Contact Lens Annular Scattering for Peripheral Contrast Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the axial length of the eye is longer than necessary for optimal focusing of distant objects, leading to blurry vision, and existing therapeutic devices have limitations in mitigating this condition.
Innovation Solution
A contact lens is designed with an annular portion made of an inhomogeneous, optically-scattering material surrounding a clear aperture, which reduces image contrast in the peripheral vision by light scattering, thereby mitigating myopia progression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a contact lens with uniform optical properties is used, then central visual acuity is maintained, but peripheral image contrast cannot be reduced to mitigate myopia
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens incorporates regions with different optical properties: a central clear region with homogeneous optical properties for maintaining visual acuity, and a peripheral blurring region with inhomogeneous optically-scattering material for reducing peripheral image contrast. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact lens is divided into distinct functional segments: a central aperture region and a surrounding annular blurring region. The blurring region is further segmented into multiple scattering elements that independently scatter light to reduce peripheral contrast while preserving central vision through the clear aperture.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an inhomogeneous, optically-scattering material is used in the contact lens, then peripheral image contrast is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optically-scattering material as a separate component (annular portion) that is subsequently combined with the clear contact lens material. This allows the scattering material to be manufactured independently using optimized processes, then integrated into the final lens, simplifying the overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact lens is constructed as a composite structure combining homogeneous clear material for the central region with inhomogeneous optically-scattering material for the peripheral region. This composite approach allows each material to be optimized for its specific function while being manufactured through integrated molding processes.
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 contact lens effectively reduces peripheral image contrast by 40-80% without significantly degrading central visual acuity, allowing for improved focus on distant objects and potentially slowing down myopia progression.
Implementation Method 1
the optically-scattering material forms a blurring region that reduces a contrast of images of objects in a wearer's peripheral vision by light scattering
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A method of making a contact lens includes providing a cylindrical blank for the contact lens, the cylindrical blank including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is formed from a homogenous, optically clear material and the second portion is formed from an inhomogeneous, optically-scattering material. The method includes shaping the cylindrical blank to provide the contact lens. The contact lens includes a first region surrounded by a second region, the first region being formed from the homogenous, optically clear material and the second region being formed from the inhomogeneous, optically-scattering material.