Using the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) to Increase the Depth of Focus by Inducing Targeted Amounts of Asphericity

Abstract

In general, the present invention relates to optical elements, which can be modified post-manufacture such that different versions of the element will have different optical properties. In particular, the present invention relates to lenses, such as intraocular lenses, which can be converted into aspheric lenses post-fabrication. Also, the present invention relates to a method for forming aspheric lenses post-fabrication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming an aspheric optical element, comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a first polymer matrix wherein the step of forming the first polymer matrix is done in the presence of a modifying composition;   (b) forming a second polymer matrix wherein the step of forming the second polymer matrix further comprises the step of polymerizing the modifying composition to form an interpenetrating network with the first polymer matrix.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aspheric optical element is created by irradiating with a spatially defined irradiance profile. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the spatially defined irradiance profile induces asphericity according to the following equation:
   Asph(ρ)= Aρ   4   −Bρ   2 +1
   wherein:   Asph(ρ) is the irradiance profile   coefficient A is equal to 4;   coefficient B is equal to 4   ρ is a radial coordinate.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the spatially defined irradiance profile induces asphericity to provide increased depth of focus according to the following equation:
   Profile(ρ)=SCN (ρ)+βAsph(ρ)
   wherein SCN(ρ) refers to either a spherical, spherocylindrical or power neutral spatial irradiance profile,   Asph(ρ) is:
   Asph(ρ)= Aρ   4   −Bρ   2 +1
 
   wherein:   Asph(ρ) is the irradiance profile   coefficient A is equal to 4;   coefficient B is equal to 4   ρ is a radial coordinate   
       coefficient β is a weighting factor that ranges from 0 to 1. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein, wherein the remaining amount of the modifying composition is polymerized with the first polymer matrix. 
     
     
         6 . The optical element of  claim 5 , wherein the first polymer matrix is a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyvinyl, a polysiloxane, a polyphosphazenes and/or copolymers of thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The optical element of  claim 6 , wherein the polysiloxane is a polydimethylsiloxane. 
     
     
         8 . The optical element of  claim 7 , wherein the polydimethylsiloxane has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         9 . The optical element of  claim 8 , wherein the first polymer matrix is formed in the presence of a crosslinker 
     
     
         10 . The optical element of  claim 9 , wherein the crosslinker has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         11 . The optical element of  claim 4 , wherein the modifying composition has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         12 . The optical element of  claim 11 , wherein the modifying composition has the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         13 . The optical element of  claim 6 , wherein the polyacrylate is a polyalkyl acrylates, a polyhydroxyalkyl acrylate and/or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The optical element of  claim 6 , wherein the polymethacrylate is a polymethyl methacrylate, a polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, a polyhydroxypropyl methacrylate and/or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The optical element of  claim 6 , wherein the polyvinyl is a polystyrene, a polyvinylpyrrolidone and/or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming an aspheric lens, comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a first polymer matrix wherein the step of forming the first polymer matrix is done in the presence of a modifying composition;   (b) forming a second polymer matrix wherein the step of forming the second polymer matrix further comprises the step of reacting the first polymer matrix with the modifying composition.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the aspheric lens has a spatially defined irradiance profile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the spatially defined irradiance profile induces asphericity according to the following equation:
   Asph(ρ)= Aρ   4   −Bρ   2 +1
   wherein:   Asph(ρ) is the irradiance profile   coefficient A is equal to 4;   coefficient B is equal to 4   ρ is a radial coordinate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the spatially defined irradiance profile induces asphericity to provide increased depth of focus according to the following equation:
   Profile(ρ)=SCN(ρ)+βAsph(ρ)
   wherein SCN(ρ) refers to either a spherical, spherocylindrical or power neutral spatial irradiance profile,   Asph(ρ) is:
   Asph(ρ)= Aρ   4   −Bρ   2 +1
 
 wherein: 
 Asph(ρ) is the irradiance profile 
 coefficient A is equal to 4; 
 coefficient B is equal to 4 
 ρ is a radial coordinate 
   coefficient β is a weighting factor that ranges from 0 to 1.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the remaining amount of the modifying composition is polymerized with the first polymer matrix. 
     
     
         21 . The optical element of  claim 20 , wherein the first polymer matrix is a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyvinyl, a polysiloxane, a polyphosphazenes and/or copolymers of thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The optical element of  claim 21 , wherein the polysiloxane is a polydimethylsiloxane. 
     
     
         23 . The optical element of  claim 21 , wherein the polydimethylsiloxane has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         24 . The optical element of  claim 23 , wherein the first polymer matrix is formed in the presence of a crosslinker. 
     
     
         25 . The optical element of  claim 24 , wherein the crosslinker has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         26 . The optical element of  claim 19 , wherein the modifying composition has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         27 . The optical element of  claim 26 , wherein the modifying composition has the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         28 . The optical element of  claim 21 , wherein the polyacrylate is a polyalkyl acrylates, a polyhydroxyalkyl acrylate and/or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The optical element of  claim 21 , wherein the polymethacrylate is a polymethyl methacrylate, a polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, a polyhydroxypropyl methacrylate and/or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The optical element of  claim 21 , wherein the polyvinyl is a polystyrene, a polyvinylpyrrolidone and/or a combination thereof.