Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

A nanocomposite-ink refractive gradient optic with variable focus optic comprising a first optical-element, a second optical-element, each the optical-elements comprised of a cured nanocomposite-ink wherein the first and second optical-element have a cubic volumetric gradient complex optical index such that when arranged in tandem along an optical axis the optical power varies based on linear translation with respect to another.

A 3D printed GRIN device, the formulation and the method for making the GRIN device are disclosed. The GRIN (graded-index) device comprises i) a first phase comprising at least one polymer; ii) a second phase comprising at least one first component; and, optionally, iii) an interface between the first phase and the second phase, wherein the interface has a concentration gradient of the at least one first component, whereby the concentration of the at least one first component decreases with distance away from the second phase towards the first phase, wherein the at least one first component comprises at least one functional component, at least one functional precursor component, or combinations thereof, and wherein the GRIN device is a functional GRIN device, a functional precursor GRIN device, or a combination of a functional and functional precursor GRIN device.

Multi-layered articles or products comprising layers of filled polymer compositions, methods of making and applications or uses thereof.

The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to split GRIN lenses which may compartmentalize a single optical element into various zones of stacked film layers with geometrically coupled interfaces. The optical zones may include independent index of refraction values but may be connected through a nested GRIN contour geometry to allow for fabrication of all zones simultaneously.

A laminate, includes: a first layer, a first material of the first layer having a first refractive index, the first layer including a first surface; a first microstructure layer including a first microstructure pattern formed on a first surface of the microstructure layer, a first microstructure material of the first microstructure layer having a first microstructure material refractive index, the first microstructure pattern having first repeating structures with a first predetermined periodicity, the microstructure layer being disposed on the first surface of the first layer; a second layer, a second material of the second layer having a second refractive index, the second layer being disposed adjacent to the first surface of the first microstructure layer; and a third layer, a third material of the third layer having a third refractive index, the third layer being disposed adjacent to the second layer on a side opposite the microstructure layer.

Systems and methods for improving vision of a subject implanted with an intraocular lens (IOL). In some embodiments, a method of treating an ocular disease of a subject having an implanted intraocular lens (IOL) includes determining visual needs of a subject that are associated with an ocular disease of the subject determining a pattern of a plurality of pulses of radiation to apply, by refractive index writing, and applying the plurality of pulses of radiation to the one or more selected areas of the IOL.

Ionized radiation-absorbed, dose sensitive, highly flexible polymeric compositions are provided that exhibits multidirectional changes in refractive index. Also provided are methods of producing a precision multi-directional nanogradient of refractive index in a polymeric composition.

A method of manufacturing a 3-dimensional variable refractive-index optical-element with surface figure, the method comprising: depositing a plurality of nanocomposite-inks comprising an organic-matrix with a nanoparticle filler dispersed within, and at least partially curing a portion of the nanocomposite-ink to form a nanocomposite slab that is at least semi-solid; transferring the nanocomposite slab to a press, the press having a die mold with at least a first surface figure; and actuating the press to compress the nanocomposite slab and impart the die mold's first surface figure onto the nanocomposite slab to form a nanocomposite optical-element.

A method of making light directing structures using a prismatic optical film and a low-refractive index resin. The prismatic optical film has a plurality of linear refractive prisms formed in its surface. The prisms extend parallel to one another and define a series of refractive walls. The resin is applied to the prism-carrying surface of the film so as to form a generally uniform optical layer. The resin may be further cured to a solid form to form a monolithic layered light bending structure incorporating an embedded corrugated optical interface with a stepped change in a refractive index and having generally smooth outer surfaces.