Optically superior decentered over-the-counter sunglasses

Abstract

Optically superior eyeglasses comprising a frame and a pair of lenses which are attached to the frame and are positionable over respective ones of the wearer's eyes. Each of the lenses defines an optical center and comprises a convex front surface having a first radius of curvature and a concave back surface having a second radius of curvature which is less than the first radius of curvature so as to impart a negative power to the lens. The frame is sized and configured such that when positioned upon the wearer's head, the lenses are supported thereby in a manner wherein the normal line of sight of each of the wearer's eyes crosses the back surface of a respective one of the lenses at a selected wrap angle and at a location nasal to the optical center thereof so as to induce a base-in prism effect

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Optically superior eyeglasses, comprising: 
 a frame; and    a pair of lenses attached to said frame and positioned over respective ones of the wearer's eyes, each of said lenses defining an optical center and comprising: 
 a convex front surface having a first radius of curvature; and  
 a concave back surface having a second radius of curvature which is less than the first radius of curvature so as to provide a negative power;  
   said frame being sized and configured such that when positioned upon the wearer's head, the lenses are supported thereby in a manner wherein the normal line of sight of each of the wearer's eyes crosses the back surface of a respective one of the lenses at a selected wrap angle and at a location nasal to the optical center thereof which, in combination with the negative power, induces base-in prism to substantially neutralize the base-out prism induced by the wrap angle.    
     
     
         2 . The eyeglasses of  claim 1  wherein the wrap angle is greater than about 95 degrees.  
     
     
         3 . The eyeglasses of  claim 2  wherein the wrap angle is within the range of about 100 to 120 degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The eyeglasses of  claim 1  wherein each of the lenses is provided with a negative power in the range of about −0.12 to about −0.25 diopters.  
     
     
         5 . The eyeglasses of  claim 4  wherein each of the lenses is provided with a negative power of about −0.25 diopters.  
     
     
         6 . The eyeglasses of  claim 1  wherein the location that the line of sight of each of the wearer's eyes crosses the back surface of a respective one of the lenses is about 1.0 cm nasal to the optical center thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The eyeglasses of  claim 1  wherein each of the lenses is tinted.  
     
     
         8 . The eyeglasses of  claim 7  wherein each of the lenses is tinted to block: 
 100% ultraviolet A;  
 100% ultraviolet B;  
 100% of visible wavelengths of approximately 380 nanometers through 450 nanometers; and  
 80% of the total visual light spectrum.  
 
     
     
         9 . The eyeglasses of  claim 7  wherein each of the lenses is tinted to allow: 
 10% light transmission at 475 nanometers; and  
 20% light transmission at 500 nanometers.  
 
     
     
         10 . Optically superior eyeglasses, comprising: 
 a pair of lenses positionable over respective ones of the wearer's eyes, each of said lenses defining an optical center and comprising: 
 a convex front surface having a first radius of curvature; and  
 a concave back surface having a second radius of curvature which is less than the first radius of curvature so as to provide a negative power;  
   said lenses being positionable over respective ones of the wearer's eyes such that the normal line of sight of each of the wearer's eyes crosses the back surface of a respective one of the lenses at a selected wrap angle and at a location nasal to the optical center thereof which, in combination with the negative power, induces base-in prism to substantially neutralize the base-out prism induced by the wrap angle.    
     
     
         11 . The eyeglasses of  claim 10  wherein the wrap angle is greater than about 95 degrees.  
     
     
         12 . The eyeglasses of  claim 11  wherein the wrap angle is within the range of about 100 to 120 degrees.  
     
     
         13 . The eyeglasses of  claim 10  wherein each of the lenses is provided with a negative power in the range of about −0.12 to about −0.25 diopters.  
     
     
         14 . The eyeglasses of  claim 13  wherein each of the lenses is provided with a negative power of about −0.25 diopters.  
     
     
         15 . The eyeglasses of  claim 10  wherein the location that the line of sight of each of the wearer's eyes crosses the back surface of a respective one of the lenses is about 1.0 cm nasal to the optical center thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The eyeglasses of  claim 10  wherein each of the lenses is tinted.  
     
     
         17 . The eyeglasses of  claim 16  wherein each of the lenses is tinted to block: 
 100% ultraviolet A;  
 100% ultraviolet B;  
 100% of visible wavelengths of approximately 380 nanometers through 450 nanometers; and  
 80% of the total visual light spectrum.  
 
     
     
         18 . The eyeglasses of  claim 17  wherein each of the lenses is tinted to allow: 
 10% light transmission at 475 nanometers; and  
 20% light transmission at 500 nanometers.