Intraocular Lens Blue Light Selective Transmissive Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraocular lenses (IOLs) with blue light blocking dyes have uneven distribution due to non-uniform thickness, which can lead to inconsistent protection and potential hypersensitivity issues, and they shield the retina from blue light wavelengths uniformly, affecting non-vision related functions like circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion.
Innovation Solution
An IOL with a localized blue light blocking region encased in a non-blue blocking polymer, where the dye is confined to the central portion of the lens, allowing for uniform protection and minimizing interference with non-vision related eye functions by varying light transmission based on light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If blue light blocking dye is distributed throughout the entire IOL, then the retina is protected from blue light damage, but the protection is uneven due to non-uniform lens thickness and hypersensitivity issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the blue light blocking dye in the central region of the IOL rather than distributing it uniformly throughout. This creates a spatially non-uniform composition where the central region has high dye concentration for maximum protection when the pupil is constricted, while the peripheral region has low or no dye to prevent hypersensitivity reactions and maintain color perception in low light conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the IOL into distinct functional regions: a central region containing blue light blocking dye and a peripheral region without or with minimal dye. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally - the central region provides retinal protection during daytime activities, while the peripheral region maintains visual quality during nighttime activities.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If blue light blocking dye is distributed throughout the entire IOL, then retinal protection is provided, but non-vision related functions like circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion are affected
Solution Approach 1:
By localizing the blue light blocking dye to the central region only, the patent enables selective filtering of blue light that passes through the pupil during daytime (when the pupil is constricted and centered), while allowing full-spectrum light transmission through the peripheral regions during nighttime (when the pupil dilates and utilizes the peripheral lens areas). This preserves circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion while maintaining retinal protection during harmful exposure conditions.
3Reliability
If the IOL has uniform thickness, then the blue light blocking protection is even, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating a uniformly thick lens with segmented dye distribution (which would increase manufacturing complexity), the patent segments the functional property (dye concentration) rather than the physical structure. The lens maintains a simple, uniform thickness profile suitable for standard IOL manufacturing, while the blue light blocking function is segmented spatially through variable dye concentration in different regions.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the dye is distributed throughout the IOL, then blue light blocking is provided, but color perception is reduced in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a spatial gradient of dye concentration where the central region has high concentration for blue light blocking during daytime, while the peripheral region has low or zero concentration to preserve color perception during nighttime. This allows the eye to utilize different regions of the lens depending on lighting conditions, optimizing both protection and visual quality.
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 IOL provides maximum protection from blue light in bright conditions while allowing a fuller spectrum of light to reach the retina in low light conditions, enhancing color perception and reducing hypersensitivity risks by isolating the dye within the lens.
Implementation Method 1
a visible light selective-transmissive region which comprises at least one light absorbing dye
Data Source
AI summary
Intraocular lenses are provided having a visible-light selective transmissive zone defined therein. The visible light-selective transmissive zone can be located near the lens center and designed to reduce the transmission of any wave-length of visible light specifically light in the blue light region having wavelength between approximately 400λ to 550λ. In one embodiment he IOLs are made from acrylates and the light absorbing compound is a yellow dye.