Lens for wavelength selective scattering

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens for selectively scattering, filtering or absorbing selected wavelengths to treat various diseases. The ophthalmic lens includes dispersed particles or a dye configured to scatter, filter, or absorb the wavelength. The dispersed particles may be formed in a laminate or film so as to be incorporated into the ophthalmic lens, such as by being positioned between two polycarbonate sheets. The dispersed particles may be composed of core-shell nanoparticles having different properties (e.g., the particle size of the core and shell) in order to control the scattering, filtration or absorption of wavelengths.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 520,306, filed on August 17, 2023, entitled “Lenses for Wavelength Selective Scattering,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 480,878, filed on January 20, 2023, entitled “Selective Wavelength Scattering Lens Products and Methods,” and the entire disclosures of the above two applications are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Myopia (often referred to as "near-sightedness") is a rapidly and increasingly prevalent, progressive eye condition. Myopia is usually caused by refractive error, which occurs when the eyeball is too long, causing the lens to focus its image in front of the retina rather than on it, making distant objects appear blurry.

[0004] There is evidence that myopia can be treated with wavelength-dependent vision therapy. It is well known that eye growth is guided by color stimuli. Ocular physiology suggests that longer wavelengths of light may control this process. When blurry images are perceived under these longer wavelengths, the eye attempts to correct by shortening its axial growth. This correction mechanism enables the mature eye to achieve accurate image perception.

[0005] Migraine sufferers experience photophobia, or abnormal sensitivity to light. Studies have found that this discomfort increases with longer (red) and / or shorter (blue) wavelengths of light. Studies have suggested that light may trigger migraine attacks in some patients. Ophthalmic devices that scatter specific wavelengths may offer a solution to this problem.

[0006] Some studies have found that the paroxysmal responses to light in epilepsy patients are wavelength-dependent. In these studies, wavelengths between 680 and 700 nanometers have been found to be the primary cause of photosensitivity. Therefore, selectively scattering these wavelengths has the potential to alleviate or reduce the incidence of light-induced epileptic seizures.

[0007] Furthermore, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) occurs when otherwise healthy individuals experience depression during the same season each year, such as the shorter days of winter. Studies have shown that SAD can be treated with light therapy. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that there may be an optimal wavelength for light therapy to achieve optimal results.

[0008] In all applications, it is desirable to be able to adjust the spectrum of light incident on the wearer's eye. In applications used to guide normal eye growth (i.e., emmetropization), existing treatments focus on providing patients with therapeutic images, such as images blurred with selected wavelengths, which may prompt the eye to correct aberrations during growth. For the treatment of SAD, current solutions rely on colored light, and shorter wavelengths (such as green or blue) are usually filtered out. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The systems, devices, and / or methods disclosed herein provide wavelength selectivity by using ophthalmic lenses as optical filters, eliminating the need for specially processed images or custom light sources.

[0010] In one exemplary embodiment, dispersed particles or dyes may be used to selectively absorb or filter certain wavelengths while allowing other wavelengths to pass.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispersed particles or dyes may include one or more pigments.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the dye may include an organic molecule.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the pigment may include finely divided minerals.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, selected wavelengths may be blurred.

[0015] In one exemplary embodiment, colored particles or dyes may be dispersed in a transparent matrix.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the colored particles or dyes may be dispersed in the active liquid solution.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the active liquid solution may be applied to an ophthalmic lens using various methods or processes.

[0018] In one exemplary embodiment, the active liquid solution may be coated onto an ophthalmic lens using a thin film of loaded particles or loaded dyes.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the thin particle-loaded or dye-loaded film may be laminated onto or into an ophthalmic lens during the lens manufacturing process.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispersed particles may have a particle size of about 10-1700 nanometers.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispersed particles or dyes may comprise from about 0.2% to about 20% by weight of the particle-containing or dye-containing laminate.

[0022] In one exemplary embodiment, nanoparticles having sharp resonances may be dispersed in a transparent medium and may be incorporated into one or more ophthalmic lenses in a laminate to induce wavelength selective scattering.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the core-shell nanoparticles may be dispersed in a refractive medium.

[0024] In one exemplary embodiment, solid particles of known particle size (eg, between about 10 and 1900 nanometers) may be dispersed in a two-component reactive polyurethane prepolymer matrix at a concentration of about 1.5% to about 4.5% by weight.

[0025] In one exemplary embodiment, the active liquid mixture can be drawn into a thin film and formed into a laminate between two sheets of polycarbonate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] These and other aspects, features, and advantages that can be achieved by embodiments of the present invention will be apparent and illustrated in the following description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1A is a table illustrating selective wavelength scattering by controlling the radius of the core and the thickness of the shell in core-shell nanoparticles.

[0028] Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view of a core-shell nanoparticle.

[0029] Figure 2 A table illustrating the environmental resistance of certain laminates, enhancing their suitability for use in ophthalmic lenses.

[0030] Figure 3 is a table comparing various films.

[0031] Figure 4 is a side view of a selective wavelength scattering ophthalmic lens according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in describing the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

[0033] For the purposes of this specification, when referring to a value, the use of the terms "about," "approximately," or "approximately" can be understood to mean within 5% (including greater than or less than) of the stated value.

[0034] Disclosed herein are various embodiments of ophthalmic lenses for wavelength-selective scattering, absorbance, or fluorescence, as well as methods of making and / or using the lenses. This optical filtering resulting from wavelength-dependent scattering (e.g., dispersed particles and / or dyes as discussed herein) can provide various benefits. Non-limiting examples of such benefits include reducing the incidence of myopia in heavy screen users and others who are frequently overexposed to blue light, improving migraine symptoms, reducing light-induced epileptic seizures, and / or alleviating seasonal depression.

[0035] Ophthalmic lenses can be formed using dispersed particles or dyes that are configured to selectively absorb, scatter, and / or filter certain wavelengths while allowing other wavelengths to pass. For example, longer wavelengths can be absorbed while shorter wavelengths can be allowed to pass. In another example, shorter wavelengths can be absorbed, scattered, or filtered while longer wavelengths can be allowed to pass. In another example, a combination of longer and shorter wavelengths can be absorbed, scattered, or filtered while the remaining wavelengths (e.g., wavelengths between the shorter and longer wavelengths) can be allowed to pass.

[0036] Ophthalmic lenses can be configured to blur selected wavelengths. Colored particles or dyes can be dispersed in a transparent matrix, for example, by dispersing the colored particles or dyes in an active liquid solution. The active liquid solution can include, but is not limited to, a thermally curable composition or a photochemically curable composition in which the dye and / or pigment can be dispersed. The active liquid solution can also include various materials (such as liquid crystals) that respond to electric and / or magnetic fields in various ways.

[0037] The active liquid solution can be applied to an ophthalmic lens using various methods or processes, such as by using a thin particle-loaded or dye-loaded film or laminate. For example, the active liquid solution can be applied to a surface and then cured into a film containing the dye and / or particles. The particle-loaded or dye-loaded film or laminate can be applied to or onto the ophthalmic lens during the production of the ophthalmic lens, such as by being laminated to the ophthalmic lens.

[0038] The particle size of the dispersed particles can vary. For example, the particle size of the dispersed particles can vary from about 10 nanometers to about 1700 nanometers. In the case of forming a laminate, the dispersed particles can account for about 0.2% to 20% of the weight of the laminate.

[0039] For example, nanoparticles with sharp resonances can be dispersed in a transparent medium. This can then be formed into a laminate that can be incorporated into an ophthalmic lens, for example, between two substrates, to induce selective scattering of certain wavelengths.

[0040] In certain exemplary embodiments, a variety of dyes can be used. Non-limiting examples of such dyes include thymol blue, bromothymol blue, methylene blue, disperse red, indigo, cresyl blue, Congo red, rhodamine 101, rhodamine B, fluorescein, coumarin 334, pyrrolidine 567, and / or various other dyes known for ophthalmic use.

[0041] Core-shell nanoparticles can be dispersed in a corrective medium. For example, solid particles of known size (e.g., between about 10 nanometers and about 1900 nanometers) can be dispersed in a two-component reactive polyurethane prepolymer matrix. The concentration of the particles can vary, including concentrations of about 1.5% to 4.5% by weight. The reactive liquid mixture can be drawn into a film and then laminated between two sheets of polycarbonate.

[0042] The various laminates can be formed into blanks, which can then be made into polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses using a variety of methods or processes. Alternatively, cast lenses can be made using a range of suitable, well-known active matrix materials. The resulting lenses will have the inherent optical filtering capabilities of the starting composite material.

[0043] Specific embodiments are described below. However, it should be understood that any features in any embodiment can be mixed and matched with each other in any combination. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to only these embodiments, but any wider combination thereof.

[0044] In one exemplary embodiment, an ophthalmic lens can be configured to selectively absorb, scatter, and / or filter certain unwanted wavelengths to treat or inhibit various diseases. For example, the ophthalmic lens can be used to treat myopia. In another example, the ophthalmic lens can be used to prevent migraine attacks and / or photophobia. In another example, the ophthalmic lens can be used to alleviate or reduce light-induced epileptic seizures. In another example, the ophthalmic lens can be used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

[0045] In different embodiments, the wavelengths filtered or scattered by the ophthalmic lens may vary, depending on the condition being treated. Non-limiting examples of conditions that may be treated using the systems, devices, and / or methods described herein include migraine attacks, photophobia, epileptic seizures, and / or seasonal affective disorder.

[0046] To treat migraine attacks and / or photophobia, longer or shorter wavelengths can be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered, with the specific wavelengths determined based on the patient's specific disease and treatment regimen. For example, longer wavelengths, such as red wavelengths between approximately 620 nanometers and 700 nanometers, can be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered.

[0047] In another embodiment, shorter wavelengths (e.g., blue wavelengths between about 450 nm and 495 nm) can be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered. In some exemplary embodiments, both shorter and longer wavelengths (e.g., wavelengths between about 620 nm and 700 nm and wavelengths between about 450 nm and 495 nm) can be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered.

[0048] To treat epileptic seizures (eg, to mitigate or reduce the rate of light-induced epileptic seizures), wavelengths between about 680 nanometers and about 700 nanometers) may be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered.

[0049] To treat seasonal affective disorder, shorter wavelengths can be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered. For example, green wavelengths between approximately 500 nanometers and 600 nanometers can be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered. In another embodiment, blue wavelengths between approximately 450 nanometers and 495 nanometers can be filtered, absorbed, and / or scattered.

[0050] In one exemplary embodiment, an ophthalmic lens can be formed using dispersed particles or dyes that are configured to selectively absorb, scatter, and / or filter certain wavelengths while allowing other wavelengths to pass. The manner in which the dispersed particles or dyes are introduced into the lens may vary in different embodiments. In one embodiment, the particles or dyes (which may be colored) can be dispersed in a transparent matrix, such as in an active liquid solution. The active liquid solution including the dispersed particles or dyes can then be applied to the ophthalmic lens using various methods or processes, such as, but not limited to, using a particle or loaded dye film laminated between layers of a substrate (e.g., between two layers of polycarbonate).

[0051] In one exemplary embodiment, selective scattering of specific wavelengths can be achieved by using nanoparticles with sharp resonances dispersed in a transparent medium. The transparent medium with the dispersed nanoparticles can be formed into a laminate, which itself can be incorporated into an ophthalmic lens.

[0052] In one exemplary embodiment, selective absorption can be achieved by using an absorbing dye. When the dye-containing areas are arranged around the lens so that they are aligned with the lens portion having the corrective (and / or, if necessary, plano) power, this can enhance the effect of the lens to eliminate or slow the progression of myopia or other refractive errors in the wearer.

[0053] In one exemplary embodiment, selective filtering, scattering, and / or absorption can be achieved using particles, such as finely divided minerals, dispersed in a transparent medium. The finely divided minerals may include, but are not limited to, iron oxide, mica, silver, titanium dioxide, and the like. The transparent medium with the dispersed minerals can be formed into a laminate, which can itself be incorporated into an ophthalmic lens. The material type of the particles may vary in different embodiments, and the properties and material type of the particles can affect the types of wavelengths that can be filtered, scattered, and / or absorbed.

[0054] Figure 1A This table shows how specific wavelengths can be scattered by controlling the radius of the core and the thickness of the shell in core-shell nanoparticles.

[0055] exist Figure 1A In the exemplary embodiment shown, the core-shell nanoparticles may be composed of nanoparticles having a silica core and a silver shell. However, it should be understood that in different embodiments, the shell and / or core of the core-shell nanoparticles may be different and should not be construed as being limited to Figure 1A The core-shell nanoparticles can be dispersed in a corrective medium, which can be formed into a laminate, which can be coated on an ophthalmic lens.

[0056] about Figure 1A For the silica core, silver shell nanoparticles identified in the study, blue wavelengths around 458 nanometers can be scattered by core-shell nanoparticles with a core radius of approximately 1.3 nanometers, a shell thickness of approximately 30.8 nanometers, and a quality factor of approximately 1.01. Green wavelengths around 532 nanometers can be scattered by core-shell nanoparticles with a core radius of approximately 22.2 nanometers, a shell thickness of approximately 15.8 nanometers, and a quality factor of approximately 0.91. Red wavelengths around 640 nanometers can be scattered by core-shell nanoparticles with a core radius of approximately 34.3 nanometers, a shell thickness of approximately 11.0 nanometers, and a quality factor of approximately 0.81.

[0057] Therefore, it should be understood that in exemplary embodiments where core-shell nanoparticles are dispersed in a medium, the core radius, shell thickness, and quality factor of the core-shell nanoparticles can be varied to scatter light of different wavelengths, thereby treating different diseases. For example, in one embodiment of nanoparticles using a silica core and a silver shell, the core radius of the core-shell nanoparticles can vary between approximately 1.0 nm and 40 nm, the shell thickness of the core-shell nanoparticles can vary between approximately 10 nm and 35 nm, and the quality factor of the core-shell nanoparticles can vary between approximately 0.75 and 1.10.

[0058] Figure 1B1 is a cross-sectional view showing an exemplary embodiment of a core-shell nanoparticle, wherein the core-shell nanoparticle includes a core 130 and a shell 135 surrounding the core. It should be understood that both the core 130 and the shell 135 can be spherical. However, in some exemplary embodiments, the core 130 and / or the shell 135 may not form a perfect sphere, but may exhibit various other shapes including irregular shapes. It should also be understood that in different embodiments, the respective diameters of the core 130 and the shell 135 may be different, so Figure 1B The various diameters shown in should not be construed as limiting the range.

[0059] The core-shell nanoparticles can be dispersed in a medium, such as a transparent or refractive medium. The number of core-shell nanoparticles dispersed in the medium can vary in different embodiments. Furthermore, the location of the core-shell nanoparticles within the base lens substrate can also vary.

[0060] In one exemplary embodiment, the core-shell nanoparticles may be dispersed only in the portion of the lens that has a corrective power, which can eliminate or slow the progression of myopia or other refractive errors in the wearer. In another exemplary embodiment, the core-shell nanoparticles may be dispersed only in the portion of the lens that does not have a corrective power (i.e., the plano portion). In another exemplary embodiment, the core-shell nanoparticles may be dispersed in both the corrective and plano portions of the lens.

[0061] Figure 2 is a table showing that such laminates comprising core-shell nanoparticles dispersed in a corrective medium have been shown to be environmentally resistant and therefore suitable for use in ophthalmic lenses.

[0062] Figure 3 A comparison is made of various wavelength scattering technologies used in various displays, including front projection films that can project monochromatic light as well as the full spectrum and films based on localized surface plasmon resonance.

[0063] Figure 4 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an ophthalmic lens 100 that is configured to scatter, filter, and / or absorb specific wavelengths of light to treat various conditions. Figure 4 As shown, an ophthalmic lens 100 can be formed by sandwiching a laminate or film 120 between two layers 110A, 110B of a substrate, such as polycarbonate. More specifically, it can be seen that the laminate or film 120 including dispersed particles can be positioned between a first layer 110A and a second layer 110B of polycarbonate to form the ophthalmic lens 100.

[0064] It should be understood that Figure 4The exemplary embodiments shown are for illustration purposes only and should not be considered limiting in scope. For example, the position of the laminate or film 120 relative to the layers 110A, 110B may vary in different embodiments. Figure 4 The laminate or film 120 is shown as being centrally located between the layers 110A and 110B, but it should be understood that in certain exemplary embodiments, the depth of the first layer 110A may be greater than the depth of the second layer 110B, or vice versa. In other embodiments, the laminate or film 120 may be disposed outwardly.

[0065] Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, those skilled in the art can, based on the present teachings, derive more embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of the claimed invention or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are provided by way of example to facilitate understanding of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective filtering, fluorescence and / or scattering, comprising: a first layer of a substrate; a second layer of the substrate; as well as A film is positioned between the first layer and the second layer, the film comprising a plurality of particles or dyes and configured to scatter, filter, blur, generate, or absorb selected wavelengths of light. 2 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein the film is composed of the plurality of particles or dyes dispersed in a transparent matrix. 3 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein the film is composed of the plurality of particles or dyes dispersed in an active liquid solution. 4 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles consists of a plurality of colored particles or dyes. 5 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein a particle size of each of the plurality of particles is between 10 nm and 1700 nm. 6 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles account for 0.2% to 20% by weight of the film. 7 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles comprises nanoparticles having sharp resonances. 8 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles comprises core-shell nanoparticles. 9 . The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1 , wherein the particle size of each of the plurality of particles is between 10 nm and 1900 nm.

10. The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles or dyes are dispersed in a two-component reactive polyurethane prepolymer matrix.

11. The ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective filtering and / or scattering according to claim 10, wherein the concentration of the plurality of particles or dyes is 1.5% to 4.5% by weight of the two-component reactive polyurethane prepolymer matrix.

12. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens for wavelength selective scattering, comprising the steps of: Dispersing multiple particles or dyes in a medium; as well as The medium is applied to an ophthalmic lens.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the medium consists of a refractive medium.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the medium consists of a two-component reactive polyurethane prepolymer matrix.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the medium consists of an active liquid solution.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of particles or dyes are dispersed in a transparent matrix.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the medium to the ophthalmic lens comprises forming the medium into a film and placing the film between a pair of polycarbonate sheets.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the medium to the ophthalmic lens comprises laminating the medium into the ophthalmic lens.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of particles consists of nanoparticles having sharp resonances.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of particles consists of core-shell nanoparticles.

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