Method for Making a Spectacle Lens

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method for making a spectacle lens for a non-presbyopic person wherein the spectacle lens is a ready-to-wear lens and has at least one zone having an optical effect to reduce vision stress. In the method, at least one of the following is provided: the contour of the ready-to-wear spectacle lens and one or several visual points whereat the person looks through the ready-to-wear spectacle lens for one or several visual tasks in the near range. This method step is followed by setting at least one of: a design reference point of the zone, the extent of the zone, the optical effect within the zone based on the provided contour, and the visual points. The spectacle lens is then made with this zone.

Claims

1. A method for making a spectacle lens being designed for an individual need of a non-presbyopic person wherein the spectacle lens is a ready-to-wear spectacle lens and has at least one zone having an optical power provided to reduce vision stress, the method comprising the steps of: providing data representing at least one pre-determined visual point with the data representing a situation wherein the person looks through said ready-to-wear spectacle lens at said visual point for one or several tasks in the near range; individually setting one of: at least one design reference point of the zone, the extent of the zone, and the optical power within the zone, the individual setting being based on the data of the at least one pre-determined visual point; deriving said zone as a non-prescription non-zero optical power of at least a sufficient optical power that reduces visual stress caused by one of the following: an eye accommodation and convergence via at least one of an accommodation-supporting measure and a convergence-supporting measure; and, wherein the optical power provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range addition power; wherein at least one of the design reference points has been individually set and is the near-range design reference point for the near-range addition power provided for reducing vision stress; and, wherein at least one of the following steps is performed: (i) the position of the near-range design reference point is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (ii) the extent of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (iii) the intensity of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; and, (iv) the position of the near-range design reference point and the extent of the near-range addition power are individually set based on the at least one visual point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical effect for the reduction of vision stress includes a prismatic effect; and, wherein at least one of the design reference points is the prism design reference point for the prismatic effect for reducing vision stress and the position of the prism design reference point and/or the extent of the prismatic effect and/or the intensity of the prismatic effect is individually set based on the contour and/or the visual points.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the optical effect provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range additional effect; and, wherein at least one of the design reference points is the near-range design reference point for the near-range additional effect provided for reducing vision stress; and, the position of the near-range design reference point and/or the extent of the near-range additional effect and/or the intensity of the near-range additional effect is individually set based on the contour and/or the visual points.

4. A computer for carrying out a method for making a spectacle lens being designed for an individual need of a non-presbyopic person wherein the spectacle lens is a ready-to-wear spectacle lens and has at least one zone having an optical power provided to reduce vision stress, the method including the steps of: providing data representing at least one pre-determined visual point with the data representing a situation wherein the person looks through said ready-to-wear spectacle lens at said visual point for one or several tasks in the near range; individually setting one of: at least one design reference point of the zone, the extent of the zone, and the optical power within the zone, the individual setting being based on the data of the at least one pre-determined visual point; deriving said zone as a non-prescription non-zero optical power of at least a sufficient optical power that reduces visual stress caused by one of the following: an eye accommodation and convergence via at least one of an accommodation-supporting measure and a convergence-supporting measure; and, wherein the optical power provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range addition power; wherein at least one of the design reference points has been individually set and is the near-range design reference point for the near-range addition power provided for reducing vision stress; wherein at least one of the following steps is performed: (i) the position of the near-range design reference point is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (ii) the extent of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (iii) the intensity of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; and, (iv) the position of the near-range design reference point and the extent of the near-range addition power are individually set based on the at least one visual point.

5. A computer program comprising a program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code being for making a spectacle lens being designed for an individual need of a non-presbyopic person wherein the spectacle lens is a ready-to-wear spectacle lens and has at least one zone having an optical power provided to reduce vision stress, said program code being configured, when executed by a processor, to: provide data representing at least one pre-determined visual point with the data representing a situation wherein the person looks through said ready-to-wear spectacle lens at said visual point for one or several tasks in the near range; individually set one of: at least one design reference point of the zone, the extent of the zone, and the optical power within the zone, the individual setting being based on the data of the at least one pre-determined visual point; derive said zone as a non-prescription non-zero optical power of at least a sufficient optical power that reduces visual stress caused by one of the following: an eye accommodation and convergence via at least one of an accommodation-supporting measure and a convergence-supporting measure; wherein the optical power provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range addition power; and, wherein at least one of the design reference points has been individually set and is the near-range design reference point for the near-range addition power provided for reducing vision stress; wherein at least one of the following steps is performed: (i) the position of the near-range design reference point is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (ii) the extent of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (iii) the intensity of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; and, (iv) the position of the near-range design reference point and the extent of the near-range addition power are individually set based on the at least one visual point.

6. A method for designing a spectacle lens for an individual need of a non-presbyopic person wherein the spectacle lens is a ready-to-wear spectacle lens and has at least one zone having an optical power provided to reduce vision stress, the method comprising the steps of: providing data representing at least one pre-determined visual point with the data representing a situation wherein the person looks through said ready-to-wear spectacle lens at said visual point for one or several tasks in the near range; individually setting one of: at least one design reference point of the zone, the extent of the zone, and the optical power within the zone, the individual setting being based on the data of the at least one pre-determined visual point; deriving said zone as a non-prescription non-zero optical power of at least a sufficient optical power that reduces visual stress caused by one of the following: an eye accommodation and convergence via at least one of an accommodation-supporting measure and a convergence-supporting measure; and, wherein the optical power provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range addition power; wherein at least one of the design reference points has been individually set and is the near-range design reference point for the near-range addition power provided for reducing vision stress; and, wherein at least one of the following steps is performed: (i) the position of the near-range design reference point is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (ii) the extent of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (iii) the intensity of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; and, (iv) the position of the near-range design reference point and the extent of the near-range addition power are individually set based on the at least one visual point.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said optical effect for the reduction of vision stress includes a prismatic effect; and, wherein at least one of the design reference points is the prism design reference point for the prismatic effect for reducing vision stress and the position of the prism design reference point and/or the extent of the prismatic effect and/or the intensity of the prismatic effect is individually set based on the contour and/or the visual points.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the optical effect provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range additional effect; and, wherein at least one of the design reference points is the near-range design reference point for the near-range additional effect provided for reducing vision stress; and, the position of the near-range design reference point and/or the extent of the near-range additional effect and/or the intensity of the near-range additional effect is individually set based on the contour and/or the visual points.

9. A computer for carrying out a method for making a spectacle lens being designed for an individual need of a non-presbyopic person wherein the spectacle lens is a ready-to-wear spectacle lens and has at least one zone having an optical power provided to reduce vision stress, the method including the steps of: providing data representing at least one pre-determined visual point with the data representing a situation wherein the person looks through said ready-to-wear spectacle lens at said visual point for one or several tasks in the near range; individually setting one of: at least one design reference point of the zone, the extent of the zone, and the optical power within the zone, the individual setting being based on the data of the at least one pre-determined visual point; deriving said zone as a non-prescription non-zero optical power of at least a sufficient optical power that reduces visual stress caused by one of the following: an eye accommodation and convergence via at least one of an accommodation-supporting measure and a convergence-supporting measure; and, wherein the optical power provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range addition power; wherein at least one of the design reference points has been individually set and is the near-range design reference point for the near-range addition power provided for reducing vision stress; wherein at least one of the following steps is performed: (i) the position of the near-range design reference point is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (ii) the extent of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (iii) the intensity of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; and, (iv) the position of the near-range design reference point and the extent of the near-range addition power are individually set based on the at least one visual point.

10. A computer program comprising a program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code being for designing a spectacle lens for an individual need of a non-presbyopic person wherein the spectacle lens is a ready-to-wear spectacle lens and has at least one zone having an optical power provided to reduce vision stress, said program code being configured, when executed by a processor, to: provide data representing at least one pre-determined visual point with the data representing a situation wherein the person looks through said ready-to-wear spectacle lens at said visual point for one or several tasks in the near range; individually set one of: at least one design reference point of the zone, the extent of the zone, and the optical power within the zone, the individual setting being based on the data of the at least one pre-determined visual point; derive said zone as a non-prescription non-zero optical power of at least a sufficient optical power that reduces visual stress caused by one of the following: an eye accommodation and convergence via at least one of an accommodation-supporting measure and a convergence-supporting measure; wherein the optical power provided for reducing vision stress includes a near-range addition power; and, wherein at least one of the design reference points has been individually set and is the near-range design reference point for the near-range addition power provided for reducing vision stress; wherein at least one of the following steps is performed: (i) the position of the near-range design reference point is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (ii) the extent of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; (iii) the intensity of the near-range addition power is individually set based on the at least one visual point; and, (iv) the position of the near-range design reference point and the extent of the near-range addition power are individually set based on the at least one visual point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0023] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing a spectacles lens for a non-presbyopic person, which spectacles lens has at least one zone with optical power provided for reducing visual stress;

[0024] FIGS. 2A to 2C show how penetration points for visual rays are established for different visual tasks, namely:

[0025] FIG. 2A shows how the penetration point for visual rays is established for reading and writing;

[0026] FIG. 2B shows how the penetration point for visual rays is established for working in front of a screen; and,

[0027] FIG. 2C shows how the penetration point for visual rays is established for mechanical assembly;

[0028] FIGS. 3A to 3C show the exemplary arrangement of the design reference points in the case of a spectacles lens with a circular external contour, which is produced according to the method according to FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the visual stress-reducing measure is provided for the following preferred usage situation:

[0029] FIG. 3A shows the usage situation of reading and writing;

[0030] FIG. 3B shows the usage situation of working in front of a screen; and,

[0031] FIG. 3C shows the usage situation of mechanical assembly;

[0032] FIGS. 4A to 4C show the exemplary arrangement of the design reference points in the case of a spectacles lens with a rectangular external contour, which is produced according to the method according to FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the visual stress-reducing measure is provided for the following preferred usage situation:

[0033] FIG. 4A shows the usage situation of reading and writing;

[0034] FIG. 4B shows the usage situation of working in front of a screen; and,

[0035] FIG. 4C shows the usage situation of mechanical assembly; and,

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a comparison of different frame shapes and positions of the design reference points resulting therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0037] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an exemplary embodiment for a method according to the invention for producing a spectacles lens for a non-presbyopic person. The spectacles lens has at least one zone with optical power or effect provided for reducing visual stress.

[0038] In a first step 100to the extent that this appears necessaryit is possible to carry out a refraction measurement on one or both eyes of the non-presbyopic person. In optometry and ophthalmology, the term (axial) refraction (Latin, re=back, frangere=break) denotes the power of the optical correction, together with which a specific eye without accommodation generates a sharp image of an object at infinity. This is referred to as normal vision or emmetropia if this value is zero; otherwise, this is referred to as a refractive error.

[0039] A distinction should be made between objective refraction, which is measured by means of an apparatus arrangement, and subjective refraction, which requires information from the examined patient in respect of the perceived image sharpness.

[0040] The measurement values established when the refraction is carried out are, in a further step 200, transferred to a so-called prescription, which serves to enable the optician to make the spectacles lenses. Near sightedness and far sightedness are corrected by so-called spherical spectacles lenses; astigmatism is corrected by cylindrical spectacles lenses. Moreover, a malposition of one or both eyes may make a prismatic correction necessary.

[0041] In a further step 300, the spectacles wearer, preferably supported by the optician, selects a suitable spectacles frame. Here, the term spectacles frame can be understood in a very broad sense. It can also include so-called frameless spectacles designs, in which the spectacles lenses are merely interconnected by a nosepiece and the earpieces or the band across the back of the head are attached directly to the spectacles lenses.

[0042] Depending on the selected spectacles frame, the outer contour of the ready-to-wear spectacles lens can emerge directly from the shape of the frame. In the case of frameless spectacles designs, the spectacles wearer is still able, within certain boundaries, to predefine the external contour. An object of the subsequent step 400 is to establish this contour of the ready-to-wear spectacles lens from the desired spectacles frame.

[0043] In a further method step 500, the preferred usage conditions, under which the future spectacles wearer intends to wear the spectacles, is thereupon determined. This is important because the regions of the spectacles lens, through which the spectacles wearer will look with a very high probability, emerge from this. This method step 500 can precede the selection of the spectacles frame (step 300) because certain frame types are not suitable for the planned wearing conditions since these restrict the field of vision in an unacceptable manner. It is also possible that the future spectacles wearer wishes to use the spectacles not only for a single specific purpose, but rather for various activities. In this case, a plurality of usage conditions are determined and optionally weighted with respect to the expected frequency.

[0044] In a further step 600, the future spectacles wearer is confronted with a visual task which is typical for the selected usage conditions. By way of example, this can be brought about by virtue of the subject wearing their selected frame in the usual usage position, without inserted spectacles lenses, and reading a newspaper. In doing so, the subject's face is recorded by a camera. The camera recording is then used to establish, with the aid of a suitable image evaluation program, the position of the pupils relative to the frame. From this, it is then possible to reconstruct the path of the visual ray from the object to the eye through the frame. A penetration point of the visual ray through the spectacles lens can then be derived in a further step 700. Here, the term penetration point should be understood in a broad sense as a point on the front side or back side of the spectacles lens itself or within the spectacles lens itself, the spectacles lens being imagined to have been inserted into the frame, and through which point the visual ray passes for the particular visual task. The invention optionally provides for a plurality of visual tasks to be examined, and for the respective penetration points to be established to the extent that this is wanted or required (step 800).

[0045] FIGS. 2A to 2C show, in an exemplary fashion, the establishment of penetration points for visual rays in the case of different visual tasks, such as reading or writing (FIG. 2A), working in front of a screen (FIG. 2B) and mechanical assembly (FIG. 2C), in the case of a spectacles lens 290 with a circular contour 295.

[0046] In a first step, the object to be used is brought into the correspondingly comfortable position for the user. This object is a sheet of paper or a newspaper 210 in FIG. 2A; a screen 220 in FIG. 2B or an assembly wall 230 in FIG. 2C. In a second step, the position of the corresponding penetration point (240, 250, 260), through the spectacles lens 290, of the visual ray 270 from the eye 280 of the user to the object (210, 220, 230) is determined, for example as described above.

[0047] Depending on the specified task (FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C) and the distance of the object (210, 220, 230) from the eye 280, this penetration point (240, 250, 260) is situated higher or lower in the spectacles lens 290. The lower the selected task is with respect to the eye level, the lower the penetration point (240, 250, 260) is situated in the spectacles lens 290. The higher the selected task is with respect to the eye level, the higher the penetration point (240, 250, 260) is situated in the spectacles lens 290.

[0048] From the one or optionally more established penetration points (240, 250, 260) and from the contour 295 of the spectacles lens 290, it is possible to derive the suitable measure(s) for reducing visual stress (step 900). In principle, accommodation-supporting measures or convergence-supporting measures or both can be considered.

[0049] Then, in a further step 1000, one or more (query 1100) zones are set, in which the visual stress-reducing measure(s) is/are realized. In particular, it is possible to prescribe the point, the extent and the strength of the optical power for reducing visual stress.

[0050] The following text uses FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B and 4C to explain, in an exemplary fashion, how the zones and the visual stress-reducing measures are set for different visual tasks and for different frame shapes. From FIGS. 3A to 3C, it is possible to gather the path of the visual ray 270 from the eye 280 to the object (210, 220, 230) for the spectacles lens 290 illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C with a circular frame shape 295. As already explained above, the particular penetration point is higher or lower in the spectacles lens 290 depending on the specified task and distance of the object (210, 220, 230) from the eye 280. Likewise, the required accommodation-supporting and/or convergence-supporting measure is greater or smaller depending on the specified task and distance of the object (210, 220, 230) from the eye 280. The lower the selected task is with respect to the eye level, the lower the penetration point is situated in the spectacles lens 290. The higher the selected task is with respect to the eye level, the higher the penetration point is situated in the spectacles lens 290. The closer the object (210, 220, 230) is to the eye 280, the greater the required accommodation-supporting and/or convergence-supporting measure is and the further away the object (210, 220, 230) is from the eye, the lesser the required accommodation-supporting and/or convergence-supporting measure is.

[0051] In the visual task (reading, writing) illustrated in FIG. 3A, the observed object 210 is comparatively close to the eye 280, specifically at a distance of approximately 30 to 40 cm from the latter. The sheet of paper during writing and the newspaper during reading are held in a comparatively low position. The established penetration point (denoted by reference sign 240 in FIG. 2A) of the visual ray 270 through the spectacles lens 290, which is circular in this case, lies comparatively low down, that is, far below the distance design reference point 297 which, pursuant to DIN EN ISO 13666-5.15, is the point on the front surface on a spectacles lens in which the dioptric power for the distance portion must be achieved.

[0052] In the example according to FIG. 3A, the assumption is made that the design reference point 245 for the two visual stress-reducing measures discussed here, namely the accommodation-supporting and the convergence-supporting measures, is identical to the visual point 240 for the specified visual task and situated on the front side of the lens surface. In principle, these points 245 could also be selected deviating from this rule, namely, for example, spatially separated from one another and/or on the back side of the spectacles lens. Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, the design reference point 245 for the visual stress-reducing measure constitutes the point on the front surface of the spectacles lens 290 at which the dioptric power for the accommodation-supporting and the convergence-supporting measures must be achieved. This design reference point 245 must lie within the contour of the ready-to-wear spectacles lens 290.

[0053] Since the newspaper or the sheet 210 is arranged very closely to the eye 280 of the observer, the accommodation-supporting and convergence-supporting measures (indicated by a directional arrow 247) must have a comparatively high optical power. Moreover, the extent of the zone in which the convergence-supporting and accommodation-supporting measures should act must be comparatively large. In this case, typical values for a prismatic power of the accommodation-supporting measures are 0.25 cm/m to 3 cm/m basis inside per eye. Here, typical values for an addition power of the accommodation-supporting measure are 0.25 dpt to 1.00 dpt. The extent of the zone within which the convergence-supporting and accommodation-supporting measures act depends on the design rules fixed by the optics designer. It can be a few millimeters in diameter or else comprise one or more centimeters.

[0054] In the visual task illustrated in FIG. 3B (on-screen work), the observed object, that is, the screen 220, is at a similar distance as in the visual task according to FIG. 3A, namely at a distance of approximately 50 to 80 cm from the eye 280 of the observer. In the case where the spectacles are only used for on-screen work, the design reference point 255 for the convergence-supporting and accommodation-supporting measures can in turn be selected to be identical to the visual point 250 for this visual task. If the spectacles were to be used for both on-screen work and for reading and writing, it would also be possible to select a point (preferably on the front side of the spectacles lens) arranged between the visual point for reading/writing and the visual point for observing the screen. Different design reference points can also be selected for the convergence-supporting and accommodation-supporting measures.

[0055] Finally, it is also possible that the visual stress-reducing measures for reading/writing, on the one hand, and the on-screen work, on the other hand, are selected to be spatially separated and/or to have a different strength in terms of power and/or to have a different size in terms of extent. As already indicated above, typical zone diameters for the visual stress-reducing measures are design-dependent in the case of FIG. 3B. A possible prismatic power for the convergence-supporting measure can once again assume values between 0.25 cm/m and 3 cm/m. A possibly utilized addition power of the accommodation-supporting measure lies at approximately 0.25 dpt to 1.0 dpt. The optical power (prism and addition power) of the visual stress-reducing measures is identified in FIG. 3B by the directional arrow 257.

[0056] In the visual task (assembly) illustrated in FIG. 3C, the observed object 230 lies at a distance of 30 to 40 cm from the eye 280 of the observer, but level with the eye 280. For this case, the design reference point 265 for the visual stress-reducing measure can likewise be selected to be identical to the visual point 260. For this visual task, the typical prismatic power for the convergence-supporting measure lies at approximately 0.25 cm/m to 3 cm/m, the typical addition power at approximately 0.25 dpt to 1.0 dpt and the zone diameter is also dependent on the design in this case. The optical power (prism and addition power) of the visual stress-reducing measure is identified in FIG. 3C by the directional arrow 267.

[0057] Depending on the contour of the spectacles lens shape, or depending on the height of the contour, it is necessary to position the design reference point or the zone of the accommodation-supporting and/or convergence-supporting measures in the spectacles lens 290 such that, on the one hand, it corresponds to the circumstances of the activity but, on the other hand, also still lies within the frame contour 295. Compared to FIGS. 3A to 3C, FIGS. 4A to 4C show the corresponding characteristics, namely the design reference points (345, 355, 365) and the strengths of the visual stress-reducing measures (347, 357, 367), for the case of a spectacles lens 390 with a rectangular frame shape 395 for the same usage conditions reading/writing (FIG. 4A), on-screen work (FIG. 4B) and assembly (FIG. 4C).

[0058] FIG. 5 shows the decisive design reference points (445, 545, 645) for the visual task reading/writing as an overview for spectacles lenses (490, 590) with different dimensions but similar elliptical contour (495, 595) and a spectacles lens 690 with a rectangular shape 695.

[0059] A spectacles lens of the type according to the invention can then be made (step 1200) on the basis of the above-described design reference points and other data conventional for calculating spectacles lenses, such as refraction, material and usage conditions.

[0060] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.