High performance, low cost multifocal lens having dynamic progressive optical power region

Abstract

An embryonic optical apparatus including a first lens component including a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the first lens component from the first surface, and a second lens component comprising a flexible element, wherein the flexible element of the second lens component comprises a first region that is variably movable towards and away from the first surface, thereby dynamically adjusting an optical power of the embryonic optical apparatus with respect to a light path through the first region and the first surface, and wherein the embryonic optical apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the second surface is permanently alterable to permanently define an optical power of the first lens at least a second region of the second surface, the second region being optically aligned with the first region, thereby resulting in a prescription-quality ophthalmic optical apparatus.

1 . An embryonic optical apparatus comprising:
 a first lens component including:
 a first surface; and 
 a second surface on an opposite side of the first lens component from the first surface, and 
   a second lens component comprising a flexible element, at least a portion of the second lens component being adhered to the first surface,   wherein the flexible element of the second lens component comprises a first region that is variably movable towards and away from the first surface in response to a change of pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region, thereby dynamically adjusting an optical power of the embryonic optical apparatus with respect to a light path through the first region and the first surface, and   wherein the embryonic optical apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the second surface is permanently alterable to permanently define an optical power of the first lens at at least a second region of the second surface, the second region being optically aligned with the first region, thereby resulting in a prescription-quality ophthalmic optical apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first lens component is an unfinished or semi-finished lens blank. 
     
     
         3 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the embryonic optical apparatus is configured such that at least the portion of the second surface that is permanently alterable is permanently alterable such that the second region is transformable to a region of prescription-quality ophthalmic static incremental add power. 
     
     
         4 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the second surface is permanently alterable via free forming, surfacing, and/or polishing and/or a combination thereof, to permanently define the optical power of the first lens at least the second region of the second surface, thereby resulting in the prescription-quality ophthalmic optical apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first region is balloonable in response to pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region, thereby dynamically adjusting an optical power of the embryonic optical apparatus with respect to a light path through the first region and the first surface. 
     
     
         6 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the embryonic optical apparatus further comprises:
 a channel in fluid communication with a first space located between the first region that is variable moveable and the first surface, the channel being configured to permit movement of fluid through the channel, the fluid generating the pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region.   
     
     
         7 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the channel is configured such that movement of a fluid through the channel into the first space increases pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region to move the first region away from the first surface; and   the channel is configured such that movement of the fluid through the channel out of the first space decreases pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region to move the first region towards the first surface.   
     
     
         8 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the channel extends from at least an edge of the first lens component to the first region. 
     
     
         9 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the channel is defined by the first surface and a surface of the second lens component that is not adhered to the first surface. 
     
     
         10 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein an end of the channel distal from the first region is unsealably sealed. 
     
     
         11 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the embryonic optical apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the second surface is permanently alterable to permanently define an optical power, corresponding to a distance prescription of an eyeglass wearer, of the first lens at least a second region of the second surface. 
     
     
         12 . The embryonic optical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the embryonic optical apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the second surface is permanently alterable to permanently define a positive optical power of the first lens at least a second region of the second surface. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing an ophthalmic optical apparatus, comprising:
 obtaining a lens assembly including:
 a first lens component including:
 a first surface; and 
 a second surface on an opposite side of the first lens component from the first surface, and 
 
 a second lens component comprising a flexible element, at least a portion of the second lens component being adhered to the first surface, 
 wherein the flexible element of the second lens component comprises a first region that is variably movable towards and away from the first surface in response to a change of pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region, thereby dynamically adjusting an optical power of the lens assembly with respect to a light path through the first region and the first surface; and 
   after obtaining the lens assembly, permanently altering the second surface to permanently define an optical power of the first lens at least a second region of the second surface, the second region being optically aligned with the first region.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 before and/or after obtaining the lens assembly, determining a desired add power of the optical apparatus,   wherein the action of permanently altering the second surface to permanently change the optical power of the first lens at least a second region of the second surface results in a first add power that is less than the desired add power, and   wherein after altering the second surface, a cumulative add power with respect to the light path of the first lens component and the second lens component when the first region of the second lens component is moved away from the first surface to a first position, substantially equals the desired add power.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first position of the first region corresponds to about a maximum distance of movement of the first region away from the first surface. wherein after altering the second surface, a cumulative add power with respect to the light path of the first lens component and the second lens component when the second lens component is moved to substantially conform to and rest upon the first surface, substantially equals a first add power. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the lens assembly includes a fluid channel that extends from at least an edge of the lens assembly to the first region. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid channel is defined by the first surface and a surface of the second lens component that is not adhered to the first surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein an end of the channel distal from the first region is unsealably sealed, the method further comprising:
 unsealing the end of the channel distal from the first region after altering the second surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sealing the end of the channel distal from the first region prior to altering the second surface; and   unsealing the end of the channel distal from the first region after altering the second surface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 after altering the second surface, fitting the resulting altered lens assembly into a frame of eyeglasses.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 after altering the second surface, fitting the resulting altered lens assembly into a frame of eyeglasses including a fluid channel; and   placing the fluid channel of the lens assembly into fluid communication with a fluid channel of the frame.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the action of permanently altering the second surface to permanently define an optical power of the first lens at least a second region of the second surface includes imparting a static progressive add power region at least the second region. 
     
     
         23 . A method, comprising:
 providing a lens assembly including:
 a first lens component including:
 a first surface; and 
 a second surface on an opposite side of the first lens component from the first surface, and 
 
 a second lens component comprising a flexible element, at least a portion of the second lens component being adhered to the first surface, 
 wherein the flexible element of the second lens component comprises a first region that is variably movable towards and away from the first surface in response to a change of pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region, thereby dynamically adjusting an optical power of the lens assembly with respect to a light path through the first region and the first surface; 
   before and/or after and/or while providing the lens assembly, providing and indication that the first lens component is to be permanently altered in a manner that permanently defines an optical power of the first lens at least a second region of the second surface, the second region being optically aligned with the first region.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the lens assembly includes a fluid channel that extends from at least an edge of the lens assembly to the first region. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the fluid channel is defined by the first surface and a surface of the second lens component that is not adhered to the first surface. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein an end of the channel distal from the first region is unsealably sealed. 
     
     
         27 . An ophthalmic optical apparatus comprising:
 low add power progressive addition lens including a first radius of curvature providing a progressive addition power to a maximum first add power;   a membrane located on a first surface of the low add power progressive addition lens including an expandable portion expandable from a first state in which the expandable portion has a second radius of curvature to a second state in which the expandable portion has a third radius of curvature;   a fluidic system configured to expand the expandable portion from the first state to the second state and contract the expandable portion from the second state to the first state,   wherein the second radius of curvature substantially corresponds to the first radius of curvature such that a maximum cumulative add power of the expandable portion and the low add power progressive addition lens equals about the first add power when the expandable portion is in the first state,   wherein the third radius of curvature is different from the first radius of curvature such that the maximum cumulative add power of the expandable portion and the low add power progressive addition lens equals the first add power plus a second add power when the expandable portion is in the second state.   
     
     
         28 . The optical apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the fluidic system is configured to permit movement of a fluid into and out of a space formed between the low add power progressive addition lens and the expandable portion to respectively expand the expandable portion from the first state to the second state and contract the expandable portion from the second state to the first state.   
     
     
         29 . The optical apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the fluidic system comprises a fluid channel that extends from at least an edge of the low add power progressive addition lens to the expandable portion. 
     
     
         30 . The optical apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the fluid channel is defined by the first surface of the low add power progressive addition lens and the membrane. 
     
     
         31 . The optical apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the fluidic system is configured to heat the fluid, thereby expanding the fluid and thus expanding the expandable portion from the first state to the second state; and   the fluidic system is configured to cool the fluid, thereby contracting the fluid and thus contracting the expandable portion from the second state to the first state.   
     
     
         32 . Eyeglasses, comprising:
 an optical apparatus according to  claim 27 ; and   an eyeglass frame.   
     
     
         33 . The eyeglasses of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a controller, wherein the control is configured to automatically control the fluidic system, thereby controlling the expansion and contraction of the expandable portion.   
     
     
         34 . The eyeglasses of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a micro pump actuator configured to pump fluid into a space located between the low add power progressive addition lens and the membrane to expand the expandable portion of the membrane.   
     
     
         35 . The eyeglasses of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to sense an orientation of the eyeglasses,   wherein the sensor is in signal communication with the controller,   wherein the controller is configured to control the fluidic system to expand the expandable portion to the second state upon receipt of a signal from the sensor indicative that the eyeglasses are oriented in an orientation indicative that the wearer of the eyeglasses is performing a near point vision task.   
     
     
         36 . The eyeglasses of  claim 35 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a tilt switch or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         37 . An embryonic optical apparatus comprising:
 a first lens component including:
 a first surface; and 
 a second surface on an opposite side of the first lens component from the first surface, and 
   a second lens component comprising a flexible element, at least a portion of the second lens component being adhered to the first surface,   wherein the flexible element of the second lens component comprises a first region that is variably movable towards and away from the first surface in response to a change of pressure applied to at least a portion of the first region, thereby dynamically adjusting an optical power of the embryonic optical apparatus with respect to a light path through the first region and the first surface, and   wherein the embryonic optical apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of an edge of the first lens component can be permanently removed, thereby resulting in an ophthalmic optical apparatus having a perimeter conforming to an eyeglass frame.