Intraocular Lens Optics for Peripheral Retinal Image Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraocular lenses (IOLs) that magnify images on the retina for patients with AMD do not provide sufficient contrast sensitivity and often reduce the visual field, failing to effectively utilize the peripheral retina's image processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Intraocular lenses designed to focus incident light at a preferred area of the peripheral retina, incorporating refractive and diffractive structures like prisms and gratings, with tailored slope profiles to correct optical errors such as oblique astigmatism and coma, enhancing visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing intraocular lenses magnify images on the retina, then visual acuity is improved, but contrast sensitivity is insufficient and visual field is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL incorporates different optical zones with distinct functions: a central zone for high-acuity vision and a peripheral zone for contrast sensitivity enhancement. The peripheral zone uses diffractive structures to redirect oblique light rays, while the central zone maintains standard focusing properties, allowing each region to optimize for its specific visual function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens optic is divided into multiple functional segments including a central optical zone and a peripheral optical zone. Each zone has tailored optical properties - the central zone for sharp imaging while the peripheral zone uses diffractive gratings to enhance contrast by redirecting light from oblique angles, thereby resolving the contradiction between acuity and contrast sensitivity.
2Measurement precision
If existing intraocular lenses magnify images on the retina, then visual acuity is improved, but visual field is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL design applies different optical characteristics to different regions: the central zone maintains standard optics for acuity, while the peripheral zone incorporates diffractive structures that redirect oblique light rays across the pupil. This allows the peripheral retina to be utilized more effectively, expanding the functional visual field without compromising central acuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional approach by utilizing the peripheral retina's image processing capabilities through diffractive structures that redirect light from oblique angles. This engages an additional spatial dimension (peripheral vision) to complement central foveal vision, thereby expanding the overall visual field while maintaining acuity.
3Measurement precision
If intraocular lenses focus light on the fovea, then central vision is optimized, but peripheral retinal function is underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains optimal foveal imaging through the central zone while the peripheral zone actively engages the peripheral retina by redirecting oblique light rays. This multi-functional design allows the single lens to optimize both central and peripheral visual pathways, making the system adaptable to different retinal regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the IOL are optimized for different retinal regions: the central zone focuses light precisely on the fovea for high-acuity central vision, while the peripheral zone uses diffractive gratings to redirect light to stimulate peripheral retinal areas, thereby utilizing the full spectral and spatial capabilities of the retina.
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
Improves visual acuity and contrast sensitivity by redirecting light to the peripheral retina, reducing optical errors, and maintaining a wide visual field, suitable for patients with central vision loss due to conditions like AMD.
Implementation Method 1
the first zone has a power that is greater than the second zone... redirecting light to the peripheral retina
Implementation Method 2
incorporating refractive and diffractive structures like prisms and gratings, with tailored slope profiles to correct optical errors
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for improving overall vision in patients suffering from a loss of vision in a portion of the retina (e.g., loss of central vision) by providing symmetric or asymmetric optic with aspheric surface which redirects and/or focuses light incident on the eye at oblique angles onto a peripheral retinal location. The intraocular lens can include a redirection element (e.g., a prism, a diffractive element, or an optical component with a decentered GRIN profile) configured to direct incident light along a deflected optical axis and to focus an image at a location on the peripheral retina. Optical properties of the intraocular lens can be configured to improve or reduce peripheral errors at the location on the peripheral retina. One or more surfaces of the intraocular lens can be a toric surface, a higher order aspheric surface, an aspheric Zernike surface or a Biconic Zernike surface to reduce optical errors in an image produced at a peripheral retinal location by light incident at oblique angles.