Toric Ophthalmic Lens Having Extended Depth of Focus

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens is presented. The lens includes a toric optical zone and a phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element for extending depth of focus of imaging.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic lens for extending depth of focus of an ocular system, comprising:
 a toric zone; and   a phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element optically coupled to the toric zone.   
     
     
         2 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element is a phase-affecting-only element. 
     
     
         3 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the toric zone and the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element are disposed on common anterior and/or posterior surface of the lens. 
     
     
         4 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element comprises a modulated surface relief on the lens. 
     
     
         5 . The lens of  claim 4 , wherein the modulation amplitude is less than 1500 nm for at least a portion of the lens 
     
     
         6 . The lens of  claim 5 , wherein the modulation amplitude is less than 550 nm for at least a portion of the lens. 
     
     
         7 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the lens is a contact lens. 
     
     
         8 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element comprises a first material having a first index of refraction and a second material having a second index of refraction, wherein the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction are different than one another. 
     
     
         9 . The lens of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the first material is embedded within the second material. 
     
     
         10 . The lens of  claim 8 , wherein portions of the optical element comprising the first material form a modulated surface relief on the lens, and the second material is disposed within the modulations. 
     
     
         11 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the meridian of maximum optical power and the meridian of minimum optical power are offset from one another by 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element comprises materials having different indices of refraction. 
     
     
         13 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element contains has a modulation period of less than or equal to 1000 wavelengths of a visible wavelength of light. 
     
     
         14 . The lens of  claim 13 , wherein the visible wavelength of light is 550 nm. 
     
     
         15 . The lens of  claim 13 , wherein the visible wavelength of light is in a range of 380 nm to 750 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element is disposed on a surface of the toric zone. 
     
     
         17 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element is integrally formed with the toric zone. 
     
     
         18 . The lens of  claim 17 , wherein the optical surfaces of the lens are non-modulated. 
     
     
         19 . The lens of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element is embedded in the lens.