Contact Lens Stabilization Zones Balance Torque Moments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current contact lens stabilization methods are inefficient and costly due to the need for extensive clinical testing to account for patient variability, and they often fail to maintain optimal on-eye orientation effectively.
Innovation Solution
A contact lens design with stabilization zones that balance the moment of momentum of torques acting on the lens, using a virtual model to simulate eye mechanics and iteratively optimize stabilization parameters through a merit function-based approach, ensuring improved stability and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional stabilization methods (thickening inferior lens periphery, forming depressions or elevations) are used, then lens orientation is maintained, but lens stability and wearer comfort are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating stabilization zones with specific thickness variations at predetermined locations on the lens periphery. These zones have different thickness characteristics than the rest of the lens, providing localized stabilization forces that improve both orientation maintenance and wearer comfort without requiring uniform thickening across the entire lens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by positioning stabilization zones at non-symmetric locations on the lens, specifically designed to balance the moment of momentum of torques acting on the lens during eye movements. This asymmetric configuration provides more effective stabilization compared to traditional symmetric approaches.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive clinical testing is performed to account for patient variability, then lens performance is optimized, but time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using computational methods and virtual modeling to optimize lens design parameters before clinical testing. The stabilization zone parameters are calculated using merit function optimization that accounts for patient variability in advance, reducing the need for extensive iterative clinical testing while maintaining design optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses virtual modeling and simulation to create digital copies of the lens-eye system for testing and optimization. This allows extensive design evaluation to be performed computationally rather than requiring equivalent physical testing on numerous patients, significantly reducing time and cost while maintaining optimization quality.
3Ease of manufacture
If symmetric stabilization zones are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but lens stability during eye movements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately uses asymmetric stabilization zone configurations positioned at specific locations on the lens periphery. This asymmetric design is optimized to balance torques during natural eye movements and blinking, providing superior stability compared to symmetric designs while remaining manufacturable through standard lens fabrication 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
This method enhances the stabilization and orientation of contact lenses by reducing rotation and decentration, improving lens stability and wearer comfort through iterative design optimization, thus reducing the need for extensive clinical testing and enhancing overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
contact lenses are stabilized according to a scheme in which the moment of momentum of torques acting on the lens on-eye are balanced
Data Source
AI summary
A method for stabilizing contact lenses includes providing a lens design with a nominal set of stabilization zone parameters, applying a merit function to the lens design based on balancing moments of momentum, and creating a contact lens design with improved stabilization based on the application of the merit functions to the lens design with a nominal set of stabilization zone parameters.