Multi-Curvature Optical Edge for Ophthalmic Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic lenses, such as contact lenses and intraocular lenses, often cause complex refractive errors and undesired photic phenomena like glare and shadow due to their edge portions, which current interventions fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multi-curvature optical edges (MCOEs) in ophthalmic lenses, which feature a plurality of tangentially connected curved surfaces with varying radii of curvature, designed to redirect or diffuse light away from the fovea, thereby reducing or eliminating dysphotopsias and other visual disturbances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional edge designs are used in ophthalmic lenses, then manufacturing is simpler, but photic phenomena like glare and shadow occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the optical edge with multiple curved surfaces instead of straight edges. The first curved surface connects to the anterior optic surface, the second curved surface connects to the posterior optic surface, and intermediate curved surfaces are tangentially connected between them. This multi-curvature design redirects light away from the fovea, eliminating glare and shadow while maintaining smooth transitions that avoid additional manufacturing complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If light is redirected away from the fovea to reduce dysphotopsia, then visual disturbances are reduced, but light transmission to the retina may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the curvature properties location-specific. Different curved surfaces have different radii of curvature tailored to their specific positions and functions. The first curved surface has a radius optimized for connecting to the anterior optic surface, intermediate surfaces have radii optimized for light redirection, and the second curved surface has a radius optimized for connecting to the posterior optic surface. This localized optimization ensures effective dysphotopsia reduction while preserving adequate light transmission to 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
The MCOE design effectively mitigates or eliminates positive and negative dysphotopsias by smoothly transferring light, improving lens performance and reducing visual disturbances, especially in patients with larger pupils by focusing more light onto the retina.
Implementation Method 1
configuring the curved surfaces of the MCOE to transmit (e.g., redirect and/or diffuse) light incident on the MCOE away from a patient's fovea
Implementation Method 2
The MCOE includes a plurality of curved surfaces configured to mitigate or eliminate glare and/or disphotopsias (positive and/or negative). In particular examples, this may be achieved by configuring the curved surfaces of the MCOE to transmit (e.g., redirect and/or diffuse) light incident on the MCOE away from a patient's fovea.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary ophthalmic lens includes an optic comprising an anterior optic surface and a posterior optic, and a multi-curvature optical edge surrounding the optic and connecting the anterior optic surface to the posterior optic surface, the multi-curvature optical edge comprising a plurality of tangentially-connected curved surfaces configured to mitigate positive dysphotopsia by directing or diffusing from light incident on the multi-curvature optical edge away from a fovea of a patient.