Eye shielding member for myopia progression suppression, eye mask, and glasses-type myopia progression suppression device

Abstract

To provide an eye shielding member for myopia progression suppression, an eye mask, and a glasses-type myopia progression suppression device that are used by being arranged to cover eyes on a front surface of a face.SOLUTION: An eye mask 1 for myopia suppression that is used to improve blood flow of a fundus retina when eyes are closed, includes an organic EL sheet that emits red light to near-infrared light, and is arranged in a mask body 2 such that emitted light is irradiated toward an eyeball side. Accordingly, when a wearer (patient) wears the eye mask 1, red light to near-infrared light can be irradiated onto the fundus retina through eyelids even if the eyes are closed, progression of myopia of the wearer can be suppressed by simple means, and recovery of overall visual function can be promoted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an eye shielding member, an eye mask, and a spectacle-type myopia progression suppression device for suppressing the progression of myopia, which are placed in front of the face to cover the eyes. [Background technology]

[0002] Attempts have been made to improve retinal blood flow by irradiating the eye with red or near-infrared light, thereby slowing the progression of myopia and restoring overall visual function in patients. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 reports that irradiating the eyes with red light at a wavelength of 670 nm using a handheld light source every morning resulted in a shortened rod cell reaction time and an improved scotopic threshold. Patent Document 1 also discloses a method for increasing fundus blood flow and metabolic rate by irradiating the fundus through the pupil with red or near-infrared light from a laser diode (LD) or light-emitting diode (LD). However, the above-mentioned Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1 are limited to experimental and therapeutic explanations, and cannot be said to be technologies from the perspective of actually using red light or near-infrared light casually in daily life to suppress the progression of myopia and restore visual function. Furthermore, the act of continuously looking at a light source at a short distance is the same as so-called "near work," which is thought to be one of the causes of the progression of myopia, and induces lens accommodation, so it was not an optimal method for the purpose of suppressing the progression of myopia. It has been proposed to use eye masks, which are used to cover closed eyelids for sound sleep in bright places, to reduce eye strain by cooling or warming them. In fact, if such eye masks could irradiate the eyes with red or near-infrared light, they would be convenient and ideal. Patent Document 2 is cited as an example of prior art eye mask technology. The eye mask 1 in Patent Document 2 contains a gel-like material 4 sealed inside the main body 2, and the gel-like material 4 is heated using a heating device. Since near-infrared light also has a large amount of thermal energy, it is conceivable that an eye mask like that in Patent Document 2 could be used as a form of heating. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Manjot K. Grewal, "A Pilot Study Evaluating the Effects of 670 nm Photobiomodulation in Healthy Aging and Age-Related Macular Degeneration," Journal of Clinical Medicine, April 2020, 9(4): p. 1001 [Non-patent document 2] Bierman, "Measuring and predicting eyelid spectral transmittance," Journal of Biomedical Optics, June 2021, 067011-1-8 [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 11420072 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3170618 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional eye mask 1 such as that in Patent Document 2, red light or near-infrared light is not emitted even when the gel-like member 4 is heated. Conventional eye masks only warm the eyes to reduce eye strain, but are unable to increase the blood flow and metabolic rate of the fundus. When using an eye mask, the wearer closes their eyes. However, as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 2, the light transmission through the eyelids is relatively high, particularly for red light and near-infrared light with long wavelengths of 600 nm or more, due to the light transmission characteristics of melanin and blood. Therefore, it is believed that red light and near-infrared light can pass through the eyelids and reach the fundus even when the eyes are closed. However, the conventional eye mask 1 described in Patent Document 2 only warms the entire eye using the gel-like member 4 and is not designed to transmit red light or near-infrared light through the eyelids to irradiate the fundus retina. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technology that can irradiate the eyeball with red light or near-infrared light using an eye mask. Furthermore, as long as a member that is placed in front of the eyelid to shield the eye is used, it is possible to irradiate the eyeball with red light or near-infrared light through the eyelids without using an eye mask. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, means 1 is an eye shielding member for suppressing myopia that is placed in front of the eye to improve blood flow in the fundus retina, and an organic EL sheet that emits red to near-infrared light is arranged on the main body so that the emitted light is irradiated toward the eyeball. As a result, by wearing the eye shielding element, the wearer (patient) can irradiate the fundus retina with red to near-infrared light whether their eyes are closed or open, which is a simple method to suppress the progression of myopia and restore overall visual function. Because the light-emitting device uses an organic EL sheet with a surface light source that can irradiate red to near-infrared light, it is possible to irradiate the fundus retina uniformly and it is expected that light will reach the fundus retina widely from routes other than the pupil.

[0006] The "eye area" generally refers to the eyelids, eyeballs, and their surroundings, and is the area corresponding to the anterior position of the eye socket. The "eye shielding member" is a member that is placed in front of the eye and is not limited to an eye mask, as long as an organic EL sheet that emits red to near-infrared light can be attached to the main body so that the emitted light is irradiated toward the eyeball. The eye shielding member may be, for example, eyeglasses whose lenses are made of a light-opaque material. An "organic EL sheet" is a light-emitting device in the form of a sheet of organic EL (electroluminescence). Its thickness is preferably approximately 100 μm to 1000 μm. Electroluminescence refers to the light-emitting phenomenon that occurs when a voltage is applied to a substance, or a light-emitting device that utilizes such a phenomenon. Organic EL sheets are highly flexible and can be easily bent or flexed. They can also be fixed in a curved state. Organic EL light-emitting devices utilize light emission from excitons generated when electrons and holes are bound on organic molecules, and the wavelength of this emission varies depending on the structure of the organic molecules. The organic EL sheet used in the present invention preferably emits red light with a wavelength of 620±10 nm to 670±10 nm, and near-infrared light with a peak in the emission spectrum at wavelengths longer than 750 nm. An organic EL sheet that simultaneously emits both wavelengths is also acceptable. The "main body" should preferably be made of an opaque, dark-colored material to block external light, but if the organic EL sheet itself can block external light, a transparent material may be used for the main body.

[0007] In the second aspect, the red light emitted from the organic EL sheet has a peak in the radiation spectrum at a wavelength of 620±10 nm to 670±10 nm. The reason for using an organic EL sheet with such characteristics is that light with such characteristics improves blood flow in the retina at the back of the eye, which is good for suppressing the progression of myopia in patients and restoring overall visual function. In the third aspect, the near-infrared light emitted from the organic EL sheet has a peak in the radiation spectrum at a wavelength longer than 750 nm. The reason for using an organic EL sheet with such characteristics is that light with such characteristics improves blood flow in the retina at the back of the eye, which is good for suppressing the progression of myopia in patients and restoring overall visual function. In addition, in the fourth aspect, the illuminance of the light emitted by the organic EL sheet when it is disposed on the mask body is set to 100 lux or more. If red to near-infrared light can be irradiated in the direction of the patient's eyes wearing the lenses at an illuminance of 100 lux or more, sufficient light will reach the retina at the back of the eye, thereby suppressing the progression of the patient's myopia and restoring overall visual function. In addition, in means 5, the organic EL sheet is provided with a control unit and a power supply unit, and the control unit controls the organic EL sheet to supply power from the power supply unit for a predetermined period of time to emit light, and then stops the power supply and turns off the light. This allows, for example, a patient to wear an eye mask as an eye shielding member, and even if the patient falls asleep with the eye mask on while the red to near-infrared light is working to improve blood flow in the fundus retina, the eye mask will be automatically turned off, preventing excessive irradiation of red to near-infrared light. In addition, means 6 is provided with an adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined time. This allows the wearer to adjust the total amount of red light to near-infrared light from the organic EL sheet at any time. In addition, in the seventh aspect, the area of ​​the organic EL sheet used per eye is 9 cm 2 That's all. If the area is larger than this, the front of the user's eyeball can be widely covered when the eye shielding member is worn, and a large amount of light can be irradiated onto the retina at the fundus.

[0008] In addition, in the eighth aspect, the organic EL sheet is curved in a spherical crown shape, an arch shape, or a dome shape along the curve of the eyelid surface. If the organic EL sheet has such a curved surface, when in use it will cover the curve of the eyelid surface, which is the front side of the eyeball, and the irradiated light will be directed generally toward the retina at the back of the eye, so that the emitted light will be supplied to the retina at all times. In addition, in the ninth aspect, the organic EL sheet is accommodated in a space surrounded by a bag-shaped fabric member. This reduces the need for laborious attachment work to the mask body, particularly in an eye shielding member in the form of a mask, since the organic EL sheet can be simply accommodated in the space when fixed to the mask body. When accommodating the organic EL sheet in a bag-shaped fabric member in this way, it is preferable to use a thin or (and) coarsely knitted fabric for the fabric member on the eyelid side of the mask body. The fabric member may be the mask body itself, or it may be a member attached to the mask body.

[0009] In addition, in the tenth aspect, the fabric member placed between the organic EL sheet and the eyelid is configured so that the emitted light of the organic EL sheet is transmitted to the outside through gaps between the threads that make up the fabric member. This allows emitted light to be emitted towards the eyelids through the mesh of the fabric member that supports the organic EL sheet. The fabric member may be a cloth woven with warp and weft threads, or a nonwoven fabric. The key is that it is sufficient as long as it can support the organic EL sheet and emit emitted light outward through the gaps in the threads. The fabric material of the fabric member is not important, and for example, cotton, silk, nylon, polyurethane, or polyester can be used alone, or a blend of these in a certain ratio. In addition, in means 11, the main body is provided with a holding means for holding the main body on the human head. This allows the eye shielding member to be held in place in front of the eyelids when the eyes are closed without the need for hand support. The holding means may be a band or belt that wraps around the circumference of the head, or it may be a device that holds the glasses by hanging the temples over the ears (pinna) and placing the center of the frame on the nose (bridge of the nose), like eyeglasses.

[0010] In the twelfth aspect, the main body and the organic EL sheet are provided with a plurality of through holes that communicate with each other in the thickness direction. With such a through hole, the wearer (patient) can look outside through the through hole when opening their eyes from a closed state while wearing the eye shielding member for myopia suppression. Of course, it is also possible to use it with the eyes always open. The "multiple through holes" may mean one through hole for each eye, or multiple through holes may be arranged in a scattered manner with intervals between them centered on the eye position, or may be arranged in a row in the lateral (horizontal) direction. The through holes are preferably circular in shape, but may be other shapes. In addition, in the thirteenth aspect, the through-hole is circular and has a diameter of 1.5 mm or less. By using a through hole of this size, the angle at which light enters the eye becomes smaller and the depth of focus becomes deeper, resulting in a so-called pinhole effect, which allows the image to be seen clearly. Therefore, when a wearer (patient) who normally wears vision correction glasses removes the vision correction glasses and wears the eye shielding member for myopia prevention, the pinhole effect allows the wearer to see the surrounding scenery clearly. The diameter of the through hole should be approximately 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. In addition, in a fourteenth aspect, in the twelfth and thirteenth aspects, the illuminance of the light emitted by the organic EL sheet when it is disposed on the main body does not reach 100 lux. Because the through-holes are provided, the myopia-preventing eye shielding member is intended to be used with the eyes open. Objects in the outside world are viewed through the through-holes, but if the organic EL is too bright, it becomes difficult to see the outside world. Therefore, to prevent the organic EL from becoming too bright, it is preferable to lower the illuminance of the organic EL compared to an eye shielding member for myopia prevention that does not have through-holes. However, in order to have the effect of suppressing the progression of myopia in the wearer, the illuminance of the organic EL should be high enough to provide that effect. For example, the illuminance of the light emitted by the organic EL sheet should be 50 lux or higher.

[0011] In a fifteenth aspect, the eye shielding member for suppressing myopia according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects is an eye mask. In the case of an eye mask, the main body can be placed over the closed eyelids and red to near-infrared light can be irradiated directly. The eye mask preferably has multiple through holes that communicate with the main body and the organic EL sheet in the thickness direction. In a sixteenth aspect, in the fifteenth aspect, the main body and the organic EL sheet are provided with a plurality of through holes that communicate with each other in the thickness direction. The reason is the same as that of Measure 12. In addition, in Means 17, the eye shielding member for myopia suppression described in any of Means 1 to 13 is a spectacle-type myopia progression suppression device, which has an eyeglass-like outer shape with left and right rims for fitting lenses, a bridge connecting the rims, and temples extending rearward from the left and right rims, and the main body made of an opaque material with an organic EL sheet attached to the eyeball side is fitted into the rims. Such eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression devices have no contact with the eyelids, whether the eyes are closed or open, making them less uncomfortable to wear even during myopia suppression treatment. Furthermore, even when the eyes are opened, the view in front of the eyes is essentially obscured, preventing the view from being seen and impairing the therapeutic effect of the retina. The reason they are called "eyeglass-type" is because, unlike eyeglasses, they are not devices that allow corrected vision through lenses. While the main body is not a lens that fits into the rim, it is a lens-like component whose outer shape is machined to fit the rim. Furthermore, to achieve the pinhole effect mentioned above, it is preferable for the main body to be opaque. In addition, in Measure 18, in Measure 17, a plurality of through holes communicating in the thickness direction are provided in the main body and the organic EL sheet. The reason is the same as that of Measure 12. In addition, in a 19th aspect of the present invention, in the 17th and 18th aspects, the through-hole is circular and has a diameter of 1.5 mm or less. The reason is the same as that of Measure 13. In addition, in means 20, the main body and the organic EL sheet are attached to a transparent plate. Even though the main body and the OLED sheet are not thick, by being attached to the transparent plate, the main body and the OLED sheet are less likely to bend or flex. In addition, in means 21, the main body is a transparent plate, and the organic EL sheet is attached to the transparent plate. Even if the organic EL sheet is not thick, by adhering it to a transparent plate, the organic EL sheet is less likely to warp or bend. In addition, in a 22nd aspect of the present invention, in any of the 17th to 21st aspects, the main body and the organic EL sheet are provided with a plurality of through holes that communicate with each other in the thickness direction. The reason is the same as that of Measure 12. The inventions described in each of the above means can be combined in any way. For example, it is possible to combine all or part of the configuration of the invention described in means 1 with at least part of the configuration of at least one invention from means 2 onwards. In particular, it is preferable to combine the invention described in means 1 with at least part of the configuration of at least one invention from means 2 onwards. Furthermore, any configuration may be extracted from the inventions described in means 1 to 22 and combined with the extracted configurations. The applicant of the present application intends to obtain rights to inventions including these configurations. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, by wearing the eye shielding member, the wearer (patient) can irradiate the fundus retina with red light to near-infrared light regardless of whether the eyes are closed or open, which is a simple means of suppressing the progression of the wearer's myopia and restoring overall visual function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a front view of an eye mask for suppressing myopia according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is a back view of the same eye mask for suppressing myopia. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement of an organic EL sheet inside the eye mask for myopia prevention according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the internal structure of the eye mask for suppressing myopia according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A is a perspective view of an organic EL sheet used in an eye mask for suppressing myopia according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a side cross-sectional view of the same. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the eye mask for suppressing myopia according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1(a) is a front view of an eye mask for suppressing myopia according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is a back view of the same eye mask for suppressing myopia. [Figure 7] 1A is a bottom view of an organic EL sheet used in an eye mask for myopia prevention according to embodiments 2 and 3, and FIG. 1B is a back view of the same. [Figure 8] 10(a) is a front view of an eye mask for suppressing myopia according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 10(b) is a back view of the same eye mask for suppressing myopia. [Figure 9] 6A is a partially omitted cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 6 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a partially omitted cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 8 according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of an eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device for suppressing myopia according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 10 according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an organic EL sheet used in an eye mask for suppressing myopia according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] 10A is a side view of an organic EL sheet used in an eye mask for myopia prevention according to another embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the same. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device for suppressing myopia. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the eye mask for suppressing myopia will be described with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), an eye mask for myopia prevention (hereinafter referred to as "eye mask") 1 has a basic external configuration consisting of a mask body 2 and a rubber band 3. As shown in Figure 3, the mask body 2 has a bag-like storage space S formed inside by sewing the entire edges of two flexible fabrics, the front and back fabrics 2a and 2b. The front fabric 2a of the mask body 2 is made of a light-impermeable fabric made of padded cotton, while the back fabric 2b is made of a highly light-transmitting fabric that allows sufficient light to pass through the gaps in the loosely woven yarn. In a plan view, the mask body 2 has a pea-shaped shape with both ends tapered, and buckles 4 are attached to the ends of both ends. One end of the rubber band 3 serving as a holding means is fixed to the mask body 2, and the other end is threaded through the buckle 4 and held at a desired length. The mask body 2 has an opening (not shown) along the periphery near the buckle 4, which is opened and closed by a zipper (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, an organic EL sheet 5 is accommodated in the accommodation space S of the mask main body 2. The organic EL sheet 5 is accommodated in the accommodation space S through an entrance (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the organic EL sheet 5 is composed of two main light-emitting surfaces 5A of the same shape, formed in a spherical crown shape, on the left and right, and a bridge-like connecting portion 5B connecting the main light-emitting surfaces 5A. The curved surface of the main light-emitting surface 5A has a curvature similar to that of the human eyeball. When accommodated in the mask main body 2, the two main light-emitting surfaces 5A are positioned to face the left and right eyeballs of the wearer, with their concave surfaces facing the lining cloth 2b. A power supply cable 6 extends from a main light-emitting surface 5A facing the entrance side of the organic EL sheet 5. The cable 6 is detachable from a connector 7. The tip of the cable 6 is connected to a control box (not shown) that houses a controller MC (described later). The organic EL sheet 5 of the present embodiment 1 is a sheet member capable of emitting red light having a peak in its radiation spectrum at a wavelength of 620±10 nm. When housed in the mask body 2, the organic EL sheet 5 is sandwiched between the outer cloth 2a and the inner cloth 2b as shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the organic EL sheet 5 is depicted as being spaced apart from the outer cloth 2a and the inner cloth 2b to make the arrangement easier to understand, but in reality, the organic EL sheet 5 is disposed in constant contact with the outer cloth 2a and the inner cloth 2b to the extent that it is partially spaced apart from them.

[0015] Next, the electrical configuration of the eye mask 1 configured as above will be described with reference to FIG. The eye mask 1 is equipped with a controller MC as a control means. The controller MC is composed of a well-known CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory such as ROM and RAM. An input switch 11, a timer 12, and a power supply unit 13 are connected to the controller MC. The timer 12 has an input section for inputting time in minute increments, and the controller MC integrates the input time using an internal counter to control the power supply time provided by the power supply unit 13. The power supply unit 13 has a battery (e.g., a dry cell or a storage battery) and a voltage stabilizer, and supplies a predetermined, suitable voltage to the organic EL sheet 5. The controller MC executes the following control based on the operation of the input switch 11 by the wearer. When the input switch 11 is input, the controller MC starts supplying power from the power supply unit 13 to the organic EL sheet 5. At the same time as the start of power supply, the controller MC starts counting time and determines whether the input time of the timer 12 has arrived, and if the input time has arrived, stops the power supply and turns off the organic EL sheet 5. On the other hand, if no time has been set for the timer 12, the controller MC stops the power supply and turns off the organic EL sheet 5 after a predetermined time (for example, one hour) has elapsed.

[0016] With the above-described configuration, the eye mask 1 of the first embodiment has the following advantages. (1) Wearing the eye mask 1 described above can slow the progression of myopia, particularly in patients with progressive myopia, and improve overall visual function. Wearing the eye mask 1 naturally causes people to close their eyes, but red light has a wavelength that easily passes through the eyelids and reaches the retina at the back of the eye, so the red light is not blocked by closing the eyes. (2) The organic EL sheet 5 has a curved main light-emitting surface 5A located just in front of the eyelid, so that the main light-emitting surface 5A surrounds the front of the eyelid along the approximate line of the eyeball, making it easier for the emitted light to reach the retina at the back of the eye. (3) The organic EL sheet 5 is thin and therefore easily bends, and the mask body 2 is flexible, so that when the eye mask 1 is worn, the mask body 2 can bend along the curves of the face with the organic EL sheet 5 housed inside.

[0017] <Embodiment 2> As shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), an eye mask for preventing myopia (hereinafter referred to as "eye mask") 21 has a basic external shape consisting of a mask body 22 and rubber bands 23. The mask body 22, made of vinyl chloride, has a pea-shaped shape with both left and right sides and the center tapered in a plan view, and rubber eyelets 24 are formed on both the tapered left and right sides by welding. As in the embodiment, the mask body 22 has an outer cloth 22a made of a non-transparent fabric, and a lining cloth 22b made of a highly translucent fabric that allows sufficient light to pass through the gaps in the loosely woven yarn. Two holes 25, one above the other, are formed in the left and right eyelets 24, and rubber bands 23 serving as retention means are hung through the holes 25 in the left and right eyelets 24. An organic EL sheet 27 is housed in the mask body 22. As shown in Fig. 7(b), the organic EL sheet 27 of the second embodiment is a flexible thin plate configured in a flat, uncurved shape, unlike that of the first embodiment, and is cut to the shape of the mask body 22 excluding the rubber threading portion 24, as shown in Fig. 7(a). Similar to the first embodiment, the organic EL sheet 27 of the second embodiment is a sheet member capable of emitting red light having a peak in its radiation spectrum at a wavelength of 620±10 nm. In the present embodiment 2, unlike the embodiment 1, the organic EL sheet 27 is adhered and fixed to the front cloth 22a and the back cloth 22b with a transparent adhesive. Fig. 9(a) shows the state in which the organic EL sheet 27 is sandwiched between the front cloth 22a and the back cloth 22b (the adhesive layer is not shown).

[0018] The eye mask 21 of the second embodiment has a plurality of (24 in this example) circular through-holes 28 formed through the front and back fabrics 22a and 22b and the organic EL sheet 27 sandwiched therebetween. In the second embodiment, the through-holes 28 have a diameter of 1.5 mm. The through-holes 28 are spaced apart and scattered in an area of ​​the mask body 22 that corresponds to the front of the eyes when the eye mask 21 is worn. A power supply cable 6 similar to that of the first embodiment extends from the organic EL sheet 5. The cable 6 is detachable from the connector 7. The cable 6 is connected to a control box (not shown) that houses a controller MC. The electrical configuration of the eye mask 21 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described here.

[0019] With the above-described configuration, the eye mask 21 of the second embodiment has the same effect as the first embodiment, in addition to which the viewer can see the scenery through the group of through-holes 28, and the depth of focus is deep because the viewer looks through the narrow group of through-holes 28. Therefore, even if the wearer normally wears vision correction glasses and has difficulty seeing the scenery with the naked eye, the pinhole effect allows the wearer to see the surroundings as if wearing a kind of pinhole glasses.

[0020] <Third Embodiment> The third embodiment is a variation of the second embodiment. The same components as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the eye mask for myopia prevention (hereinafter referred to as "eye mask") 31 of embodiment 3 has a basic external shape consisting of a mask body 22 and a rubber band 23. In embodiment 3, the difference from embodiment 2 is the through-holes 32 that penetrate the outer cloth 22a, the inner cloth 22b, and the organic EL sheet 32 ​​sandwiched between them. Figure 9(b) shows a state in which the organic EL sheet 27 is sandwiched between the outer cloth 22a and the inner cloth 22b (adhesive layer not shown). In embodiment 3, a row of circular through-holes 32 is formed at equal intervals in the lateral direction (horizontal direction) in the mask body 22, near the position in front of the eyeballs when a person wears the eye mask 31. The diameter of the through-holes 32 is 1.0 mm. This configuration also produces the same pinhole effect as in the second embodiment, making it possible to see the surroundings as if using a kind of pinhole glasses.

[0021] <Fourth Embodiment> In the fourth embodiment, the present invention is realized in the form of eyeglasses. As shown in FIG. 10, an eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35 includes left and right rims (frames) 36 and a bridge 37 connecting the rims 36, with a main plate 38 fitted within the rims 36. When used as eyeglasses, a spherical lens is usually fitted within the rim 36, but in this embodiment, a main plate 38 made of plastic (polycarbonate in the fourth embodiment) that conforms to the frame shape of the rim 36 and curves outward like a meniscus lens is used. The main plate 38 is opaque and black (although it is not painted black in the illustration). Temples 40 extend rearward via end pieces 39 at the left and right ends of the rim 36. As shown in Fig. 11, an organic EL sheet 41 is attached to the inner surface (eyeball side) of the main plate 38. The organic EL sheet 41 is fixed to the main plate 38 with a transparent adhesive (not shown). As shown in Fig. 12, the organic EL sheet 41 is cut into a shape that follows the inner periphery of the left and right rims 36, that is, into a shape that corresponds to the exposed portion of the main plate 38 inside the rim 36, and the cut left and right organic EL sheets 41 are connected at a position that corresponds to the bridge 37. Like the organic EL sheet 41 of the first embodiment, the organic EL sheet 41 of the fourth embodiment is a sheet member that can irradiate red light having a peak in its radiation spectrum at a wavelength of 620±10 nm.

[0022] In the eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35 of embodiment 4, a group of multiple circular through-holes 39 is formed so as to penetrate the main plate 38 and the organic EL sheet 41. In embodiment 4, the through-holes 39 have a diameter of 1.5 mm. The group of through-holes 39 are scattered and evenly spaced apart from one another over the entire area of ​​the main plate 38 exposed within the rim 36. As shown in FIG. 12, a power supply cable 6 similar to that of embodiment 1 extends from the organic EL sheet 41. The cable 6 is detachable from the connector 7. The cable 6 is connected to a control box (not shown) that houses a controller MC. The electrical configuration of the eye mask 21 of embodiment 2 is the same as that of embodiment 1, and therefore will not be described here. With the above-described configuration, the eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35 of the fourth embodiment has the following effects. (1) By wearing the above-described eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35, it is possible to suppress the progression of myopia in patients with progressive myopia and restore overall visual function. In this case, the main plate 38 is positioned away from the eye, so the main plate 38 does not come into contact with the eyelid, allowing the wearer to use the device with their eyes closed or open. (2) When wearing the eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35, the viewer can see the scenery through the group of transparent holes 39, and the depth of focus is deep because the viewer looks through narrow group of transparent holes 39. Therefore, even if the wearer normally wears vision correction glasses and has difficulty seeing the scenery with the naked eye, the pinhole effect allows the wearer to see the surroundings as if wearing a kind of pinhole glasses.

[0023] The above-described embodiment has been described merely as a specific embodiment for illustrating the principles and concepts of the present invention. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The present invention can also be embodied in modified forms, for example, as follows. The shape of the mask body 2 in the above embodiment is an example, and other designs may be used. The shape of the organic EL sheet 5 housed in the mask body 2 is also an example. In the organic EL sheet 5 of the above embodiment, the main light emitting surface 5A is configured to be curved in a spherical crown shape, but it may be configured to be dome-shaped instead of spherical crown-shaped. In the organic EL sheet 5 of the above embodiment, the main light-emitting surface 5A is spherical, i.e., curved. However, as in the second embodiment, it may be flat, without being curved. A flat shape does not provide resistance when bending the mask body 2, allowing the organic EL sheet to bend along with the mask body 2, making it easier to conform to the curves of the face when using the eye mask 1. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the flat organic EL sheet 15 may be curved into an arch shape. In this case, it is preferable to use it so that the curved surface is oriented left and right. Bending the organic EL sheet 15 in this direction makes it easier to bend the eye mask 1 along the curves of the face when using it. In the above-described embodiment, the organic EL sheet 5 is accommodated in the mask body 2, 22, 32, but the mask body 2, 22, 32 may be made of a single piece of cloth and may be directly attached to the inner surface (eyeball side). The number, size, and arrangement area of ​​the through-holes 28, 32, 39 for achieving the pinhole effect are merely examples. For example, the group of through-holes 28 in embodiment 2 may be expanded to a wider area. Also, while only one horizontal row is used in embodiment 3, there may be multiple rows. The shape of the through-holes may also be configured as other shapes, such as oval or square. In embodiment 4, the group of through-holes 39 is arranged over the entire area of ​​the main body plate 38, but this does not have to be the entire area. For example, they may be limited to only the area in front of the eyeball when facing forward. The eye masks 21, 31 and the eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35 of the second to fourth embodiments may be configured without the through holes 28, 32, 39 that serve as pinholes. The main body plate 38 of the eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35 of the fourth embodiment may be a member that exhibits a dark color other than black. In the eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device 35 of embodiment 4, the main plate 38 has a predetermined thickness sufficient to maintain its shape when the organic EL sheet 41 is attached to the main plate 38. However, the main plate 38 may be made thinner (and colored a dark color) and attached to a transparent plastic lens-like substrate 45 as shown in Figure 14. The lens-like substrate 45 is a lens-shaped component that fits snugly into the rim 36 like a lens, with a convex surface on the outside and a concave surface on the inside, like a meniscus lens. In this way, the through-holes 39 are blocked by the lens-like substrate 45 to prevent air from passing through. In FIG. 14, the organic EL sheet 41 is attached to the main plate 38, which is then attached to the lens-like substrate 45. However, it is also possible to use the lens-like substrate 45 as the main body without using the main plate 38, and to attach the organic EL sheet 41 having the group of through holes 39 formed therein directly to the lens-like substrate 45. The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments. The components of each embodiment and variation may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment or variation may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the Summary of the Invention, or any component embodying any component described in the Summary of the Invention. The present invention also intends to obtain rights to these by filing an amendment or divisional application of this application. Furthermore, the applicant intends to obtain rights to the overall design or partial design by filing a conversion application to a design application. The drawings depict the entire device in solid lines, but they also include partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, a partial design may be a partial design for a part of the device, or a partial design may be included for a part of the device regardless of the part. A partial design may be a part of the device, or a part of that part. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1, 21, 31...eye mask as eye shielding member, 35...glasses-type myopia progression suppression device as eye shielding member, 2, 22...main body, 5, 15, 27, 41...organic EL sheet.

Claims

1. An eye shielding member for myopia suppression that is placed in front of the eye to improve blood flow in the fundus retina, characterized in that an organic EL sheet that emits red to near-infrared light is disposed on the main body so that the emitted light is irradiated toward the eyeball.

2. 2. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 1, wherein the red light emitted from said organic EL sheet has a peak in the radiation spectrum at a wavelength of 620±10 nm to 670±10 nm.

3. 2. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 1, wherein the near-infrared light emitted from said organic EL sheet has a peak in the radiation spectrum at a wavelength longer than 750 nm.

4. 2. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 1, wherein the illuminance of the light emitted by the organic EL sheet when disposed on the main body is 100 lux or more.

5. An eye shielding member for suppressing myopia as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the organic EL sheet is equipped with a control unit and a power supply unit, and the control unit controls the organic EL sheet to supply power from the power supply unit for a predetermined period of time to emit light, and then stops the power supply and turns off the light.

6. 6. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 5, further comprising an adjusting means for adjusting the predetermined time.

7. The area of ​​the organic EL sheet used per eye is 9 cm ２ The eye shielding member for suppressing myopia according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

8. 5. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 1, wherein the organic EL sheet is curved in a spherical crown shape, an arch shape, or a dome shape along the curve of the eyelid surface.

9. 2. The eye shielding member for suppressing myopia according to claim 1, wherein the organic EL sheet is accommodated in a space surrounded by a bag-shaped fabric member.

10. An eye shielding member for suppressing myopia as described in any one of claims 1 to 4 and claim 9, characterized in that the cloth member placed between the organic EL sheet and the eyelid allows the emitted light of the organic EL sheet to pass outward through gaps in the threads that make up the cloth member.

11. 5. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with a holding means for holding the main body on the human head.

12. 4. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 1, wherein the main body and the organic EL sheet are provided with a plurality of through holes communicating in the thickness direction.

13. 13. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 12, wherein the through hole is circular and has a diameter of 1.5 mm or less.

14. 13. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention according to claim 12, wherein the illuminance of the light emitted by the organic EL sheet when disposed on the main body does not reach 100 lux.

15. 4. An eye mask for suppressing myopia, wherein the eye shielding member for suppressing myopia according to claim 1 is an eye mask.

16. 16. The eye mask for suppressing myopia according to claim 15, wherein the main body and the organic EL sheet are provided with a plurality of through holes that communicate with each other in the thickness direction.

17. The eye shielding member for myopia prevention described in any one of claims 1 to 3 has an outer shape similar to that of a pair of glasses, with left and right rims for fitting lenses, a bridge connecting the rims, and temples extending rearward from the left and right rims, and the main body with an organic EL sheet attached to the eyeball side is fitted into the rims. This is an eyeglass-type myopia progression prevention device.

18. 18. The eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device according to claim 17, wherein the main body and the organic EL sheet are provided with a plurality of through-holes that communicate with each other in the thickness direction.

19. 18. The eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device according to claim 17, wherein the through-hole is circular and has a diameter of 1.5 mm or less.

20. 18. The eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device according to claim 17, wherein the main body and the organic EL sheet are attached to a transparent plate.

21. 18. The eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device according to claim 17, wherein the main body is a transparent plate, and the organic EL sheet is attached to the transparent plate.

22. 19. The eyeglass-type myopia progression suppression device according to claim 18, wherein the main body and the organic EL sheet are provided with a plurality of through-holes that communicate with each other in the thickness direction.

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