Accommodating Intraocular Lens Lateral Rotation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current accommodating intraocular lenses (IOLs) fail to replicate the natural lens's ability to adjust focus from distant to near objects effectively, leading to limitations in visual acuity and comfort due to mechanical and optical issues such as halos, glare, and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a dual-optic accommodating intraocular lens assembly with stanchions and lenses that move laterally and rotate relative to each other in response to ciliary muscle contraction, utilizing a complex arrangement of stanchions and lenses with varying optical powers to simulate the natural lens's accommodation mechanism, including the use of Fresnel arrays and optical metasurfaces for improved optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single fixed-power lens is used in the IOL, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to adjust focus from distance to near is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is divided into multiple lenses with different optical powers (e.g., first lens with +10D, second lens with +20D) arranged in series. Each lens segment handles different focal ranges, enabling the system to achieve variable focus capability without requiring a single complex adjustable lens. The stanchion structure further segments the system by providing movable mounting points for these lens segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic focus adjustment by allowing the lenses to move relative to each other along the optical axis through the stanchion mechanism. The ciliary muscle contraction causes the stanchions to compress, changing the spacing between lenses and thereby adjusting the combined optical power of the assembly to achieve accommodation from distance to near focus.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lenses with different optical powers are used, then focus adjustment capability is improved, but optical aberrations such as halos and glare increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each lens in the assembly is designed with specific local optical properties tailored to its function. The first lens through fourth lens have different optical powers and are positioned to handle specific focal ranges. This local optimization of optical quality in each segment reduces overall optical aberrations while maintaining focus adjustment capability across different viewing distances.
3Ease of operation
If lenses are positioned to achieve smooth focus transitions, then visual comfort is improved, but the mechanical complexity of the stanchion system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stanchion structure employs a nested configuration where multiple stanchions (first through fourth stanchions) are arranged concentrically or in series around the optical axis. This nesting allows the complex multi-lens system to be compacted into a space-efficient arrangement that maintains smooth focus transitions while reducing overall mechanical complexity compared to a fully extended configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances visual acuity by allowing smooth focus transitions from distance to near, reducing optical aberrations, and improving comfort by maintaining image quality and reducing halos and glare, thereby providing a more natural accommodation experience.
Implementation Method 1
contraction of the ciliary muscle during accommodation of the eye moves the first base end towards a central optic axis of the eye
Data Source
AI summary
An accommodating intraocular lens assembly can include lenses and stanchions. The lenses can be configured for positioning in an eye and have respective anterior and posterior sides. The stanchions can have respective distal ends connected to one of the lenses and respective base ends. The base ends can be configured for positioning within a capsular bag of the eye, in a ciliary sulcus, or on the ciliary muscle of the eye. Contraction of the ciliary muscle moves the base ends towards a central optic axis of the eye. The stanchions can be configured such that at least one of the lenses rotates relative to the other about the central optic axis in response to contraction of the ciliary muscle. In one or more other embodiments, the lenses can move laterally relative to one another during contraction and include a plurality of sub-lenses with different levels of additive optical power.