Chromatic Lenslet Arrays for Myopia Control Without Defocus Artifacts

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing myopia control solutions diminish visual acuity and comfort, particularly for young individuals, by generating defocus in front and/or behind the retina, leading to visual artifacts and decreased contrast.

Innovation Solution

An optical lens with refractive areas and sets of optical elements that filter specific wavelength ranges, using red and blue filtering functions to reduce transmittance, thereby slowing down abnormal refraction progression while maintaining visual acuity and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If defocus is generated in front and/or behind the retina to control myopia progression, then myopia control efficacy is improved, but visual acuity and vision comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemyopia control efficacyVSAvoidvision comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lens is divided into multiple optical elements (lenslets) arranged in arrays, with different segments having different optical powers. This segmentation allows different regions to perform different functions: some segments create defocus for myopia control while others maintain clear vision, thereby resolving the contradiction between myopia control efficacy and visual comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the lens are assigned different local optical properties. Specifically, certain areas have optical elements with positive power while others have negative power, creating localized defocus effects. This local quality differentiation enables myopia control in specific zones while preserving visual acuity in other zones, thus resolving the contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If defocus is generated in front and/or behind the retina to control myopia progression, then myopia control efficacy is improved, but visual acuity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemyopia control efficacyVSAvoidvisual acuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lens is divided into multiple optical elements (lenslets) arranged in arrays, with different segments having different optical powers. This segmentation allows different regions to perform different functions: some segments create defocus for myopia control while others maintain clear vision, thereby resolving the contradiction between myopia control efficacy and visual comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the lens are assigned different local optical properties. Specifically, certain areas have optical elements with positive power while others have negative power, creating localized defocus effects. This local quality differentiation enables myopia control in specific zones while preserving visual acuity in other zones, thus resolving the contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 lens effectively decelerates the progression of abnormal refraction while preserving optimal visual acuity and comfort by utilizing longitudinal chromatic aberrations as a cue to regulate eye growth.

Implementation Method 1

LCA occurs when different wavelength lights focus at different positions along the optical axis, i.e., focal length of longer wavelength lights is longer than that shorter wavelength lights

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

the red filtering function reducing the transmittance of wavelengths of light greater than or equal to 550 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

the blue filtering function reducing the transmittance of wavelengths of light comprised between 380 nm and 500 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4682621A1Arrays of chromatic lenslets combinations for myopia control

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)

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AI summary

An optical lens intended to be worn in front of an eye of a wearer, the optical lens comprising: - a refractive area having at least a first refractive power based on a prescription adapted for the eye of the wearer, - at least a first set of optical elements, each optical element of said first set of optical elements having at least a refractive power PB different from the first refractive power, and comprising at least a red filtering function, the red filtering function reducing the transmittance of wavelengths of light greater than or equal to 550 nm, and - at least a second set of optical elements, each optical element of said second set of optical elements having at least a refractive power PR different from the first refractive power, and comprising at least a blue filtering function, the blue filtering function reducing the transmittance of wavelengths of light comprised between 380 nm and 500 nm.