System, apparatus, and method for correcting vision using an electro-active lens

Abstract

A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.

1 . A spectacle lens comprising: 
 a front surface;    a back surface;    a peripheral edge; and    a vision correcting area having a refractive error correction, wherein at least a portion of the refractive error correction is based on a lens prescription determined by a wave front analysis of a wearer's eye and wherein the vision correcting area corrects non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction and wherein the peripheral edge is capable of being modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.    
   
   
       2 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the vision correcting area corrects for conventional refractive error.  
   
   
       3 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the vision correcting area corrects for aberrations of the lens.  
   
   
       4 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the lens comprises a material having a variable index of refraction.  
   
   
       5 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the lens comprises a material having a modifiable index of refraction.  
   
   
       6 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the back surface is concave.  
   
   
       7 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the lens is capable of correcting non-conventional refractive error caused by one of aberrations, irregular astigmatism, and ocular layer irregularities.  
   
   
       8 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the lens provides a prismatic power.  
   
   
       9 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the lens has a chromic characteristic.  
   
   
       10 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein correction of unconventional refractive error is provided by localized changes in a refractive power of the lens.  
   
   
       11 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the lens corrects the wearer's vision to better than 20/20.  
   
   
       12 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the lens corrects the wearer's vision to better than 20/10.  
   
   
       13 . A method for producing a spectacle lens for the correction of non-conventional refractive error comprising: 
 determining a lens prescription for unconventional refractive error based in part on a wave front analysis of an eye.    providing a lens to correct for refractive error having a front surface, a back surface, a vision correcting area, and a peripheral edge;    modifying the lens to provide correction of least a portion of the lens prescription for unconventional refractive error;    modifying the peripheral edge of the lens to fit within an eyeglass frame; and    inserting the lens into the eyeglass frame.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the lens provided is manufactured from a semi-finished lens blank.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the unconventional refractive error is corrected in part by a refractive index change.  
   
   
       16 . A spectacle lens comprising: 
 a front surface;    a back surface;    a peripheral edge; and    a vision correcting area having a refractive error correction, wherein the vision correcting area uses adaptive optics to correct for non-conventional refractive error to provide a wearer better than 20/20 vision and wherein the peripheral edge is capable of being modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.