Myopia control using corrected longitudinal chromatic aberration

Abstract

A corrective lens for correcting of myopia of an eye of a patient includes an internal diffractive region and a concave spherical surface. The corrective lens controls longitudinal chromatic aberration by changing a longitudinal focus of blue and red light relative to a focal point of green light.

Description

MYOPIA CONTROL USING CORRECTED LONGITUDINAL CHROMATIC ABERRATIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 525,468, filed July 7, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a corrective lens for control and correction of eye disorders, and more specifically, to a corrective lens for controlling longitudinal chromatic aberration.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Myopia is one of the leading causes of visual impairment worldwide and is linked to severe eye diseases that can cause permanent blindness. The overall prevalence of myopia has increased substantially in recent years and is estimated to be approaching 50% of the world’s population. Although myopia can be easily corrected with optical and surgical interventions, pathological myopia is known to increase the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, which cause a large social economic burden worldwide.

[0004] Despite the identification of risk factors for myopia progression such as age of onset, genetics, visual environment, and peripheral defocus, the causes of myopia are problematic because they are not fully understood. Optical interventions i.e., bifocal / multifocal and orthokeratology (OK) lenses, were developed based on the idea that inducing peripheral myopic defocus had a positive effect on slowing progression of myopia. However, humanbased longitudinal studies have shown almost no correlation between peripheral defocus and myopia development. Thus, the genesis of myopia remains uncertain but is generally considered to have a multifactorial origin composed of optical, genetic and environmental factors.

[0005] Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration (LCA) is hypothesized to play a crucial role as a cue for detecting signs of retinal defocus in the visual system. LCA is the dispersion property of optical lenses (including the eye) where shorter wavelengths of light produce shorter focal length than longer wavelengths of light. This means that when white light (the full visiblespectrum) enters the eye, blue light is focused in front of the focal point of green light, and red light is focused behind the focal point of green light. An LCA theory being investigated is that the eye uses this property as a signal to detect a sign of defocus, which in turns determines whether the eye needs to grow more or stop growth.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a solution for these and other problems.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The term embodiment and like terms, e.g., implementation, configuration, aspect, example, and option, are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this disclosure and the claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the present disclosure covered herein are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the disclosure and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. This summary is also not intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all drawings, and each claim.

[0008] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a corrective lens for correcting myopia of an eye of a patient is disclosed. The corrective lens includes an internal diffractive region and a concave spherical surface. The corrective lens controls longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) by changing longitudinal focal points of blue and red light relative to a focal point of green light.

[0009] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the internal diffractive region is defined by a diffraction grating oriented to face a front surface of the corrective lens, the front surface opposite the concave spherical surface.

[0010] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the diffraction grating has an index of refraction that is different than an index of refraction of lens material outside of the diffractive region.

[0011] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the diffraction grating is produced in the lens material by a pulsed laser focused into the lens material, where the focused laser changes the index of refraction of the lens material.

[0012] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the corrective lens is one of a soft contact lens, hard contact lens, spectacles, refractive doublet lens, scleral lens, and anintraocular lens.

[0013] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the controlling of the longitudinal chromatic aberration includes reversing focal points of the blue and red light.

[0014] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a method of correcting of myopia includes preparing a corrective lens to control longitudinal chromatic aberration by changing a longitudinal focus of blue and red light relative to a focus point of green light. The method of correcting further includes positioning the corrective lens to an eye to control eye growth.

[0015] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the corrective lens includes an internal diffractive region and a concave spherical surface.

[0016] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the corrective lens is one of a soft contact lens, hard contact lens, spectacles, refractive doublet lens, scleral lens, and an intraocular lens.

[0017] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the controlling of the longitudinal chromatic aberration includes reversing focal points of the blue and red light.

[0018] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a method for making a corrective lens includes determining configuration parameters for a transmissive diffraction grating to be added to the corrective lens having a concave spherical surface. The method for making the corrective lens further includes focusing a pulsed laser into material of the corrective lens to create the transmissive diffraction grating by changing the index of refraction of the lens material in a diffractive region.

[0019] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the configuration parameters include a diameter, a number of concentric structures, a radial width of a central structure and each of the concentric structures, a height of the central structure and each of the concentric structures, predetermined cross-sectional shapes of the central structure and each of the concentric structures, and a distance between the concave spherical surface and the transmissive diffraction grating.

[0020] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a corrective lens includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a primary material region between the first surface and the second surface. The primary material region has a first index of refraction. The primary material region is configured to receive white light that includes blue light and red light. An internal diffractive region is disposed within a portion of the primary material region. The internal diffractive region has a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction. The second index of refraction causes reversal between a focalpoint of the blue light and a focal point of the red light.

[0021] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the second surface is a concave spherical surface.

[0022] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the internal diffractive region has a transmissive diffraction grating defined by a plurality of configuration parameters descriptive of size and geometry.

[0023] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the transmissive diffraction grating has a circular shape.

[0024] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the transmissive diffraction grating has a plurality of concentric structures.

[0025] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, wherein each of the plurality of concentric structures is defined by a radial width and a height.

[0026] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of concentric structures has a front surface for receiving white light, the front surface having a convex shape.

[0027] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the front surface has a constant angle around each of the plurality of concentric structures.

[0028] The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure. Rather, the foregoing summary merely provides an example of some of the novel aspects and features set forth herein. The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of representative embodiments and modes for carrying out the present invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Additional aspects of the disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The disclosure, and its advantages and drawings, will be better understood from the following description of representative embodiments together with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only representative embodiments and are therefore not to be considered as limitations on the scope of the various embodiments or claims.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of longitudinal chromatic dispersion of white light through a lens of a typical healthy eye.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of longitudinal chromatic dispersion of white light through a lens of a hyperopic eye.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of longitudinal chromatic dispersion of white light through a lens of a myopic eye.

[0033] FIG. 4A is a schematic representation of longitudinal chromatic dispersion of white light through a lens of a typical healthy eye.

[0034] FIG. 4B is a schematic representation of a corrective lens, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, applied to a typical healthy eye to change the longitudinal focus of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light.

[0035] FIG. 4C is a schematic representation of a corrective lens, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, applied to a typical healthy eye to change the longitudinal focus of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light.

[0036] FIG. 4D is a schematic representation of a corrective lens, according to a further aspect of the present disclosure, applied to a typical healthy eye to change the longitudinal focus of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light.

[0037] FIG. 4E is a schematic representation of a corrective lens, according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, applied to a typical healthy eye to change the longitudinal focus of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an exemplary transmissive diffraction grating according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the transmissive diffraction grating shown in a side elevational view on the left and in a front plan view on the right.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a corrective lens, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, having a first set of configuration parameters that produces a first set of focal depths and a first set of longitudinal separations between the focal depths for red, green, and blue light.

[0040] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a corrective lens, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, having a second set of configuration parameters that produces a second set of focal depths and a first set of longitudinal separations between the focal depths for red, green, and blue light.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a custom-built Spatial Light Modulatorbased Visual Simulator lens, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 9 is a plot of theoretical predictions and bench tests for longitudinal chromatic diffraction versus a range of optical powers of a monofocal diffractive lens, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 10 is a plot of empirical data for correction and reversal of ocular longitudinal chromatic aberration using a diffractive power profile, for five subjects measured across five wavelengths, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 11 is a plot of relative mean changes in sub-foveal choroidal thickness for subjects exposed to a ±2.00 Diopters defocused video stimulus for 20 minutes, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Various embodiments are described with reference to the attached figures, where like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and are provided merely to illustrate aspects and features of the present disclosure. Numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of certain aspects and features of the present disclosure, although one having ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that these aspects and features can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, with other relationships, or with other methods. In some instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail for illustrative purposes. The various embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and / or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are necessarily required to implement certain aspects and features of the present disclosure.

[0046] For purposes of the present detailed description, unless specifically disclaimed, and where appropriate, the singular includes the plural and vice versa. The word “including” means “including without limitation.” Moreover, words of approximation, such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like, can be used herein to mean “at,” “near,” “nearly at,” “within 3-5% of,” “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances of,” or any logical combination thereof. Similarly, terms “vertical” or “horizontal” are intended to additionally include “within 3-5% of’ a vertical or horizontal orientation, respectively. Additionally, words of direction, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “above,” and “below” are intended to relate to the equivalent direction as depicted in a reference illustration; as understood contextually from the object(s) or element(s) being referenced, such as from a commonly used position for the object(s) or element(s); or as otherwise described herein.

[0047] The present disclosure is directed to controlling LCA to control eye growth. As disclosed below, in one example, LCA is reversed so that blue light is focused behind the focalpoint of green light, and red light is focused in front of the focal point of green light to provide a signal for the eye to slow down (if not stop) the growth. An exemplary structure that allows for reversing LCA utilizes a diffractive region within a lens that changes the focal points for the blue and red light. Another exemplary structure relates to correcting the LCA of an eye so that all wavelengths have about the same focal length. In addition to using an optical lens, another way of achieving LCA control is a refractive doublet / triplet / air-spaced lens design that can be manufactured as wearable spectacles.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic representation of longitudinal chromatic dispersion of white or full spectrum light 10 through the lens 20 of a typical healthy eye 30 is shown. As expected, shorter wavelength light toward the blue end of the visible spectrum focuses in front of the focal point of green light, and longer wavelength light toward the red end of the visible spectrum focuses behind the focal point of the green light. In this generally healthy eye 30, the green light focuses at or near to the surface of the retina 40.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic representation of longitudinal chromatic dispersion of white light 10 through the lens 20 of a hyperopic eye 50 is shown. In the hyperopic eye 50, shorter wavelength light toward the blue end of the visible spectrum focuses at or near to the retina 40. Green light focuses behind the retina 40, and the longer wavelength light toward the red end of the visible spectrum focuses behind the focal point of the green light. According to LCA theory, a hyperopic defocus like that shown in FIG. 2, where the blue light is better focused on the retina 40 than the red light or the green light, causes the hyperopic eye 50 to grow to bring the green light into focus at the retina (emmetropization). Thus, LCA should provide a signal for the sign of defocus (myopic vs hyperopic), and the eye then uses the signal to determine whether the eye needs to grow.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic representation of longitudinal chromatic dispersion of white light 10 through the lens 20 of a myopic eye 55 is shown. In the myopic eye 55, longer wavelength light toward the red end of the visible spectrum focuses at or near to the retina 40. Green light focuses in front of the retina 40, and the shorter wavelength light (toward the blue end of the visible spectrum) focuses in front of the focal point of the green light. According to LCA theory, a myopic defocus like that shown in FIG. 3, where the green and red light is better focused on or near to the retina 40 than the blue light, would not cause the eye to grow. It is believed that changing where the dispersed spectrum of white light focuses relative to the retina 40, for example by using a transmissive diffraction grating, can be a factor in controlling eye growth.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in an exemplary embodiment, a corrective lens 60includes an internal diffractive region 65 and a concave spherical surface 70. As can be seen specifically in FIG. 4B, the internal diffractive region 65 chromatically disperses incident white light 10, and thereby changes the longitudinal focus of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light. In an embodiment, the internal diffractive region 65 chromatically disperses incident white light 10, and thereby reverses the longitudinal focal points of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light. For example, incident white light 10 passing through the internal diffractive region 65 is chromatically dispersed so that the red light focuses in front of the focal point of the green light, and the blue light focuses behind the focal point of the green light.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the internal diffractive region 65 is defined by a transmissive diffraction grating 75 (see also FIG. 5) oriented to face a front surface 80 of the corrective lens 60, the front surface 80 being opposite the concave spherical surface 70. The transmissive diffraction grating 75 has an index of refraction, ni, that is different than an index of refraction, no, of a material 62 of the corrective lens 60 outside of the internal diffractive region 65.

[0053] The material 62 is also referred to as a primary material region 62 within which the transmissive diffraction grating 75 is positioned. The material 62, or the primary material region 62 is configured to receive white light that includes blue light and red light.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 4C, in an exemplary embodiment, a corrective lens 60 includes an external diffractive region 66 disposed on or in the front surface 80. As can be seen in FIG. 4C, the external diffractive region 66 chromatically disperses incident white light 10, and thereby changes the longitudinal focus of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light. In an embodiment, the external diffractive region 66 chromatically disperses incident white light 10, and thereby reverses the longitudinal focal points of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light. For example, incident white light 10 passing through the external diffractive region 66 is chromatically dispersed so that the red light focuses in front of the focal point of the green light, and the blue light focuses behind the focal point of the green light.

[0055] Continuing to refer to FIG. 4C, the external diffractive region 66 is defined by the transmissive diffraction grating 75 (see also FIG. 5) disposed on or in the front surface 80 of the corrective lens 60, and oriented to face outwardly from the front surface 80. In this embodiment, the front surface 80 can be shaped to create the transmissive diffraction grating 75 directly on or in the front surface 80. The transmissive diffraction grating 75 has an index of refraction, ni, that is different than an index of refraction, no, of the material 62 of thecorrective lens 60 outside of the external diffractive region 66.

[0056] Referring again to FIG. 4B, it is further noted that in this embodiment the transmissive diffraction grating 75 is disposed within the material 62 (or the primary material region 62) of the corrective lens 60 instead of on or in the front surface 80 of the corrective lens 60 as shown in FIG. 4C. Disposing the transmissive diffraction grating 75 within the material 62 is beneficial for many reasons. For example, this disposal arrangement allows the tear film of the user’s eye to cover the diffractive grating uniformly, resulting in great performance of controlling LCA. In another example, this disposal arrangement facilitates interaction of the corrective lens 60 with the user’s eyelid that causes predictable performance in controlling LCA, and reducing or eliminating irritation to the inside of the eyelid.

[0057] Referring now to FIG. 4D, in an exemplary embodiment, a corrective lens 60 includes an external diffractive region 67 disposed on or in the concave spherical surface 70. As can be seen in FIG. 4D, the external diffractive region 67 chromatically disperses incident white light 10, and thereby changes the longitudinal focus of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light. In an embodiment, the external diffractive region 67 chromatically disperses incident white light 10, and thereby reverses the longitudinal focal points of the blue and red light relative to the focal point of the green light. For example, incident white light 10 passing through the external diffractive region 67 is chromatically dispersed so that the red light focuses in front of the focal point of the green light, and the blue light focuses behind the focal point of the green light.

[0058] Continuing to refer to FIG. 4D, the external diffractive region 67 is defined by the transmissive diffraction grating 75 (see also FIG. 5) disposed on or in the concave spherical surface 70 of the corrective lens 60, and oriented to face outwardly from the concave spherical surface 70. In this embodiment, the concave spherical surface 70 can be shaped to create the transmissive diffraction grating 75 directly on or in the concave spherical surface 70. The transmissive diffraction grating 75 has an index of refraction, ni, that is different than an index of refraction, no, of the material 62 of the corrective lens 60 outside of the external diffractive region 67.

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 4E, in an embodiment the corrective lens 60 includes both the external diffractive region 66 and the external diffractive region 67 as described above respectively for FIGS. 4C and 4D. Each of the external diffractive region 66 and the diffractive region 67 is defined by the transmissive diffraction grating 75 (see also FIG. 5). In an embodiment including two transmissive diffraction gratings 75 as shown in FIG. 4E, optical power generated by each of the two transmissive diffraction gratings 75 is likely reduced whencompared to the optical power generated by a single transmissive diffraction grating 75 in an embodiment having only the single transmissive diffraction grating 75.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic representation of an exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75 is shown in a side elevational view on the left and in a front plan view on the right. The exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75 includes a plurality of concentric structures 76 arranged around a central circular structure 77. In an embodiment, the transmissive diffraction grating 75 is defined by a plurality of configuration parameters descriptive of size and geometry. For example, the exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75 has a diameter 81 and a predetermined number of concentric structures 76. Each of the concentric and central structures 76, 77 has a radial width 78 and a height 79. Each of the concentric and central structures 76, 77 has a front surface 82 oriented within the corrective lens 60 to face incident white light 10. The exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75 has a back surface 83 oriented within the corrective lens 60 to face away from the incident white light 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the front surface 82 of the central structure 77 has a spherical or otherwise curved convex solid surface. In another exemplary embodiment, the front surface 82 of each of the concentric structures 76 has a straight line in cross-section as shown in FIG. 5, where the angle of the front surface 82 is constant around each concentric structure 76, but varies across the plurality of concentric structures 76. Another parameter in the context of the exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75 and the corrective lens 60 is a distance 84 (see FIG. 4B) or a distance 86 (see FIG. 4C) between the concave spherical surface 70 and the back surface 83 of the exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75. A further parameter in the context of the exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75 and the corrective lens 60 is a distance 88 (see FIG. 4D) between the front surface 80 and the back surface 83 of the exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75. Another parameter in the context of the exemplary transmissive diffraction grating 75 and the corrective lens 60 is a distance 89 between the back surfaces 83 of the two exemplary transmissive diffraction gratings 75 shown in FIG. 4E.

[0061] The plurality of configuration parameters described above are tailored to produce a corrective lens having the desired focusing and chromatic dispersion geometries. For example, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a first set of configuration parameters for the corrective lens 60 (as schematically represented in FIG. 6) produces a first set of focal depths and a first set of longitudinal separations between the focal depths for red, green, and blue light. A second set of configuration parameters for the corrective lens 60 (as schematically represented in FIG. 7) produces a second set of focal depths and a second set of longitudinal separations between thefocal depths for red, green, and blue light.

[0062] In an exemplary embodiment, the transmissive diffraction grating 75 within the corrective lens 60 (as described above) is produced in the material 62 of the corrective lens 60, for example, by a pulsed laser focused into the material 62. The pulsed laser, such as a femtosecond pulsed laser, changes the index of refraction of the material 62 when focused into the material 62. By tracing out the diffractive region 65 with the focused laser, e.g., guided by the plurality of configuration parameters, the index of refraction of the diffractive region 65 changes to create the transmissive diffraction grating 75. In an exemplary embodiment, the transmissive diffraction grating 75 disposed on or in the front surface 80 or on or in the concave spherical surface 70 of the corrective lens 60 is produced in the same way as the transmissive diffraction grating 75 disposed within the corrective lens 60. In other embodiments, the transmissive diffraction grating 75 disposed on or in the front surface 80 or on or in the concave spherical surface 70 of the corrective lens 60 is produced by other techniques including, without limitation, micromachining. In various embodiments, the corrective lens 60 is one of a soft contact lens, a hard contact lens, spectacles, a refractive doublet lens, a scleral lens, and an intraocular lens.

[0063] Previous studies on LCA as a visual cue have relied on monochromatic light conditions or digitally filtered images, which may not accurately represent natural environments in white light. Referring to FIG. 8, to show LCA’s impact, a custom-built Spatial Light Modulator-based Visual Simulator (SLMVS) 100 was used. The SLMVS 100 includes a projector 105, focusing and steering optics 110, a filter 115, a sensor 120, a polarizer 125, a diffraction grating 130, a moving stage 135, and cameras 140. The SLMVS 100 allows for precise optical control over ocular LCA in white light.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 9, the SLMVS 100 was used to generate LCA over a range of optical powers of a monofocal diffractive lens. Increasing the optical power for the monofocal diffractive lens generated via the SLMVS 100 produces a negative LCA that decreases linearly with increasing optical power. The data of FIG. 9 shows that theoretical predictions and the results of bench tests show a good agreement, which allows for precise manipulation of an eye’s LCA. LCA calculations were performed across a wavelength range from 463±7 nanometers (nm) to 661±11 nm.

[0065] In conjunction with use of the SLMVS 100, an eye’s choroidal response, which is a well-established biomarker in eye growth studies, is utilized to assess the impact of shortterm exposure to defocused retinal images with varying LCA conditions. In this context, the right eyes of seven emmetropic subjects (age: 31±4yrs; Sph. Eq: 0.02±0.41D) underwentcycloplegia and were exposed to a defocused video stimulus for 20 minutes under four optical conditions using the SLMVS 100 (4.5mm pupil aperture): Native LCA conditions of ±2D defocus with native LCA; and Reversed LCA conditions of ±2D defocus with reversed ocular LCA. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans were performed at 0, 10, and 20 minutes using a Heidelberg Spectralis EDI OCT with a 30° line scan. Choroidal measurements were obtained using a trained deep learning based automatic segmentation algorithm for the sub- foveal 1 mm area.

[0066] In addition, empirical data from five subjects reveals an average ocular LCA of 1.57±0.14 Diopters (D) (Mean ± Standard Deviation) measured within the 463 to 661 nm wavelength range. Utilizing the optimal diffractive power profile, ocular LCA can be corrected and reversed for individual eyes. The best focus positions were determined at five narrow-band wavelengths (463, 507, 555, 622, and 661 nm) using a motorized Badal stage. The graph of FIG. 10 represents the empirical data for correction and reversal of ocular longitudinal chromatic aberration using a diffractive power profile, with the empirical data from the five subjects measured across five wavelengths.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 11 , relative mean changes in sub-foveal choroidal thickness from baseline are shown for subjects exposed to a ±2.00D defocused video stimulus for 20 minutes. OCT measurements were taken at 0, 10, and 20 minutes of exposure. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean. Visual exposure to native LCA myopic defocus increased choroidal thickness by 15.18±3.65 micrometers (pm) (Mean ± Standard Deviation) at 10 minutes and by 14.79±4.35 pm at 20 minutes. Native LCA hyperopic defocus decreased thickness by - 6.53±4.19 pm at 10 minutes and -9.5H5.49 pm at 20 minutes. Reversed LCA conditions changed these trends. Induced myopic defocus reduced choroidal thickness (-8.99±10.08 pm at 10 minutes, -8.35±10.16 pm at 20 minutes), while hyperopic defocus had minimal impact on choroidal thickness (1.59±3.82 pm at 10 minutes, 3.01±5.24 pm at 20 minutes).

[0068] In summary, ocular LCA in white light was successfully corrected and reversed using the SLMVS 100, demonstrating precise manipulation capabilities. Maintaining native LCA, bidirectional changes in sub-foveal choroidal thickness corresponding to defocus type were noted. Myopic defocus induced choroidal thickening, while hyperopic defocus led to thinning. When reversing LCA with the same defocus magnitude, the choroidal response exhibited an opposite trend with higher variability, suggesting a potential misinterpretation of the defocus sign. These results enhance our understanding of ocular growth mechanisms and highlight the potential of LCA manipulation in developing targeted myopia control strategies.

[0069] Manipulating ocular LCA impacts an eye’s ability to accurately detect retinal signsof defocus in white light, emphasizing the potential value of inherent chromatic cue. The demonstrated ability to ocular LCA allows for a method of correcting myopia. In an embodiment, the method of correcting includes the preparation of a corrective lens 60 to control LCA by changing a longitudinal focus of blue and red light relative to a focus point of green light. The corrective lens 60 is then positioned to an eye to impact the eye’s detection of retinal signals of defocus in white light, which controls eye growth. By adjusting the configuration parameters of the corrective lens 60, the power of correction and depth of chromatic focus of the red, blue, and green light can all be adjusted as needed.

[0070] Although the disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur or be known to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

[0071] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the disclosure should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A corrective lens for correcting of myopia of an eye of a patient, the corrective lens comprising: an internal diffractive region; and a concave spherical surface, the lens controlling longitudinal chromatic aberration by changing longitudinal focal points of blue and red light relative to a focal point of green light.

2. The corrective lens of claim 1, wherein the internal diffractive region is defined by a diffraction grating oriented to face a front surface of the corrective lens, the front surface opposite the concave spherical surface.

3. The corrective lens of claim 2, wherein the diffraction grating has an index of refraction that is different than an index of refraction of lens material outside of the diffractive region.

4. The corrective lens of claim 3, wherein the diffraction grating is produced in the lens material by a pulsed laser focused into the lens material, where the focused laser changes the index of refraction of the lens material.

5. The corrective lens of claim 1, wherein the corrective lens is one of a soft contact lens, hard contact lens, spectacles, refractive doublet lens, scleral lens, and an intraocular lens.

6. The corrective lens of claim 1, wherein the controlling of the longitudinal chromatic aberration includes reversing focal points of the blue and red light.

7. A method of correcting of myopia, the method comprising: preparing a corrective lens to control longitudinal chromatic aberration by changing a longitudinal focus of blue and red light relative to a focus point of green light; and positioning the corrective lens to an eye to control eye growth.

8. The method of correcting of claim 7, wherein the corrective lens includes an internal diffractive region and a concave spherical surface.

9. The method of correcting of claim 7, wherein the corrective lens is one of a soft contact lens, hard contact lens, spectacles, refractive doublet lens, scleral lens, and an intraocular lens.

10. The method of correcting of claim 7, wherein the controlling of the longitudinal chromatic aberration includes reversing focal points of the blue and red light.

11. A method for making a corrective lens, the method comprising: determining configuration parameters for a transmissive diffraction grating to be added to the corrective lens having a concave spherical surface; and focusing a pulsed laser into material of the corrective lens to create the transmissive diffraction grating by changing the index of refraction of the lens material in a diffractive region.

12. The method of making the corrective lens of claim 11, wherein the configuration parameters include a diameter, a number of concentric structures, a radial width of a central structure and each of the concentric structures, a height of the central structure and each of the concentric structures, predetermined cross-sectional shapes of the central structure and each of the concentric structures, and a distance between the concave spherical surface and the transmissive diffraction grating.

13. A corrective lens comprising: a first surface; a second surface opposite the first surface; a primary material region between the first surface and the second surface, the primary material region having a first index of refraction, the primary material region configured to receive white light that includes blue light and red light; and an internal diffractive region disposed within a portion of the primary material region, the internal diffractive region having a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction, the second index of refraction causing reversal between a focal point of the blue light and a focal point of the red light.

14. The corrective lens of claim 13, wherein the second surface is a concave spherical surface.

15. The corrective lens of claim 13, wherein the internal diffractive region has a transmissive diffraction grating defined by a plurality of configuration parameters descriptive of size and geometry.

16. The corrective lens of claim 15, wherein the transmissive diffraction grating has a circular shape.

17. The corrective lens of claim 15, wherein the transmissive diffraction grating has a plurality of concentric structures.

18. The corrective lens of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of concentric structures is defined by a radial width and a height.

19. The corrective lens of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of concentric structures has a front surface for receiving white light, the front surface having a convex shape.

20. The corrective lens of claim 19, wherein the front surface has a constant angle around each of the plurality of concentric structures.

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