Corneal Stroma Ablation for Presbyopia Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Presbyopia treatment methods, such as reading glasses and intraocular lenses, provide temporary solutions and may require significant corneal tissue removal, limiting their applicability and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for ablating the corneal stroma to form a final ablated shape with a central zone concavity, providing near-vision add power after epithelial regeneration, using a laser system controlled by a computer processor to determine and execute the ablation pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ablation profiles are used to treat presbyopia, then the range of focus may be increased, but a substantial amount of corneal tissue must be removed, precluding many individuals from qualifying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different ablation zones with distinct characteristics: a central zone with specific depth and diameter for near vision enhancement, and an outer zone with different ablation parameters for distance vision maintenance. This localized differentiation allows the treatment to provide multifocal capability without requiring uniform removal of large amounts of corneal tissue, thereby resolving the contradiction between expanding focus range and minimizing tissue loss.
2Reliability
If reading glasses are used to add plus optical power for near vision, then near vision is improved, but the solution is temporary and does not address the underlying presbyopic condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical system of reading glasses with a permanent corneal refractive modification. By using laser ablation to reshape the corneal stroma and create multifocal zones, the treatment provides lasting correction of presbyopia without requiring external optical devices. This substitution transforms a temporary mechanical correction into a permanent biological modification, resolving the contradiction between effective near vision correction and duration of action.
3Reliability
If intraocular lenses are implanted to treat presbyopia, then near and distance vision can be corrected, but the procedure is costly and introduces foreign tissue matter into the eye
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the need for intraocular lens implantation by achieving presbyopia correction through corneal ablation alone. By removing and reshaping corneal stromal tissue to create multifocal zones, the treatment eliminates the requirement for introducing foreign intraocular lenses. This extraction of the implant component simplifies the overall procedure, reduces costs, and avoids the complexities associated with IOL implantation while maintaining effective vision correction.
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 method effectively enhances near-vision acuity while allowing for adjustable light energy distribution between near and distant vision, minimizing tissue removal and maintaining intermediate and far vision capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
ablating the stroma to form a final ablated shape in the stroma
Implementation Method 2
ablating a surface of the stroma to form a final ablated shape in the stroma
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for treating presbyopia are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, by way of example only, a method of treating presbyopia of an eye includes ablating the stroma to form a final ablated shape in the stroma, the final ablated shape including a central zone defined by a concavity having a central zone depth and a central zone diameter, the central zone depth and the central zone diameter each selected to provide the cornea with a near- vision add power after the epithelium is regenerated over the stroma.