High definition and extended depth of field intraocular lens

Abstract

A virtual aperture integrated into an intraocular lens is disclosed. Optical rays which intersect the virtual aperture are widely scattered across the retina causing the light to be virtually prevented from reaching detectable levels on the retina. The use of the virtual aperture helps remove monochromatic and chromatic aberrations yielding high-definition retinal images. For a given definition of acceptable vision, the depth of field is increased over a larger diameter optical zone. In addition, thinner intraocular lenses can be produced since the optical zone can have a smaller diameter. This in turn allows smaller corneal incisions and easier implantation surgery.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An intraocular lens (IOL) comprising:
 a central optical zone, wherein, when the IOL is implanted in a patient's eye, a first plurality of light rays incident on an anterior surface of the central optical zone passes through the central optical zone to form an image on a retina;   a first region integrated with and surrounding the central optical zone, wherein, when the IOL is implanted in the patient's eye, a second plurality of light rays incident on a first anterior surface of the first region is widely dispersed by the first region downstream from the IOL towards and across the retina, such that the image comprises an extended depth-of-field; and   a second region comprising at least one haptic for positioning the IOL within the eye, wherein the second region is separated from the central optical zone by at least the first region.   
     
     
         7 . The IOL of  claim 6 , further comprising a transition region between the first region and the central optical zone. 
     
     
         8 . The IOL of  claim 7 , wherein the transition region comprises a first anterior transition surface, and further wherein the first anterior transition surface comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with both an anterior optical surface of the central optical zone and an anterior surface of the first region. 
     
     
         9 . The IOL of  claim 8 , wherein the transition region comprises a first posterior transition surface, and further wherein the first posterior transition surface comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with both a posterior optical surface of the central optical zone and a posterior surface of the first region. 
     
     
         10 . The IOL of  claim 6 , further comprising a transition region between the first region and the second region. 
     
     
         11 . The IOL of  claim 10 , wherein the transition region comprises an anterior transition surface, and further wherein the anterior transition surface comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with both an anterior surface of the first region and an anterior surface of the second region. 
     
     
         12 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the central optical zone comprises a monofocal or bifocal or multifocal lens portion. 
     
     
         13 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the intraocular lens is for implantation into a phakic eye or an aphakic eye. 
     
     
         14 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises a high-power positive lens profile. 
     
     
         15 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises a high-power negative lens profile. 
     
     
         16 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises a high-power positive lens profile. 
     
     
         17 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises a high-power negative lens profile. 
     
     
         18 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises at least one of a high-power positive lens profile and a high-power negative lens profile. 
     
     
         19 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the first anterior surface of the first region comprises both a high-power positive lens profile and a high-power negative lens profile. 
     
     
         20 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein a posterior surface of the first region comprises both a high-power positive lens profile and a high-power negative lens profile. 
     
     
         21 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises both a high-power positive lens profile and a high-power negative lens profile. 
     
     
         22 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises a sequence of high-power positive and high-power negative lens profiles. 
     
     
         23 . The IOL of  claim 22 , wherein the sequence is alternating. 
     
     
         24 . The IOL of  claim 16 , wherein the high-power lens profiles are smooth. 
     
     
         25 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises one or more of a conic, a polynomial, a rational spline, or a diffractive profile to widely disperse the second plurality of light rays downstream from the intraocular lens towards and across the retina. 
     
     
         26 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises one or more of a conic, a polynomial, a rational spline, or a diffractive profile to widely disperse the second plurality of light rays downstream from the intraocular lens towards and across the retina. 
     
     
         27 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first anterior surface of the first region and a posterior surface of the first region comprises one of a prism profile or a negative lens profile. 
     
     
         28 . The IOL of  claim 27 , wherein each of the first anterior surface of the first region and the posterior surface of the first region comprises one of a prism profile or a negative lens profile. 
     
     
         29 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the central optical zone forms the image on a central portion of the retina when the IOL is implanted in the eye. 
     
     
         30 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein a diameter of the central optical zone is 3 mm and a width of the first region is 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein a diameter of the IOL is 6 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein a posterior surface of the haptic comprises a square edge to inhibit cell growth when the IOL is implanted in the eye. 
     
     
         33 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the IOL reduces a monochromatic aberration in the image. 
     
     
         34 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the IOL reduces a chromatic aberration in the image. 
     
     
         35 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the IOL reduces a higher-order aberration in the image. 
     
     
         36 . The IOL of  claim 35 , wherein the IOL reduces a spherical aberration in the image. 
     
     
         37 . The IOL of  claim 36 , wherein the IOL comprises a conic profile at least one surface of the IOL to reduce the spherical aberration in the image. 
     
     
         38 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the IOL reduces an aberration in the image due to varying focus with wavelength across the visible spectrum. 
     
     
         39 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the IOL provides sphere, cylinder and axis correction. 
     
     
         40 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the IOL controls for spherical aberration in the image. 
     
     
         41 . The IOL of  claim 6 , wherein the IOL provides toric correction.