John H. Clamp

Electronic liquid crystal contact lenses for the correction of presbyopia

Presbyopia, the age-related reduction in near vision acuity, is one of the leading issues facing the contact lens industry due to an increasingly ageing population and limitations associated with existing designs. A plastic-based liquid crystal contact lens is described which is designed to allow switchable vision correction. The device is characterized by low operating voltages (<5V(rms)) and has curvatures suitable for placement upon the cornea. Imaging and Point Spread Function analysis confirm that the lens provides an increase in optical power of + 2.00 ± 0.25 D when activated, ideal for presbyopia correction.

Optimization of refractive liquid crystal lenses using an efficient multigrid simulation.

A multigrid computational model has been developed to assess the performance of refractive liquid crystal lenses, which is up to 40 times faster than previous techniques. Using this model, the optimum geometries producing an ideal parabolic voltage distribution were deduced for refractive liquid crystal lenses with diameters from 1 to 9 mm. The ratio of insulation thickness to lens diameter was determined to be 1:2 for small diameter lenses, tending to 1:3 for larger lenses. The model is used to propose a new method of lens operation with lower operating voltages needed to induce specific optical powers. The operating voltages are calculated for the induction of optical powers between + 1.00 D and + 3.00 D in a 3 mm diameter lens, with the speed of the simulation facilitating the optimization of the refractive index profile. We demonstrate that the relationship between additional applied voltage and optical power is approximately linear for optical powers under + 3.00 D. The versatility of the computational simulation has also been demonstrated by modeling of in-plane electrode liquid crystal devices.

Graphene electrodes for adaptive liquid crystal contact lenses.

The superlatives of graphene cover a whole range of properties: electrical, chemical, mechanical, thermal and others. These special properties earn graphene a place in current or future applications. Here we demonstrate one such application - adaptive contact lenses based on liquid crystals, where simultaneously the high electrical conductivity, transparency, flexibility and elasticity of graphene are being utilised. In our devices graphene is used as a transparent conductive coating on curved PMMA substrates. The adaptive lenses provide a + 0.7 D change in optical power with an applied voltage of 7.1 Vrms - perfect to correct presbyopia, the age-related condition that limits the near focus ability of the eye.

Switchable liquid crystal contact lenses: Dynamic vision for the ageing eye

The inability of the eye to focus on nearby objects, presbyopia, is suffered by ~100% of people over the age of 50. Liquid crystal (LC) spectacle lenses have shown great potential for correcting presbyopia. However, correcting presbyopia in contact lens users has proven elusive and existing commercial options suffer significant compromises in vision and comfort. We describe a novel contact lens that includes a liquid crystal element that offers to correct presbyopia without the compromises associated with other technologies. We fabricated variable focus lenses using a balanced optical system, providing the additional optical power presbyopes require for near vision (typically +1.00 D to +2.00 D). The system uses positive optical power from the two substrates and variable negative optical power from the LC layer to form a balanced optical system which, when unpowered, corrects distance vision. Upon voltage application, the liquid crystal layer decreases in refractive index, resulting in additional optical power in the system, offering correction equivalent to reading glasses. Our new technology is based on a traditional contact lens material which could be placed directly on the eye. The liquid crystal lens employed is well suited to the small optical areas associated with contact lenses. We compare several different LC materials and geometries which are suitable for our application, and discuss the influence of material and geometry on switching times, optical quality and operating voltage. Our contact lenses typically switch ±2.00D in response to < 10 Vrms with response times of the order of a second.

Electronic liquid crystal lenses for the correction of presbyopia

Purpose: Over the past 20 years, many studies have reported the success of multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) compared to monovision (MV), with only partial success being reported for MFCLs. Chronologically it appears there has been a gradual improvement in the performance of MFCLs. This study investigated whether this change in success is reflected in clinical practice. Method: Lens fit data collected from 2005 to 2009 by the International Contact Lens Prescribing Survey Consortium was reviewed for patients over 45 years old. A similar survey conducted from 1988 to 1989 was also reviewed and compared. Twelve published (Pubmed.gov) reports of clinical trials involving MFCLs and MV were reviewed to assess their relative performance over this time in controlled clinical studies. Results: 16,680 presbyopic lens fits in 38 countries were reviewed. 29% of fits were with MFCLs, 8% MV and 63% single vision (SV). This compared to 9% with MFCLs, 29% MV and 63% SV in the previous survey conducted in Australia during 1988-89. The ICLPSC results from Australia alone were 28% MFLCs and 13% MV, suggesting a substantial increase in usage of MFCLs over 20 years. The literature review indicates the reported level of visual acuities (VA) with MFCLs compared to MV has remained equivalent over this time period, yet clinical preference has switched fromMV to MFCLs. Conclusions: In 2010, more MFCLs than MV are being fit to presbyopes as compared to 1988–1989. This increased usage is possibly due to their improved visual performance, although reported VA do not appear to have changed. This suggests that patient-based subjective ratings are currently more representative of visual performance than VA.