High definition and extended depth of field intraocular lens
A virtual aperture integrated into an intraocular lens is disclosed. Optical rays which intersect the virtual aperture are widely scattered across the retina causing the light to be virtually prevented from reaching detectable levels on the retina. The use of the virtual aperture helps remove monochromatic and chromatic aberrations yielding high-definition retinal images. For a given definition of acceptable vision, the depth of field is increased over a larger diameter optical zone. In addition, thinner intraocular lenses can be produced since the optical zone can have a smaller diameter. This in turn allows smaller corneal incisions and easier implantation surgery.
1. An intraocular lens for providing an extended depth-of-field, said intraocular lens comprising:
a central optical zone comprising an anterior optical surface;
a first periphery region comprising a virtual aperture, said virtual aperture surrounding said central optical zone, said virtual aperture comprising an anterior virtual aperture surface; and
a second periphery region comprising a haptic for positioning the intraocular lens within an eye, wherein said second periphery region is separated from said central optical zone by at least the first periphery region;
wherein a first plurality of light rays incident on said anterior optical surface pass through said central optical zone to form an image on a retina; and
wherein a second plurality of light rays incident on said anterior virtual aperture surface are dispersed widely downstream from the intraocular lens towards and across said retina, such that said image comprises said extended depth-of-field and further wherein said virtual aperture reduces monochromatic and chromatic aberrations in said image;
wherein at least one of said anterior virtual aperture surface and a posterior virtual aperture surface comprises one of a prism profile or a negative lens profile.
2. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein said first periphery region is connected to said central optical zone by a first transition region.
3. The intraocular lens of claim 2 , wherein said first transition region comprises a first anterior transition surface, and further wherein said first anterior transition surface comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with both the anterior optical surface and the anterior virtual aperture surface.
4. The intraocular lens of claim 3 , wherein said first transition region comprises a first posterior transition surface, and further wherein said first posterior transition surface comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with both a posterior optical surface of said central optical zone and a posterior virtual aperture surface of said first periphery region.
5. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein said second periphery region is connected to said first periphery region by a second transition region.
6. The intraocular lens of claim 5 , wherein said second transition region comprises a second anterior transition surface, and further wherein said second anterior transition surface comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with said anterior virtual aperture surface.
7. The intraocular lens of claim 6 , wherein said second anterior transition surface further comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with an anterior surface of said second periphery region.
8. The intraocular lens of claim 5 , wherein said second transition region comprises a second posterior transition surface, and further wherein said second posterior transition surface comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with a posterior virtual aperture surface of said first periphery region.
9. The intraocular lens of claim 8 , wherein said second posterior transition surface further comprises zero-order and first-order continuity with a posterior surface of said second periphery region.
10. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , further comprising a first transition region between said central optical zone and said first periphery region, wherein said first transition region comprises a first transition region anterior surface comprising zero-order and first-order continuity with each adjacent anterior surface of said intraocular lens on either side of said first transition region.
11. The intraocular lens of claim 10 , further comprising a second transition region between said first periphery region and said second periphery region, said second transition region comprising a second transition region anterior surface comprising zero-order and first-order continuity with said virtual aperture surface.
12. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein said central optical zone comprises a monofocal or bifocal or multifocal lens portion.
13. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein said intraocular lens is for a phakic eye.
14. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein said intraocular lens is for an aphakic eye.
15. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said anterior virtual aperture surface and a posterior virtual aperture surface comprises at least one of a high-power positive lens profile and a high-power negative lens profile.
16. The intraocular lens of claim 15 , wherein each of said anterior virtual aperture surface and said posterior virtual aperture surface comprises at least one of a high-power positive lens profile and a high-power negative lens profile.
17. The intraocular lens of claim 16 , wherein each of said anterior virtual aperture surface and said posterior virtual aperture surface comprises both said high-power positive lens profile and said high-power negative lens profile.
18. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said anterior virtual aperture surface and a posterior virtual aperture surface comprises a sequence of high-power positive and negative lens profiles.
19. The intraocular lens of claim 18 , wherein said sequence is alternating.
20. The intraocular lens of claim 18 , wherein said lens profiles have focal lengths on the order of +/−1.5 mm.
21. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said anterior virtual aperture surface and a posterior virtual aperture surface comprises one or more of a conic, a polynomial, a rational spline, or a diffractive profile to widely disperse said second plurality of light rays downstream from the intraocular lens towards and across said retina.
22. The intraocular lens of claim 21 , wherein each of said anterior virtual aperture surface and said posterior virtual aperture surface comprises one or more of a conic, a polynomial, a rational spline, or a diffractive profile to widely disperse said second plurality of light rays downstream from the intraocular lens towards and across said retina.
23. The intraocular lens of claim 15 or 18 , wherein said high-power lens profiles are smooth.
24. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein one of said anterior virtual aperture surface and a posterior virtual aperture surface comprises a smooth surface, and wherein the other of said anterior virtual aperture surface and said posterior virtual aperture surface comprises one or more high-power lens profiles.
25. The intraocular lens of claim 24 , wherein said anterior virtual aperture surface comprises a smooth surface and said posterior virtual aperture surface comprises one or more high-power lens profiles.
26. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said anterior virtual aperture surface and a posterior virtual aperture surface comprises at least one of a prism profile or a negative lens profile.
27. The intraocular lens of claim 26 , wherein each of said anterior virtual aperture surface and said posterior virtual aperture surface comprises at least one of a prism profile or a negative lens profile.
28. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein said central optical zone forms said image on a central portion of said retina.
29. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of said central optical zone is 3 mm and a width of said virtual aperture is 1.5 mm.
30. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of said intraocular lens is 6 mm.
31. The intraocular lens of claim 1 , wherein a posterior surface of said haptic comprises a square edge to inhibit cell growth.