Speckle glasses for preventing and / or delaying progression of myopia

Abstract

The progression of myopia can be delayed and / or prevented by projecting speckle light onto the eyes of a subject. Such speckle light may be directed to the subject using a wearable ophthalmic device including one or more light sources on and / or within a frame to generate an optical signal corresponding to one or more colors within the range of the visible light spectrum. The frame may include a substrate layer for receiving the optical signal, forming a speckle pattern of the optical signal, and transmitting the speckle pattern toward the pupil of each eye of the subject. The speckle pattern can have a spatial frequency of high contrast features to protect against elongation, can be directed toward an area around the pupil to protect against elongation, and can be used in combination with corrective lenses and / or non-corrective lenses.

Description

Speckle glasses for preventing and / or slowing the progression of myopia

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to speckle glasses for preventing and / or slowing the progression of myopia. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to "speckle glasses," which are wearable devices (e.g., eyeglasses) that can present high-contrast patterns (or "speckles") to a wearer's peripheral retina to prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia.

[0002] Myopia, or nearsightedness, is an increasingly prevalent refractive error that tends to develop in childhood but can occur at any age. Myopia typically occurs when the eye elongates more than normal, from front to back. Eye elongation is typically controlled in a closed-loop manner in a process called emmetropization, where the eye stops elongating once the image formed by the cornea and lens is focused on the retina. In addition to blurred vision, myopia increases the risk of many vision-threatening symptoms, likely related to the pathological physical aspects of the myopic eye. Conventional single-vision eyeglasses and contact lenses are designed to provide on-axis correction to improve focus on the retina's visual axis and to improve blurred vision at or near the fovea. In many cases, conventional corrective lenses do not address the underlying cause of myopia progression. In fact, single-vision corrective lenses often inadequately focus light around the retina, either through overcorrection or undercorrection. Theories of myopia progression propose that loss of contrast in the peripheral retina is the cause of eye length elongation, and that hyperopic defocus due to overcorrection in the peripheral retina is the cause of continued myopia progression even after correction of axial myopia with prescription glasses.

[0003] The present disclosure aims to provide "speckle glasses," which are wearable devices (e.g., eyeglasses) that can present high-contrast patterns (or "speckles") to a wearer's peripheral retina to slow the progression of myopia, as described below. The speckles can be presented to the wearer's peripheral retina in a manner that is independent of peripheral refractive state, and the treatment is compatible with conventional prescription lenses.

[0004] In one aspect, the present disclosure includes a wearable ophthalmic device for providing a high-contrast speckle pattern of light to a pupil of a wearer. The wearable ophthalmic device includes at least one lens and a frame configured to hold the at least one lens in front of at least one eye of the wearer to prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia in the at least one eye. The frame includes a substrate layer and can include one or more light sources within and / or on the frame. Each of the one or more light sources can be configured to generate a light signal corresponding to a color within the visible light spectrum. The substrate layer receives the light signals from the one or more light sources, forms a speckle pattern of the light signals, and transmits the speckle pattern of the light signals toward the pupil of the wearer (particularly toward the peripheral retina).

[0005] In another aspect, the present disclosure includes an eyeglass frame capable of holding at least one lens in front of at least one eye of a wearer. The eyeglass frame includes a front plate that holds the at least one lens in front of the at least one eye, a substrate layer, and at least one arm extending from a side edge of the front plate to hold the eyeglass frame on the wearer's head. The eyeglass frame includes one or more light sources enclosed within the eyeglass frame, each of the one or more light sources generating a light signal corresponding to a color within the visible light spectrum. The substrate layer receives the light signals from the one or more light sources, forms a speckle pattern of the light signals, and transmits the speckle pattern of the light signals toward the pupil of the wearer's at least one eye (particularly toward the peripheral retina) to prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia in the at least one eye.

[0006] The present disclosure also includes methods for using such wearable ophthalmic devices to deliver high-contrast speckle patterns of light to the pupil of a wearer to prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia in at least one eye.

[0007] The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0008] 1 is a diagram of a wearable ophthalmic device for preventing and / or slowing the progression of myopia. 2 is a diagram of an example of the wearable ophthalmic device of FIG. 1 implemented as glasses. 3 is a view of a portion of the glasses of FIG. 2 from the wearer's perspective. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the glasses of FIG. 2. 5 is a cutaway plan view of a portion of the glasses showing an example of how light passes through the glasses. 6 is a rotated cutaway plan view of a portion of the glasses highlighting scattering surfaces. 7 is a cutaway plan view of a portion of the glasses including multiple light sources. 8 is a diagram of an example system for controlling glasses. 9 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for controlling an optical signal delivered to at least one eye of a wearer.

[0009] The present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the following embodiments, and various modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0010] I. Definitions Unless defined otherwise, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

[0011] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" can include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0012] As used herein, the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" may specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups.

[0013] As used herein, the term "and / or" may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0014] As used herein, terms such as "first," "second," etc., do not limit the elements described by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a "first" element described below could also be referred to as a "second" element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. The order of operations (or acts / steps) is not limited to the order shown in the claims or figures, unless otherwise specified.

[0015] As used herein, the term "myopia," also known as "nearsightedness," refers to a general vision condition in which near (proximal) objects are seen clearly, while distant objects appear blurred. Myopia can be classified as axial, resulting from an increase in the axial length of the retina, and / or refractive, resulting from the condition of the refractive elements of the eye. The related adjective relating to or having myopia is "myopic."

[0016] As used herein, the terms "speckle" and / or "speckle pattern" refer to a high-contrast, random intensity pattern formed by the mutual interference of a series of wavefronts with different phases and / or path lengths between a light source and a receiver. A speckle pattern can be formed by directing highly coherent light (e.g., from a laser producing low-intensity, long-coherence light) onto a surface with a complex, rough structure. The light scatters from the complex, rough surface to form a high-contrast speckle pattern. This phenomenon results from the interference of various reflected portions of the incident beam with random relative optical phases.

[0017] As used herein, the term "scattering" refers to disrupting an optical signal such that at least a portion of the optical signal is forced to deviate from a straight-line trajectory within the medium. Reflection of an optical signal that has undergone scattering is often referred to as diffuse reflection, while reflection that is not scattered is referred to as specular (mirror-like) reflection. Examples of features within a medium that can cause scattering include, without limitation, particles, bubbles, droplets, density variations in a fluid, microcrystals in a polycrystalline solid, defects in a single-crystal solid, surface roughness, or other irregularities.

[0018] As used herein, the terms "total internal reflection" and / or "TIR" refer to the phenomenon where a wave (e.g., one or more rays of light) travels through a first medium and, upon reaching the interface / boundary between the first and second medium, is completely reflected from the interface back into the first medium without being redirected into the second medium. TIR can occur when the angle of incidence of light on a surface is greater than the critical angle (the smallest angle of incidence that results in total internal reflection and / or the largest angle at which there are refracted rays). As an example, TIR can occur at the boundary between two transparent media when a ray of light in the medium with the higher refractive index approaches the other medium at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle for that wavelength and material.

[0019] As used herein, the terms "incidence angle" and "angle of incidence" refer to the angle between a ray of light incident on a surface and a line (called the normal) perpendicular (at a 90 degree angle) to the surface at the point of incidence.

[0020] As used herein, the terms "wearable device" and "wearable ophthalmic device" refer to a device that can be worn on a user's body and that can affect the user's vision. One example of a wearable device is eyeglasses. Other examples include, without limitation, monoculars, goggles, visors, AR / VR headsets, etc.

[0021] As used herein, the term "eyeglasses" has a meaning similar to the terms "spectacle" and "glasses" and refers to one or more lenses attached to a frame that holds one or more lenses in front of a person's eye, each lens having at least one arm (typically two arms) that extends over the wearer's ear. Eyeglasses can be used to correct or treat low vision (e.g., nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, etc.), as sunglasses, safety glasses, and / or simply for aesthetic purposes.

[0022] As used herein, the term "frame" refers to a device and / or mechanism designed to hold one or more lenses in place on a person's head so that the lenses are in front of the person's eyes. Frames come in a variety of styles, sizes, materials, shapes, and colors. Typically, a frame includes at least a bridge over the nose, a rim that rests around at least a portion of each of one or more lenses (typically two lenses) to hold the one or more lenses in the frame, and hinged arms (or temples / temple pieces) that extend from the side portions of the rim to the temple tips during use and rest over and / or around a portion of the user's ears. A frame can also be described as having at least one arm and a front plate that surrounds at least the rim and bridge.

[0023] As used herein, the terms "user," "subject," "wearer," and "patient" may be used interchangeably and refer to any warm-blooded organism capable of wearing a wearable device, such as, but not limited to, humans, pigs, rats, mice, dogs, cats, goats, sheep, horses, monkeys, apes, rabbits, cows, etc.

[0024] [II. Overview] Myopia, the most common refractive error worldwide, tends to develop in childhood but can occur at any age and gradually worsens if left untreated. The more severely myopic a person is, the more likely they are to experience serious eye problems, including glaucoma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and cataracts. For myopic patients, light focuses in front of the retina, resulting in blurred, out-of-focus vision when viewing distant objects. This loss of contrast on the retina has been shown to contribute to axial elongation of myopia. While traditional single-vision corrective lenses improve contrast on the retina's visual axis and reduce blurred vision, they leave the periphery out of focus. This defocusing of the periphery can cause the retina to continue elongating, potentially worsening myopia over time. Essentially, traditional prescription eyeglasses only address symptoms but may not address the biological causes of myopia for many individuals. Indeed, theories of myopia progression propose that hyperopic defocus in the peripheral retina is a factor in the continued progression of myopia even after axial myopia has been addressed with prescription glasses. Furthermore, existing phototherapy products focus on intensity and wavelength, but neglect to control the contrast and spatial frequency of the delivered light.

[0025] As described herein, the present disclosure relates to "speckle glasses," which are wearable devices (e.g., eyeglasses) capable of presenting high-contrast patterns (or "speckles") to a wearer's peripheral retina to prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia. The "speckle glasses" can be used in conjunction with / on existing wearable devices (also referred to as "wearables"), with or without corrective lenses. Such wearables can be worn throughout the activities of daily living without requiring the user to significantly change their habits, sit still for any length of time, and / or undergo any pharmaceutical-based treatment. The "speckle glasses" can provide low-intensity, high-contrast speckle patterns with a given range of spatial frequencies in the visible light spectrum that can be directed to the eye (particularly the peripheral retina) to protect against elongation.

[0026] III. SYSTEM One aspect of the present disclosure includes a wearable ophthalmic device 10 (FIG. 1) that can be worn by a wearer (not shown) to prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia in at least one of the wearer's eyes. The wearable ophthalmic device 10 can deliver a high-contrast speckle pattern of light to at least a portion of the wearer's eye (not shown), thereby at least partially preventing and / or slowing the progression of myopia. In some cases, the portion of the wearer's eye may include a peripheral retina, and the high-contrast speckle pattern of light can be delivered regardless of the refractive state of the peripheral retina. The wearable ophthalmic device 10 can provide both contrast and a spatial frequency range that can prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia due to at least peripheral retinal elongation. It should be understood that the wearable ophthalmic device 10 can be in the form of a device worn on a user's body to affect the user's vision (e.g., eyeglasses (as shown in FIGS. 2-8), monoculars, goggles, a visor, an AR / VR headset, etc.). In some cases, the wearable ocular device may be at least partially incorporated into at least a portion of a soft and / or hard contact lens. The wearable ocular device 10 may be worn by a wearer continuously throughout the day and / or periodically at one or more predetermined times throughout the day.

[0027] The wearable ophthalmic device 10 can include a frame 12 and one or more light sources 18 that can be positioned to send one or more light signals to at least a portion of the frame 12. The frame 12 can hold one or more lenses 14 and can include a substrate layer 16 (e.g., located on an inner surface of a front plate of the frame 12). The one or more light sources 18 can each generate one or more light signals that can correspond to colors within the visible light spectrum. The one or more light sources 18 can send the light signals (shown as arrows) to the substrate layer 16 within the frame 12. The substrate layer 16 can receive the light signals, form a speckle pattern of the light signals, and transmit the speckle pattern of the light signals toward a pupil (not shown) of the wearer.

[0028] In some cases, one or more light sources 18 can transmit at least a portion of one or more optical signals (long-coherence visible light signals) to the substrate layer 16 (shown as arrows). The substrate layer 16 can, by way of example, have at least one scattering feature. However, it should be understood that, more generally, any portion of the frame 12 can have at least one scattering feature, and one or more light sources 18 can transmit at least a portion of one or more optical signals to the frame 12. As previously mentioned, the one or more optical signals can have long / high (used interchangeably throughout) coherence (e.g., 0.05 mm or more, 0.1 mm or more, 0.2 mm or more, 0.5 mm or more, 1 mm or more, etc.). The one or more optical signals can interact with the at least one scattering feature to form high-contrast interference, resulting in a "speckle pattern." The phenomenon of high-contrast interference from a scattering surface can be described as laser speckle. Thus, the speckle pattern is formed by multiple path lengths (e.g., path lengths that differ by up to several millimeters) taken by the scattered long-coherence light. In some cases, the speckle pattern may appear as a fine grained texture that appears at least partially detached from the surface of the frame 12 .

[0029] In one example, the substrate layer 16 can cause partial and / or total internal reflection (TIR) ​​of the optical signal, allowing the reflected optical signal to form a speckle pattern that can illuminate at least a portion of the wearer's retina. The portion of the wearer's retina can, for example, correspond to where the wearer of the frame 12 typically views the frame (e.g., around the peripheral retina, depending on where the user is looking through the lens). The speckle pattern of the optical signal can be delivered to the pupil from multiple angles. The speckle pattern of the optical signal can be distributed across a range of visual angles as the wearer's gaze moves across the external visual scene (e.g., up, down, right, left, etc.). The speckle pattern of the optical signal delivered to the wearer's eye can, for example, prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia by providing high-contrast visual stimulation to at least one peripheral portion of the retina.

[0030] 2 illustrates a pair of eyeglasses 20 (interchangeably referred to as "eyeglasses") illustrating an example of a wearable ophthalmic device. The eyeglasses 20 can be configured to be worn by a wearer (not shown) and can include one or more lenses 14 (shown as two lenses) and a frame 12 (having a substrate 16 covering at least a portion of the inside of the frame 12 and one or more light sources 18 within and / or on the frame). The eyeglasses 20 can also receive power from a power source 22. The eyeglasses 20 can be customized for a single wearer and / or can be interchangeable between different wearers (e.g., sized to fit a group of wearers). The eyeglasses 20 can be any typical pair of eyeglasses, but as shown, can include one or more lenses 14 held in place by a frame 12. The frame 12 has at least two hinged arms (hinges not shown for ease of illustration) and a front plate (not numbered, but which may include a nosepiece, bridge, and / or rim that holds the lenses 14 within the frame 12). The front plate may, by way of example, have a wearer / inner side and / or face and an outer side / front and / or face that faces away from the wearer. Any commonly known eyeglass shape and / or configuration having at least a partial rim around the lenses 14 is contemplated (e.g., cat-eye, round, rectangular, square, etc.). The one or more lenses 14 (shown as two lenses) may be prescription and / or non-prescription lenses (glass and / or plastic). The one or more lenses 14 may, for example, be one or more refractive corrective lenses. To treat existing myopia and prevent its worsening, the one or more lenses 14 may have a negative optical prescription.

[0031] As previously mentioned, the frame 12 may include a substrate layer 16, which may be within and / or on at least a portion of the portion of the frame 12 that faces the eye (e.g., within / on one or more rims of the frame 12). For example, the substrate layer 16 may be disposed along at least a portion of the periphery of at least one lens 14 (e.g., within / on one or more rims). In another example, the substrate layer 16 may be within at least a portion of the rim as well as at least a portion of the arms of the frame 12. The substrate layer 16 may include multiple portions disposed within the frame (e.g., equidistantly spaced portions along at least a portion of the periphery of at least one lens 14). The substrate layer 16 may be at least partially optically transparent to emit light (e.g., a speckle pattern of optical signals) to at least one eye of the wearer. The substrate layer 16 may include at least one scattering feature to form a speckle pattern from an optical signal emitted into the substrate layer by the light source 18. The front surface of the frame 12 (not shown in FIG. 2 ), facing away from the user, may optionally include another layer, which may be opaque and / or partially opaque. Other layers can be used, for example, for aesthetic purposes, as additional redirection / refraction / scattering sources, and / or to block light from escaping the eyeglasses 20 away from the wearer. Other layers can also block ambient light from entering the frame 12 and toward the substrate layer 16.

[0032] One or more light sources (represented as light sources 18) can be disposed on and / or within the frame 12. For example, light source 18 is shown as one or more light sources represented as a single light source disposed within and / or on the arm of the frame 12 facing the user's face. In another example, additional and / or alternative light sources (not shown) can be disposed on and / or within the frame on the same arm as shown, on the other arm, or around the rim. In a further example, additional and / or alternative light sources (not shown) can be provided on an outer portion of the frame 12 and / or one of the lenses 14 (e.g., emitting toward at least a portion of the lens and / or frame rather than toward the user's eyes). Light source 18 can be configured to send one or more optical signals (having high coherence) at multiple (e.g., two or more) angles and / or positions along the circumference of one or more lenses 14. Light source 18 can be, for example, a laser diode, a VCSEL, and / or a compact, efficient laser, each capable of emitting light in a narrow band of colors. The light source 18 can emit a single color at a time, but can also be configured to emit multiple colors with varying power and / or intensity. The wavelength and power of the light source 18 can be selected (e.g., by a switch, controller, etc.) based on aesthetic reasons, ambient light, and requirements for least variability while most efficient. In one example, the light source 18 can be controlled to turn on and off at a given frequency, and the frequency can be timed to achieve a therapeutic effect faster than the brain can perceive light. In another example, the intensity of the light signal can be controlled to be below, equal to, or not significantly above (e.g., within 10%, 5%, 1%, etc.) the intensity of any ambient light to prevent the therapy from interfering with the wearer's daily activities and comfort. For example, one or more light sources 18 can be configured to have a brightness of 0.040 to 10,000 cd / m ２(cd = candela) and can form one or more light signals with long coherence (e.g., 0.05 mm or greater, 0.1 mm or greater, 0.2 mm or greater, 0.5 mm or greater, 1 mm or greater, etc.) In another example, the illuminance at the wearer's retina can be between 0 and 10,000 lux.

[0033] At least a portion of the frame 12 can function as a light pipe, transmitting light from one or more light sources 18 around the frame. In one example, the substrate layer 16 can function as a light pipe. In another example, the exterior surface of the frame 12 can be a smooth surface with a transparent substrate facing the wearer, a tinted exterior cosmetic surface facing outward, and a significant scattering surface (e.g., substrate 16) sandwiched inside the frame between the smooth substrate facing the wearer and the exterior cosmetic surface. Any optical signal that strikes the interior of the smooth surface at a glancing angle can be totally internally reflected back into the frame 12 and further scattered around the substrate 16 by redirecting the scattering surface (by the substrate acting as a light pipe). This continues until the optical signal exits the smooth surface by intersecting the smooth surface at a substantially perpendicular angle (e.g., "substantially" can mean a variation of up to 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 2 degrees, 1 degree, less than 1 degree, etc., or a variation of zero or nearly zero). The purpose of the scattering surface is to create paths for optical signals of multiple interfering path lengths and spread the light over a range of angles. However, it should be understood that in addition or instead, the optical signal may be reflected from the surface of the lens plate instead of being sent through the plate as a light pipe.

[0034] Optical signals with long coherence can form high-contrast interference even when the path lengths taken by the light are very different. The coherence length (L) can be strongly dependent on the wavelength (λ). ｇ is the group refractive index of the medium.

[0035]

[0036] Each of the one or more light sources 18 can generate at least one optical signal having a narrow wavelength band of light of a single color (e.g., the wavelength band can be 3 nm or less, 2 nm or less, 1 nm or less, 0.5 nm or less, 0.1 nm or less, etc.). For example, green light with a center wavelength of 530 nm and a bandwidth of 1 nm has a coherence length of 124 μm. Path length variations shorter than this distance generally impede useful contrast, while path length variations significantly longer than this distance do not contribute to useful contrast. For example, a single-color generated optical signal can generate a single-color speckle pattern as output to the wearer's pupil. Such a single-color speckle pattern is a high-contrast speckle pattern. In another example, optical signals having two different narrow wavelength bands corresponding to two colors of light can be generated (e.g., from separate light sources 18). This can create a high-contrast speckle pattern so that the same photoreceptors in the eye are not simultaneously stimulated by at least two colors. The two different narrow wavelength bands can be selected to avoid signal summation of two random patterns. This generally results in lower contrast and less effective treatment than the individual patterns alone. For example, the at least two color light signals can be separated in time (e.g., emitted at different times), or the wavelengths of the at least two color light signals can be selected to minimize co-excitation of the same photoreceptors (e.g., two-color excitation with colors at opposite ends of the visible spectrum, e.g., near 450 nm and 630 nm, rather than two colors between 550 nm and 600 nm).

[0037] A speckle pattern can be formed from the optical signals of one or more light sources 18 based on the path length difference (e.g., variation) created by the substrate layer 16. Path length refers to the illumination geometry. Without being bound by theory, if the path lengths are nearly matched, the optical signals may interfere constructively. If the path length difference is half the wavelength, the path lengths may interfere completely destructively. The optical signals may continue to interfere, periodically constructively and destructively, until the path length difference between the optical signals exceeds the coherence length of the light source. In this case, the interference is randomized to the point where the intensity becomes uniform, rather than fringes. Speckle (e.g., a speckle pattern) is formed when there are multiple different random path lengths (between the matched length and the coherence length of one or more light sources) between one or more light sources and a receiver (e.g., the pupil of an eye). The path length difference can be at least as large as a quarter wavelength, preferably at least half the wavelength, or greater. After being transformed by the substrate layer 16, the light signal can reach the eye by a diffuse path that covers a range of angles (e.g., a speckle pattern), rather than being concentrated as from a point source.

[0038] Speckle can be described as interference with 100% or near-100% contrast, such that the destructive interference valley between optical signals of different path lengths is complete. Without being bound by theory, high contrast refers to a hypothetical zero-to-maximum illumination characteristic that varies between fully destructive and fully constructive interference as a rapidly changing function of observation position. Contrast can generally be defined as the illumination of an area minus the illumination of the background, all divided by the illumination of the background. The illumination of a speckle pattern can "sit" on top of any existing background illumination and can vary from nearly zero to maximum illumination (depending on the light source). Contrast can be limited by the amount of illumination that can be provided and how well the background illumination can be suppressed. For example, achieving high contrast in a speckle pattern can be problematic in bright environments (e.g., sunlight, bright lights, etc.). This is because the intensity of the background illumination on the retina (e.g., from ambient light) may require the intensity of the speckle pattern to be too bright for safety and / or comfort (e.g., as regulated by standards such as, without limitation, ISO 62471, ANZI 136, and IEC 60825) or require the generation of excessive system power. In dark environments (e.g., dim lighting, cloudy, etc.), high contrast for the speckle can be achieved in a manner that is safer and / or more comfortable and unobtrusive for the user.

[0039] The speckle pattern may include a range of spatial frequencies higher than those imparted by an unfocused illumination source. The spatial frequency distribution of the speckle pattern may be limited by the wavelength of the generated optical signal (e.g., longer wavelengths lead to lower spatial frequency speckle) and the size of the wearer's pupil if the pupil limits the angle at which the optical signal enters the eye (e.g., larger pupils lead to higher spatial frequency speckle). In one example, a contact lens (not shown) may be included to limit the pupil diameter of a child wearer (since children tend to have larger pupils) to access lower spatial frequencies.

[0040] A power source 22 and any associated circuitry can be coupled (via wired or wireless connection) to the wearable ophthalmic device 10 (of which the eyeglasses 20 are an example) to power at least one or more light sources 18. The power source 22 can be external to the eyeglasses 20, as shown, or can be located on and / or within the frame 12. The power source can be, for example, a replaceable battery, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell, etc. Although not shown, it should be understood that other circuitry can include, without limitation, an analog or digital control mechanism (e.g., on / off switch circuitry, a microcontroller, etc.), one or more sensors (e.g., an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a photodetector, etc.), connection circuitry for wired and / or wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® Low Energy, etc.) communication, etc. The eyeglasses 20 can wirelessly communicate with one or more external devices (e.g., a computer, a tablet, a smartphone, etc.) having non-transitory memory and a processor capable of executing applications related to the use of the eyeglasses.

[0041] 3 and 4 illustrate a wearer's view 30 (FIG. 3) and a plan view 40 (FIG. 4) of a portion of the exemplary eyeglasses of FIG. 2, sharing the following common features: The substrate layer (substrate layer 16 in FIG. 2) is positioned at least within the rim of frame 12 in FIGS. 3 and 4, but may be located elsewhere as described with respect to FIG. 2. For ease of illustration and explanation, one light source 18 (shown as an arrow) emitting an optical signal is shown within the arm of frame 12, although it should be understood that the light source may be one or more light sources, each emitting one or more optical signals (as described above). In some cases, substrate layer 16 may include two regions: a non-optimized region 32 and an optimized region 34 (it should be understood that substrate layer 16 is not generally shown). Both non-optimized region 32 and optimized region 34 of substrate layer 16 may utilize one or more scattering features (also referred to as irregularities 44) and total internal reflection (TIR) ​​to spread the optical signal emitted from light source 18 toward alternative angles around the wearer's pupil. The optimized region 34 can be optimized to transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signal to the eye (e.g., pupil) of the wearer of the frame 12. For example, the optimized region 34 can have a surface normal that can approximately intersect the wearer's pupil. A surface normal tilted toward the pupil can increase the likelihood that the speckle pattern will reach the pupil via refraction and TIR. In some cases, the optimized region 34 can be a light pipe that helps direct the speckle pattern to the user's pupil. The non-optimized region 32 can generally face toward the wearer without being optimized to emit a speckle pattern to illuminate the eye, and can have at least a surface normal that can increase refraction / redirection throughout the substrate layer. For example, the non-optimized region 32 can utilize TIR to suppress leakage of light that would otherwise not reach the pupil. In another example, the non-optimized region 32 can additionally and / or alternatively include one or more diffraction gratings or other features to effectively direct the beam of the optical signal at an angle different from direct reflection.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3 , the optimized regions 34 and non-optimized regions 32 of the substrate layer 16 can be disposed along the periphery of the lens 14, with the optimized regions 34 being closer to the lens than the non-optimized regions. For example, the optimized regions 34 and non-optimized regions 32 can be concentric with the lens 14, but are not required to be otherwise. For example, the non-optimized regions 32 and optimized regions 34 can have any shape and location relative to the lens 14. The non-optimized regions 32 and optimized regions 34 can be positioned, sized, and shaped uniquely for different examples of eyeglasses according to one or more requirements for forming and transmitting a speckle pattern to the wearer's pupil (e.g., differences may depend on the shape of the frame or the needs of the wearer). One or more light sources 18 can be disposed within the arms of the frame 12 and can emit optical signals toward the non-optimized regions 32 and / or the optimized regions 34 of the substrate layer 16. In some cases, the one or more light sources 18 can also emit optical signals through a portion of the arm (which may or may not include the non-optimized regions 32). It should be noted that, as shown in other figures, the substrate layer 16 may not include different optimization regions, in which case the one or more light sources 18 may emit light signals generally toward one or more scattering features and / or scattering surfaces of the substrate layer 16.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 4 , the optimized region 34 can be positioned relative to the lens such that the optimized region 34 is at least primarily on the side of the rim closest to the wearer (e.g., for peak light transmission), while the non-optimized region 32 can be at least a portion of the remainder of the rim (or the entire frame, as shown). The non-optimized region 32 can include at least one irregularity 44 (e.g., at least one scattering feature). One or more light sources 18 can emit optical signals toward the non-optimized region 32, and the non-optimized region 32 (including the at least one irregularity 44) can scatter and / or redirect the optical signals at various angles to form a speckle pattern. Once the optical signals enter the optimized region 34, the speckle pattern of the optical signals can be transmitted to the wearer's eye (e.g., pupil) at multiple angles. In one example, at least one of the substrate-to-air interfaces of the optimized region 34 has a surface normal oriented substantially toward the pupil of the wearer's eye to direct the speckle pattern of the optical signals toward the pupil. It should be understood that the speckle pattern need not be a single pattern, and the one or more speckle patterns need not be any particular pattern disclosed herein, but instead can be any speckle pattern formed at a given time from the optical signal emitted from the light source 18 (the nature of the pattern is not important as long as a speckle pattern is formed).

[0044] FIG. 4 also illustrates an opaque layer 42 (which may be optional) on the exterior of the rim of the frame 12. The opaque layer 42 may be at least partially opaque to the light signals emitted by the one or more light sources 18. The interface between the opaque layer 42 and the non-optimized region 32 of the substrate layer 16 may additionally and / or alternatively be a scattering feature. The opaque layer 42 may be aesthetic in nature (e.g., making the eyeglasses appear more like traditional eyeglasses). The opaque layer 42 may prevent all or a portion of the light signals from escaping the user. The opaque layer 42 may also prevent at least a portion of ambient light from reaching the substrate layer 16 and / or the wearer's eyes. For example, the opaque layer 42 may shield the substrate layer 16 from ambient light disrupting the high-contrast speckle pattern. Additionally and / or alternatively, the substrate layer 16 (e.g., the non-optimized region 32 and / or the optimized region 34) may include a tint to absorb ambient light, and / or the scattering features (e.g., the irregularities 44) may be angled to reduce ambient light scattering toward the eye. Although not shown, the arms of the eyeglasses may also include an opaque outer layer. In other words, the opaque layer 42 may be the fashionable outward-facing portion of the eyeglasses (visible to people other than the user wearing the eyeglasses).

[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates another example of a portion of the exemplary eyeglasses of FIG. 2 from an interior plan view 50, showing an example substrate layer 16 and including a wearer's eye 58 having a pupil 59. The substrate layer 16 illustrated and described herein may include optimized regions 34 and non-optimized regions 32, although these regions are not marked for ease of illustration and description. The substrate layer 16 may include a first surface 52 at the interface between the substrate layer and the opaque layer 42, a second surface 54 at the interface between the substrate layer 16 and air on the wearer's side of the frame, and an interior volume 56 between the first surface 52 and the second surface 54. The first surface 52 may include at least one scattering feature (shown and described in more detail in FIG. 6 ) that scatters an optical signal at one or more angles of incidence to form part of a speckle pattern in the optical signal. The first surface 52 may be the boundary between the substrate layer 16 and the opaque layer 42 adjacent to the substrate layer.

[0046] The second surface 54 can transmit or reflect portions of the optical signal depending on the angle of incidence of the portions of the optical signal relative to the second surface. The second surface 54 can introduce a path length difference or phase distortion into the optical signal, which can modify or even shape the speckle pattern. The second surface 54 can transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signal toward the pupil 59 of the eye 58 of the eyeglass wearer. For example, a majority (e.g., 50 percent or more) or all of the speckle pattern can be transmitted through the second surface 54 in an optimal region of the substrate layer 16. The second surface 54 can reflect a portion of the optical signal by total internal reflection. The second surface 54 can be a mirror. The second surface 54 can include a metal coating on at least a portion of the exterior of the second surface (e.g., the wearer-side of the frame). In some cases, the metal coating can generate internal reflection. For example, a metal coating can be included when the angle of incidence may not support total internal reflection (TIR) ​​or when TIR may be unstable due to surface contaminants such as direct skin contact or direct fingerprints. The interior volume 56 can receive optical signals from one or more light sources 18 and can transmit the optical signals toward the first and second surfaces. The interior volume 56 can be any optically transparent material (e.g., without limitation, glass, acrylic, and / or plastic). Of course, the interior volume can include one or more irregularities 44 (two shown) that can further scatter the optical signals.

[0047] FIG. 6 illustrates an interior side cross-sectional view 60 of the frame 12 and how an exemplary optical signal can be formed into a speckle pattern that is directed to the pupil 59 of the wearer's eye 58. One or more light sources 18 can emit one or more optical signals (arrows), shown as three but understood to represent any number greater than one. The optical signals can be emitted in slightly different directions toward the substrate layer 16. The substrate layer 16 can include at least one scattering feature (shown as a scattering surface 62 in FIG. 6). For example, the scattering surface 62 can be at least one scattering feature of a first surface (shown as 52 in FIG. 5) that includes at least one irregularity in the material of the substrate layer. The optical signal can be emitted toward the scattering surface 62. The scattering surface 62 can include imperfections, irregularities, and / or refractive index that redirect the optical signal at one or more angles, changing the path length of the optical signal. For example, as shown, the path of the optical signal changes depending on where the optical signal contacts the scattering surface 62.

[0048] It should be noted that most artificial surfaces are rough (e.g., compared to the wavelength of light) and may to some extent act as a scattering surface 62 for light that may create path length differences. For example, the substrate layer 16 may act as a light pipe, and edges (e.g., the first surface 52 and the second surface 54 shown in FIG. 5) may reflect the light signal to form many different path lengths and distribute the light signal around at least a portion of the frame 12, where the light signal then intersects the surface of the substrate layer 16 at the second surface at an angle that may cause it to be emitted toward the wearer's pupil.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows another example 70 of a plan view of partial eyeglasses utilizing multiple light sources 18 (i.e., multiple light sources 18). While the multiple light sources 18 are shown as three light sources, they can be any number greater than or equal to two. The light sources 18 can be positioned anywhere on and / or within the frame 12 so that they can direct light toward the substrate layer 16. For example, one or more light sources 18 can be positioned on and / or within the arms of the frame 12, and / or one or more light sources can be positioned on and / or within the rim of the frame 12 (within the substrate layer or outside the substrate layer). Each of the light sources 18 can emit light signals simultaneously and / or at different times, in any combination (e.g., predetermined and / or manually set). Each of the light sources 18 can emit light signals having the same and / or different light colors. To maintain high contrast in the speckle pattern, light of a single color or colors of light at opposite ends of the visible spectrum can be emitted at any time.

[0050] Referring now to FIG. 8 , FIG. 8 illustrates a system that enables an eyeglass frame 80 to communicate with an external device 94. The eyeglass frame 80 can hold at least one lens 84 in front of at least one eye of a wearer (not shown). The eyeglasses can include at least a front plate 82 that can hold at least one lens 84 in front of the wearer's eye. The front plate 82 can include a substrate layer 86 (facing the wearer's eye). The front plate 82 can include a nosepiece and a rim around the lens 84, as shown. It should be understood that the eyeglasses can be spectacles, spectacles, goggles, etc., of any frame shape with at least a partial rim (e.g., rectangular, square, round, cat-eye, aviator, oval, brow line, etc.). The lens 84 can be a prescription lens (e.g., progressive, bifocal, single focus, etc.), a reading lens (e.g., for correcting farsightedness without the need for a prescription), and / or for aesthetic purposes only. The eyeglass frame 80 may include at least one arm 92 extending from a side edge of the front plate 82. The at least one arm 92 may be connected to the front plate 82, for example, by a hinge joint (not shown) with at least one screw. The at least one arm 92 may hold the eyeglass frame 80 on the wearer's head. In another example (not shown), the at least one arm may be a flexible strap. The at least one arm 92 may optionally include, at least in part, the substrate layer 86.

[0051] The eyeglass frame 80 may also include one or more light sources 88 enclosed within the frame. Each of the one or more light sources 88 may generate and emit a light signal corresponding to a color within the visible light spectrum. The light signal may have a long coherence (e.g., 1 mm or greater, 0.5 mm or greater, 0.2 mm or greater, etc.). Each of the one or more light sources 88 may generate one color at a time. Each of the one or more light sources 88 may generate one or more colors and may be controlled to change color and / or change the duration of emission of light of a particular color. Each of the one or more light sources 88 may be, for example, a laser diode, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), and / or a compact, efficient laser. The one or more light sources 88 may be positioned within at least one arm 92 and / or in any portion of the front plate 82, as long as the one or more light sources are positioned to emit a light signal toward the substrate layer 86. For example, the one or more light sources 88 may include a first light source disposed within the arm 92 and may emit an optical signal toward the front plate 82 and through a portion of the arm onto the substrate layer 86 (the arm may be at least partially optically transparent and / or may at least partially include the substrate layer 86). In another example, the one or more light sources 88 may be multiple light sources disposed within the front plate 82 and may emit an optical signal directly onto the substrate layer 86.

[0052] The substrate layer 86 may be at least a portion of the front plate 82. The substrate layer 86 may be optically transparent and / or may include at least one optically transparent material (e.g., glass, clear plastic, acrylic, etc.). The substrate layer 86 may receive optical signals from one or more light sources 88, form a speckle pattern of the optical signals, and transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signals toward the wearer's pupil. The speckle pattern of the optical signals may have an intensity to slow the progression of myopia and may be provided for a period of time (e.g., a predetermined and / or controlled time). The substrate layer 86 may include at least one scattering feature, e.g., at least one material irregularity, inclusion, and / or scattering surface, to convert the optical signals into a high-contrast speckle pattern. The one or more light sources 88 may be positioned and oriented relative to the at least one scattering feature of the substrate layer 86 to form the speckle pattern from the emitted optical signals. The speckle pattern may be formed by path length variations of the optical signals within the substrate layer being at least half the wavelength of the optical signals generated by the one or more light sources 88. The substrate layer 86 may include regions optimized to emit a speckle pattern into the pupil (e.g., around at least a portion of one or more lenses 84), as described in detail above with respect to Figures 3 and 4, and regions not optimized to emit light that may refract / redirect at least a portion of the optical signal internally better than the optimized regions. Although not shown in Figure 8, the front plate 82 may also include an opaque layer on its outer surface adjacent at least a portion of the substrate layer.

[0053] The substrate layer 86 may include a first surface at the interface between the substrate layer and the opaque layer, a second surface at the interface between the substrate layer and air on the wearer side of the front plate 82, and an interior volume between the first and second surfaces, as described in detail above with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6 . The interior volume may receive optical signals from one or more light sources 88 and transmit the optical signals toward the first and second surfaces. In some cases, the interior volume may include at least one scattering feature that may refract, redirect, and / or reflect at least a portion of the optical signal at an angle. The first surface may include at least one scattering feature (e.g., an irregularity, a scattering surface, etc.) that may scatter the optical signal at one or more angles of incidence to form at least a portion of the speckle pattern of the optical signal. The second surface may transmit or reflect a portion of the optical signal depending on the angle of incidence of the portion of the optical signal relative to the second surface. In some cases, the second surface may form another portion of the speckle pattern of the optical signal. The second surface may transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signal toward the pupil based on the angle of incidence of the optical signal. Although the speckle pattern is described as a single pattern, it may be the same pattern or different patterns at any given time depending on variables such as the timing of the generation and emission of the light signal, the color of the light signal, the direction of the light signal, and the intensity of the light signal.

[0054] The eyeglass frame 80 may also include at least one of circuitry, one or more communication elements, and / or one or more control elements. For example, as shown in FIG. 8 , the eyeglass frame 80 may include a sensor feedback circuit 90 connected to one or more light sources 88. The sensor feedback circuit 90 may control a generated light signal based on ambient light around the eyeglass frame. The eyeglass frame 80 may also include a power source and additional circuit elements that may be connected to and power the one or more light sources 88 and the sensor feedback circuit 90 (if present). The additional circuit elements may include, for example, a current driver. The power source may be, for example, a replaceable battery, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell, or the like. Alternatively, the power source may be external (as shown as power source 22 in FIG. 2 ) and may provide power to other power-receiving elements via wired and / or wireless connections. The additional circuitry may also include a wireless communication device (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® Low Energy, radio frequency, etc.) capable of communicating with an external device 94 having at least a controller 96 (e.g., a computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.). The external device 94 may execute an application for controlling at least one or more light sources 88 and / or the sensor feedback circuitry 90. In some cases, the eyeglass frame may also include a controller (e.g., having a processor and / or non-transitory memory), such as a microcontroller, capable of executing stored instructions to control at least one aspect of the light delivery. The eyeglass frame may additionally or alternatively include an on / off switch for manually turning one or more light sources 88 on and off.

[0055] The sensor feedback circuit 90 can include a detector configured to detect the illuminance of ambient light and a control mechanism capable of varying the brightness of the optical signal from one or more light sources 88 relative to the illuminance of the ambient light. The brightness of the optical signal can be varied relative to the illuminance of the ambient light to maintain the contrast of the speckle pattern of the optical signal at or above a therapeutic percentage. For example, the brightness of the optical signal from one or more light sources 88 can be controlled to be proportional to the ambient illumination. In another example, one or more light sources 88 can be turned off if the ambient illumination is determined to be above or below a predetermined threshold. The control mechanism can be, for example, a microcontroller as described above, or something as simple as a fixed ratio amplifier that receives the detector output as an input. The detector can be, for example, a photodetector, a camera, a segmented detector, or any other type of detector capable of detecting light. For example, the detector can integrate a photopically weighted spectrum within a forward-facing cone (e.g., generally in the direction the wearer is looking) at an angle of 20 to 45 degrees. Alternatively, the detector can be a segmented detector or a camera configured to look for peak luminance within a scene.

[0056] In another example, the sensor feedback circuit 90 can include one or more sensors configured to detect a user's activity state (e.g., a detector, gyroscope, accelerometer, a switch near the hinge that detects whether the glasses are open or closed, etc.), and the control mechanism can vary the activation of the one or more light sources 88 to provide a therapeutic effect (e.g., maximum therapeutic effect) and minimize disruption to daily life. For example, the one or more light sources 88 can be activated only when the user is wearing the glasses, awake but sitting still in low ambient light (e.g., while reading, watching television, etc.).

[0057] IV. METHODS Another aspect of the present disclosure can include a method 100 (FIG. 9) for modulating optical signals generated by one or more light sources to form a speckle pattern for preventing or slowing the progression of myopia. Method 100 can be applied to one or more light sources that generate one or more optical signals. Method 100 can be performed using the eyeglass frame described above with respect to FIG. 8. The eyeglass frame of FIG. 8 illustrates one example of various components that can be used to perform method 100; additional components are described in detail with respect to eyeglasses 20 and the options illustrated in FIGS. 2-7.

[0058] Method 100 is depicted as a flowchart process flow diagram. For simplicity, method 100 is depicted and described as being performed sequentially. However, it should be understood and appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited by the illustrated order, as some steps may occur in a different order and / or concurrently with other steps depicted and described herein. Furthermore, not all depicted aspects are required to implement method 100.

[0059] Method 100 can be used to modulate one or more optical signals generated by one or more light sources in response to activity and / or ambient light detection. As described in the system section, the wearable device (e.g., eyeglass frame) can include at least one arm, at least one lens, and a front plate (otherwise known as a rim and nosepiece) that can hold the at least one lens and at least one sensor feedback circuit. The frame can include one or more light sources, each capable of generating a single-color, long-coherence optical signal. The front plate can include a substrate layer (as described above with respect to substrate layers 16 and 86). The substrate layer can receive the optical signal, convert the optical signal into a speckle pattern, and transmit the speckle pattern to the pupil of at least one eye of the wearer.

[0060] Reference numeral 102 denotes optical signal generation, where the optical signal can be generated by one or more light sources. The optical signal can be generated in response to a manual input, the arrival of a predetermined time, etc. The optical signal can be a single color, long-coherence visible light signal at a given time. The color may be tunable. The optical signal can be directed to a substrate layer within the frame around at least a portion of the lens within the frame. The optical signal can be scattered by at least one scattering feature within the substrate layer to form a high-contrast speckle pattern that can be transmitted to the pupil of the eye to prevent and / or slow the progression of myopia.

[0061] Reference numeral 104 indicates activity and / or ambient light detection, and the sensors of the sensor feedback circuit can detect the wearer's activity and / or ambient light. The sensor feedback circuit can include at least one sensor (e.g., a photodetector, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a switch near the hinge that detects whether the glasses are open or closed, etc.) that can detect the intensity of ambient light and / or the user's activity. The sensor feedback circuit can also include a control mechanism (e.g., a controller, a switch, etc.) that can vary the intensity of the light signal from one or more light sources 88 in response to the intensity of ambient light and / or the user's activity. For example, one or more light sources 88 can be activated or have increased illumination only when the user is wearing the glasses and is awake but sitting still in low ambient light (e.g., while reading, watching television, etc.).

[0062] Reference numeral 106 indicates that the control mechanism can modulate the optical signals generated by one or more light sources (e.g., by sending a control signal to the one or more light sources) based on the detected activity state and / or ambient light. The brightness of the optical signals can be varied relative to the illuminance of the ambient light to maintain the contrast of the speckle pattern of the optical signals at or above a therapeutic percentage. For example, the brightness of the optical signals from one or more light sources can be controlled to be proportional to the ambient illumination. In another example, one or more light sources can be turned off when the ambient illumination is determined to be above or below a predetermined threshold and turned on again when the ambient illumination is within the predetermined threshold. In another example, the control mechanism can vary the operation of one or more light sources 88 to provide a therapeutic effect (e.g., maximum therapeutic effect) and minimize disruption to daily life. For example, one or more light sources 88 can be activated only when the user is wearing the glasses and is awake but sitting still (e.g., reading, watching television, etc.). The detection and modulation can continue until a therapeutic dose is reached (e.g., a dose monitor can be integrated into the glasses and / or external to the glasses). Alternatively, the method can be manually interrupted by the wearer. At 108, the light signal can be terminated after the therapeutic dose is reached. For example, the control mechanism can control one or more light sources to turn off based on the time, power, and / or intensity of the light signal known to have been provided to the wearer.

[0063] From the above description, those skilled in the art will recognize improvements, changes, and modifications. Such improvements, changes, and modifications are within the skill of those skilled in the art and are intended to be covered by the following (1) to (20) and the appended claims.

[0064] (1) A wearable ophthalmic device comprising: at least one lens; a frame configured to hold the at least one lens in front of at least one eye of a wearer, the frame including a substrate layer; and one or more light sources, each of the one or more light sources configured to generate an optical signal corresponding to a color within the visible light spectrum, the substrate layer configured to receive the optical signal, form a speckle pattern of the optical signal, and transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signal toward a pupil of the wearer.

[0065] (2) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (1) above, wherein the substrate layer further includes a first surface including at least one scattering feature configured to scatter the optical signal at one or more angles of incidence to form the speckle pattern of the optical signal, a second surface facing the wearer and configured to transmit or reflect a portion of the optical signal and transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signal toward the pupil, and an internal volume configured to receive the optical signal and transmit the optical signal toward the first and second surfaces.

[0066] (3) A wearable ophthalmic device as described in (2) above, wherein the first surface is the boundary between the substrate and an optically opaque layer adjacent to the substrate layer and configured to scatter the optical signal.

[0067] (4) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (2) above, wherein the at least one scattering feature of the first surface includes at least one irregularity within the material of the substrate layer.

[0068] (5) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (2) above, wherein the second surface reflects the portion of the optical signal by total internal reflection.

[0069] (6) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (2) above, wherein at least a portion of the second surface includes a metal coating, and the metal coating is configured to reflect the portion of the optical signal.

[0070] (7) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (1) above, wherein the substrate layer includes at least one scattering feature.

[0071] (8) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (1) above, wherein at least a portion of the substrate layer is optically transparent.

[0072] (9) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (1) above, wherein the substrate layer is positioned around at least a portion of the periphery of the at least one lens.

[0073] (10) The wearable ophthalmic device described in (1) above, wherein the substrate layer includes a plurality of portions arranged within the frame around at least a portion of the periphery of the at least one lens.

[0074] (11) An eyeglass frame configured to hold at least one lens in front of at least one eye of a wearer, the eyeglass frame including: a front plate configured to hold the at least one lens in front of the at least one eye of the wearer and including a substrate layer; at least one arm extending from a side edge of the front plate and configured to hold the eyeglass frame on the wearer's head; and one or more light sources enclosed within the eyeglass frame, each of the one or more light sources configured to generate a light signal corresponding to a color within the visible light spectrum, wherein the substrate layer is configured to receive the light signal, form a speckle pattern of the light signal, and transmit the speckle pattern of the light signal toward the pupil of the wearer.

[0075] (12) The eyeglass frame described in (11) above, wherein the substrate layer includes a first surface including at least one scattering feature configured to scatter the optical signal at one or more angles of incidence to form the speckle pattern of the optical signal, a second surface facing the wearer and configured to transmit or reflect a portion of the optical signal and transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signal toward the pupil, and an internal volume configured to receive the optical signal and transmit the optical signal toward the first and second surfaces.

[0076] (13) The eyeglass frame described in (12) above, wherein the first surface and / or the internal volume includes scattering features configured to redirect at least a portion of the optical signal.

[0077] (14) The eyeglass frame described in (11) above, further comprising a sensor feedback circuit configured to control the light signal based on ambient light, and a power source configured to supply power to the one or more light sources and the sensor feedback circuit.

[0078] (15) The eyeglass frame of claim 14, wherein the sensor feedback circuit further includes a detector configured to detect an illuminance of ambient light, and a control mechanism configured to modify the brightness of the one or more light sources relative to the illuminance of the ambient light to maintain a contrast of the speckle pattern of the optical signal at or above a therapeutic percentage.

[0079] (16) The eyeglass frame described in (11) above, wherein the one or more light sources include a first light source disposed within the arm and configured to emit the light signal toward the front plate through a portion of the arm.

[0080] (17) The eyeglass frame described in (11) above, wherein the one or more light sources include a plurality of light sources arranged within the front plate of the eyeglass frame and configured to emit light onto the substrate.

[0081] (18) The eyeglass frame according to (11), wherein the one or more light sources include a diode laser, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), and / or a compact and efficient laser.

[0082] (19) An eyeglass frame as described in (11) above, wherein the light source is configured relative to at least one scattering feature of the substrate layer to form the speckle pattern, and the speckle pattern is formed by a path length variation of the optical signal within the substrate layer that is at least half the wavelength of the optical signal.

[0083] (20) The eyeglass frame described in (11) above, wherein the speckle pattern and intensity over time of the optical signal are configured to slow the progression of myopia.

[0084] 10 Wearable Ophthalmic Device 12 Frame 14 Lens 16 Substrate Layer (Substrate) 18 Light Source 20 Eyeglasses 22 Power Source 30 View from Wearer's Side 32 Non-Optimized Area of ​​Substrate 16 34 Optimized Area of ​​Substrate 16 40 Plan View 42 Opaque Layer 44 Irregularity 50 Interior Plan View 52 First Surface 54 Second Surface 56 Interior Volume 58 Eye 59 Pupil 60 Interior Side Cross-Section View 62 Scattering Surface 70 Another Example of a Plan View of a Partial Eyeglasses 80 Eyeglasses Frame (Eyeglasses) 82 Front Plate 84 Lens 86 Substrate Layer 88 Light Source 90 Sensor Feedback Circuit 92 Arm 94 External Device 96 Controller 98 Power Source / Circuitry 100 Method 102 Optical Signal Generation 104 Detecting activity and / or ambient light 106. Modulating the generated light signal based on the detected activity and / or ambient light 108. Terminating the light signal after a therapeutic dose is reached.

Claims

1. A wearable ophthalmic device comprising: at least one lens; a frame configured to hold the at least one lens in front of at least one eye of a wearer, the frame including a substrate layer; and one or more light sources, each of the one or more light sources configured to generate a light signal corresponding to a color within the visible light spectrum, the substrate layer configured to receive the light signals, form a speckle pattern of the light signals, and transmit the speckle pattern of the light signals toward a pupil of the wearer.

2. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer further comprises: a first surface including at least one scattering feature configured to scatter the optical signal at one or more angles of incidence to form the speckle pattern of the optical signal; a second surface facing the wearer and configured to transmit or reflect a portion of the optical signal, the second surface transmitting the speckle pattern of the optical signal towards the pupil; and an internal volume configured to receive the optical signal and transmit the optical signal towards the first and second surfaces.

3. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 2, wherein the first surface is an interface between the substrate and a light-opaque layer adjacent to the substrate layer and configured to scatter the optical signal.

4. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 2, wherein the at least one scattering feature of the first surface comprises at least one irregularity within the material of the substrate layer.

5. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 2, wherein the second surface reflects the portion of the optical signal by total internal reflection.

6. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the second surface includes a metallic coating, the metallic coating configured to reflect the portion of the optical signal.

7. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer includes at least one scattering feature.

8. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the substrate layer is optically transparent.

9. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer is disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the at least one lens.

10. The wearable ophthalmic device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer includes a plurality of portions disposed within the frame around at least a portion of a periphery of the at least one lens.

11. An eyeglass frame configured to hold at least one lens in front of at least one eye of a wearer, comprising: a front plate configured to hold the at least one lens in front of the at least one eye of a wearer and including a substrate layer; at least one arm extending from a side edge of the front plate and configured to hold the eyeglass frame on the wearer's head; and one or more light sources enclosed within the eyeglass frame, each of the one or more light sources configured to generate an optical signal corresponding to a color within the visible light spectrum, wherein the substrate layer is configured to receive the optical signals, form a speckle pattern of the optical signals, and transmit the speckle pattern of the optical signals toward a pupil of the wearer.

12. The eyeglass frame of claim 11, wherein the substrate layer includes: a first surface including at least one scattering feature configured to scatter the optical signal at one or more angles of incidence to form the speckle pattern of the optical signal; a second surface facing a wearer and configured to transmit or reflect a portion of the optical signal, the second surface transmitting the speckle pattern of the optical signal toward the pupil; and an interior volume configured to receive the optical signal and transmit the optical signal toward the first and second surfaces.

13. The eyeglass frame of claim 12, wherein the first surface and / or the interior volume includes scattering features configured to redirect at least a portion of the optical signal.

14. The eyeglass frame of claim 11, further comprising: a sensor feedback circuit configured to control the light signal based on ambient light; and a power source configured to power the one or more light sources and the sensor feedback circuit.

15. The eyeglass frame of claim 14, wherein the sensor feedback circuit further includes: a detector configured to detect an illuminance of ambient light; and a control mechanism configured to modify a brightness of the one or more light sources relative to the illuminance of the ambient light to maintain a contrast of the speckle pattern of the optical signal at or above a therapeutic percentage.

16. The eyeglass frame of claim 11, wherein the one or more light sources include a first light source disposed within the arm and configured to emit the light signal through a portion of the arm toward the front plate.

17. The eyeglass frame of claim 11, wherein the one or more light sources include a plurality of light sources disposed in the front plate of the eyeglass frame and configured to emit light onto the substrate.

18. The eyeglass frame of claim 11, wherein the one or more light sources include a diode laser, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), and / or a compact and efficient laser.

19. The eyeglass frame of claim 11, wherein the light source is configured relative to at least one scattering feature of the substrate layer to form the speckle pattern, and the speckle pattern is formed by a path length variation of the optical signal within the substrate layer that is at least half a wavelength of the optical signal.

20. The eyeglass frame of claim 11, wherein the speckle pattern and intensity versus time of the optical signal are configured to slow the progression of myopia.

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