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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intraocular lens (IOL) comprising:
 an optical zone, wherein, when said IOL is implanted in a patient's eye, a first plurality of light rays passes through said optical zone to form an image on a section of a retina; and   a first region integrated with said optical zone, wherein, when said IOL is implanted in said patient's eye, a second plurality of light rays is directed by said first region away from said section of said retina;   wherein said image comprises an extended depth-of-field.   
     
     
         2 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said section of said retina comprises a central vision section of said retina or a macula. 
     
     
         3 . The IOL of  claim 1 , further comprising a haptic. 
     
     
         4 . The IOL of  claim 3 , wherein said haptic is separated from said optical zone by said first region. 
     
     
         5 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said optical zone occupies a central portion of said IOL. 
     
     
         6 . The IOL of  claim 5 , wherein said first region is an annular region and said IOL further comprises a second optical zone on an outer periphery of said first region. 
     
     
         7 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said first region is radially peripheral of said optical zone. 
     
     
         8 . The IOL of  claim 7 , wherein said first region surrounds said optical zone. 
     
     
         9 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said second plurality of light rays is widely scattered by said first region across said retina. 
     
     
         10 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said optical zone comprises a monofocal portion. 
     
     
         11 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said optical zone comprises a bifocal or multifocal lens portion. 
     
     
         12 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL provides toric correction of said image. 
     
     
         13 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL reduces a monochromatic aberration in said image. 
     
     
         14 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL reduces a chromatic aberration in said image. 
     
     
         15 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL reduces a higher-order aberration in said image. 
     
     
         16 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL reduces a spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         17 . The IOL of  claim 16 , wherein said IOL comprises a conic profile on at least one surface of said IOL to reduce said spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         18 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL reduces an aberration in said image due to varying focus with wavelength across the visible spectrum. 
     
     
         19 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL provides sphere, cylinder and axis correction. 
     
     
         20 . The IOL of  claim 1 , wherein said IOL controls for spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         21 . An intraocular lens (IOL) comprising:
 an optical zone, wherein, when said IOL is implanted in a patient's eye, a first plurality of light rays passes through said optical zone to form an image on a retina; and   a first region integrated with said optical zone, wherein, when said IOL is implanted in said patient's eye, a second plurality of light rays is dispersed by said first region across said retina;   wherein said image comprises an extended depth-of-field.   
     
     
         22 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said image is formed on a macula. 
     
     
         23 . The IOL of  claim 21 , further comprising a haptic. 
     
     
         24 . The IOL of  claim 23 , wherein said haptic is separated from said optical zone by said first region. 
     
     
         25 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said optical zone occupies a central portion of said IOL. 
     
     
         26 . The IOL of  claim 25 , wherein said first region is an annular region and said IOL further comprises a second optical zone on an outer periphery of said first region. 
     
     
         27 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said first region is radially peripheral of said optical zone. 
     
     
         28 . The IOL of  claim 27 , wherein said first region surrounds said optical zone. 
     
     
         29 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said second plurality of light rays is widely scattered by said first region across said retina. 
     
     
         30 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said optical zone comprises a monofocal portion. 
     
     
         31 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said optical zone comprises a bifocal or multifocal lens portion. 
     
     
         32 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL provides toric correction of said image. 
     
     
         33 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL reduces a monochromatic aberration in said image. 
     
     
         34 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL reduces a chromatic aberration in said image. 
     
     
         35 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL reduces a higher-order aberration in said image. 
     
     
         36 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL reduces a spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         37 . The IOL of  claim 36 , wherein said IOL comprises a conic profile on at least one surface of said IOL to reduce said spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         38 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL reduces an aberration in said image due to varying focus with wavelength across the visible spectrum. 
     
     
         39 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL provides sphere, cylinder and axis correction. 
     
     
         40 . The IOL of  claim 21 , wherein said IOL controls for spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         41 . An intraocular lens (IOL) comprising:
 an optical zone, wherein, when said IOL is implanted in a patient's eye, a first plurality of light rays passes through said optical zone to form an image on a section of a retina; and   a virtual aperture zone integrated with said optical zone, wherein, when said IOL is implanted in said patient's eye, a second plurality of light rays is scattered by said virtual aperture zone across said retina;   wherein said image comprises an extended depth-of-field.   
     
     
         42 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said section of said retina comprises a central vision section of said retina or a macula. 
     
     
         43 . The IOL of  claim 41 , further comprising a haptic. 
     
     
         44 . The IOL of  claim 43 , wherein said haptic is separated from said optical zone by said virtual aperture zone. 
     
     
         45 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said optical zone occupies a central portion of said IOL. 
     
     
         46 . The IOL of  claim 45 , wherein said virtual aperture zone is an annular region and said IOL further comprises a second optical zone on an outer periphery of said virtual aperture zone. 
     
     
         47 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said virtual aperture zone is radially peripheral of said optical zone. 
     
     
         48 . The IOL of  claim 47 , wherein said virtual aperture zone surrounds said optical zone. 
     
     
         49 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said second plurality of light rays is widely scattered by said virtual aperture zone across said retina. 
     
     
         50 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said optical zone comprises a monofocal portion. 
     
     
         51 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said optical zone comprises a bifocal or multifocal lens portion. 
     
     
         52 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL provides toric correction of said image. 
     
     
         53 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL reduces a monochromatic aberration in said image. 
     
     
         54 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL reduces a chromatic aberration in said image. 
     
     
         55 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL reduces a higher-order aberration in said image. 
     
     
         56 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL reduces a spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         57 . The IOL of  claim 56 , wherein said IOL comprises a conic profile on at least one surface of said IOL to reduce said spherical aberration in said image. 
     
     
         58 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL reduces an aberration in said image due to varying focus with wavelength across the visible spectrum. 
     
     
         59 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL provides sphere, cylinder and axis correction. 
     
     
         60 . The IOL of  claim 41 , wherein said IOL controls for spherical aberration in said image.