Flexible electro-active lens

1. An ophthalmic system comprising:

a base optic to provide a fixed base optical power, the base optic defining an optical axis;

a flexible electro-active element, disposed within the base optic, to provide at least one of a variable optical power or a variable transmittance;

a power supply, disposed within the base optic radially outward from the optical axis, to supply electrical power to the flexible electro-active element; and

a conductive coil, disposed within the base optic radially outward from the optical axis, to charge the power supply via wireless charging,

wherein the base optic comprises a foldable intraocular optic and the conductive coil comprises a memory metal material to unfold the base optic when the foldable intraocular optic is implanted in an eye.

2. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the base optic comprises at least one of a flexible intraocular lens, an intraocular optic, a contact lens, a corneal inlay, and a corneal onlay.

3. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible electro-active element comprises an electro-active material enclosed within a cavity formed by a flexible film.

4. The ophthalmic system of claim 3 , wherein the flexible electro-active element further comprises:

a first electrode disposed within the cavity on a first side of the electro-active material; and

a second electrode disposed within the cavity on a second side of the electro-active material.

5. The ophthalmic system of claim 3 , wherein the flexible electro-active element further comprises a controller, disposed within the cavity, to control the at least one of the variable optical power or the variable transmittance of the flexible electro-active element.

6. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a ring-shaped power supply disposed along an arc concentric with the optical axis.

7. The ophthalmic system of claim 6 , wherein the conductive coil is concentric with the ring-shaped power supply.

8. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive coil is further configured as an antenna.

9. A flexible ophthalmic lens comprising:

a flexible film at least partially defining a cavity;

an electro-active material disposed within the cavity, the electro-active material having a variable refractive index and/or a variable transmissivity;

a first electrode disposed within the cavity on a first side of the electro-active material;

a second electrode disposed within the cavity on a second side of the electro-active material; and

a controller, disposed within the cavity electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, to apply power to the electro-active material so as to alter the variable refractive index and/or the variable transmissivity of the electro-active material.

10. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , wherein the flexible ophthalmic lens is one of an intraocular lens, intraocular optic, contact lens, corneal inlay, and corneal onlay.

11. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , wherein the flexible film comprises a dielectric polymer.

12. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , wherein the flexible film comprises at least one of polysulphone or polyetherimide.

13. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are transparent.

14. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , further comprising:

a transparent electrical connection to electrically couple the controller to the first electrode.

15. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a ring-shaped electrode.

16. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , further comprising:

a base optic having a fixed optical power,

wherein the flexible film is embedded within the base optic.

17. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 16 , wherein the base optic is as flexible as the flexible film.

18. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 16 further comprising:

a power supply, disposed within the base optic, to store the power applied to the electro-active material.

19. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 18 , further comprising:

a conductive coil, operably coupled to the power supply, to wirelessly charge the power supply.

20. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , further comprising:

an antenna, electrically coupled to the controller, to receive a control signal via wireless communication.

21. The flexible ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , further comprising:

a memory metal material to bias the flexible ophthalmic lens toward an unfolded state.

22. A flexible electro-active lens comprising:

a flexible housing having a fixed optical power;

a flexible electro-active element embedded in the flexible housing and having an optical power adapted for changing within an optical power range of from a minimum optical power to a maximum optical power smaller than the fixed optical power; and

at least two photo-detectors embedded in the flexible housing to sense incident light.

23. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , wherein the flexible housing comprises a refractive optic.

24. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , wherein the flexible electro-active element comprises a flexible film.

25. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 24 , wherein the flexible film comprises a dielectric polymer.

26. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 24 , wherein the flexible film comprises at least one of polysulphone or polyetherimide.

27. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , wherein the flexible electro-active element is less flexible than the flexible housing.

28. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , wherein the flexible electro-active element is as flexible as the flexible housing.

29. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , wherein the at least two photo-detectors are configured for use in determining a distance of an object from the flexible electro-active lens.

30. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , further comprising:

a memory metal material, embedded within the flexible housing, to bias the flexible electro-active lens toward an unfolded state.

31. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 30 , wherein the memory metal material is configured as at least one of:

an antenna to receive a controlled signal; or

an inductive coil for inductive charging.

32. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , further comprising:

a coil, embedded within the flexible housing, for wirelessly powering the flexible electro-active element and/or the at least two photo-detectors.

33. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , further comprising:

a photovoltaic cell, electrically connected to the flexible electro-active element, to provide power to the flexible electro-active element.

34. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , further comprising:

a kinetic energy driver, electrically connected to the flexible electro-active element, to convert motion of an eye into electrical power for the flexible electro-active element.

35. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , further comprising:

a piezo-electric film, electrically connected to the flexible electro-active element, to convert motion of an eye into electrical power for the flexible electro-active element.

36. The flexible electro-active lens of claim 22 , further comprising:

a concentric ring shaped electrode electrically connected to the flexible electro-active element.

37. A flexible electro-active lens comprising:

a flexible housing having a fixed optical power;

a flexible electro-active element embedded in said housing,

wherein said flexible electro-active element has an optical power adapted for changing within an optical power range of from a minimum optical power to a maximum optical power,

wherein said fixed optical power is greater than said maximum optical power.

38. An ophthalmic system comprising:

a base optic to provide a fixed base optical power, the base optic defining an optical axis;

a flexible electro-active element, disposed within the base optic, to provide at least one of a variable optical power or a variable transmittance;

a power supply, disposed within the base optic radially outward from the optical axis, to supply electrical power to the flexible electro-active element; and

a conductive coil, disposed within the base optic radially outward from the optical axis, to charge the power supply via wireless charging,

wherein the flexible electro-active element comprises:

an electro-active material enclosed within a cavity formed by a flexible film;

a first electrode disposed within the cavity on a first side of the electro-active material; and

a second electrode disposed within the cavity on a second side of the electro-active material.

39. The ophthalmic system of claim 30 , wherein the base optic comprises at least one of a flexible intraocular lens, an intraocular optic, a contact lens, a corneal inlay, and a corneal onlay.

40. The ophthalmic system of claim 38 , wherein the base optic comprises a foldable intraocular optic and the conductive coil comprises a memory metal material to unfold the base optic when the foldable intraocular optic is implanted in an eye.

41. The ophthalmic system of claim 38 , wherein the flexible electro-active element further comprises a controller, disposed within the cavity, to control the at least one of the variable optical power or the variable transmittance of the flexible electro-active element.

42. The ophthalmic system of claim 38 , wherein the power supply comprises a ring-shaped power supply disposed along an arc concentric with the optical axis.

43. The ophthalmic system of claim 42 , wherein the conductive coil is concentric with the ring-shaped power supply.

44. The ophthalmic system of claim 38 , wherein the conductive coil is further configured as an antenna.