Contact lenses having a reinforcing scaffold

Abstract

Ophthalmic lenses for correcting refractive error of an eye are disclosed. Ophthalmic lenses include an inner optic portion having a scaffold between an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The scaffold is characterized by a substantially uniform thickness formed from a material characterized by a modulus that his higher than the modulus of the peripheral portion. Openings within the scaffold are filled with a low modulus material. When applied to an eye, the lenses are configured to provide one or more lenticular volumes between the posterior surface of the lens and the cornea. The disclosure further relates to methods of correcting refractive errors of an eye such as astigmatism or spherical aberration using the ophthalmic lenses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic lens, wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises:
 an inner optic portion configured to be disposed over an optical region of a cornea, wherein the inner optic portion comprises an inner material;   a peripheral portion a peripheral portion disposed radially outward of the inner optic portion; and   a scaffold embedded within the inner material, wherein the scaffold comprises a solid center portion.   
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the inner material and the scaffold comprise a silicone hydrogel. 
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein,
 the inner optic portion comprises an inner material having a first modulus;   the peripheral portion comprises a peripheral material having a second modulus;   the scaffold comprises a scaffold material having a third modulus; and   the inner material and the peripheral material are the same; and   the third modulus is greater than the first modulus and the second modulus.   
     
     
         4 . An ophthalmic lens, wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises:
 an inner optic portion configured to be disposed over an optical region of a cornea;   a peripheral portion disposed radially outward of the inner optic portion; and   a scaffold embedded within the peripheral portion, wherein the scaffold comprises a central opening.   
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 3 , wherein the inner material and the scaffold comprise a silicone hydrogel. 
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 3 , wherein,
 the inner optic portion comprises an inner material having a first modulus;   the peripheral portion comprises a peripheral material having a second modulus;   the scaffold comprises a scaffold material having a third modulus; and   the inner material and the peripheral material are the same; and   the third modulus is greater than the first modulus and the second modulus.   
     
     
         7 . An ophthalmic lens, wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises:
 an inner optic portion configured to be disposed over an optical region of a cornea;   a peripheral portion disposed radially outward of the inner optic portion; and   a scaffold embedded within the inner optic portion and the peripheral portion, wherein the scaffold comprises concentric rings.   
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 7 , wherein the scaffold comprises a central opening. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 7 , wherein the concentric rings are disposed in the peripheral portion. 
     
     
         10 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 7 , wherein the inner material and the scaffold comprise a silicone hydrogel. 
     
     
         11 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 7 , wherein,
 the inner optic portion comprises an inner material having a first modulus;   the peripheral portion comprises a peripheral material having a second modulus;   the scaffold comprises a scaffold material having a third modulus; and   the inner material and the peripheral material are the same; and   the third modulus is greater than the first modulus and the second modulus.