Optical Films With Opaque Features for Myopia Progression Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical designs for managing myopia primarily focus on refractive or phase-altering features, leading to significant visual compromises and do not effectively address the progression of myopia, as they fail to modulate retinal activity to control eye growth.

Innovation Solution

The use of non-refractive opaque features in optical films configured with standard single vision spectacle lenses to increase retinal ganglion cell activity, providing an optical stop signal that decelerates myopia progression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If refractive or phase-altering features are used to manage myopia, then myopia progression can be controlled to some extent, but visual performance deteriorates significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemyopia progression controlVSAvoidvisual compromise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces refractive/optical mechanisms with a neural mechanism. Instead of using lenses or optical elements to control myopia progression, the invention uses optical films that modulate retinal ganglion cell activity through non-refractive opaque features, thereby controlling eye growth via neural feedback rather than mechanical optical manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces retinal ganglion cells as an intermediary mechanism between optical input and eye growth control. The optical films modulate the activity of retinal ganglion cells, which then provide feedback to control eye growth and myopia progression, rather than directly manipulating the eye growth through optical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If non-refractive opaque features are added to optical films, then retinal ganglion cell activity increases and myopia progression is inhibited, but visual performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemyopia progression inhibitionVSAvoidvisual performance compromise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by positioning non-refractive opaque features at specific locations on the optical film corresponding to particular retinal regions. Different features are placed to target specific areas of the retina, allowing localized modulation of retinal ganglion cell activity while preserving overall visual performance through strategic feature placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters of the optical film by varying the characteristics of non-refractive opaque features such as their size, shape, opacity, and distribution patterns. These parameter modifications allow optimization of retinal ganglion cell stimulation while maintaining adequate visual performance through careful parameter selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12498588B2Optical films with non-refractive opaque features to transform single vision ophthalmic lenses into myopia management ophthalmic lenses

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 NTHALMIC HLDG PTY LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to means of managing eye-length disorders, like myopia. The invention includes an apparatus and methods for the prescription, selection, supply and fitting of permanent or impermanent optical films used in conjunction with standard single vision spectacles, wherein the apparatus and methods are configured with non-refractive opaque features, wherein the non-refractive opaque features facilitate an active rise in the overall retinal ganglion cell activity for the wearer, which may serve as an optical signal to decelerate, ameliorate, control, inhibit, or reduce the rate of myopia progression of the wearer.