A novel contact lens for controlling myopia progression
By embedding a blurred pattern in the annular peripheral area of the corneal contact lens, combined with myopia defocus and blur design, the problem of limited myopia control effect of existing lenses is solved, achieving more significant myopia delay and improved comfort.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUZHOU GAOSHI HD MEDICAL TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing contact lenses have limited effectiveness in controlling myopia progression, especially in adolescents, and most lenses fail to effectively combine peripheral defocus and blur patterns to inhibit axial elongation.
A novel corneal contact lens is designed with a blurred pattern embedded in the annular peripheral area of the lens. By introducing myopic defocus and reducing image sharpness and contrast, the "defocus" and "blur" mechanisms are combined to enhance myopia control.
It significantly slows down the progression of myopia, ensures clear and uninterrupted central vision, improves comfort and safety through material selection and surface treatment, and supports industrial production through process flexibility.
Smart Images
Figure CN224457168U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of corneal contact lens technology, specifically to a novel corneal contact lens for controlling the progression of myopia. Background Technology
[0002] Myopia, especially among teenagers, has become an increasingly serious global health challenge. Statistics show that a huge proportion of the global population is nearsighted, and it is projected that by 2050, nearly half of the world's population will be affected by myopia. Myopia not only affects vision, but high myopia also significantly increases the risk of developing blinding eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration. Therefore, developing effective myopia control strategies is crucial.
[0003] Currently available optical interventions include orthokeratology lenses (OK lenses), multifocal soft contact lenses (MF-SCL), and eyeglasses with peripheral defocus design. The core mechanism of these methods is generally considered to be based on the "peripheral defocus theory": by creating myopic defocus (i.e., light focuses in front of the retina) rather than hyperopic defocus (light focuses behind the retina) in the peripheral retinal region, excessive axial elongation is suppressed. Multifocal RGP contact lenses (MF-RGPCL) have also been proven to be an effective myopia control method, especially suitable for specific patient groups for whom traditional methods are ineffective or unsuitable, such as patients with high myopia or significant astigmatism. MF-RGPCL offers advantages such as high oxygen permeability and excellent image quality, combined with a peripheral myopic defocus design.
[0004] In recent years, in addition to controlling focal position, the control of peripheral retinal image "quality" has also begun to receive attention. Studies have shown that reducing the contrast and sharpness of peripheral images may become a new auxiliary strategy for myopia control. For example, eyeglasses using Diffusion Optics Technology (DOT) modulate or suppress "abnormal contrast signals" in peripheral retinal photoreceptor cells by setting light scattering centers in the peripheral treatment area of the lens, thereby slowing axial elongation. Preliminary clinical studies show that DOT lenses have achieved positive results in delaying myopia progression.
[0005] The physiological basis of this strategy may be related to the balance of the ON and OFF pathways within the retina. Studies have indicated that myopia is associated with ON pathway dysfunction, leading to a decreased ability of the retina to process low-contrast information. Certain stimuli that may promote myopia progression (such as optical blurring or low light) further weaken the ON pathway response. Therefore, actively introducing controlled image blurring or contrast reduction into the peripheral retina may help regulate this imbalance, thereby generating signals that inhibit myopia. The proposed method of embedding a blur pattern within the peripheral illumination zone of an RGP lens is based on this concept, aiming to provide more comprehensive peripheral visual signal intervention through a combination of "defocus" and "blurring."
[0006] Most commercially available RGP lenses are primarily designed to correct central vision in patients with irregular corneas, while RGP lenses specifically designed to control myopia progression, especially those integrating complex peripheral optics, are relatively rare. Even some RGP lenses with peripheral defocus design may still suffer from the aforementioned problem of sharp peripheral imaging. Summary of the Invention
[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a novel corneal contact lens for controlling myopia progression. This contact lens embeds a specially designed blur pattern within the annular peripheral illumination area of the lens. By simultaneously generating myopic defocus and reducing image contrast and clarity around the retina, it more effectively inhibits excessive elongation of the axial length.
[0008] A novel corneal contact lens for controlling myopia progression includes a lens body, wherein the lens body is divided into a central optical zone and an annular light-adding zone;
[0009] The central optical zone is located in the middle area of the lens body and is concentric with the lens body. The central optical zone has a precise refractive power to correct the wearer's distance vision and ensure that the wearer obtains clear central vision.
[0010] The annular illumination zone is located on the outer ring of the central optical zone. The annular illumination zone is designed with an additional positive spherical power compared to the central optical zone. The additional positive spherical power is achieved by adding a blur pattern to the annular illumination zone. The annular illumination zone is used to reduce the sharpness and contrast of the image formed by light passing through this area on the periphery of the retina.
[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the mirror body is made of a rigid, breathable material or a soft hydrogel / silicone hydrogel material.
[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the diameter of the central optical region is not less than 3.5 mm.
[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the additional power of the positive spherical lens in the annular illumination region ranges from +1.00D to +5.00D.
[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the width of the annular illumination area is 0.5mm to 4mm.
[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the blurred pattern is composed of micron-scale scattering or diffraction structural units.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:
[0017] 1. Enhanced myopia control:
[0018] By simultaneously introducing myopic defocus and a blurred pattern that reduces image sharpness and contrast in the peripheral illumination zone, this invention aims to provide a more comprehensive and effective visual signal to the peripheral retina to inhibit axial elongation. This dual mechanism of "defocus + blurring" allows the blurred peripheral imaging to further weaken residual sharp visual signals that may stimulate axial elongation, supplementing and enhancing the inhibitory effect of peripheral defocus. This results in a more significant myopia delay effect than traditional myopia control lenses (including some existing RGP designs) that rely solely on a single defocus principle.
[0019] 2. Guarantee of uninterrupted central vision:
[0020] The central optical zone of the lens (approximately 4.5mm in diameter) is designed as a pure distance vision correction zone, free of any additional power or blurring patterns. This ensures that the wearer can obtain clear, undisturbed central (primarily macular) vision during daily activities, meeting their need for high visual quality. Peripheral blurring patterns only affect peripheral light entering through the pupil's edge, having virtually no impact on clear imaging of the central field of vision.
[0021] 3. Excellent wearing comfort and safety:
[0022] Material selection: Made of highly oxygen-permeable RGP material to ensure that the cornea receives sufficient oxygen supply, reducing the risk of corneal hypoxia-related complications due to long-term wear;
[0023] Surface treatment: For solutions using laser surface etching, subsequent surface treatment processes such as precision polishing and plasma coating can restore or improve the smoothness and wettability of the lens surface, thereby minimizing the impact on tear film stability, improving wearing comfort, and reducing protein and lipid deposition.
[0024] Embedded patterns: For blurred patterns formed by laser processing inside the lens or "sandwich" embedding process, since the pattern is not directly exposed on the lens surface, it will not affect the optical quality, smoothness, biocompatibility and abrasion resistance of the lens surface, and has minimal impact on wearing comfort and safety. The embedded dyes or pigments used must also meet biomedical safety standards.
[0025] 4. Flexibility and feasibility of the manufacturing process:
[0026] This invention provides multiple technical approaches for realizing embedded blurred patterns, including laser surface etching, laser processing inside lenses, and "sandwich" staining / embedding processes, providing flexible options for actual production;
[0027] Laser processing (surface etching and internal processing) is characterized by high precision and high controllability, making it suitable for manufacturing intricate diffraction or scattering microstructures. It is also easy to achieve digital design and automated production. In particular, femtosecond laser technology, due to its "cold processing" characteristics, has shown great potential in the field of precision micro-nano manufacturing.
[0028] The "sandwich" embedding process draws on the mature technology of colored contact lenses. The process is relatively mature and suitable for mass reproduction and production of patterns.
[0029] The compatibility of various processing methods gives this invention good manufacturability and industrialization prospects. Attached Figure Description
[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.
[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the microstructure formed on the surface of an RGP lens by a laser beam when using laser surface etching.
[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the modified region structure formed inside the lens by the laser focus when using the internal laser processing method.
[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which the pattern layer is sandwiched between two layers of lens material when using the "sandwich" staining / embedding process. Detailed Implementation
[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0035] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:
[0036] like Figure 1 The novel corneal contact lens for controlling myopia progression includes a lens body 1, which is divided into a central optical zone 101 and an annular light-adding zone 102.
[0037] The central optical zone 10 is located in the middle region of the lens body 1 and is concentric with the lens body 1. The central optical zone 101 has a precise refractive power to correct the wearer's distance vision and ensure that the wearer obtains clear central vision.
[0038] The annular light-adding area 102 is located on the outer ring of the central optical area 101. The annular light-adding area 102 is designed with an additional positive spherical power compared to the central optical area 101. The additional positive spherical power is achieved by adding a blur pattern 2 to the annular light-adding area 102. The annular light-adding area 102 is used to reduce the sharpness and contrast of the image formed by light passing through this area on the periphery of the retina.
[0039] In this embodiment, the mirror body 1 is made of a rigid, breathable material or a soft hydrogel / silicone hydrogel material.
[0040] In this embodiment, the diameter of the central optical region 101 is not less than 3.5 mm.
[0041] In this embodiment, the positive spherical lens power of the annular light-adding area 102 ranges from +1.00D to +5.00D.
[0042] In this embodiment, the width of the annular illumination area 102 is 0.5mm to 4mm.
[0043] In this embodiment, the blurred pattern 2 is composed of micron-scale scattering or diffraction structural units. Preferably, the blurred pattern 2 adopts a "photon sieve" annular distribution structure. Specifically, the "photon sieve" annular distribution structure is a special diffraction element that achieves a superposition effect to change the refractive power through diffraction. Based on the current lens, it effectively achieves the superposition of two focal points; besides the focal point at the prescription angle, the other focal point is in a defocused state, thus producing a blurred effect.
[0044] In this embodiment, the lens body 1 is made of high oxygen permeability fluorosilicone acrylate RGP material (Dk value > 100). The total diameter of the lens body 1 is 10.6 mm. The diameter of the central optical zone 101 is 4.5 mm, and its distance refractive power can be determined according to the wearer's refractive error prescription. The inner diameter of the annular light-adding zone 102 is 4 mm, and the outer diameter is 5.0 mm. This zone has an additional positive spherical power of +2.00D relative to the central optical zone 101.
[0045] Blurred Pattern 2 Design: Within the peripheral annular illumination area 102 on the front surface, a "photon sieve" type blurred pattern 2 is designed. The blurred pattern 2 consists of multiple concentrically arranged micro-pits, and a three-ring pit array can be set with a depth of 1μm to 5μm to produce the desired scattering and diffraction blurring effect.
[0046] Specifically, the calculation formula for the "photon sieve" parameters is as follows:
[0047] The core calculations for a single photon sieve element involve its radial position R. n and half-diameter (s):
[0048] 1. The radial position of the nth ring (R) n )
[0049] The radial position of the center of the nth ring is given by the following formula:
[0050]
[0051] Where: R n : Radial position of the nth ring; n: Ring order (integer); f: Focal length of the photon sieve (unit: mm, calculated as 1000 / power); λ: Wavelength of light (unit: mm);
[0052] 2. From the radial position (R) n Calculate the order (n)
[0053] Conversely, if the radial position R is known n And we hope to find an approximate order n:
[0054]
[0055] 3. The width of the nth ring (w) n )
[0056] The width w of the nth ring n (The difference between the starting radius of the (n+1)th ring and the starting radius of the nth ring) is:
[0057] w n =R n+1 -R n
[0058] Where R n+1 Use with R n The same formula is used for calculation, but the order is n+1.
[0059] 4. The semi-diameter (s) of the disk
[0060] The semi-diameter s of the hole in the nth ring is determined by the following formula:
[0061]
[0062] Where: w n : Width of the nth ring (as defined above); dw ratio : is an equation The pre-computed roots are given by J0, where J0 is a zero-order Bessel function of the first kind.
[0063] 5. The Cartesian coordinates (x, y) of the hole.
[0064] The (x,y) position of a specific hole located on ring R at angle θ is:
[0065] x = R·sin(θ) y = R·cos(θ)
[0066] Where: R: the radial position of the ring containing the hole (i.e., a certain R_n); θ: the angular position of the hole on the ring.
[0067] A method for preparing a novel corneal contact lens according to any one of the following methods, employing any one of laser surface etching, internal laser processing of the lens, or a "sandwich" staining / embedding process.
[0068] In this embodiment, when using laser surface etching, the specific preparation method is as follows: a femtosecond laser system or excimer laser system is used to directly perform micro-machining on the surface of a designated annular area of the formed or semi-formed RGP lens blank, etching out a preset blurred pattern 2, such as... Figure 2 As shown.
[0069] Specifically, the technical principle and process are as follows: Under computer control, a laser beam is precisely applied to the surface of a lens, removing or modifying extremely small volumes of material through photochemical ablation (such as excimer lasers) or micro-explosion / phase transitions induced by multiphoton absorption (such as femtosecond lasers), forming structures such as micro-pits, micro-bumps, micro-holes, or diffraction gratings. Due to its ultrashort pulse characteristics, femtosecond lasers enable "cold processing," resulting in a minimal heat-affected zone, thus achieving extremely high processing precision and good surface quality while avoiding significant thermal damage to surrounding materials.
[0070] Realizable microstructures: Regular or irregular lattices, linear arrays, and more complex diffractive optical elements (DOEs) surface reliefs with sizes ranging from submicrometers to tens of micrometers can be fabricated. These microstructures reduce image sharpness and contrast through the diffraction and scattering effects of light.
[0071] In this embodiment, when using the internal laser processing method for the lens, the preparation method is as follows: utilizing the characteristics of ultrashort pulse lasers, the ultrashort pulse laser is focused onto the internal volume region of the RGP lens material. Through nonlinear absorption effects, permanent physical or chemical changes are induced within the RGP lens material, forming a scattering or diffraction region. This scattering or diffraction region can then serve as the blurred pattern 2, such as... Figure 3 As shown.
[0072] Specifically, the technical principle and process are as follows: When a high-energy femtosecond laser pulse is focused inside a transparent medium, the energy density at the focal point is sufficient to induce nonlinear processes such as multiphoton absorption and tunneling ionization, leading to localized micro-explosions, micro-cavitation formation, density changes, or chemical decomposition in the material, thereby altering the refractive index of that micro-region or forming a scatterer. By precisely controlling the scanning path of the laser focal point in three-dimensional space, a predetermined three-dimensional blurred pattern can be "written" inside the lens.
[0073] Structures that can be formed: Micropores, microbubbles, refractive index periodically varying regions (similar to volume gratings), or discrete arrays of scattering centers can be formed inside the lens. These internal microstructures serve as units for the blurred pattern.
[0074] In this embodiment, when using the "sandwich" dyeing / embedding process, the preparation method is as follows: by sandwiching a dye, pigment, or functional thin film layer with a pre-formed blurred pattern between two layers of RGP lens material, and then polymerizing and curing or pressing the entire structure together, the pattern is permanently encapsulated inside the lens, thereby forming the desired blurred pattern 2, such as... Figure 4 As shown.
[0075] Specifically, the technical principles and processes are as follows:
[0076] Pattern preparation: First, a blurred pattern (such as the aforementioned photon sieve lattice) composed of biocompatible micro-dyes or pigment particles is formed on a thin polymer substrate film compatible with RGP materials through printing (such as screen printing, inkjet printing), photolithography, or other microfabrication techniques. These particles themselves have scattering or partial light-blocking properties;
[0077] Sandwich embedding: This patterned film is placed between two layers of incompletely polymerized RGP lens material (monomer mixture or prepolymer), or between a pre-formed RGP substrate concave surface and a matching mold surface.
[0078] Curing and molding: Through methods such as molding, casting or spin coating, the multi-layer structure is tightly bonded and polymerized and cured to finally form a whole RGP lens, in which the blurred pattern is firmly embedded inside the lens.
[0079] Subsequent processing: The cured lens blank is subjected to conventional turning, polishing and other processes to produce the final optical surface and edge contour.
[0080] Extended Applications to Soft Contact Lenses: The principle of this "sandwich" or lamination embedding technique is also widely used in the manufacture of patterned soft contact lenses (SCLs). For SCLs, the patterned layer is typically polymerized together with a hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material in a mold. Therefore, the "sandwich staining" method mentioned in this invention, as an auxiliary method, has technical principles and practical experience that make it easily extendable to the patterned manufacturing of soft contact lenses, including specific optical patterns for myopia control.
[0081] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A novel contact lens for controlling myopia progression, characterized by: Includes a mirror body, which is divided into a central optical area and an annular light-adding area; The central optical zone is located in the middle area of the lens body and is concentric with the lens body. The central optical zone has a precise refractive power to correct the wearer's distance vision and ensure that the wearer obtains clear central vision. The annular illumination zone is located on the outer ring of the central optical zone. The annular illumination zone is designed with an additional positive spherical power compared to the central optical zone. The additional positive spherical power is achieved by adding a blur pattern to the annular illumination zone. The annular illumination zone is used to reduce the sharpness and contrast of the image formed by light passing through this area on the periphery of the retina.
2. A novel contact lens for controlling myopia progression as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The mirror body is made of rigid, breathable material or soft hydrogel / silicone hydrogel material.
3. A novel contact lens for controlling progression of myopia as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The diameter of the central optical zone is not less than 3.5 mm.
4. A novel contact lens for controlling progression of myopia as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The range of additional power of the positive spherical lens in the annular illumination zone is +1.00D to +5.00D.
5. A novel contact lens for controlling progression of myopia as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The width of the annular illumination area is 0.5mm to 4mm.
6. A novel contact lens for controlling progression of myopia as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The blurred pattern is composed of micron-sized scattering or diffraction structural units.