GB1569764A - Progressive power ophthalmic lens - Google Patents

Description

(54) PROGRESSIVE POWER OPHTHALMIC LENS (71) We, AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, 14 Mechanic Street, Southbridge, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention is related to ophthalmic lenses in general and is more particularly concerned with novel progressive power and multifocal ophthalmic lenses in which the distortion is either so controlled that a wearer perceives vertical lines as vertical throughout most of the viewing area of the ophthalmic lens or the degree of distortion is severely diminished.

The human eye is a sensitive yet relatively simple organ. It contains a lens on the outer surface for receiving light from various objects in the field of view of the eye. A retina is positioned behind the lens to serve as a viewing screen for those rays focused by the lens onto the retina. A series of muscles surround the lens and act upon the lens to increase or decrease its curvature and focal length in order to focus upon objects which are either near to the eye or at a distance. When the normal eye views relatively distant objects, the lens and the muscles are in a relaxed position. In this position the ideal lens has the proper curvature on its surface to focus the distant object on the retina.Upon the observance of objects at close range, the eye muscles act on the lens to increase its curvature and decrease the focal length of the lens sufficiently to focus the image of the near object onto the retina. This ability of the eye to adjust itself for varying object distances is commonly known as "accommodation". As the age of a human being increases, his power of accommodation generally decreases. This results from the fact that the eye muscles become stiff and weak. For example, a child can normally change the focal power of this eye by at least 14 diopters. In a middle aged person, the power of accommodation is often reduced to about 3 diopters, and in old age, the power of accommodation may disappear entirely.

For a long time, scientists and optical engineers have attempted to find solutions to this problem of decreasing accommodation with age. Probably the most common means which has been devised for treating this condition is to construct the corrective ophthalmic lens utilized by the person with decreased accommodation with a plurality of spherical surfaces. These are commonly known as bifocal and trifocal lenses depending upon whether the lens in question contains two or three spherical portions. In the bifocal lens, two separate segments of different dioptric focal powers are provided. The power of one segment is such that vision through it permits focusing on nearby objects such as reading matter while the other segment corrects the vision for viewing distant objects.In a trifocal ophthalmic lens a third spherical segment is interposed between the previously mentioned two segments to provide a measure of clear vision to the wearer intermediate between the dioptric focal powers of the long distance and reading segments of the lens. The other surface of the multifocal ophthalmic lens is then provided with either a spherical or toric surface designed specifically to adapt the multifocal lens to the particular ophthalmic prescription of the wearer.

Certain major difficulties are, however, encountered by the users of multifocal ophthalmic lenses. Firstly, there is a line of sharp demarcation optically between the various segments of the multifocal lens. When the line of sight scans across this dividing line, a "jump" usually occurs in the image perceived by the wearer. It is difficult for the wearer to become accustomed to this sensation and to make allowances for it in normal life. Secondly, persons having severely reduced accommodation are unable to focus clearly on objects lying at distances between those distances at which the various segments are designed to focus. Thirdly, particularly in younger people having reduced accommodation powers, it is often difficult to convince some individuals that they require multifocal ophthalmic lenses for vision purposes.This is generally attributed to the fact that decreased accommodation is associated with oncoming age. The standard multifocal lens has a distinct line of demarcation between the various segments which is readily apparent to people in the vicinity of the wearer. Therefore, as well as the optical problems which exist with multifocal ophthalmic lenses, also certain cosmetic problems exist.

The obvious general solution to these problems is to place an intermediate viewing zone between the long distance viewing zone and the reading zone which progresses in dioptric focal power from that of the distance viewing portion to that of the reading portion. By attempting this solution, an ophthalmic lens is provided in which both the optical and cosmetic problems may be solved in that there are neither lines of optical jump between distinct segments nor are there cosmetically obvious lines between the various segments. Furthermore, all intermediate focal powers between the long distance and the reading portions are provided such that the wearer is able to perceive objects at any distance clearly through a portion of this intermediate zone. Such a lens is known commonly as a progressive power ophthalmic lens. An excellent survey of such lenses was provided by A. G.Bennett in the October and November 1970, and February and March 1971 issues of The Optician. In this work, the various attempts are discussed which have been made to provide such progressive power ophthalmic lenses by various scientists and optical engineers over approximately the last 70 years.

All progressive power lenses of the prior art have suffered from at least one common failing. As a necessary concomitant of an aspherical surface such as is found in the progressive power lenses, a certain amount of astigmatism and distortion is inherently found in the refractive surface, particularly in the peripheral portions of the transitional zone. The distortion causes a swimming or rocking effect when the wearer's head is moved within the visual environment. This effect has served to cause many wearers of such ophthalmic lenses to become nauseated and has definitely prevented the wide acceptance of this type of eyewear. Furthermore, the astigmatism causes blurring of vision through the affected areas of the lens. This effect is, of course, objectionable as well.

Distortion occurs whenever astigmatism is present in the refracting surface.

Thus distortion, like astigmatism, is an inevitable consequence of progressive power refractive ophthalmic surfaces. Many attempts have been made in the prior art to minimize the effect of the astigmatism. Generally, these attempts have centered on the scheme by which the refractive surface having the aspherical curvature is generated. The more successful attempts have resulted in spreading the astigmatism over a large portion of the refractive surface. This, at a minimum, reduced the size of the reading zone below that which allows the wearer to read standard material without turning his head.

In our British Patent No. 1,484,382 there is described a progressive power lens in which a first viewing zone (in the preferred embodiment a central band extending across the lens from side to side) is separated into three laterally disposed areas the central one of which has a progressive power increasing from top to bottom and the two outer areas of which have a surface curved so that at all points thereon the principal axes of astigmatism lie in vertical and horizontal planes. This means that the wearer of the lens perceives horizontal and vertical lines through these areas as being horizontal and vertical without the above mentioned disadvantageous, and sometimes nauseating, effects of skew distortion in these areas.

The present invention constitutes an improvement and a modification of the invention described and claimed in the above mentioned Patent specification No.

1,484,382, inasmuch as the same general objective is achieved, but using different optical parameters.

According to the present invention, there is provided an ophthalmic lens comprising a lens body having a first viewing zone which has a smooth, unbroken principal meridional curve of continuously varying slope along the first viewing zone lying, with reference to an intended orientation of use, in a generally vertical direction and dividing the first viewing zone into two similar lateral portions, the curvature of the principal meridional curve varying progressively from point to point therealong to provide a predetermined dioptric focal power at each such point according to a predetermined law, the dioptric focal power increasing generally from top to bottom of the first viewing zone along the principal meridional curve, the curvatures of cross curves defined on the first viewing zone by planes perpendicular to the principal meridional curve at their points of intersection with the principal meridional curve being respectively equal to the curvature of the meridional curve at the points of intersection, the first viewing zone being defined by a power range varying from a first dioptric focal power at the top of the first viewing zone to a second, higher, dioptric focal power at the bottom thereof, the first viewing zone being divided into at least three laterally disposed areas, a first one of the three areas being centrally disposed in the first viewing zone, extending vertically therethrough, and having the principal meridional curve passing through the centre thereof, and the two outer of the three areas being disposed at the lateral peripheries of the first viewing zone and each having a surface which comprises a portion of a surface of revolution the axis of revolution of which is vertical and lies in the meridional plane whereby optically to compensate for skew distortion so that at all points thereon the principal axes of astigmatism lie in vertical and horizontal planes to permit a wearer of the lens to perceive horizontal and vertical lines in the visual environment as being horizontal and vertical.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the two outer of the three areas of the first viewing zone of a lens such as that defined in our British Patent Specification No. 1,484,382 are corrected for skew distortion by each having a surface which comprises a portion of a surface of revolution the axis of revolution of which is vertical and lies in the meridional plane of the lens.

It is an advantage of progressive power ophthalmic lenses made as embodiments of the present invention that the astigmatism and distortion in the peripheral areas of the lens is significantly decreased. A progressive power ophthalmic lens according to the invention thus has a high degree of freedom in design parameters so that the design may be adapted to a wide variety of different specific ophthalmic configurations. Another advantage of lenses according to the invention is that they are relatively simple in construction and capable of large quantity manufacture.

Further objects, advantages, and preferred features of the invention will be apparent in the arrangement and construction of the constituent parts, in detail, as set forth in the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a prior art progressive power ophthalmic lens; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the progressive power ophthalmic lens of Figure 1 taken along the principal vertical meridional curve; Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the progressive power ophthalmic lens of Figure 1 showing the various viewing zones and the associated power law; Figure 4 is schematic illustration of the technique for generating the progressive power surface of Figure 3;; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a progressive power ophthalmic lens the intermediate and near vision portions of which are divided laterally into a plurality of areas as in British Patent specification No. 1,484,382, the outermost of which areas are totally corrected for skew distortion in accordance with the present invention Figures 6 to 11 are illustrative diagrams of the images of a square grid as viewed through various embodiments of the progressive power ophthalmic lens of the present invention Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a symmetrical progressive power lens which has been rotated 10 degrees from the vertical to accommodate for decreasing interpupillary spacing when viewing closer objects; Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a matched pair of progressive power lenses which compensate for the 10 rotation required;; Figure 14 is a front elevation view of a lens mold or block for producing a lens having a form in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the concave surface of the mold or block; Figure 15A sets out the optical parameters of an exemplary embodiment of an ophthalmic lens constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the elevations of the surface at various points of a slumping block on which the lens may be formed, over the upper half of one side thereof (the other side being a mirror image of this about the vertical axis; and Figure 15B shows the elevation of the surface of the slumping block, at various points thereof, over the lower half of the side shown in Figure 15A.

In referring to the various figures of the drawing herebelow, like reference numerals will be utilized to refer to identical parts. Figures 1 to 4 illustrate various known aspects of progressive power ophthalmic lenses as such, which will be discussed below for the purpose of establishing a background from which the present invention departs.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown a progressive power ophthalmic lens 10. The lens is constructed of an optical material having a uniform refractive index such as optical quality glass or one of the well-known optical quality plastic materials such as CR-39 (allyl diglycol carbonate), Lexan (Registered Trade Mark) (polycarbonate), or methyl methacrylate. Progressive power is accomplished in the lens 10 by forming one of the two surfaces into an appropriate aspherical form. Generally, the surface utilized for forming the aspherical surface is the front surface of the lens, i.e., that surface of the lens which is of convex form.

However, the principal reason for this choice is that conventional grinding and polishing machinery located at various dispensing branches is configured to apply the spherical or toroidal surface dictated by the intended wearer's particular ophthalmic prescription on the rear surface of the ophthalmic lens. Therefore, in this introductory portion as well as the remainder of the following description of the invention, the aspherical surface will be shown and described as being present as the front surface of the ophthalmic lens. Although it is not intended that the invention be so limited.

For purposes of this description, the progressive power ophthalmic lens 10 is fixed in space in approximately the orientation in which it is to be worn by the patient. More particularly, as shown in Figure 1, the lens 10 is oriented such that the aspherical surface is tangent to a first vertically oriented plane 12 at the geometrical center 14 of the lens blank 10. A second vertically oriented plane 16, perpendicular to the first vertically oriented plane 12, also intersects the ophthalmic lens 10 at point 14 and divides the lens 10 into two symmetrical halves.

The plane 16 is generally referred to as the principal vertical meridional plane. The principal vertical meridional plane 16 interesects the aspherical surface of the lens 16 in a plane curve 18 called the principal meridional line or curve.

It the progressive power ophthalmic lens 10 is to work properly, the principal meridional line 18 must be continuous and it must have continuously varying slope.

The first condition ensures that there will be no visible discontinuity in the surface of the lens at the principal meridional line. The second condition ensures that there will be no image jump as the wearer's line of sight moves vertically along the principal meridional line. In order to provide for progressive accommodation in the lens, the curvature of the principal meridional line 18 increases in a downwardly positive manner from a far vision value near the top of the lens to a near vision value near the bottom. Depending upon the requirements of the particular design, the amount of dioptric focal power addition between the upper and lower limits (commonly known as "add") may vary appreciably. The absolute amount of dioptric focal power addition is variable and is dependent upon the retained powers of accommodation on the part of the wearer.The rate of addition along the principal meridional line 18 is also variable. In other words, the transitional dioptric focal power may be introduced over a very short portion of the principal meridional line or it may be introduced over essentially the entire length of the principal meridional line.

In general, it is preferred that the astigmatism along the principal meridional line 18 be essentially zero. Astigmatism is generally defined with respect to a point on a refractive surface and two perpendicularly disposed planes intersecting thereat and passing through the normal to the refractive surface at the point, the first or sagittal plane established by the minimum radius of curvature of the refractive surface and the second or meridional plane established by the maximum radius of curvature of the refractive surface at the point, then the magnitude of the astigmatism is taken as the difference between the dioptric focal power of the refractive surface in first plane and the dioptric focal power of the lens in the second plane. The amount of astigmatism at any point on the refractive surface of the lens is measured by the difference in the dioptric focal power between the sagittal plane and the meridional plane of the point. The curvatures of the refractive surface at any point in the sagittal and meridional planes are commonly known as the principal curvatures at that point. This astigmatism could be called intrinsic in order to distinguish it from that astigmatism that arises when a spherical surface is illuminated by rays of light striking the surface at oblique angles of incidence.

Along the vertical principal meridional curve 18, the refractive surface is umbilic, i.e., there is only a single radius of curvature at any given point. If r is the radius of curvature of the principal meridional line at Q, and n is the index of refraction of the lens material, then, if the principal curvatures of the surface at Q are equal, the dioptric focal power P0 at this point is given by n-1 Po = r Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a sectional view of the lens 10 taken along the principal vertical meridional plane 16. The locus of the centers of curvature of the principal meridional line 18 comprises a continuous plane curve 22 called the evolute of the principal meridional line which is also located within the principal meridional plane.To each point Q of the principal meridional line 18 there corresponds a point q on the evolute. The radius vector 20 connecting any two such points is perpendicular to the principal meridional line 18 at Q and tangent to the evolute curve 22 at q.

A typical and particularly useful form of progressive power ophthalmic lens incorporating the foregoing principles is shown in Figure 3. The lens 30 consists of three vertically disposed viewing zones 32, 36, and 34 respectively. Here again, a principal meridional line 18 bisects the lens in a generally vertical direction. The uppermost viewing zone of the lens 32 is formed with a constant dioptric focal power which accommodates vision to distant objects, i.e., the surface in viewing zone 32 is spherical. The lowermost viewing zone 34 of the lens is again of constant dioptric focal power and accommodates the vision to nearby objects. Interposed between viewing zones 32 and 34 is an intermediate viewing zone 36 having progressive power which provides a gradual optical transition between viewing zones 32 and 34.In other words, the dioptric focal power varies continuously over a range from a first dioptric focal power at the top of the intermediate viewing zone to a second, higher dioptric focal power at the bottom of the zone. This is consistent with the requirement that the dioptric focal power increase generally from top to bottom of the progressive power ophthalmic lens along the principal meridional curve.

The height of the intermediate portion of the lens along the meridional curve is identified as h. The graph at the right of Figure 3 is known as the "power law" of the lens 30. The power law in this instance consists of three linear portions 38, 40, and 42 which are respectively associated with the lens viewing zones 32, 34, and 36 respectively along the principal meridional line B. The portion 38 represents the constant dioptric focal power in the viewing zone 32 and the portion 40 represents the constant dioptric focal power in the viewing zone 34, the constant dioptric focal power in the portion 40 being of a greater magnitude than that in the portion 32.

The sloping portion 42 of the power law defines that the dioptric focal power through the intermediate area 36 changes at a constant rate. This is a typical type of power law often utilized in progressive power ophthalmic lenses. Of course, the height h is variable and may be increased to the full height of the lens.

The power law shown in Figure 3 is linear through the progressive power viewing zone. The power law need not be linear and may be of any aribitrary character as required by a particular application.

The basic construction of the progressive power surface of a progressive power lens such as that shown in Figure 3 is shown in Figure 4. This construction, however, does not incorporate the novel features of the present invention which will be described herebelow in relation to Figure 5. The progressive power refractive surface is generated by a circular arc C of variable radius and constant inclination which passes successively through all points Q of the principal meridional line. The axis aa' of the generating circle lies in the principal meridional plane, and makes a constant angle with the vertical. The radius vector Qq defines point q on the evolute for a given point Q of the principal meridional line. The radius QR of the generating circle passing through a given point Q is determined by the condition that its axis aa' pass through the corresponding point q of the evolute 22.The radius of the generating circle equals the length of the line segment QR of Figure 4 It can be shown that, as a consequence of this construction, the principal curvatures at each point of the principal meridional line are equal. In other words, the surface is umbilic (free of astigmatism at the principal meridional line).

It is convenient to describe the distortive properties of the refractive surface such as those associated with the present invention in terms of the image of a square grid as seen through the lens. While not totally accurate, this test is a reasonable approximation of the visual affect gained by wearer of the resulting ophthalmic lens.

Two general types of distortion can be distinguished, normal and skew.

Normal distortion refers to the unequal image magnification in the two orthogonal directions parallel to the lines of grid. Skew distortion refers to a departure from the othogonality of the original grid lines. Suppose that a single square of such a grid is viewed through a small area of a given ophthalmic lens. If the principal axes of astigmatism in that area of the lens are parallel to the lines of the grid being viewed, then the image perceived shows pure normal distortion, i.e., the image of the grid square is a rectangle whose sides are parallel to those of the square. If the principal axes of astigmatism in that area of the lens bisect the right angle between the respective orthogonal grid lines, then the image shows pure skew distortion, i.e., the image of the square is an equilateral parallelogram.In the general case, where the principal axes of astigmatism have arbitrary orientation with respect to the lines of the object grid, the image of the square perceived will exhibit a combination of normal and skew distortion, i.e., the image will be a non-equilateral parallelogram.

Of the foregoing two specific types of distortion, skew distortion is by far the more objectionable in ophthalmic applications. In an ophthalmic lens, skew distortion produces a sensation of rocking and swaying with respect to the environment. In most instances, this rocking and swaying effect results in disorientation and nausea on the part of the wearer. The prior art progressive power and variable ophthalmic lenses were either totally uncorrected for skew distortion, resulted in only a partial correction for skew distortion, or resulted in a reading area too small for general use.

The astigmatism present in a refractive surface, for a linear power law, varies laterally at twice the rate of addition of focal power along the principal meridional curve. Therefore, unless correction or compensation for distortion is undertaken in the peripheral areas of the ophthalmic lens utilizing progressive power, considerable distortion is necessarily present in the surface. For example, in the form of progressive lens shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, the principal axes of astigmatism form a 45C angle with respect to the horizontal and vertical lines of the visual environment throughout the intermediate area 36. Therefore, these lenses give rise to substantial amounts of skew and normal distortion in the peripheral areas of the intermediate area 36.

As has been stated above, and as is the case with astigmatism in such progressive power refractive surfaces, it is not possible entirely to eliminate distortion in the surface. It has been discovered, however, that it is entirely possible to construct an ophthalmic surface which in the peripheral areas is totally corrected for skew distortion. That is to say, the principal axes of astigmatism in the peripheral areas may be caused to lie in horizontal and vertical planes with respect to the visual environment such that only normal distortion occurs in these peripheral zones. This normal distortion is far less objectionable than the skew distortion and the incorporation if this aspect into a progressive power lens forms one of the principal features of the present invention.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 5. This drawing illustrates a progressive power ophthalmic lens 50 having viewing areas divided up in the same way as the lens described in British Patent Specification No.

1,484,382. A principal meridional line 52 bisects the lens in a generally vertical direction. As in the progressive power lens illustrated in Figure 3, the lens 50 is divided into three juxtaposed viewing zones 54, 58, and 56 respectively one above the other. The uppermost viewing zone 54 is formed with a refractive surface having a constant dioptric focal power to accommodate for distant vision. The lower viewing zone 56, in the central regions thereof, is formed with a second, higher constant dioptric focal power surface adapted for near vision. The intermediate zone 58 which is disposed between the near and far viewing zones 54 and 56, respectively, provides progressive transitional dioptric focal power therebetween.As with the prior art progressive power lenses the technique for generating the lens in the portions adjacent to the principal meridional curve is that described with reference to Figure 4. The meridional power law is of any generally acceptable form such as that shown in Figure 3.

In the intermediate and near vision zones 58 and 56, the refractive surface of the progressive power lens 50 is further subdivided laterally into five areas. The dividing lines between these areas AB, CD, A'B', and C'D', are chosen arbitrarily with respect to shape and position. Although illustrated as being symmetrical with respect to the principal meridional curve 52, this is not a condition of the invention.

In the present embodiment, the dividing lines A'F'B' and C'D' may be mirror images of AFB and CD with respect to the principal meridional line 52. The central area A'AFF' is formed in accordance with any chosen progressive power ophthalmic lens design.

The peripheral areas of the refractive surface CDE and C'D'E' are constructed to connect smoothly to the far vision viewing zone 54 along the lines CE and C'E'. The smooth optical connection is achieved by having a smooth unbroken surface over the entire lens. At each point in areas CDE and C'D'E' the principal axes of astigmatism lie in horizontal and vertical planes. It follows that, when viewed through these peripheral areas of the progressive power ophthalmic lens, the horizontal and vertical lines within the visual environment are not subjected to skew distortion. Furthermore, when viewed through the periphery of the lens a vertical line will remain vertical and unbroken throughout the total height of the periphery of the lens.In other words, a line which is viewed as vertical in the peripheral portions of the far vision viewing zone 54 continues vertical and unbroken in the intermediate viewing zone 58 and the near vision viewing zone 56.

For this the peripheral areas of the refractive surface CDE and C'D'E' are portions of a surface of revolution whose axis LL' is vertical and lies in the vertical meridional plane. For the situation where the entire distance portion, comprising the upper half of the lens, is spherical, the axis of revolution for peripheral regions CDE and C'D'E' passes through the center of curvature of the distance viewing zone. If the axis were to pass through any other point of the evolute 22, it would not be possible smoothly to connect the lower half of the lens with the spherical upper half. In other words, because the equatorial dividing line EE' is circular, the axis of revolution for the peripheries of the lower half of the lens must pass through the center of that circle.

This corrected condition of the refractive surface in the peripheral areas for skew distortion can be most easily expressed mathematically by letting the lens surface be tangent to the x-y plane at the origin of the coordinate system, where the x-axis points downward in the direction of increasing optical power, and by assuming that the surface is represented by the following expression: z = f(x,y) (1) when y and x are the horizontal and vertical directions respectively and z is the height of the surface from the xy plane i.e., z can be represented by: z = f(x,y) g - (r2-u2-v2)112 (3) where:

u = rQ (5)

distance viewing zone meridional radius, r = meridional radius of curvature, and v = various mathematical expressions dependent upon the portion or area of the lens surface being described.

The lens surface of the present invention is divided into viewing zones and areas within some of those zones. In the upper half circle of the lens body, the farvision or distance zone is provided. In accordance with the mathematics of the specification, where r is the meridional radius of curvature, in this zone r = rD and v = v.

In the intermediate zone of height h (the progressively-varying optical power zone),

where

and where rR is the reading or near vision meridional radius. Thus, in the near vision zone, r = rR.

By way of further explanation, in the intermediate and near vision zones, there are three mathematical expressions for v, depending on the area. In the area bisected by the vertical meridional line, v = y. In the outermost areas from the vertical meridional line, v is expressed as:

And in the two "blending" areas that lie between the outermost areas and the central area, v is expressed as:

where:: (2y2 + y1) (Y2 - Y1) (Y2 + Y,) (y2-y1)3 1 n = (y12 + 4Y1Y2 + Y22) 6 If the surface has the condition that the directions of principal curvatures, the principal axes of astigmatism, at all points lie in planes which are parallel to the x and y axes, then a2f =0. (2) a x ny When this expression is satisfied for all points in a given area, only pure normal distortion may be perceived through the lens.

This partial derivative expression can be alternatively viewed as

The two above partial derivative operators can be shown, by mathematical tensor analysis which need not be repeated here to fully comprehend the present invention, to be substantially proportional to the cosines of angles between surface grid lines, e.g., the grid lines of Figs. 6--11 An angle for which the cosine Is zero, as required by equation (2), is 90 degrees, the orthogonality angle. Thus, when partial derivative expression (2) is satisfied, orthogonality is provided and skew distortion is virtually eliminated; vertical and horizontal lines in the visual environment appear to the wearer of the lens having this correction as vertical and horizontal respectively.

Yet another way of viewing the substantial significance of equations (1) and (2) is to appreciate first that in general cylindrical lens surfaces with vertical and horizontal mutually orthogonal axes provide no skew distortion, and second that for these orthogonally-oriented cylinders with their axes co-linear with the Y and X coordinate axes respectively, equation (1) can be separated into: z = f(x.y) = f,(x) + f2(y) (8) where f,(x) is a function only of the x variable and F2(y) is a different function only of the y variable. By operating on equation (8) with the operators of equation (7) one necessarily obtains zero, since: #f2(y) = 0 and #f1(x) = 0 (9) = 0 and = 0 #x #y Thus the zero condition of equation (2) inplies this cylindrical axial orthogonality condition which provides zero skew distortion.

The intermediate regions ABDC and A'B'D'C' are areas of optical blending between the central portion and the skew distortion corrected peripheral portions of the ophthalmic lens 50. The purpose of these areas is to provide a smooth optical connection between these areas of diverse optical functions. Once again, these areas also connect smoothly to the far vision area 54. The precise choice of refractive surface configuration within these areas of blend depends on a great number of factors. These include the amount of add present in the lens, the overall width of the lens, and the height of the intermediate progressive power viewing zone 58. In designing such a lens the locations of the lateral dividing lines AB, CD, A'B'. and C'D' are first decided upon.Then with the knowledge that peripheral areas are to be portions of a figure or surface of revolution, the lateral blending zones are designed in such a way that the smoothest possible connection is achieved between the central and peripheral portions of the lens. The peripheral regions are then formed by rotating the boundary curves CD and C'D' about the rotation axis LL' of Fig. 5.

As noted earlier, the principal axes of astigmatism lie in planes of 45" to the vertical in the center progressive power area when the power law is linear therein.

Also the principal axes of astigmatism in the peripheral areas CDE and C'D'E' are in vertical and horizontal planes. In other words, the distortion in the center is pure skew distortion and in the peripheral, pure normal distortion. The areas of blending ABDC and A'B'D'C' have aspherical surfaces which serve to transform the orientation of the principal axes of astigmatism between the other areas smoothly so that discontinuities are not introduced into the surface or image. The width of the areas of blend is, however, variable and may as a limiting case be reduced to zero. In other words, the purview of the invention extends to those cases where there are only the central and peripheral areas present in the refractive surfaces.

With respect to the following examples, the basic differences between the surfaces are illustrated in the drawing by the differences in the distortion present in the image of a square grid. In each of the following cases, only one-half of the image is presented, the other half being essentially identical therewith.

Referring initially to Figure 6 of the drawing, the peripheral areas of the intermediate and near vision viewing zones have aspherical curvature of the same radius and center as the constant dioptric focal power far vision viewing zone. This is a limiting case where the criteria previously set forth for the peripheral areas is satisfied by a continuation of the upper spherical surface into the lower reaches of the progressive power ophthalmic lens. There is, therefore, no distortion or astigmatism attributable to progressive power which exists in these peripheral areas of the lens. On the other hand, the blending areas intermediate between the central progressive power area and the peripheral areas contain large amounts of distortion when the grid is viewed through them.

The refractive surface depicted by the image of Figure 7 is formed so that the variation in vertical magnification in the peripheral areas of the lens is identical to the variation of vertical magnification along the principal meridional line.

Therefore, the distortion of a horizontal line of the grid as seen through the lens is such that the level of the line at the periphery is identical to its level at the principal meridional line. The astigmatism which is present at any level of the periphery is equal to the rate of add at the principal meridional line at the same level. The distortion produced by the blending between the central area of the lens and the peripheral areas is considerably less than is produced in the limiting case lens of Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows the image of a limiting example according to the present invention. Here, the width of the blending regions is reduced to essentially zero.

Thus the downward curving lines of the intermediate progressive power area turn abruptly horizontal at the periphery of the central area. This design minimizes the area of the lens over which the objectionable skew distortion occurs. This design many have an additional advantage in that the width of the spherical near vision area, shown by the enlarged square portion of the grid, is increased over that of the previous examples.

Referring now to the grid image shown in Figure 9 of the drawing, here the lens refractive surface is designed to provided that the horizontal lines of the grid are bell-shaped as seen through the intermediate progressive power viewing zone of the lens. The laterally disposed blending areas are necessarily of substantial width and the surface within these areas is designed specifically to provide the smoothest optical effect as the line of sight moves from the center of the lens toward the periphery.

The lens which provides the image shown in Figure 10 is very similar to that utilized for Figure 9 except that the periphery of the near vision area has been altered slightly in order to relieve the bunching of the horizontal lines that appear near the lower boundary of the intermediate area of the lens of Figure 9. Obviously, in the lens utilized for Figure 10, a controlled amount of skew distortion is introduced deliberately into the lower peripheral areas of the near vision viewing zone in order to relieve the bunching effect. While this initially appears somewhat objectionable as shown by the grid image of Figure 10, it must be remembered that a typical ophthalmic lens is cut with an edge configuration to fit standard spectacle frames and that the majority of the corner portions of the grid of Figure 10 will not be present in the completed ophthalmic lens.Therefore, this controlled amount of skew distortion is not considered to be objectionable.

In each of the examples shown in Figures 6 through 10, it has been assumed that the blending areas ABCD and A'B'C'D' have vertical boundaries. It should be emphasized that as is shown in Figure 5, the boundaries in question need not be vertical, and, in fact, there are specific advantages attributable to non-vertical orientation of the boundaries of the blending areas. An example of an image of a lens having such configuration is shown in Figure 11. Here the boundaries are nonvertical, as shown by the superimposed dotted lines spread out near the bottom of The lens. This provides a design that has the advantage that the distortion is kept to a minimum in the upper half of the intermediate viewing zone and at the same time provide a conveniently wide constant dioptric focal power near vision viewing area.

Therefore, it can be seen that in the foregoing examples acuity in the peripheral areas of the near vision viewing zone of the progressive power ophthalmic lens is sacrificed from that in the prior art designs in order to correct for skew distortion in the peripheral areas of the intermediate viewing zone of the lens. This is accomplished while succeeding in maintaining the constant dioptric focal power near vision area of the lens at acceptable proportions.

Thus far, the foregoing discussion has considered only those lenses that are symmetrical about a principal vertical meridional line, i.e., the principal vertical meridional line is in fact vertical on the surface of the ophthalmic lens and precisely divides the lens in symmetrical lateral portions. From the point of view of product inventory, such perfectly symmetrical lenses are extremely advantageous. With proper marking applied, a symmetrical lens blank can then be used for either a left or right eye lens. Functionally, however, it is preferable to design the progressive power ophthalmic lenses separately for the left and right eyes respectively. The resulting lenses are symmetrical since the interpupillary spacing of human beings decreases as their focus changes from distant objects to nearby objects.Therefore, in fitting the symmetrical lens to the patient, the principal meridional line of symmetry should be inclined approximately 10 from the vertical to provide an effective inset of the near vision viewing zone. This 10 rotation of the lens about its central point ensures that the line of sight can pass along the principal vertical meridional line for clear vision at all distances.

However, once the lens has been rotated accordingly, the principal axes of astigmatism in the periphery of the symmetrical, skew distortion corrected lens described hereinabove are no longer aligned with the horizontal and vertical elements of the visual environment. Therefore, particularly in the case of those lenses with higher adds, this misalignment may result in noticeable incorporation of skew distortion throughout the peripheral areas of the ophthalmic lens. This, of course, would be objectionable for the identical reasons that those lenses of the prior art were objectionable to many wearers. Such a lens is shown in Figure 12, where the orientation of a principal axis of astigmatism is shown at points in the various areas when the lens is rotated 100.

It is therefore, included within the purview of the present invention to correct this situation by modification of the foregoing symmetrical design. In the modified versions, the far vision viewing zone and the central portions of the intermediate and near vision areas remain unchanged from the foregoing symmetrical design.

However, the peripheral areas of the intermediate and near vision viewing zones are modified such that when the principal meridional line is inclined approximately 100 with respect to the vertical, the principal axes of astigmatism in these peripheral zones again are aligned with the horizontal and vertical elements in the visual environment. The blending areas are appropriately modified as well in order to provide a smooth optical correction between the central portions and the peripheral areas. Figure 13 illustrates the orientation of the principal axes of astigmatism at various locations for both a right and a left lens modified to compensate for the decreasing interpupillary spacing at near vision.

As was explained hereinabove, the prior art agrees quite generally on the conditions which exists along the principal vertical meridional line. The prior art consists largely of a series of attempts to acquire a means for generating the resulting aspherical surface. This generation problem caused certain limitations to exist in the design of the lens. The present lens has avoided this situation by discarding the requirement for ascertaining a precise means of generating directly a finished ophthalmic lens. The lenses according to the present invention may be formed directly or as cast lenses. The lenses are formed by programming initially a machine such as a numerically controlled milling machine to produce essentially the complement of the refractive surface in a porous ceramic block.After the complementary surface is formed, a vacuum is applied to the back surface of the ceramic block and a sheet of highly polished glass is heated and slumped into the cavity formed in the ceramic block. This glass sheet may then be polished to form directly the refractive surface on a blank. Alternatively, the opposite side of the glass plate from that which comes into contact with the ceramic block may be used to form a mold surface for casting plastic lenses according to the present invention.

This casting technique has numerous advantages, not the least of which is that a lens comparable in price to present glass ophthalmic lenses may be produced.

However, additional advantages inhere in the process due to the fact that the glass sheet slumped into the ceramic block has finite thickness. The finite thickness tends to blend any local discontinuities which may exist in the surface such as are produced between adjacent cuts of the grinding tool in the generating machine.

The resulting lens has a smooth optical quality refractive surface thereon.

Two types of advantage are inherent in lenses formed as embodiments If the present invention. These are continuous focal accommodation throughout the height of the lens, an optical advantage, and invisible dividing lines between the various viewing zones of the lens, a cosmetic advantage. It can be shown, however, that a price is paid for the advantage of progressive focal accommodation along the principal vertical meridional curve. this being that in the intermediate viewing zone visual acuity is diminished severely except along a relatively narrow corridor of clear vision centered on the principal meridional line.If, however, the wearer is willing to sacrifice the advantage of progressive accommodation, it becomes possible utilizing power discontinuities substantially to widen the corridor of clear vision and still retain the cosmetic advantage inherent in progressive power ophthalmic lenses. For a discussion of how this can be achieved attention is directed to our British Patent No. 1,569,765 (Application No. 45602/76) and our British Patent No. 1,569,766 (Application No. 45603/76).

A detailed description of the design and manufacture of a progressive power lens which will produce a grid pattern distortion of the type depicted in Figure 11 will now be given. The lens is to be made of plastics material cast in a mold made by the slumping process described above.

Therefore, in the manner of design, what is needed is a detailed description of the surface of the ceramic block on which the glass mold is to be slumped. The curvatures of the block must be such that the resultant mold produces the required lens. The rectangular coordinate system used is shown in Fig. 14. This view shows the concave surface of the block. The surface is tangent to the xy plane at the origin O. That portion of the block corresponding to the distance portion of the mold and lens lies above the vz plane. Those portions that correspond to the intermediate and reading areas lie below that plane. The intermediate area is of height h.

The block is symmetrical about the xz or meridional plane. On the lower half of the block, the lateral blending zone on the right-hand side is bounded on the left and right by the curves y = y1 (x) and y = y, (x), and the lateral blending zone on the left hand side is bounded on the right and left by the curves y = y1 (x) and y = y2 (x). The radius of curvature of the spherical distance portion of the block is rD, that of the spherical reading portion r,. In general, the radius of curvature at a point x on the vertical meridian is given by r = r (x). The form of the surface of the block, expressed as an elevation z = f(x,y) above the xy plane, is given by the set of equations presented earlier, viz. Equation (3) and subsequent related expressions.

Restating these equations employing terms previously utilized and employing certain terms which further simplify the mathematics, we obtain:

where the functions Q, r and u have their previous meanings, and K = O in the central portion of the slumping block, K = y2-n in the peripheral portions of the slumping block, K = 1(y-y1)3-m(y-y1 )4 in the blend zones of the block where 1, m, and n are identical to that which was given earlier.

As noted in the foregoing paragraph these equations define the surface of the ceramic block against which the mold is slumped employing a process previously described and to be further detailed. The glass employed is an ophthalmic crown glass, which is placed on this ceramic block defined by the equations presented and the combination is inserted into an oven which is heated as follows. The temperature is raised in the oven to a maximum temperature of approximately 1210 degrees fahrenheit over a period of time of approximately four hours. The temperature in the oven is contained at this value for approximately one hour.

Then, approximately eight hours are utilized to reduce the temperature in the oven from this value downward.

By way of example, with regard to Figs 15A and 15B let it be required to manufacture a CR-39 plastics material ophthalmic lens having a distance portion with convex radius of curvature 83.33 mm and having a reading addition of '.00 diopters. The mold will be slumped starting with a meniscus glass blank having surface powers of +6.00 and6.37 diopters and having a center thickness of 4.0 mm. It has been determined that in order to obtain a lens with the stated refractive characteristics and using a glass slumping blank of the above description, the radii of curvature of the spherical portions of the block have to be 88.113 mm, and 68.440 mm, for the spherical distance area and for the spherical reading area respectively.Assuming that the rate of add at the principal meridional line inside the intermediate area is linear, the curvature law for the intermediate area may be written:

If h = 10.0 mm, this law becomes for the above radii -=(ll.349l + 0.3262 x) 10-3,mm-1.

r The lines y1 and y2 are chosen to be straight lines with the following coordinates x (mm) y, (mm) y2 (mm) 0 7.0 14.0 10 9.1 18.2 The equations of these lines are thus y1= 7.00+0.21x (mm) y2 = 14.0 + 0.42 x (mm) These values of rD, r,, r, y1, and y2 may now be substituted into the equations of the surface. A computer was programmed in accordance with the above equations and input data to guide a cutting tool which generates the required surface onto the ceramic slumping block.Figs 15A and 15B show the results of the electronic computer evaluation employing the above input data which gives the elevation of the surface of the slumping block at 4 mm intervals over the area of the block 86 mm in diameter. Only one-half of the block is depicted. The other half of the block is not depicted since it is an essential mirror image of the half presented. Each number represents the z-direction distance from the surface of the block, at the center of the cell in which the number appears, to the xy plane that is tangent to the surface of the block at the center of the cell designated 0.0000. The vertical meridian 52 of Fig. 5 would therefore intersect the center of the cell designated 0.0000 as well as the centers of the cells directly above and below this central grid, i.e.: the centers of cells bearing measurements: 0.0908, 0.3639, 0.0943, 0.3919, etc.

This particular examplary embodiment applies to a ceramic slumping block having distance and near-zone radii of 88.113 and 68.440 mm which is used to slump a mold for casting a plastics material lens which will have a grid distortion pattern of the form depicted in Fig. 11, and having a distance radius of 83.33 mm and a reading addition of 2.00 diopters.

Although the foregoing mathematical and textual description is sufficiently precise and accurate for one skilled in the art to construct a progressive power lens in accordance with the principles of my invention, and although the exemplary embodiment as shown in Fig. 15 is derived from a computer analysis of the equations presented thus far, there is another mathematical formulation based on surfaces of revolution which can be employed to help conceptualize or understand the principles involved. However, since these other mathematical formulations may not lend themselves readily to computer analysis, they are presented merely as a tool of insight and to provide another point of view.

To begin with, to correct for skew distortion in peripheral areas of the progressive power zone, one requires that vertical and horizontal lines in the environment are perceived by the wearer of a skew-distortion corrected lens as being respectively vertical and horizontal. This correction can be achieved by requiring that these peripheral areas comprise portions of a surface of revolution.

The axis of the surface of revolution is vertical, and lies in the vertical meridional plane. By symmetry it should be clear that the principal axes of astigmatism at every point of such a surface of revolution lie in horizontal and vertical planes.

Therefore, when the peripheral areas of the lens have this form, only pure normal distortion may be perceived through those areas.

The general set equations appliable to a lens of the type depicted in Figure Il, or to a slumping block that may be used to make such a lens, will now be given.

These equations express the elevation z = f(x,y) of the surface above the xy plane.

They give explicitly the form of the rotationally symmetric peripheral zones.

For the spherical distance zone, z = rD-(rD-x-y) For the central portion of the lower half of the lens or block, including both the intermediate and reading levels z = f01(x,y),

where u = Qr, xdx and Q= f-.

o For the rotationally symmetric peripheral areas of the lower half of the lens or block, z=f23(x,y)

For the blending areas between the central and peripheral areas, Z = 2 = Af01 +Bf23.

A = a(y2-y)3 + b(y2-y)4 + c(y2-y)5, B = a(y-y1)3 + b(y-y1)4 + c(y-y1)5, 10 -15 6 and a= - 3, b= -4, c= 5.

(y2-y1) (y2-y1) (y2-y1) These equations, while providing an exact description of the geometrical properties required for the lens or block, and which are mathematically descriptive of the portions of the surface of revolution earlier referred to, are nevertheless quite complicated and are resistant to ready numerical evaluation. Therefore, the former simpler set of mathematical equations were used to generate the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as depicted in Figs. 15A and 15B herein.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: I. An ophthalmic lens comprising a lens body having a first viewing zone which has a smooth, unbroken principal meridional curve of continuously varying slope along the first viewing zone lying, with reference to an intended orientation of use,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (17)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   to a slumping block that may be used to make such a lens, will now be given.

   These equations express the elevation z = f(x,y) of the surface above the xy plane.

   They give explicitly the form of the rotationally symmetric peripheral zones.

   For the spherical distance zone, z = rD-(rD-x-y) For the central portion of the lower half of the lens or block, including both the intermediate and reading levels z = f01(x,y),

   where u = Qr, xdx and Q= f-.

   o For the rotationally symmetric peripheral areas of the lower half of the lens or block, z=f23(x,y)

   For the blending areas between the central and peripheral areas, Z = 2 = Af01 +Bf23.

   A = a(y2-y)3 + b(y2-y)4 + c(y2-y)5, B = a(y-y1)3 + b(y-y1)4 + c(y-y1)5,

   10 -15 6 and a= - 3, b= -4, c= 5.

   (y2-y1) (y2-y1) (y2-y1) These equations, while providing an exact description of the geometrical properties required for the lens or block, and which are mathematically descriptive of the portions of the surface of revolution earlier referred to, are nevertheless quite complicated and are resistant to ready numerical evaluation. Therefore, the former simpler set of mathematical equations were used to generate the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as depicted in Figs. 15A and 15B herein.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS: I. An ophthalmic lens comprising a lens body having a first viewing zone which has a smooth, unbroken principal meridional curve of continuously varying slope along the first viewing zone lying, with reference to an intended orientation of use,

   in a generally vertical direction and dividing the first viewing zone into two similar lateral portions, the curvature of the principal meridional curve varying progressively from point to point therealong to provide a predetermined dioptric focal power at each such point according to a predetermined law, the dioptric focal power increasing generally from top to bottom of the first viewing zone along the principal meridional curve, the curvatures of cross curves defined on the first viewing zone by planes perpendicular to the principal meridional curve at their points of intersection with the principal meridional curve being respectively equal to the curvature of the meridional curve at the points of intersection, the first viewing zone being defined by a power range varying from a first dioptric focal power at the top of the first viewing zone to a second, higher, dioptric focal power at the bottom thereof, the first viewing zone being divided into at least three laterally disposed areas, a first one of the three areas being centrally disposed in the first viewing zone extending vertically therethrough, and having the principal meridional curve passing through the center thereof, and the two outer of the three areas being disposed at the lateral peripheries of the first viewing zone and each having a surface which comprises a portion of a surface of revolution of the axis of revolution of which is vertical and lies in the meridional plane whereby optically to compensate for skew distortion so that at all points thereon the principal axes of astigmatism lie in vertical and horizontal planes to permit a wearer of the lens to perceive horizontal and vertical lines in the visual environment as being horizontal and vertical.
2. 2. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 1, in which an additional area is interposed in the first viewing zone between the centrally disposed area and each of the two outer areas, the refractive surface in the additional areas being aspherical and providing optical blending between the centrally disposed area and each of the two outer areas whereby the wearer of the lens perceives a smooth transition when scanning his line of sight laterally from the central area toward one of the outer areas.
3. 3. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the lens body has a second viewing zone in vertical juxtaposition to the top of the first viewing zone and defining a first cosmetically and optically smooth boundary therebetween, the second viewing zone having a constant dioptric focal power the value of which is equal to the dioptric focal power on the principal meridional curve at the top of the first viewing zone the principal meridional curve remaining smooth and unbroken across the said first boundary.
4. 4. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in Claim 3, in which the lens body has a third viewing zone in vertical juxtaposition to the bottom of the said first viewing zone and defining a second cosmetically and optically smooth boundary therebetween, the third viewing zone being divided into at least three areas, a central area and two outer areas, which are disposed below the respective counterparts in the first viewing zone the central area of the third viewing zone having a constant dioptric focal power throughout, which is equal to the dioptric focal power at the bottom of the first viewing zone, the principal meridional curve remaining smooth and unbroken across the said second boundary.
5. 5. A ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the two outer areas of the first viewing zone have a smooth optical connection to the second viewing zone so that vertical lines in the visual environment appear unbroken to the wearer of the lens at the periphery thereof.
6. 6. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 5, in which the two outer areas in the third viewing zone have a smooth optical connection to the respective outer areas of the first viewing zone and each has a surface curved optically to compensate for skew distortion so that at all points thereon the principal axes of astigmatism lie in vertical and horizontal planes to permit a wearer of the lens to perceive vertical lines in the visual environment at the peripheries of the lens as being vertical and unbroken and horizontal lines in the visual environment as being horizontal.
7. 7. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 6, in which an additional area is interposed between the central area and each of the two outer areas in both the first viewing zone and the third viewing zone, the refractive surface in each of the additional areas being aspherical and providing optical blending between the respective central areas and the respective outer areas, the refractive surface in the additional areas of the first viewing zone having a smooth optical connection to the second viewing zone and the top of the additional areas in the third viewing zone so that vertical lines in the visual environment are unbroken over the height of the lens when viewed through the additional areas.
8. 8. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 7, in which a first pair of plane curves extending through both the first viewing zone and the third viewing zone separates the central areas from the additional areas, and a second pair of plane curves also extending through both the first viewing zone and the third viewing zone separates the additional areas from the outer areas.
9. 9. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 8, in which each of the plane curves lies in a plane which is parallel to the plane containing the principal meridional curve.
10. 10. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 8, in which the first pair of plane curves diverge downwardly from the principal meridional curve at a first rate and the second pair of plane curves diverge downwardly at a second greater, rate.
11. 11. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 8, in which the outer areas in both the first viewing zone and the third viewing zone have the same dioptric focal power as the second viewing zone.
12. 12. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 8, in which the amount of vertical magnification in the outer areas of both the first viewing zone and the third viewing zone is identical to the vertical magnification at the principal meridional curve.
13. 13. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 8, in which the vertical magnification in the outer areas of the first viewing zone is equal to the vertical magnification at the outward extremities of the additional areas and the vertical magnification in the outer areas of the third viewing zone is identical to the vertical magnification at the principal meridional curve.
14. 14. An ophthalmic lens according to claim 13, in which the width of the additional areas in both the first viewing zone and the third viewing zone is reduced to essentially zero.
15. 15. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in any preceding claim in which the principal meridional curve is inclined approximately 100 to the vertical to accommodate for the decreased interpupillary distance of the wearer when viewing nearby objects.
16. 16. An ophthalmic lens as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dioptric focal power progresses at a constant rate along the principal meridional curve in the first viewing zone.
17. 17. A progressive power ophthalmic lens as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.