MULTIFOCAL CONTACT LENSES AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING VISION AND FOR PRODUCING MULTIFOCAL CONTACT LENSES
Pairs of multifocal contact lenses are described. Each contact lens of the pair includes a central area that provides substantially all of the distance vision correction of the lens, and an annular area surrounding the central area and providing intermediate vision correction and near vision correction. A pair of contact lenses can be used to correct a person's vision, especially presbyopia of an emerging presbyopic patient. Methods of producing the present pairs of contact lenses are also described.
1 . A pair of multifocal contact lenses, each lens of the pair having an optic axis and comprising:
a central area including the optic axis of the contact lens and providing substantially all of the distance optical power of the multifocal contact lens; and
an annular area surrounding the central area and extending radially outwardly from the central area toward a lens edge of the multifocal contact lens, the annular area providing intermediate optical power and near optical power.
2 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein the central area of each lens has a spherical surface, and the annular area of each lens has an aspherical surface.
3 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein each lens of the pair comprises only one annular area providing the intermediate optical power and near optical power.
4 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein the central area includes an add power from about +0.25 diopters to about +1.25 diopters.
5 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein each lens of the pair is a cast molded contact lens.
6 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein each lens of the pair is a daily disposable contact lens.
7 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein each lens of the pair comprises the polymerized reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, a crosslinker, and an initiator.
8 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein each lens of the pair is a silicone hydrogel contact lens.
9 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein each lens of the pair has a sphere power from +4.00 diopters to −6.00 diopters.
10 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 , wherein the annular area of each lens of the pair has a diameter of about 8.5 mm.
11 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 10 , wherein the central area of each lens of the pair has a diameter from about 1.7 mm to about 3.0 mm.
12 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 11 , wherein the central area of each lens of the pair has a diameter of about 2.3 mm.
13 . The pair of multifocal contact lenses of claim 1 which is effective in correcting the vision of an emerging presbyopic patient.
14 . A method of correcting vision of a person requiring vision correction of +1.25 diopters or less, comprising:
providing a pair of multifocal contact lenses, each lens of the pair comprising a central area including the optic axis of the contact lens and providing substantially all of the distance optical power of the multifocal contact lens; and an annular area surrounding the central area and extending radially outwardly from the central area toward a lens edge of the multifocal contact lens, the annular area providing intermediate optical power and near optical power.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the central area of each lens has a spherical surface, and the annular area of each lens has an aspherical surface.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each lens of the pair comprises only one annular area providing the intermediate optical power and near optical power.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the central area includes an add power from about +0.25 diopters to about +1.25 diopters.
18 . A method of producing contact lenses for correcting vision of a person requiring vision correction of +1.25 diopters or less, comprising:
forming a pair of multifocal contact lenses, each lens of the pair comprising a central area including the optic axis of the contact lens and providing substantially all of the distance optical power of the multifocal contact lens; and an annular area surrounding the central area and extending radially outwardly from the central area toward a lens edge of the multifocal contact lens, the annular area providing intermediate optical power and near optical power.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the central area of each lens has a spherical surface, and the annular area of each lens has an aspherical surface.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein each lens of the pair comprises only one annular area providing the intermediate optical power and near optical power.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the central area includes an add power from about +0.25 diopters to about +1.25 diopters.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the forming comprises cast molding each lens of the pair.