System and method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye
A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient's depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient's eye to increase the depth of focus.
1. An ophthalmic device configured to be applied to an eye of a patient, the device comprising:
an optic configured to scatter diverging light reaching the optic, whereby the depth of focus of the eye is increased;
wherein the optic is configured to forward scatter substantially parallel light reaching the optic and back scatter diverging light reaching the optic.
2. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , further comprising an aperture disposed within the optic.
3. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises a set of particles.
4. The ophthalmic device of claim 2 , wherein the aperture includes an optical power for vision correction.
5. The ophthalmic device of claim 2 , wherein the aperture has a diameter in the range of about 0.05 mm to about 5.0 mm.
6. The ophthalmic device of claim 5 , wherein the optic has an outer diameter in the range of about 1.0 mm to about 8.0 mm.
7. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the optic has an outer diameter in the range of about 1.0 mm to about 8.0 mm.
8. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises a material having varying degrees of opacity.
9. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic device comprises a bio-compatible material.
10. The ophthalmic device of claim 9 , wherein the bio-compatible material is a non-dissolving material.
11. The ophthalmic device of claim 9 , wherein the bio-compatible material is polymethyl methacrylate.
12. The ophthalmic device of claim 9 , wherein the bio-compatible material is an opaque material.
13. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic device comprises polymethyl methacrylate.
14. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic device comprises a medical polymer.
15. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic device comprises an opaque material.
16. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises a bio-compatible material.
17. The ophthalmic device of claim 16 , wherein the bio-compatible material is a non-dissolving material.
18. The ophthalmic device of claim 16 , wherein the bio-compatible material is polymethyl methacrylate.
19. The ophthalmic device of claim 16 , wherein the bio-compatible material is an opaque material.
20. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises a medical polymer.
21. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises polymethyl methacrylate.
22. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises an opaque material.
23. A method for increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient, the method comprising:
providing an ophthalmic device comprising an optic configured to scatter diverging light reaching the optic; and
fitting the ophthalmic device;
wherein the optic is configured to forward scatter substantially parallel light reaching the optic and to back scatter diverging light reaching the optic.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optic is configured as a set of particles.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the ophthalmic device further comprises an aperture.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the aperture includes an optical power for vision correction.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the aperture has a diameter in the range of about 0.05 mm to about 5.0 mm.
28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optic has an outer diameter in the range of about 1.0 mm to about 8.0 mm.
29. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optic comprises a material having varying degrees of opacity.
30. The method of claim 23 , wherein the ophthalmic device comprises a bio-compatible material.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the bio-compatible material is an opaque material.
32. The method of claim 30 , wherein the bio-compatible material is a non-dissolving material.
33. The method of claim 30 , wherein the bio-compatible material is polymethyl methacrylate.
34. The method of claim 23 , wherein the ophthalmic device comprises polymethyl methacrylate.
35. The method of claim 30 , wherein the bio-compatible material is an opaque material.
36. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optic comprises a bio-compatible material.
37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the bio-compatible material comprises a non-dissolving material.
38. The method of claim 36 , wherein the bio-compatible material is a medical polymer.
39. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optic comprises polymethyl methacrylate.
40. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optic comprises an opaque material.
41. An ophthalmic lens comprising:
a lens body;
an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light scattering; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic;
wherein the optic is configured to forward scatter parallel light reaching the optic and back scatter diverging light reaching the optic.
42. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 41 , wherein the optic is configured as a pattern of particles.
43. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 41 , wherein the pinhole-like aperture includes an optical power for vision correction.
44. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 41 , wherein the pinhole-like aperture has a diameter in the range of substantially 0.05 mm to substantially 5.0 mm.
45. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 41 , wherein the optic has an outer diameter in the range of substantially 1.0 mm to substantially 8.0 mm.
46. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 41 , wherein the optic is composed of a material having varying degrees of opacity.
47. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 41 , wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises a bio-compatible material.
48. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 47 , wherein the bio-compatible material is a non-dissolving material.
49. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 47 , wherein the bio-compatible material is polymethyl methacrylate.
50. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 47 , wherein the bio-compatible material is an opaque material.
51. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 41 , wherein the optic comprises a bio-compatible material.
52. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 51 , wherein the bio-compatible material is a non-dissolving material.
53. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 51 , wherein the bio-compatible material is polymethyl methacrylate.
54. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 51 , wherein the bio-compatible material is an opaque material.
55. A method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye, the method comprising:
providing an ophthalmic lens, the ophthalmic lens comprising a lens body, an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light scattering, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic; and
fitting the ophthalmic lens;
wherein the optic is configured to forward scatter parallel light reaching the optic and to back scatter diverging light reaching the optic.