element has a circular section formed by the intersection of two spheres with two different radii of curvature. For example, the element 43 is formed by the intersection of the surface base sphere 41 (83.00 mm) and a sphere with a radius of 92.4 mm. Since the optical element provides an incremental addition capability on the concave surface 41, the curvature is flatter, ie the radius of curvature of the element is larger than that of the base sphere. Similarly, the element 44 is a second circular section concentric with the element 43 and is formed by the intersection of the sphere with radius of 92.4 mm with a third sphere with radii of curvature equal to 105.6 mm. Thus, the discontinuous elements of Figure 5 are arranged in the form of an embedded set of spherical sections whose radii are collinear. The refractive index of the optical preform 40 is 1586. the optical elements 43-46 are formed in the optical preform 40. A layer will be placed on the concave surface 41 in the optical preform 40. The refractive index of this cast layer will differ from that of the optical preform 40 by 0.1 units. In such a case, the dioptric capacity of the optical elements will be affected as follows. The dioptric capacity of each optical element will be scaled, dividing the dioptric capacity of a given element between x, where: x = n? - 1.00 wherein n-i is the refractive index of the optical preform and n2 is the refractive index of the cast layer. For figure 5: x = 1.586 - 1.00 = 5.86 0.1 For element 43, which has a dioptric capacity of +0.725 diopters, 0.725 divided by 5.86 is equal to the dioptric capacity of +0.125 diopters for element 43. The dioptric vision capacity of the optical elements is +0.50 diopters, making the total dioptric capacity of the lens of Figure 5 +2.00 diopters. In Figure 8 there is shown an embodiment of the lens of the invention in which continuous elements are used. The optical preform 70 is shown with a convex progressive addition surface 71 to a remote observation area 74, a close observation area 75 and an intermediate zone 77. The dioptric addition capacity of the progressive surface is +1.60 diopters. The concave surface 72 is shown with a spherical zone 76 and the continuous optical elements 73 located orthogonally to the zone 75. The dioptric addition capacity of the optical elements 73 is +0.40 diopters. The convex surface 71 has a curvature of 4.50 diopters in the zone 74 and a curvature of 6.10 diopters in the zone 75. The concave surface 72 has a curvature of 4.50 diopters in the zone 73 and of 4.10 in the 73. The resulting lens has a diopter addition capacity of +2.00 diopters, and the sum of the dioptric addition capabilities of the progressive addition surface and that of the continuous optical element 73. Figure 9a and Figure 9b still represent another embodiment of the lens of the invention, using continuous optical elements. The lens 80 having the optical preform 81 with the convex surface 82, a progressive surface, having the remote viewing zone 85, the near observation zone 86 and the intermediate zone 88 of continuously increasing dioptric capacity is shown. The concave zone 83 has the spherical zone 87, remote observation zone. The continuous optical element 84 is located orthogonally to the near observation zone 86. The continuous element 84 has a dioptric capacity that changes progressively between the zone 87 and the edge 89 of the preform. The convex surface 82 has a curvature of 4.50 diopters in zone 85 and 6.00 diopters in zone 86. Concave surface 83 has a curvature of 4.50 diopters in zone 86 and 4.00 diopters in point A, the center point of the element 84. The resulting lens has a diopter addition capacity of 2.00 diopters. The capacitance profile of the optical element 84 is shown in FIG. 9b. The solid line represents the capacitance profile of the element 84 in comparison with the profile of the concentric discontinuous elements crossed with the dotted line.

Figure 9b represents the profile of combined concentric capacities of element 84. This profile has areas of constant capacity that are uniformly connected to each other by aspheric or combined radii of curvature. This combination results in a buckling radius and a profile of continuous capacities through the element. Figure 10a and Figure 10b still represent another embodiment of a lens of the invention using continuous elements. The lens 90 having the optical preform 91 with the convex surface 92 is shown. The convex surface 92 has the distance observation zone 9, the near observation zone 96 and an intermediate zone 97 of progressively increasing dioptric capacity. The concave surface 93 has the remote observation zone 98 and the continuous optical element 94 orthogonal to the near observation zone 96. The continuous element 94 is of a dioptric capacity that changes progressively between the area 98 and the edge 99. The surface convex 92 has a curvature of 4.50 diopters in zone 95 and 5.50 diopters in zone 96. Concave surface 93 has a curvature of 4.50 diopters in zone 98 and 3.50 in point B, of the center of the zone 94. The lens 90 has, therefore, a capacity of dioptric addition of 2.00 diopters. Figure 10b represents the capacitance profile of the lens 90 as a solid line as compared to the discontinuous concentric optical elements. Figure 10b represents an aspheric capacitance profile for the continuous element. In this profile, there is no point at which the radius of curvature is constant, but rather the radius changes uniformly from the center of the element to its edge. For the embodiment shown in Figure 10a and as seen in Figure 10b, the capacity profile intersects the discontinuous concentric reference profile at the midpoint of each concentric zone.

Claims (22)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. A lens comprises: a) an optical preform comprising a progressive addition surface having a near vision zone and a first dioptric addition capability; b) one or more continuous elements having a second dioptric addition capability, disposed at least one of the one or more continuous optical elements so as to transpose the near vision zone; further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first and second dioptric addition capabilities.

2. The lens according to 1, further characterized in that the lens is a frame lens.

3. The lens according to claim 1, further comprising two or more continuous elements that have a third capacity of dioptric addition, arranged at least one of the two or more discontinuous optical elements so as to translape the viewing area close, further characterized because the dioptric vision capability of the lens is the sum of the first, second and third dioptric addition capabilities.

4. The lens according to claim 1, further characterized in that the near addition zone of the progressive addition surfaces of the optical preform also comprises a center, the one or more continuous optical elements further comprising a center and the center by at least one of the one or more continuous optical elements is arranged to coincide with the center of the near vision zone.

The lens according to claim 1, further characterized in that the one or more continuous optical elements are on a surface opposite to the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the surface opposite the surface of progressive addition, or a combination thereof.

6. The lens according to claim 3, further characterized in that the one or more continuous optical elements are on a surface opposite the progressive addition surfaces, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the surface opposite the surface of progressive addition, or a combination thereof, and the two or more discontinuous optical elements are on the progressive surface, a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the opposite surface to the progressive addition surface, or a combination thereof.

7. The lens according to claim 1, further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the optical preform is from about +0.01 to about +3.00 diopter and the capacity of dioptric addition of one or more continuous optical elements is approximately +0.01 to approximately +3.00 diopters.

8. - The lens according to claim 3, further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the optical preform, the one or more continuous elements of the two or more discrete optical elements are independently in each case from about +0.01 to about +3.00 diopters.

9. A frame lens comprising: a) an optical preform comprising a progressive addition surface having a near vision zone having a center, the progressive addition surface having a dioptric addition capacity of about +1.00 to about +2.75 diopters; and b) one or more continuous optical elements having a center and a dioptric addition capacity of about +0.25 to about +2.00, disposed at least one of the one or more continuous optical elements so that the center of the element coincides with the center of the near vision zone and the one or more continuous optical elements is on a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the surface opposite the progressive addition surface, or a combination of the same; further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first and second dioptric addition capacities.

10. The lens according to claim 9, further comprising two or more discontinuous optical elements having a center and a third diopter addition capacity of about +0.25 to about +2.00, further characterized in that at least one of the two or more discontinuous optical elements is arranged so that its center coincides with the center of the near vision zone and because the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first, second and third dioptric addition capacities.

11. The lens according to claim 10, further characterized in that the two or more discontinuous optical elements are located on the progressive addition surface, a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the surface opposite the progressive addition surface, or a combination thereof.

12. A lens comprising: a) an optical preform comprising a progressive addition surface having a near addition zone and a first dioptric addition capability; and b) two or more discontinuous optical elements having a second dioptric addition capability, disposed at least one of the two or more discrete optical elements so as to overlap the near vision zone; further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first and second dioptric addition capacities.

13. The lens according to claim 12, further characterized in that the lens is a frame lens.

14. The lens according to claim 12, further comprising one or more continuous optical elements having a third dioptric addition capacity, arranged at least one of the one or more continuous optical elements so as to transpose the near vision zone , further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first, second and third dioptric addition capacities.

15. The lens according to claim 12, further characterized in that the near vision zone of the progressive zone also comprises a center, the two or more discontinuous optical elements also comprise a center, arranged at least one of the two or more discontinuous optical elements so that the center coincides with the center of the near vision zone.

16. The lens according to claim 12, further characterized in that the two or more discontinuous optical elements are on the surface of progressive addition, a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the surface of progressive addition and the surface opposite the progressive addition surface, or a combination thereof.

17. The lens according to claim 14, further characterized in that the one or more continuous optical elements are on a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the surface opposite the surface of progressive addition or a combination thereof, and the two or more discontinuous elements are on the progressive surface, a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the surface opposite the addition surface progressive, or a combination thereof.

18. The lens according to claim 12, further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the optical performa and the two or more discontinuous optical elements is independently in each case from about +0.01 to about +3.00 diopters.

19. The lens according to claim 14, further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the optical preform is from about +0.01 to about +3.00 diopters and the dioptric addition capabilities of the one or more continuous optical elements and the two or more discontinuous elements are independently in each case from about +0.01 to about +3.00 diopters.

20. A frame lens comprising: a) an optical preform comprising a progressive addition surface having a near vision zone having a centerthe progressive surface having a dioptric addition capacity of about +1.00 to about +2.75 diopters; and b) two or more discontinuous optical elements having a center and a dioptric addition capacity of about +0.25 to about +2.00, disposed at the center of at least one of the two discontinuous optical elements so as to coincide with the center of the Near vision zone and the two or more discontinuous optics are located on the progressive surface, a surface opposite the progressive addition surface, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the surface opposite the progressive addition surface, or a combination thereof; further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first and second dioptric addition capacities.

21. The lens according to claim 20, further comprising one or more continuous optical elements having a third diopter addition capacity of about +0.25 to about +2.00, further characterized in that the dioptric addition capacity of the lens is the sum of the first, second and third dioptric addition capacities.

22. The lens according to claim 20, further characterized in that the one or more continuous optical elements are located on a surface opposite to the progressive addition surfaces, in a layer between the progressive addition surface and the opposite surface to the progressive addition surface, or a combination thereof.