Corneal Remodeling Contact Lenses and Methods of Treating Refractive Error Using Corneal Remodeling

Abstract

Contact lenses are described with a corneal remodelling effect. This corneal remodelling effect is one or both of broad-area corneal remodelling and localised remodelling. The contact lenses may also have a refractive power. The refractive power may vary across the lens and for myopia may have increased power centrally. The increased power may be provided over a lens area that has increased thickness due to localised remodelling.

1 . A contact lens for treating an eye with myopia, the contact lens having an optic zone comprising an area having a refractive first power, which corrects distance vision of the eye, and
 comprising a structural profile to effect flattening remodeling of the cornea of the eye when the contact lens is fitted to the eye.   
     
     
         2 . The contact lens of  claim 1 , wherein the contact lens comprises a central zone and an outer zone surrounding the central zone, wherein the central zone has an increased thickness relative to the outer zone, the increased thickness providing at least part of said structural profile to effect flattening remodelling of the cornea. 
     
     
         3 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The contact lens of  claim 2 , wherein the optic zone comprises a central optic zone, the central optic zone having a differential power, which is positive relative to the first power. 
     
     
         7 . The contact lens of  claim 6 , wherein the differential refractive power is between 0.5 D and 4.0 D or between 1.0 D and 4.0 D or between 1.5 D and 4.0 D. 
     
     
         8 . The contact lens of  claim 1 , wherein the contact lens comprises a central zone, a first outer sub-zone surrounding the central zone and a second outer sub-zone surrounding the first outer sub-zone, wherein the central zone has an increased thickness relative the first outer sub-zone, the increased thickness providing part of said structural profile to effect remodelling of the cornea and wherein the second outer sub-zone has an increased thickness relative to the first outer sub-zone, providing another part of said structural profile to effect remodelling of the cornea. 
     
     
         9 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The contact lens of  claim 8 , wherein the optic zone comprises a central optic zone, the central optic zone having a differential refractive power, which is positive relative to the first refractive power, and wherein the differential refractive power is between 0.5 D and 4.0 D or between 1.0 D and 4.0 D or between 1.5 D and 4.0 D. 
     
     
         12 . The contact lens of  claim 11 , wherein optic zone comprises an outer optic sub-zone, separated from the central optic zone by the area having the first refractive power, the outer optic sub-zone having a differential refractive power, which is positive relative to the first refractive power. 
     
     
         13 . The contact lens of  claim 12 , wherein the differential refractive power increases with increasing radius so as to provide relative curvature of field for images of objects at field angles where the image is received by the retina outside of the fovea of the eye. 
     
     
         14 . The contact lens of  claim 12 , wherein the outer optic sub-zone is surrounded on its outer peripheral sides by a second area having the first refractive power. 
     
     
         15 . The contact lens of  claim 1 , wherein the contact lens has a structural profile to remodel the cornea by flattening the corneal profile over a broad area of the cornea. 
     
     
         16 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A contact lens for treating an eye with hyperopia, the contact lens comprising a structural profile to remodel the cornea of the eye by steepening the corneal profile over a broad area of the cornea, and
 a central zone of reduced thickness surrounded by an outer zone, wherein the central zone is located and dimensioned on the contact lens so as to be located over said broad area of the cornea when the contact lens is applied to the eye.   
     
     
         21 . The contact lens of  claim 20 , wherein the reduced thickness is between 95% and 50% of a projected thickness of the outer zone at the centre of the lens. 
     
     
         22 . The contact lens of  claim 21 , wherein the lens includes a second area of reduced thickness, the second area comprising an annulus surrounding the outer zone and having a reduced thickness between 95% and 50% of a projected thickness of the outer zone at a mid-point of the annulus. 
     
     
         23 . A contact lens for treating an eye with myopia, the contact lens including
 an optic zone comprising an area having a first power, which corrects distance vision of the eye, and   a central zone and an outer zone surrounding the central zone, wherein at least a portion of the central zone has a thickness of at least 05% of the projected central thickness of the outer zone if the shape of the outer zone were extrapolated to the centre of the lens;   wherein the area having a first power surrounds said central zone.   
     
     
         24 . The contact lens of  claim 23 , wherein the central zone has a thickness in the range of 10% and 120% of the projected central thickness of the outer zone if the shape of the outer zone were extrapolated to the centre of the lens. 
     
     
         25 . The contact lens of  claim 23 , wherein the central zone has a thickness of greater than 120% of the projected central thickness of the outer zone if the shape of the outer zone were extrapolated to the centre of the lens. 
     
     
         26 . The contact lens of  claim 23 , wherein the contact lens comprises a central zone, a first outer sub-zone surrounding the central zone and a second outer-sub-zone surrounding the first outer sub-zone, wherein the central zone has an increased thickness relative an extrapolated thickness of the first outer sub-zone to the centre of the lens and wherein the second outer sub-zone has an increased thickness relative to the an extrapolated thickness of the first outer sub-zone into the second outer sub-zone. 
     
     
         27 . The contact lens of  claim 23 , wherein the contact lens comprises a central optical zone, located, shaped and dimensioned approximately the same as said central zone, the central optical zone having a relatively positive power in comparison to said first power. 
     
     
         28 . The contact lens of  claim 27 , wherein the relatively positive power is between 0.5 D and 4.0 D. 
     
     
         29 . The contact lens of  claim 27 , wherein the contact lens comprises an outer optical sub-zone, surrounding the area having the first power, the outer optical sub-zone having a relatively positive power in comparison to the first power. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled)