Direct view gonio lens
A lens for viewing the anterior chamber of the eye includes a contact lens having a contact lens surface and an anterior surface. The anterior surface has an optical axis that intersects the optical axis of the contact lens surface. First and second mirror surfaces are positioned to redirect light rays from the periphery of the anterior chamber and reflect them in a direction parallel or nearly parallel to the optical axis of the contact lens surface.
1. A lens for viewing the anterior chamber of an eye comprising:
a contact lens element having a posterior concave contact lens surface compatible with the cornea of an eye, the contact lens surface having a contact optical axis, said contact lens having a curved anterior surface spaced from the contact lens surface, said anterior surface having an optical axis oriented at an angle to the contact optical axis;
a first mirror surface offset from said anterior surface in an outward direction from said contact optical axis, a second mirror surface offset from said first mirror surface and angled away from said first mirror surface as said second mirror surface extends in an anterior direction, said first and second mirrors being arranged such that light rays emanating from the periphery of the eye pass through the contact lens and out of the curved exterior surface thereof and are first reflected from said first mirror surface toward said second mirror surface and then are reflected by said second mirror surface in a direction parallel or nearly parallel to said contact optical axis.
2. The lens of claim 1 wherein the optical axis of the anterior surface intersects the contact optical axis, and wherein said second mirror surface is offset from said contact optical axis in a direction opposite from said first mirror surface.
3. The lens of claim 2 wherein the posterior portion of said second mirror surface intersects said contact optical axis.
4. The lens of claim 3 wherein said first mirror surface is substantially parallel to said contact optical axis.
5. The lens of claim 4 wherein a portion of said second mirror surface is positioned anteriorly to said first mirror surface.
6. The lens of claim 5 wherein said first mirror surface is offset from said anterior surface to provide a visual gap therebetween along a sightline parallel to said contact optical axis.
7. The lens of claim 1 wherein said contact lens is a compound lens.
8. The lens of claim 1 wherein said mirror surfaces are mirrors.
9. The lens of claim 1 wherein said mirror surfaces are internal facets of a prism.
10. The lens of claim 1 wherein said contact lens is recessed in an anterior direction to provide access to the periphery of the cornea of an eye.