A method for fabricating an optical element is provided. A substrate is provided. A plurality of metal grids are formed on the substrate. An organic layer is formed on the substrate and the metal grids. The organic layer is etched to form a first patterned organic layer including a plurality of first protrusion portions and a plurality of first trenches surrounded by the first protrusion portions. The first patterned organic layer is etched to form a second patterned organic layer including a plurality of second protrusion portions and a plurality of second trenches surrounded by the second protrusion portions. Each second protrusion portion covers one metal grid. There is a distance between the center axis of one second protrusion portion of the second patterned organic layer and the center axis of one metal grid covered by the one second protrusion portion of the second patterned organic layer.

A method for producing a spectacle lens by additive manufacturing includes interspersing first volume elements and second volume elements. The first and second volume elements are arranged on the grid points of a geometric grid to form a first sub-grid and a second sub-grid, respectively. The first sub-grid forms the first part of the spectacle lens having a dioptric effect for vision for a first object distance and the second sub-grid forms the second part of the spectacle lens having a dioptric effect for vision for a second object distance, which differs from the first object distance.

Light directing film structure employing at least two layers having different refractive indices and forming a continuous corrugated boundary between major surfaces of the film. The corrugated boundary forms a plurality of alternating facets forming different dihedral angles with a prevalent plane of the film structure. The facets may longitudinally extend along a straight, arcuate, circular, or curvilinear path. Light received by a major surface of the film structure is internally redirected by interacting with the facets of the corrugated inter-layer boundary and may be emitted from the opposing major surface towards a new propagation direction which is different from the original propagation direction.

Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.

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.

Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value. According to additional embodiments, improved approaches are provided to implement deposition of imprint materials onto a substrate, which allow for very precise distribution and deposition of different imprint patterns onto any number of substrate surfaces.

Disclosed herein are materials for nanoimprinting lithography (NIL) and devices molded from the materials using NIL processes. According to certain aspects, an NIL material includes a mixture including a light-sensitive base resin and nanoparticles. The light-sensitive base resin is characterized by a first refractive index ranging from 1.58 to 1.77. The nanoparticles are characterized by a second refractive index greater than the first refractive index of the light-sensitive base resin. The mixture is curable to form a cured material characterized by a third refractive index greater than 1.78. The nanoparticles include from 45 wt. % to 90 wt. % of the cured material.

An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids. In some examples, anisotropic voids may be elongated along one or more directions. In some examples, the anisotropic voids are configured so that a polymer wall thickness between neighboring voids is generally uniform. Example devices may include a spatially addressable electroactive device, such as an actuator or a sensor, and/or may include an optical element. A nanovoided polymer layer may include one or more polymer components, such as an electroactive polymer.

A form birefringent optical element includes a structured layer and a dielectric environment disposed over the structured layer. At least one of the structured layer and the dielectric environment includes a nanovoided polymer, the nanovoided polymer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Actuation of the nanovoided polymer can be used to reversibly control the form birefringence of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.