Multifocal contact lens and method of manufacture thereof

1. An optical zone for a lens, said optical zone having a center optical axis and a diameter dividing said optical zone into a superior portion and an inferior portion, said optical zone comprising:

a first region formed within said optical zone and having a first optical curve, said first optical curve having a first optical axis collinear with said center optical axis; and

a plurality of secondary regions formed within said first region, each of said secondary regions having respective secondary optical curves, each of said secondary optical curves having a corresponding secondary optical axis, each said secondary optical axis being collinear with said first optical axis, each of said secondary optical curves being decentered relative to said first optical curve,

wherein said first region is primarily disposed in the superior portion of the optical zone and said second regions are primarily disposed in the inferior portion of the optical zone.

2. The optical zone of claim 1 , wherein said first region comprises a distance-optimized region, said plurality of secondary regions comprising near-optimized regions.

3. The optical zone of claim 1 , wherein said first region comprises a distance-optimized region, said plurality of secondary regions comprising at least one region optimized for near viewing and at least one region optimized for intermediate-range viewing.

4. The optical zone of claim 1 , wherein said first region comprises a near-optimized region, said plurality of secondary regions comprising a plurality of regions optimized for distance viewing.

5. The optical zone of claim 1 , wherein said first region comprises a near-optimized region, said plurality of secondary regions comprising at least one region optimized for distance viewing and at least one region optimized for intermediate-range viewing.

6. A contact lens, comprising:

a body having an anterior surface, a posterior surface and a diameter; and

an optical zone defined on said anterior surface, said optical zone having a center optical axis and said diameter dividing the optical zone into a superior portion and an inferior portion, said optical zone including a first region and a plurality of second regions, said first region having a first optical curve, said first optical curve having a first optical axis collinear with said center optical axis, said plurality of second regions disposed within said first region, each of said plurality of second regions having respective second optical curves with corresponding second optical axes, said second optical axes being collinear with said first optical axis, each of said secondary optical curves being decentered relative to said first optical curve, and wherein said first region is primarily disposed in the superior portion of the optical zone and said second regions are primarily disposed in the inferior portion of the optical zone.

7. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein said first region comprises a distance-optimized region, said plurality of second regions comprising near-viewing optimized regions.

8. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein said first region comprises a distance-optimized region, said plurality of secondary regions comprising at least one region optimized for near viewing and at least one region optimized for intermediate-range viewing.

9. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein said first region comprises a near-optimized region, said plurality of secondary regions comprising a plurality of regions optimized for distance viewing.

10. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein said first region comprises a near-optimized region, said plurality of secondary regions comprising at least one region optimized for distance viewing and at least one region optimized for intermediate-range viewing.

11. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein said first optical curve and said plurality of second optical curves are monocentric.

12. The contact lens of claim 6 , further comprising a transition between adjacent first and second regions, said transition being substantially smooth when a first region circumscribes an adjacent second region, said transition being a step when a second region circumscribes an adjacent first region.

13. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein said first region has an area that is larger than a cumulative area of said second regions.

14. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein said first region has an area that is smaller than a cumulative area of said second regions.

15. The contact lens of claim 6 , wherein the relative areas of the first and second regions are adjusted to provide a desired degree of at least one of distance, near, and intermediate vision.

16. A method for manufacturing a contact lens, said contact lens having an anterior surface and a diameter, said method comprising the steps of:

fabricating a first optical curve on at least a portion of the anterior surface, the first optical curve defining an optical zone of the contact lens, the first optical curve having an optical axis that passes through a center of the optical zone, and the optical zone being divided by the diameter into a superior portion and an inferior portion; and

fabricating a plurality of second optical curves within the optical zone, each said second optical curves being decentered relative to the first optical curve by a respective amount, each said second optical curves having a respective optical axis that is collinear relative to the optical axis of the first optical curve, and wherein said second optical curves are primarily disposed in the inferior portion of the optical zone.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said fabricating a plurality of second optical curves step comprises removing an arcuate portion of a surface of the optical zone.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said fabricating a plurality of second optical curves step comprises removing an arcuate portion of a surface of the optical zone with an oscillating lathe tool.

19. A method of forming a mold tool, the mold tool for use in creating molds for use in molding contact lenses, the method of forming a mold tool comprising:

fabricating a first optical curve on at least a portion of a first surface of the mold tool, the first optical curve defining a first zone corresponding to an optical zone of the contact lenses, the first optical curve having an optical axis that passes through the center of the optical zone, and said optical zone having a diameter dividing the optical zone into a superior portion and an inferior portion; and

fabricating a plurality of second optical curves on the first surface of the mold tool and within the first zone, each of said second optical curves being decentered relative to the first optical curve by a respective amount, each of said second optical curves having an optical axis that is collinear relative to the optical axis of the first optical curve, and said second optical curves being primarily disposed in the inferior portion of the optical zone.

20. The method of forming a mold tool of claim 19 , wherein said fabricating a first optical curve step comprises:

rotating the mold tool in a centered collet; and

engaging the first surface of the mold tool with a cutting tool to thereby form the first optical curve.

21. The method of forming a mold tool of claim 19 , wherein said fabricating a plurality of second optical curves step comprises:

decentering the optical axis of the first optical curve relative to the axis of rotation of a lathe spindle;

rotating the mold tool; and

engaging the first surface of the mold tool within the first zone thereof with a cutting tool to thereby form a first of said plurality of second optical curves within the optical zone of the mold tool.

22. The method of forming a mold tool of claim 21 , comprising repeating the decentering, rotating and engaging steps to thereby form additional second optical curves within the optical zone of the mold tool.