Method of making an ocular implant

1. A method of making a mask configured to improve the depth of focus of an eye of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a substrate with a mask forming feature comprising an annular surface extending between an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the annular surface being centered on a central axis of the mask forming feature, the annular surface having a curved profile between the inner periphery and the outer periphery corresponding to the curvature of a corneal layer of the eye;

forming a release layer on the annular surface;

forming a mask layer of a biocompatible metal such that the release layer is between the mask layer and the substrate; and

separating the mask layer from the substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring a surface of the mask layer to have a blending characteristic.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the surface of the mask layer is darkened to have a similar appearance to a pupil of the eye.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein a layer of carbon is formed on the surface of the mask.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate further comprises a planar portion and the annular surface is a convex surface protruding from the planar portion.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the release layer comprises sputtering the release layer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein forming the mask layer comprises sputtering the mask layer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the mask layer comprises sputtering the mask layer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release layer is formed of a material that can be eroded by applying an etchant.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release layer comprises chromium.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein separating the mask layer from the substrate comprises immersing the release layer in a chromium etching bath.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein separating the mask layer from the substrate comprises immersing the release layer in an etchant.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer comprises gold.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer comprises tantalum.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer is formed of titanium.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer comprises a titanium alloy.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer comprises platinum.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask forming feature further comprises an outer recess extending from the outer periphery away from the central axis.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the mask forming feature further comprises an inner recess extending from the inner periphery toward the central axis.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein separating the mask layer from the substrate comprises contacting the release layer with an agent that removes the release layer from the mask layer.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

positioning in a process chamber a first target comprising a first material suitable for use as the release layer;

positioning in the process chamber adjacent to the first target a second target comprising the biocompatible metal;

sputtering the release layer from the first target; and

sputtering the mask layer from the second target.

22. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a transport structure in the mask layer capable of substantially maintaining natural nutrient flow in adjacent tissue when the mask is applied to the eye.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the transport structure is configured to not producing visible diffraction patterns.

24. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

forming a first mask layer comprising an anterior tissue contacting surface and a first hole portion extending along a first axis; and

forming a second mask layer comprising a posterior tissue contacting surface and a second hole portion extending along a second axis;

wherein the first and second transport axes are not collinear.