Customized Multifocal IOL Design for Patient-Specific Vision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) often fail to adequately address individual patient needs, leading to unsatisfactory visual performance and accommodation issues due to a one-size-fits-all approach, particularly in mitigating presbyopia and cataract-related vision challenges.

Innovation Solution

Customized multifocal IOLs are designed and selected based on patient-specific parameters such as pupil size, viewing conditions, lifestyle, and eye factors, incorporating refractive and diffractive techniques to tailor optical attributes for improved focus and depth of field, allowing for adjustments and combinations with other ophthalmic treatments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a one-size-fits-all multifocal IOL design is used, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the adaptability to individual patient needs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to patient needsVSAvoidlens design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the multifocal IOL design into multiple discrete options, each optimized for specific patient characteristics. The system divides the patient population into categories based on pupil size, lifestyle, and visual needs, then assigns specific lens designs to each category. This segmentation allows customization without requiring a completely unique lens for every patient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by tailoring specific optical characteristics of the IOL to match local patient needs. Different zones or regions of the lens are designed with specific optical properties (e.g., diffractive patterns, refractive indices) that address particular patient requirements such as near vision, intermediate vision, or distance vision priorities based on their lifestyle and visual demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If standardized multifocal IOLs are used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the visual performance satisfaction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens manufacturing standardizationVSAvoidvisual performance reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes parameter changes by varying key optical parameters (such as add power, diffractive step height, zone diameters) across different IOL models within the standardized platform. These parameter variations are made in response to measured patient parameters like pupil size and age, allowing the same manufacturing process to produce lenses with different optical characteristics that reliably address individual visual needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If customized multifocal IOLs are designed for each patient, then patient satisfaction is improved, but the device complexity and selection process become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual performance satisfactionVSAvoidlens selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by pre-categorizing patients into groups based on their pupil size, age, and lifestyle characteristics before lens selection. The system performs preliminary assessments and assigns patients to specific IOL categories based on established criteria, which simplifies the final selection process. This preliminary classification reduces the complexity of the decision-making process while maintaining high levels of customization and patient satisfaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 customized IOLs enhance patient satisfaction by providing tailored optical performance, improving focus and depth of field, and extending the range of viewing distances, thereby mitigating presbyopia and cataract-related vision impairments more effectively than standard IOLs.

Implementation Method 1

Multifocal IOLs may, for example, rely on a diffractive optical surface to direct portions of the light energy toward differing focal distances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

the treatment comprises an adjustment to the refraction of the eye with the custom intraocular lens, comprising a laser assisted refractive ophthalmic surgery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP2229091B8Customized multifocal ophthalmic lens
Publication Date: 2016.11.30 AMO GRONINGEN

AI summary

System and method for customizing multifocal ophthalmic lenses, such as an intraocular lens (IOL) or the like, that may be tailored for an individual patient or group of patients beyond the selection of a particular IOL power. One or more eye factors of the patient are determined, a set of different multifocal intraocular lenses having a similar base power are determined based on the eye factors, and a multifocal intraocular lens is selected for the patient from the set based on the eye factors.