Amblyopia Training Device Using Binocular Field Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for treating amblyopia primarily focus on covering or patching the dominant eye, which may not adequately condition the brain to use and blend imagery from both the weak and dominant eyes, potentially leaving the weak eye underutilized and unable to provide a complete vision image.
Innovation Solution
Devices that artificially separate the binocular field of view into two monocular fields by using physical dividers or obscuring one eye's field of vision, forcing the brain to rely more heavily on the weak eye and integrate its imagery with the dominant eye's imagery for a complete field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the dominant eye is covered or patched, then the weak eye is forced to be used more, but the brain is not adequately conditioned to blend imagery from both eyes
Solution Approach 1:
The binocular field of view is segmented into two separate monocular fields using physical dividers (such as a vertical divider attached to glasses or a nasal prosthetic). This segmentation forces the brain to process and blend images from each eye separately, thereby conditioning the brain to effectively utilize imagery from both the weak and dominant eyes simultaneously, rather than simply forcing usage of the weak eye through patching.
2Measurement precision
If the binocular field of view is used, then depth perception is improved, but the brain compensates by relying on the dominant eye
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the binocular field of view into separate monocular fields using a physical divider positioned between the eyes, the device prevents the brain from automatically compensating with the dominant eye. This forces the brain to rely more heavily on the weak eye while still maintaining depth perception capabilities through structured binocular integration training.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing natural binocular vision where the dominant eye compensates for the weak eye, the invention inverts the natural process by using a divider to block the dominant eye's compensatory mechanism. This forces the weak eye to provide the primary visual input, thereby training the brain to utilize the weak eye more effectively while still maintaining depth perception through the structured separation and subsequent integration of monocular inputs.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to devices for training the human brain to overcome the effects of amblyopia. Some examples include a divider placed between the left eye and the right eye of a user or wearer. Such examples reduce the portion of a user's field of vision of each eye that overlaps, which in turn reduces the degree to which the brain can rely on input from the dominant eye to compensate for poor vision in the weak eye. Some examples include an obstruction element that covers a portion of the field of vision of the dominant eye. Such devices convert binocular fields of view into bi-monocular fields of view. Such devices help a user to overcome the effects of amblyopia by training the brain to better utilize and integrate visual information from the weak eye.