Intraocular Lens Control Zone Redirects Peripheral Light

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intraocular lens (IOL) implant patients often experience peripheral pseudophakic dysphotopsia (PPD), which includes negative and positive forms, causing visual disturbances, and posterior capsular opacification (PCO) leading to vision impairment, necessitating additional surgical treatments.

Innovation Solution

An intraocular lens design featuring an optic zone and a control zone that redirects peripheral light rays to retinal areas otherwise unilluminated, minimizing or eliminating PPD and controlling PCO, with specific surface profiles and configurations to manage light distribution and optical power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional IOL design is used, then the lens structure is simple, but peripheral pseudophakic dysphotopsia (PPD) occurs causing visual disturbances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperipheral pseudophakic dysphotopsiaVSAvoidlens structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The IOL is divided into distinct functional zones: a central optic zone for primary vision and a peripheral control zone for managing PPD. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently, with the control zone specifically designed to redirect peripheral light rays while the optic zone maintains standard optical characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the IOL are assigned different optical properties. The control zone at the periphery has a specific refractive index and surface curvature designed to redirect light, while the central optic zone maintains conventional optical characteristics. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying complexity only where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the natural crystalline lens is removed, then cataract surgery is completed, but posterior capsular opacification (PCO) develops leading to vision impairment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevision maintenanceVSAvoidlens capsule transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The IOL design incorporates features that proactively prevent PCO development. The control zone's specific optical properties and the lens overall design create conditions that slow or prevent lens epithelial cell proliferation, thereby maintaining capsule transparency over time without requiring additional surgical interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If peripheral light rays are not redirected, then the lens design is simple, but dark bands or missing regions appear in the peripheral visual field

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperipheral retinal illuminationVSAvoidoptical zone configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control zone intentionally redirects peripheral light rays that would otherwise create dark bands into the peripheral retinal regions that need illumination. This converts the harmful effect of unredirected peripheral rays into a beneficial illumination effect, eliminating dark bands while requiring only moderate optical modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 lens effectively reduces or eliminates PPD and slows the development of PCO, enhancing visual clarity and potentially reducing the need for additional surgical interventions.

Implementation Method 1

a control zone positioned peripherally relative to the optic zone and configured to reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate negative peripheral pseudophakic dysphotopsia (PPD)... redirecting light rays from peripheral field angles onto retinal locations of the eye

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight refraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS20240156587A1Intraocular Lenses for Reducing Peripheral Pseudophakic Dysphotopsia

Publication Date: 2024.05.16 BRIEN HOLDEN VISION INST (AU)

AI summary

An intraocular lens comprising: an optic zone; and a control zone positioned peripherally relative to the optic zone and configured to reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate negative peripheral pseudophakic dysphotopsia (PPD) and/or reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate posterior capsular opacification (PCO).