Abstract
Purpose:
To describe an innovative intraocular lens technology, designed to extend the range of vision using diffractive technology, while at the same time maintaining the optical performance of a monofocal IOL for distance vision by correcting ocular aberrations.
Methods:
A variety of existing and new technologies were assessed using computer simulations and lab measurements. Combinations of refractive and diffractive technologies were included. The resulting technology is described. Prototype lenses were produced and measured in an eye model representing the average spherical and chromatic aberration of the normal eye. Images of US Air Force target were recorded for a range of defocus values, and chromatic aberration was measured.
Results:
The chosen lens design merges four optical technologies: [1] addition of a modified diffractive technology to distribute light over a range of distances, [2] correction of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) in the far focus, [3] correction of longitudinal spherical aberration (LSA), and [4] reduction of LCA with a high Abbe number material. The US Air Force target images demonstrated that the lens has very good image quality over an extended range of distances. Chromatic aberration measurements were performed for wavelengths ranging from 450 nm to 650 nm. The chromatic aberration was reduced over the entire extended focus range, including the far focus and intermediate range of distances. Chromatic aberration was reduced by at least 50%, when compared to ocular chromatic aberration with a standard intraocular lens. While the MTF was high for a range of distances, the MTF at the far focus remained high, due to the simultaneous correction of LSA and LCA.
Conclusions:
The combination of new and existing diffractive and refractive technologies result in an IOL design with unique optical properties, suggesting that the optical design may provide an extended range of vision, without sacrificing visual quality at distance.
Keywords: 567 intraocular lens •
653 presbyopia