Accommodating Contact Lens Variable Focus Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for presbyopia, such as bifocal spectacles, progressive addition lenses, and multifocal contact lenses, often result in less than ideal vision correction, with issues like optical distortion, invasive procedures, and manufacturing challenges, particularly for accommodating contact lenses.
Innovation Solution
An improved accommodating contact lens design featuring a variable focus optical module with a self-supporting structure, micro-channels, and optically transmissive materials, which includes a central optical chamber and eyelid engaging chambers connected by extensions, providing enhanced optical correction and responsiveness to eyelid pressure, and is compatible with soft contact lens materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multifocal contact lenses with two or more optical zones are used, then near vision correction is provided, but vision quality degrades due to out-of-focus light transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens incorporates a dynamic fluid-filled chamber that changes shape in response to eyelid pressure. When the eyelid compresses the chamber, the optical power of the lens changes to provide near vision correction. This dynamic adjustment allows the lens to switch between distance and near vision modes without creating persistent out-of-focus images, thereby maintaining vision quality while providing adaptability for near vision correction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If prior accommodating contact lenses are used, then variable focus is achieved, but the central shape changing region becomes distorted and the accommodating optical zone becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a flexible membrane enclosing a fluid-filled chamber as the shape-changing element. This flexible shell structure allows controlled deformation in response to eyelid pressure while maintaining structural integrity. The membrane's flexibility enables the central optical zone to change shape for variable focus without excessive distortion, and the controlled compression maintains an adequate accommodating optical zone size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If prior accommodating contact lenses are used, then accommodation is provided, but the materials are less than ideally suited for combination with known contact lens materials
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens employs composite material construction, combining a flexible membrane material for the fluid-filled chamber with biocompatible contact lens materials. The membrane is made from materials that are both mechanically suitable for shape-changing and chemically compatible with contact lens materials. This composite approach enables the accommodation function to be integrated seamlessly with the contact lens structure, facilitating ease of manufacture while maintaining material compatibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If prior accommodating contact lenses are used, then variable optical power is achieved, but the optical zones are shaped irregularly and provide less than ideal changes in optical power
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid-filled chamber is designed with a spherical or spheroidal geometry, which provides regular and predictable optical zone shapes when compressed. The spherical form factor ensures that the optical power changes are smooth and controlled, avoiding irregular distortions. This geometric approach enables precise control over the optical zones' shape and the magnitude of optical power changes, improving manufacturing precision while maintaining variable optical power capability.
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
The design offers improved near and far vision correction with reduced optical distortion, ease of use, and compatibility with safe contact lens materials, while being suitable for large-scale manufacturing, addressing the limitations of prior accommodating contact lenses.
Implementation Method 1
Pressure of an eyelid to the one or more chambers may deflect the upper membrane and an upper surface of the contact lens
Implementation Method 2
The chamber may comprise a relatively rigid edge and relatively flexible membranes on opposite faces
Data Source
AI summary
An accommodating contact lens comprises a variable focus optical module, which comprises an optical chamber and one or more eyelid engaging chambers coupled to the optical chamber with one or more extensions comprising channels extending between the optical chamber and the more eyelid engaging chambers. The module may comprise a self-supporting module capable of supporting itself prior to placement in a contact lens to facilitate placement prior to encapsulation in the contact lens. The module may comprise one or more optically transmissive materials, provides improved optical correction, and can be combined with soft contact lens materials such as hydrogels. In many embodiments, the module comprises a support structure extending between an upper membrane and a lower membrane in order to provide variable optical power accurately with decreased amounts distortion and improved responsiveness to eyelid induced pressure.