Blur-Pattern Ophthalmic Lenses for Myopia Eye Length Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing incidence of myopia, or nearsightedness, is a result of excessive eye lengthening beyond the optimal focal length for distant objects, often driven by genetic, environmental, or behavioral factors, and current corrective measures like glasses and contact lenses do not effectively prevent or reverse this condition.
Innovation Solution
Specialized eyeglass lenses and eyeglasses that introduce artificial blurring to reduce the average spatial frequency of images input to the retina, forcing the eye to stabilize at a proper length by inhibiting further elongation through mechanisms similar to natural eye development processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional corrective lenses (glasses and contact lenses) are used to correct myopia, then visual acuity is improved, but the axial length of the eye continues to increase, worsening the underlying condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing artificial blur before the eye can naturally accommodate, thereby preventing the biochemical signals that would otherwise trigger further axial elongation. The blur-inducing element creates a preemptive counter-signal that overrides the eye's natural growth stimulus, stopping the progression of myopia before it can worsen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of blur (which normally degrades vision) into a beneficial therapeutic mechanism. By deliberately introducing controlled blur through the optical element, the system triggers a feedback response that halts eye elongation, thus transforming visual degradation into a tool for preventing myopia progression.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the eye continues to elongate during development, then the eye can accommodate for closer objects, but distant objects become increasingly blurry, worsening myopia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the optical element continuously monitors the eye's axial length by detecting the degree of blur in retinal images. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts the amount of artificial blur introduced, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains the eye at its emmetropic length by dynamically counteracting any tendency toward elongation.
3Length of moving object
If reading is limited to prevent myopia, then eye lengthening is reduced, but educational and developmental opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical element that acts as a mediator between the reading activity and the eye's growth response. This element allows children to continue normal reading and near-work activities while simultaneously blocking the transmission of focus signals that would trigger axial elongation, thus decoupling educational activities from myopia progression.
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 therapeutic intervention using these lenses can prevent, ameliorate, or even reverse myopia by controlling eye length, aligning it with optimal focusing capabilities, as demonstrated by experimental results on children with progressing myopia.
Implementation Method 1
Specialized eyeglass lenses and eyeglasses that introduce artificial blurring to reduce the average spatial frequency of images input to the retina
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An ophthalmic lens is disclosed that comprises a first area comprising a plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of: bumps on a surface of the lens; depressions on the surface of the lens; translucent inclusions in a lens material; and transparent inclusions in the lens material, the transparent inclusions having a refractive index different from that of the lens material; and a second area surrounded by the first area, the second area being free of the elements, wherein a density, dimension, and material of the elements are selected to reduce a visual acuity from 20/20 when a line of sight passes through the second area to about 20/25 when the line of sight passes through the first area. Further, a pair of eyeglasses is disclosed that comprises a first ophthalmic lens and a second ophthalmic lens, each of the first and second ophthalmic lenses comprising a pattern of elements selected from the group consisting of: bumps on a surface of a corresponding lens from said first and second lenses; depressions on the surface of the corresponding lens; translucent inclusions in a corresponding lens material; and transparent inclusions in the corresponding lens material, the transparent inclusions having a refractive index different from that of the corresponding lens material; and wherein each of the patterns of the first and second ophthalmic lenses has an area of higher element density in a peripheral region of the corresponding lens as compared to an element density in a central region of the corresponding lens.