Abstract: Described refractive correctors, include, but are not limited to, intraocular lenses (IOLs), contact lenses, corneal inlays, and other optical components or devices, incorporating a continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities. Further embodiments are directed to a method for using a laser to modify the refractive properties of refractive correctors to form such continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities, and other applications. The refractive corrector and methods adapt a Fresnel lens structure to include continuous phase retarding regions having a wavefront height of greater than one design wavelength in a central zone of a refractive corrector to improve human vision applications, while maintaining benefits of phase wrapping in the peripheral region.

Abstract: A method for modifying a refractive property of ocular tissue in an eye by creating at least one optically-modified gradient index (GRIN) layer in the corneal stroma and/or the crystalline by continuously scanning a continuous stream of laser pulses having a focal volume from a laser having a known average power along a continuous line having a smoothly changing refractive index within the tissue, and varying either or both of the scan speed and the laser average power during the scan. The method may further involve determining a desired vision correction adjustment, and determining a position, number, and design parameters of gradient index (GRIN) layers to be created within the ocular tissue to provide the desired vision correction.

Abstract: An optical device comprising an optical hydrogel with select regions that have been irradiated with laser light having a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 50 nJ and a wavelength from 600 nm to 900 nm. The irradiated regions are characterized by a positive change in refractive index of from 0.01 to 0.06, and exhibit little or no scattering loss. The optical hydrogel is prepared with a hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: Described refractive correctors, include, but are not limited to, intraocular lenses (IOLs), contact lenses, corneal inlays, and other optical components or devices, incorporating a continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities. Further embodiments are directed to a method for using a laser to modify the refractive properties of refractive correctors to form such continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities, and other applications. The refractive corrector and methods adapt a Fresnel lens structure to include continuous phase retarding regions having a wavefront height of greater than one design wavelength in a central zone of a refractive corrector to improve human vision applications, while maintaining benefits of phase wrapping in the peripheral region.

Abstract: A method for modifying a refractive property of ocular tissue in an eye by creating at least one optically-modified gradient index (GRIN) layer in the corneal stroma and/or the crystalline by continuously scanning a continuous stream of laser pulses having a focal volume from a laser having a known average power along a continuous line having a smoothly changing refractive index within the tissue, and varying either or both of the scan speed and the laser average power during the scan. The method may further involve determining a desired vision correction adjustment, and determining a position, number, and design parameters of gradient index (GRIN) layers to be created within the ocular tissue to provide the desired vision correction.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical, polymeric material. The method comprises irradiating select regions of the optical, polymeric material with a focused, visible or near-IR laser having a pulse energy from 0.05 nJ to 1000 nJ. The irradiation results in the formation of refractive optical structures, which exhibit little or no scattering loss. The method can he used to modify the refractive index of an intraocular lens following the surgical implantation of the intraocular lens in a human eye. The invention is also directed to an optical device comprising refractive optical structures, which exhibit little or no scattering loss and are characterized by a positive change in refractive index.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical polymeric material. The method comprises continuously irradiating predetermined regions of an optical, polymeric material with femtosecond laser pulses to form a gradient index refractive structure within the material. The optical polymeric material can include a photosensitizer to increase the photoefficiency of the two-photo process resulting in the formation of the observed refractive structures. An optical device includes an optical, polymeric lens material having an anterior surface and posterior surface and an optical axis intersecting the surfaces and at least one laser-modified, GRIN layer disposed between the anterior surface and the posterior surface and arranged along a first axis 45° to 90° to the optical axis.

Abstract: A refractive index writing system includes a pulsed laser source, an objective lens for focusing an output of the pulsed laser source to a focal spot in an optical material, and a scanner for relatively moving the focal spot with respect to the optical material along a scan region. A beam multiplexer divides the output of the laser source into at least two working beams that are focused to variously shaped focal spots within the optical material. A controller controls at least one of a temporal and a spatial offset between the focal spots of the working beams together with the relative speed and direction of the scanner for maintaining an energy profile within the optical material along the scan region above a nonlinear absorption threshold of the optical material and below a breakdown threshold of the optical materials.

Abstract: A laser system for modifying the index of refraction of an optical hydrogel material. The laser system comprises a computer program to determine the position and shape of refractive structures to be written into the optical hydrogel material to correct a patient's vision, and a focused laser that generates laser light having a wavelength of from 400 nm to 900 nm, and which operates with an average power of 10 mW to 1000 mW to produce a pulse energy from 0.05 nJ to 1000 nJ with a peak intensity at focus of greater than 1013 W/cm2. The refractive structures exhibit a change in the index of refraction of 0.01 to 0.06 in the optical hydrogel material.

Abstract: A high numerical aperture opto-mechanical scanner for writing refractive index modifications includes a fast axis scanner having a fast scanning axis. A waveform generator is electrically coupled to the fast axis scanner, and a waveform is provided by the waveform generator which defines a fast scan of the fast axis scanner. A scanning lens assembly is mechanically coupled to the fast axis scanner, the scanning lens assembly having a NA greater than 0.5 and a scanning lens motion along the fast scanning axis. A femtosecond laser is optically coupled through the scanning lens assembly to a surface of a material, creating a femtosecond laser light scanning pattern to write the refractive index modifications into the material. A method for writing refractive index modifications using a high numerical aperture opto-mechanical scanner is also described.

Abstract: A method for providing vision correction to a patient. The method includes: (a) measuring the degree of vision correction needed by the patient and determining the location and shape of refractive structures that need to be positioned within the cornea to partially correct a patient's vision; (b) directing and focusing femtosecond laser pulses in the blue spectral region within the cornea at an intensity high enough to change the refractive index of the cornea within a focal region, but not high enough to damage the cornea or to affect cornea tissue outside of the focal region; and (c) scanning the laser pulses across a volume of the cornea or the lens to provide the focal region with refractive structures in the cornea or the lens. Again, the refractive structures are characterized by a change in refractive index, and exhibit little or no scattering loss.

Abstract: An optical device comprising an optical hydrogel with select regions that have been irradiated with laser light having a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 50 nJ and a wavelength from 600 nm to 900 nm. The irradiated regions are characterized by a positive change in refractive index of from 0.01 to 0.06, and exhibit little or no scattering loss. The optical hydrogel is prepared with a hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: An optical device comprising an optical hydrogel with select regions that have been irradiated with laser light having a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 50 nJ and a wavelength from 600 nm to 900 nm. The irradiated regions are characterized by a positive change in refractive index of from 0.01 to 0.06, and exhibit little or no scattering loss. The optical hydrogel is prepared with a hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: A method for providing vision correction to a patient. The method includes: (a) measuring the degree of vision correction needed by the patient and determining the location and shape of refractive structures that need to be positioned within the cornea to partially correct a patient's vision; (b) directing and focusing femtosecond laser pulses in the blue spectral region within the cornea at an intensity high enough to change the refractive index of the cornea within a focal region, but not high enough to damage the cornea or to affect cornea tissue outside of the focal region; and (c) scanning the laser pulses across a volume of the cornea or the lens to provide the focal region with refractive structures in the cornea or the lens. Again, the refractive structures are characterized by a change in refractive index, and exhibit little or no scattering loss.

Abstract: By adapting femtosecond micromachining approaches developed in hydrogels, we can perform Intra-tissue Refractive Index Shaping (IRIS) in biological tissues. We reduced femtosecond laser pulse energies below the optical breakdown thresholds to create grating patterns that are associated with a change in the refractive index of the tissue. To increase two-photon absorption, we used a two (or more)-photon-absorbing chromophore.

Abstract: A laser system for changing the index of refraction of cornea tissue in a living eye. The laser system comprises a laser that provides laser pulses with a wavelength from 400 nm to 900 nm and a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 10 nJ, and a control device for setting the operating parameters of the laser below an optical breakdown threshold of the tissue to avoid photo-disruption and tissue destruction of the tissue, and to direct the laser pulses at the cornea tissue resulting in a change in the index of refraction of the tissue within regions irradiated by the laser pulses.

Abstract: Described refractive correctors, include, but are not limited to, intraocular lenses (IOLs), contact lenses, corneal inlays, and other optical components or devices, incorporating a continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities. Further embodiments are directed to a method for using a laser to modify the refractive properties of refractive correctors to form such continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities, and other applications. The refractive corrector and methods adapt a Fresnel lens structure to include continuous phase retarding regions having a wavefront height of greater than one design wavelength in a central zone of a refractive corrector to improve human vision applications, while maintaining benefits of phase wrapping in the peripheral region.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical polymeric material. The method comprises continuously irradiating predetermined regions of an optical, polymeric material with femtosecond laser pulses to form a gradient index refractive structure within the material. The optical polymeric material can include a photosensitizer to increase the photoefficiency of the two-photo process resulting in the formation of the observed refractive structures. An optical device includes an optical, polymeric lens material having an anterior surface and posterior surface and an optical axis intersecting the surfaces and at least one laser-modified, GRIN layer disposed between the anterior surface and the posterior surface and arranged along a first axis 45° to 90° to the optical axis.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical, polymeric material. The method comprises irradiating select regions of the optical, polymeric material with a focused, visible or near-IR laser having a pulse energy from 0.05 nJ to 1000 nJ. The irradiation results in the formation of refractive optical structures, which exhibit little or no scattering loss. The method can he used to modify the refractive index of an intraocular lens following the surgical implantation of the intraocular lens in a human eye. The invention is also directed to an optical device comprising refractive optical structures, which exhibit little or no scattering loss and are characterized by a positive change in refractive index.

Abstract: An optical device for off-axis viewing includes a contact lens adapted for human eye wear. The contact lens includes a diffraction grating written into or on the contact lens. A peripheral light from a peripheral light source is diffracted by the diffraction grating so as to appear at about a same location as light from an ambient scene substantially in a direction of a central field of view. A wearer of the optical device for off-axis viewing sees simultaneously the peripheral light and the light from an ambient scene as superimposed at least in part over each other. A device-less method for correcting light direction from an ambient light source to a retina of a diseased or injured eye, and a remedial contact lens method for correcting light direction from an ambient light source to a retina of a diseased or injured eye are also described.