Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E S Pateras.
Although there are many designs of progressive power multifocal lenses commercially available, they all follow the same basic design concept, with the lens power varying across their aperture as a result of using one aspheric lens surface. An alternative approach was tried on an experimental basis, where the variation in power is produced by a liquid-filled deformable lens.
Liquid crystal lenses are possibly the spectacle lenses of the future for presbyopic corrections. They present a variable refractive index which can be used to produce the necessary addition needed for presbyopia. The variability of the refractive index is due to the fact that these materials are optically anisotropic. This effect is obtained by the application of an electric or magnetic field through the liquid crystal layer. A review of the literature relating to the evolution, the preparation and the operation of these lenses is given. A discussion is also included of the practical problems and drawbacks, which at present limit their use, and possible solutions.
Although the Varilux type varifocal has been and still is very popular, research has been carried out on other methods of providing a progressive addition lens. This paper deals with the field of gradient-index optics. It includes a review of the literature related to the production of a gradient-index element and the theoretical analysis of concentric varifocals. A procedure is described to construct a varifocal lens, after that described by Wood in 1905, to produce lenses known as 'non-homogeneous cylinders' or 'pseudo-lenses'. The method is based on a diffusion process, taking place in half of the lens, and creates steps in the refractive index of the material. Experimental data are also given on the change of the spherical and cylindrical power, which indicate that the lens constructed is an optical system having a rotational symmetry in power, around a fixed point.