Contact lens having position stabilization

Claim 1

A contact lens for placement on the cornea of an eye of the lens wearer and for coacting with the upper and lower eyelids of the eye, the contact lens comprising: a lens body defining a convex outer surface facing outwardly away from the cornea and an inner surface for contact engaging the cornea; said lens body also defining a horizontal center axis which is horizontal when the lens body is in a position worn by the wearer and a vertical axis transverse to said center axis; adjusting mean for adjusting the orientation of the lens with respect to the eye of the wearer; said outer surface being subdivided into a central optical zone having a lower portion below said horizontal center axis, an annular outer zone surrounding said central optical zone and a peripheral zone surrounding said annular outer zone; said adjusting means including two thickened regions having respective thicknesses relative to said peripheral zone and being disposed in said annular outer zone; said two thickened regions being disposed laterally of said vertical axis and having respective upper and lower end faces for coacting with the eyelids to dynamically stabilize the lens when the eyelids are blinked; and, said thickened regions extending downwardly below said horizontal center axis and within said annular outer zone so as to cause said lower end faces to be at an elevation on said lens body corresponding substantially to the lowermost region of said lower portion of said central optical zone to permit said lower end faces to rest against the lower eyelid to statically stabilize said lens when the eyelids are open while at the same time causing the lowermost region of said central optical zone to be substantially clear of said lower eyelid.