US5980040A — Pinhole lens and contact lens

Claim 1

Independent Claim 152 words

A contact lens comprising an optically transparent lens body having a concave surface adapted to the patient's eye curvature and a convex surface, said convex surface having a first optical power to correct vision; said lens having three regions: (1) a first annular region of a second optical power said first annular region having a center; (2) at the center of said first annular region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; and (3) a second annular region exterior to said first annular region; wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture and during low light conditions when the wearer's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said pinhole-lens aperture, permitting additional light to pass through said second annular region, and wherein said second optical power serves to deflect light passing through said first annular region from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 152 words

A contact lens comprising an optically transparent lens body having a concave surface adapted to the patient's eye curvature and a convex surface, said convex surface having a first optical power to correct vision; said lens having three regions: (1) a first annular region of a second optical power said first annular region having a center; (2) at the center of said first annular region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; and (3) a second annular region exterior to said first annular region; wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture and during low light conditions when the wearer's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said pinhole-lens aperture, permitting additional light to pass through said second annular region, and wherein said second optical power serves to deflect light passing through said first annular region from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The contact lens of claim 1 wherein said first region is annular in shape with a radial width in the range of about 0.5 to about 4 mm.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 93 words

A contact lens comprising: a lens body having a first surface substantially configured to conform to the eye curvature of the wearer, and a second surface optically configured in conjunction with said first surface to correct the vision of the wearer selectively at a focus between and including far and near objects; a pinhole optical aperture formed in said lens body which has a light focus; said lens body further having a first region surrounding said pinhole aperture which passes light therethrough but diverts said light passing therethrough from said pinhole light focus.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 93 words

A contact lens comprising: a lens body having a first surface substantially configured to conform to the eye curvature of the wearer, and a second surface optically configured in conjunction with said first surface to correct the vision of the wearer selectively at a focus between and including far and near objects; a pinhole optical aperture formed in said lens body which has a light focus; said lens body further having a first region surrounding said pinhole aperture which passes light therethrough but diverts said light passing therethrough from said pinhole light focus.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

The contact lens of claim 3 further including a second region radially outward from said first region which has a configuration for correcting the vision of the wearer at a focus between and including near and far objects.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The contact lens of claim 3 wherein said second surface has an optical correction selected from one of aspheric, convex, concave, and toric correction.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The contact lens of claim 3 wherein said first surface has an optical correction selected from one of aspheric and toric correction.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The contact lens of claim 3 wherein said pinhole aperture has a diameter in the range of about 0.5 to about 4 mm.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The contact lens of claim 1 or 3 wherein said first region refracts light substantially outside the region of the fovea.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The contact lens of claim 1 or 3 wherein said first region refracts light substantially outside the region of the fovea but upon the retina.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The contact lens of claim 3 wherein said first region has an optical transmissivity in the range of between about 1 and about 90 percent in visible light.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The contact lens of claim 10 wherein said first region is tinted in a color to cosmetically change the iris color of the wearer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 47 words

A lens comprising: a lens body; a pinhole optical aperture formed in said lens body which has a light focus; said lens body further having a region surrounding said pinhole aperture, said region passing light therethrough but diverting said light passing therethrough from said pinhole light focus.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 47 words

A lens comprising: a lens body; a pinhole optical aperture formed in said lens body which has a light focus; said lens body further having a region surrounding said pinhole aperture, said region passing light therethrough but diverting said light passing therethrough from said pinhole light focus.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 82 words

A non-surgical-method for treating visual aberrations, comprising the steps of: fitting at least one eye of a wearer with a first contact lens configured to correct the vision of the wearer at a focus between and including near and far objects; providing on said contact lens a pinhole aperture which serves to bring light to a focus and an annular non-corrective segment of selected optical transmissivity surrounding said pinhole aperture, said annular segment functioning to direct light passing therethrough from said focus.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 82 words

A non-surgical-method for treating visual aberrations, comprising the steps of: fitting at least one eye of a wearer with a first contact lens configured to correct the vision of the wearer at a focus between and including near and far objects; providing on said contact lens a pinhole aperture which serves to bring light to a focus and an annular non-corrective segment of selected optical transmissivity surrounding said pinhole aperture, said annular segment functioning to direct light passing therethrough from said focus.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 130 words

A contact lens comprising an optically transparent lens body having a concave surface adapted to the patient's eye curvature and a convex surface, at least one of said surfaces having a first optical power to correct vision; said lens having: (1) a first region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture, and during low light conditions when the patient's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said first region, permitting additional light to pass through said lens, and wherein said first region serves to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 130 words

A contact lens comprising an optically transparent lens body having a concave surface adapted to the patient's eye curvature and a convex surface, at least one of said surfaces having a first optical power to correct vision; said lens having: (1) a first region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture, and during low light conditions when the patient's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said first region, permitting additional light to pass through said lens, and wherein said first region serves to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 152 words

A contact lens comprising an optically transparent lens body having a concave surface adapted to the patient's eye curvature and a convex surface, at least one of said surfaces having a first optical power to correct vision; said lens having: (1) a first generally annular region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; (3) a second generally annular region having light transmissive characteristic radially outward from said first region; wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture, and during low light conditions when the patient's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said first region into said second region, permitting additional light to pass through said lens, and wherein said first region serves to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 152 words

A contact lens comprising an optically transparent lens body having a concave surface adapted to the patient's eye curvature and a convex surface, at least one of said surfaces having a first optical power to correct vision; said lens having: (1) a first generally annular region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; (3) a second generally annular region having light transmissive characteristic radially outward from said first region; wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture, and during low light conditions when the patient's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said first region into said second region, permitting additional light to pass through said lens, and wherein said first region serves to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The contact lens of claim 15 wherein said second annular region is provided with a vision correcting power.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The contact lens of claim 16 wherein said pinhole lens aperture is provided with a vision correcting power different from said second annular region.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 56 words

A lens comprising: an optically transparent lens body; said lens body having: (1) a first region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; said first region serving to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 56 words

A lens comprising: an optically transparent lens body; said lens body having: (1) a first region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; said first region serving to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for modifying vision comprising the steps of: providing an optically transparent lens body, said body having: (1) a first region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; and fitting said lens body to a patient in a manner wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture, and during low light conditions when the patient's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said first region, permitting additional light to pass through said lens, and wherein said first region serves to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for modifying vision comprising the steps of: providing an optically transparent lens body, said body having: (1) a first region of a light transmissive and light directing optical characteristic; (2) at about the center of said first region a substantially pinhole-lens aperture; and fitting said lens body to a patient in a manner wherein during bright lighting conditions when the wearer's pupil constricts, vision is generally restricted to said pinhole lens aperture, and during low light conditions when the patient's pupil dilates, vision is allowed beyond said first region, permitting additional light to pass through said lens, and wherein said first region serves to direct light passing therethrough from a focal point of said pinhole lens aperture.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 19 wherein said lens body is a contact lens having a a concave surface adapted to the patient's eye curvature and a convex surface, at least one of said surfaces having a first optical power to correct vision.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-08	2003-05-10	2003-11-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-08	2007-05-10	2007-11-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-08	2011-05-10	2011-11-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Pinhole lens and contact lens

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