Continuous Diffractive Spectacle Lenses for Myopia Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spectacle lenses for myopia correction suffer from decreasing wearing comfort due to progressive myopia, leading to increased eye diseases, and existing solutions are costly, inflexible, and cause visual aberrations.
Innovation Solution
A spectacle lens with diffractive microstructures that simultaneously generate a base effect and a myopia-stopping effect, providing continuous transitions without visible steps or inhomogeneities, using diffractive microstructures to split the overall effect into base and myopia-stopping effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bifocal lenses or progressive lenses are used to image peripheral regions in front of the retina, then myopia progression can be slowed, but the lenses have large aberrations that reduce peripheral and foveal vision quality
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is divided into distinct zones: a central optical zone for high-quality foveal vision and a peripheral diffractive effect zone for myopia control. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other, eliminating the aberrations that affect the entire lens in conventional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens have different optical properties. The central region provides sharp, aberration-free vision for foveal viewing, while the peripheral region contains diffractive microstructures that create the myopia-stopping effect. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing high quality where needed without sacrificing myopia control.
2Reliability
If spectacle lenses are designed with complex optical structures to address myopia progression, then myopia control effectiveness improves, but the lenses require frequent replacement when prescription changes
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the myopia control function (diffractive microstructures) from the prescription correction function (base lens power), the design allows independent adjustment of each component. When prescription changes occur, only the base lens needs replacement while the diffractive effect zone can be maintained, reducing replacement frequency and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffractive microstructures provide a universal myopia control effect that can be combined with different base lens prescriptions. This multi-functionality allows the same diffractive design to work across multiple prescriptions, enhancing adaptability while maintaining effectiveness.
3Reliability
If small additional lenses (lenslets) are used to create localised focal shifts, then myopia progression can be slowed, but the discontinuous effect distribution causes eye irritation during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The diffractive microstructures create a continuous effect distribution across the peripheral lens region, eliminating the discontinuous transitions associated with discrete lenslets. This continuity ensures that as the eye moves and the pupil shifts, the optical effect remains smooth and consistent, preventing irritation while maintaining the myopia-stopping benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/discrete lenslet approach with a diffractive optical approach. The diffractive microstructures use wave optics principles to create a continuous phase modulation that produces the desired focal shift without the discontinuities inherent in discrete mechanical lens elements.
4Reliability
If contact lenses are used to create plus effect in the periphery, then myopia progression can be slowed, but handling and reliability are limited in children
Solution Approach 1:
The spectacle lens design with integrated diffractive microstructures provides a durable, reusable alternative to contact lenses for children. While contact lenses offer effective myopia control, they require frequent replacement and proper handling. The spectacle lens design achieves similar effectiveness with much greater durability and ease of use for pediatric patients.
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
Enhances long-term wearing comfort by reducing eye irritation during movement and effectively slowing myopia progression without requiring frequent lens replacements.
Implementation Method 1
the diffractive microstructures are designed such that, for at least some view points in the combination zone, two different diffraction orders of the diffractive microstructures are visible to an eye of a spectacle wearer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates in particular to a spectacle lens which has at least one diffractive effect zone as at least a part of a viewing region of the spectacle lens such that the spectacle lens comprises diffractive microstructures in the diffractive effect zone, said microstructures generating at least one base effect in each view point of the diffractive effect zone or a myopia stopping effect which deviates therefrom, wherein the diffractive effect zone comprises a combination zone in which the diffractive microstructures generate a combination of the base effect and the myopia stopping effect simultaneously.