Intraocular Lens Design for Spherical Aberration Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraocular lens (IOL) designs fail to effectively address spherical aberration, particularly in cataract and presbyopic patients, as they rely on simplified models that do not accurately account for the optical properties of the crystalline lens, leading to suboptimal imaging quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves designing IOLs by considering the optical properties of the crystalline lens separately, using measurable parameters like optical power and conic constant, and focusing on third-order aberrations to minimize spherical aberration, with the posterior chamber depth being a critical factor for shape fine-tuning, allowing for customization to correct aberrations on either the anterior or posterior surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simplified two-lens eye models are used for IOL design, then design process is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but spherical aberration correction is insufficient and imaging quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the crystalline lens into multiple zones (central, intermediate, peripheral) with different optical properties. Each zone is assigned specific refractive indices and aberration contributions, allowing independent optimization of spherical aberration correction while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized zonal structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different refractive indices to different radial zones of the crystalline lens model. The central zone has one refractive index while peripheral zones have different indices, enabling localized correction of spherical aberration without requiring complex global redesign of the entire IOL manufacturing process.
2Measurement precision
If anatomically-accurate eye models are used for IOL design, then optical performance estimation is more accurate, but implementation complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the complex anatomically-accurate eye model into a simplified analytical model by changing key parameters: representing the crystalline lens as a multi-zonal system with specific refractive indices, defining fixed geometric relationships between optical elements, and using standardized aberration coefficients. This parameter transformation maintains optical performance accuracy while dramatically reducing implementation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential optical properties from the complex anatomically-accurate eye model, separating the crystalline lens into distinct functional zones with specific refractive characteristics. By taking out only the critical parameters (refractive indices, zone boundaries, aberration contributions) needed for spherical aberration correction, the model achieves accurate optical performance estimation without unnecessary anatomical details.
3Productivity
If conventional IOL designs are used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but spherical aberration is not effectively addressed leading to suboptimal imaging quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the optimal conic constants and refractive index distributions for the multi-zonal crystalline lens model before IOL manufacturing. The spherical aberration correction parameters are determined in advance through optical modeling, allowing standard manufacturing processes to produce IOLs with optimized imaging quality without requiring complex post-manufacturing adjustments.
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
This approach enables the production of IOLs that significantly reduce spherical aberration, improving imaging quality for both cataract and presbyopic patients by accurately calculating the conic constant needed to minimize aberration, using biometric data and software integration for efficient and fast customization.
Implementation Method 1
The cornea with its refractive power of about 40 dpt contributes the main part of the refractive power of the eye... the crystalline lens provides the optical fine tuning... Due to the difference between the refractive index of air and of the cornea (nc ≈ 1.376)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a intra lens (1) comprising a posterior surface and an anterior surface, said posterior surface having a curvature which is optimised for providing a minimal spherical aberration, wherein said curvature is optimized using the posterior chamber depth of an eye in which the IOL is to be inserted.