Neutral Cylinder Refractor Lens Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refractors require repeated checks of spherical and cylindrical powers to achieve a balance, leading to longer exam times and potential inaccuracies due to the spherical equivalent of cylindrical lenses affecting spherical power corrections, causing patients to misinterpret astigmatism and spherical power changes.
Innovation Solution
The refractor employs cylindrical lenses with integrated spherical power, neutralizing the spherical equivalent by incorporating -½ times the diopters of cylinder power, allowing for separate or combined grinding of these powers to prevent spherical power changes when switching between cylinder lenses, thus isolating astigmatism corrections from spherical power adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional cylindrical lenses are used without spherical power integration, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simpler, but the spherical equivalent causes spherical power to become offset when astigmatism correction is adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines spherical power and cylindrical power into a single integrated lens element. The spherical component and cylindrical component are merged into one lens structure, eliminating the need for separate spherical and cylindrical lens adjustments. This integration ensures that when cylindrical power is adjusted for astigmatism correction, the spherical power remains stable and accurate, resolving the offset problem caused by spherical equivalent in traditional separate-lens designs.
2Measurement precision
If repeated checking of sphere and cylinder power is performed to ensure correct balance, then measurement precision is improved, but the exam time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary neutralization of the spherical equivalent during lens design and manufacturing. By pre-calculating and incorporating the appropriate spherical power component into the cylindrical lens design, the system eliminates the need for repeated checking and adjustment during the exam. The spherical power is automatically compensated for in the lens design itself, allowing the examiner to proceed directly to accurate refraction measurements without time-consuming iterative checks.
3Ease of operation
If cylindrical lenses with spherical equivalent are used, then the lens design is simpler, but patients may misinterpret astigmatism corrections as spherical power changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical correction into distinct spherical and cylindrical components within the integrated lens design. By separating the functional roles of spherical power (for myopia/hyperopia correction) and cylindrical power (for astigmatism correction) in the lens architecture, the system allows patients to clearly perceive and respond to astigmatism corrections without confusion from unintended spherical power changes. Each component's effect is isolated and controlled, improving patient understanding and response accuracy.
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 reduces exam time, minimizes incorrect spherical corrections, and simplifies patient feedback by ensuring that astigmatism adjustments do not impact spherical corrections, resulting in a more accurate and efficient refraction process.
Implementation Method 1
a refractor with cylindrical lenses having spherical power integrated thereinto for neutralizing the spherical equivalent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a neutral cylinder refractor, which is a refractor that uses spherical power in combination with cylinder lenses to render them spherically neutral. Every cylinder lens in the refractor, excluding the Jackson Cross Cylinder, has corresponding spherical power added to it to neutralize the spherical equivalent of the cylindrical lenses. The invention can be used to measure the refractive error of a patient's eye, and specifically the cylinder aspect can be measured more easily due to a lack of interference from spherical equivalent.