Abstract: Apparatus and method for inexpensively storing a quantity of packages awaiting transfer to a manufacturing process station includes a dispenser for quickly removing the packages from the container and directly into a secondary receptacle which is particularly adapted for feeding the packages to the process station. The provision of an inexpensive container to hold the packages is advantageous in that the more expensive secondary receptacles are not tied up for the sole purpose of holding packages which are awaiting the next process station.

Abstract: A method for polishing targeted areas of an IOL while leaving other areas unpolished such as sharp posterior edges designed to inhibit PCO. In the preferred embodiment, the polishing method utilizes a stream of polishing agent directed at the IOL which is mounted to a holder during the polishing operation. In this manner, only the targeted areas of the IOL polished while the other areas remain unpolished and sharp as intended. The method is suitable for in-line automated IOL manufacturing.

Abstract: A multifocal contact lens includes a first, central zone for distance and intermediate vision and a second, outer zone for near vision. The first and second zones are conic sections joined tangentially at their junction. The power in the distance subregion is relatively constant, while the power throughout the intermediate subregion is a monotonically increasing function which reaches the near power correction at the junction. The second zone includes an aspheric surface having an eccentricity calculated to minimize or eliminate spherical aberration. The slope or power gradient in the intermediate subregion is calculated to provide a smooth transition from the lower power distance subregion to the junction between the intermediate subregion and the near power correction zone.

Abstract: A mask for removably covering an IOL to protect a sharp peripheral edge of the IOL optic during polishing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the determination of higher-order aberrations of an optical element over an optical zone that is larger than the typically limited measured zone over which the aberrations are measured. This is accomplished by apparatus, systems, and methods in which, preferably, the Zernike data from an aberration measurement is fit to a conic function. The conic function smoothly and continuously increases or decreases between the measured zone and the optical zone allowing the extrapolated data to accurately determine the aberrations over the optical zone. According to the invention, a plurality of independent conic plus piston sections that vary azimuthally can very accurately describe a wavefront aberration composed of defocus, astigmatism, spherical aberration, secondary astigmatism, and tetrafoil. The description of primary coma and trefoil will not be as good because they vary with the 3rd order of the radial component. However, the description error is relatively small.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for determining an anterior or posterior surface parameter of an ophthalmic correcting surface (e.g., custom contact lens “CCL,” customized IOL, custom inlay, customized corneal surface) from a wavefront aberration measurement of an eye. A preferred embodiment relates to determining an anterior surface parameter of a dry, CCL designed to operate at 555 nm. An algorithm sets forth the method comprising misalignment correction, chromatic aberration correction, and power shift correction due to differences between aberration measurement wavelength and peak vision wavelength, and differences between aberration measurement location and aberration correction location. A device readable medium is the preferable vehicle for the algorithm.

Abstract: A calibration component for use in calibrating and certifying the accuracy of an ophthalmic wavefront sensor comprises a monolithic, plano-convex refractive optic having known amounts of one or more selected aberrations induced by the spherical, axisymmetric aspherical, or non-axisyrmmetric aspherical convex surface. An alignment tool is described, along with a procedure for calibrating an aberrometer.

Abstract: A wavefront-sensing device for measuring ocular aberrations includes, among other things, a retinal illumination component and a wavefront imaging component (e.g., a microlens array for a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor). The retinal illumination component includes a laser source and a fixed collimating lens. In one embodiment, an improved device has a beam path between the retinal illumination component and the patient's eye containing no refracting, diffracting, or phase altering components for focusing the illumination beam on the retina. In another embodiment, the retinal illumination component provides a beam having a diameter on the retina that is smaller than the diffraction limit of the wavefront imaging component over a refractive focus range of the patient's eye of between about −12D to +6D.

Abstract: Goggles for use in cold weather, high speed outdoor sports, in conjunction with an insulating hood having a facial opening, are configured to receive the hood around the facial opening, to prevent the hood from obstructing the wearer's vision. The goggles are preferably configured with an outer frame incorporating a lens, an inner frame bearing against the wearer's face, with the outer and inner frames spaced apart to receive the hood at least partially around the facial opening. With the present invention it is possible to remove the insulating hood without displacing the goggles from the wearer's face. In the prior art, it was necessary to remove or otherwise displace the goggles, to allow removal or adjustment of the insulating hood.

Abstract: An improved sunglass lens laminate having first and second lens portions joined by an adhesive, wherein the adhesive contains sufficient ultraviolet absorber to block substantially all of the UVA radiation in sunlight. In a preferred embodiment, a polarizing film is disposed between two lens portions to form a polarizing sunglass lens laminate.