Eye covering and refractive correction methods and apparatus having improved tear flow, comfort, and/or applicability

Abstract

An eye covering such as a contact lens may comprise one or more structures to pump tear liquid under the covering such that the covering can remain in the eye and correct vision for an extended amount of time. In many embodiments, the covering comprises a material having fenestrations to draw tear liquid under the covering and an outer portion shaped to contact the conjunctiva over the sclera, such that when the eye closes pressure of one or more eyelids urges tear liquid through one or more fenestrations and under the outer portion shaped to contact the conjunctiva. When the eye blinks, the pressure of the one or more eyelids can urge the covering toward the cornea such that tear liquid can pass through the fenestrations

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic lens to correct refractive error of an eye, wherein, the eye comprises a pupil, a cornea, a conjunctiva, and a viewing axis; and
 the ophthalmic lens comprises:   an inner optic portion configured to correct refractive error;   a peripheral portion configured to support the inner optic portion in relation to the pupil; and   fenestrations coupled to channels extending radially inward from the fenestrations along a lower surface of the ophthalmic lens;   wherein correcting refractive error is independent of rotational orientation of the ophthalmic lens about the viewing axis of the eye.   
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive error comprises astigmatic error. 
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the astigmatic error is throughout a range of at least about 0.5 D. 
     
     
         4 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the astigmatic error is throughout a range of at least about 1.5 D. 
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive error comprises astigmatism, high-order aberration, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive error comprises non-spherical optical aberrations. 
     
     
         7 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the non-spherical optical aberrations comprise astigmatic error, multifocal error, higher order aberrations, and custom optically corrective functions such as pinholes. 
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive error comprises presbyopia. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , when applied to the eye, provides one or more lenticular volumes between the posterior surface of the inner optical portion and the anterior surface of the eye. 
     
     
         10 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 9 , wherein the one more lenticular volumes comprises tear fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 9 , when applied to the eye, refraction of the eye is independent of the shape of the posterior surface of the inner optical portion, the shape of the one or more lenticular volumes, or both the shape of the posterior surface of the inner optical portion and the shape of the lenticular volume. 
     
     
         12 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein each of the inner optic portion and the peripheral portion is deformable upon motion of an eyelid. 
     
     
         13 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein each of the inner optical portion and the peripheral portion have a modulus and a rigidity configured to provide a lenticular volume between the optical surface of the eye and the ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         14 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein,
 the inner optical portion comprises a first material having a first modulus;   the peripheral portion comprises a second material having a second modulus, and the first modulus is greater than the second modulus.   
     
     
         15 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein,
 the inner optical portion comprises a first material having a first rigidity;   the peripheral portion comprises a second material having a second rigidity, and   the first rigidity is greater than the second rigidity.   
     
     
         16 . The ophthalmic lens of  claim 1 , wherein each of the inner optical portion and the peripheral component comprise a silicone, a silicone hydrogel, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating refractive error of an eye of a patient, comprising applying the ophthalmic lens of  claim 1  to an eye of a patient in need of such treatment.