How do diffractive multifocal IOLs work?

How do diffractive multifocal IOLs work?

Multifocality in IOLs is achieved through refractive or diffractive optical approaches. Diffractive multifocal IOLs intentionally induce diffraction so that the waves exiting the lens will have constructive interference at two or more distinct foci at different distances.

How does diffractive lens work?

A: The Diffractive lens has a thin structure of rings on its surface, with different each ring having a tooth-like profile. Light going through the rings is delayed in a proportion to the height along the radius, creating a radial phase profile that is identical to that of a regular lens.

What is refractive and diffractive?

Refraction is the change in direction of waves that occurs when waves travel from one medium to another. Refraction is always accompanied by a wavelength and speed change. Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles and openings. The amount of diffraction increases with increasing wavelength.

What is apodized diffractive?

One of the more complex ophthalmic lenses is the ReSTOR apodized diffractive intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon Surgical). It is implanted in the eye to replace the natural crystalline lens to provide vision over a range of object distances through the provision of 2 primary lens powers.

What are diffractive optical elements?

Diffractive elements are thin phase elements that operate by means of interference and diffraction to produce arbitrary distributions of light or to aid in the design of optical systems. RPC Photonics designs and fabricates diffractive elements with both binary and analog phase profiles.

How does a diffractive optical element work?

Diffractive diffusers Like the diffractive beam splitter, the diffuser converts an input beam into a multitude of output beams, the angle and intensity of which can be controlled. However, in contrast with the beam splitter, these beams overlap and interfere, generating a new, homogenized distribution.

What is non diffractive?

Alcon’s proprietary non-diffractive technology uses all available light to create a continuous, extended range of vision. Other diffractive multifocal lenses split the wavefront into multiple separate focal points. The X-Wave technology offers protection against damaging UV rays and filters blue light rays.

What is a diffractive intraocular lens?

What is an apodized lens?

Apodization is defined as the gradual tapering of diffractive steps from the centre of the lens towards the outside edge to create a smooth transition of light between the distance, intermediate and near focal points (Ortiz et al., 2008).