Peripheral Retinal Defocus Projection for Myopia Axial Length Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating refractive errors such as myopia are less than ideal due to their inability to address underlying changes in the eye's axial length and often come with risks or longer treatment times, and pharmaceutical treatments have less than ideal results.
Innovation Solution
A retinal stimulation device that projects defocused images onto the peripheral retina using optics configured to promote a response, with specific spatial frequency distributions and intensity ratios, and is timed appropriately to stimulate retinal repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spectacle lenses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery are used to treat refractive errors, then visual acuity is improved, but the underlying changes in axial length are not addressed and surgery carries risks
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies preliminary action by projecting defocused images onto the peripheral retina to stimulate biological changes in the eye's axial length before refractive errors fully develop or worsen. This preventive approach addresses the underlying cause rather than just correcting the symptom, allowing the eye to self-regulate its growth through retinal signaling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical correction systems (spectacle lenses, contact lenses) and surgical interventions with a biological stimulation approach. Instead of using external optical elements to correct refraction or physically altering eye tissue through surgery, the device uses projected light patterns to trigger natural retinal-scleral communication pathways that regulate axial length growth.
2Measurement precision
If pharmaceutical treatments are used to treat myopia associated with axial length growth, then some refractive error improvement is achieved, but results are less than ideal and safety concerns exist
Solution Approach 1:
The invention substitutes pharmaceutical chemical interventions with an optical stimulation mechanism. Instead of using drugs that chemically interact with ocular tissues to inhibit axial elongation, the device uses projected defocused images to stimulate retinal photoreceptors, which then send biochemical signals through natural pathways to regulate scleral remodeling and axial length control.
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces an intermediary mechanism - the projected defocused image - that mediates between the external environment and the eye's growth regulation system. This optical intermediary triggers retinal responses that indirectly control axial length through natural biological signaling pathways, avoiding direct pharmacological intervention in ocular tissues.
3Measurement precision
If prior light-based devices are used to alter eye growth, then some treatment effect is achieved, but treatment time is longer and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs periodic action by projecting defocused images at specific intervals and durations throughout the day. The treatment protocol uses repeated short sessions rather than continuous exposure, leveraging the eye's biological response to periodic stimulation. This approach maintains treatment efficacy while minimizing total treatment time and reducing user burden compared to continuous or more frequent exposure regimens.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes treatment efficiency by carefully controlling key parameters including the defocus amount (typically 2-6 diopters), stimulus duration, intensity, and spatial distribution of projected images. By adjusting these parameters to match the eye's biological response characteristics, the device achieves effective axial length control in shorter treatment sessions compared to prior light-based approaches that used suboptimal parameter settings.
4Measurement precision
If defocused images are projected onto the peripheral retina, then axial length changes are reduced, but central vision may be interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies local quality by directing defocused stimulation specifically to the peripheral retina while leaving the central foveal region unaffected. The projected images are positioned in the peripheral visual field and configured to stimulate only peripheral photoreceptors, allowing central vision to remain clear and undisturbed. This spatial differentiation enables simultaneous maintenance of good central acuity and effective myopia control through peripheral retinal signaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the visual field into central and peripheral zones with different functional roles. The central zone maintains sharp focus for normal vision tasks, while the peripheral zone receives defocused stimulation for growth regulation. This segmentation allows the eye to simultaneously perform visual acuity tasks and receive therapeutic stimulation without interference between the two functions.
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 device effectively reduces treatment time and minimizes interference with central vision while promoting a response to refractive error, leading to decreased axial length changes and improved refractive correction.
Implementation Method 1
one or more optics configured to project stimuli comprising out of focus images onto the peripheral retina outside the macula
Implementation Method 2
the retina of many species, including human beings, responds to defocused images and is repositioned through scleral remodeling, in order to decrease the blur caused by the defocus
Implementation Method 3
A defocused image can cause the choroid thickness to change, which is related to the axial length of the eye
Implementation Method 4
Changes to the axial length of the eye can alter the refractive error by changing the position of the retina in relation to the cornea
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to treat refractive error of the eye comprises one or more optics configured to project stimuli comprising out of focus images onto the peripheral retina outside the macula. While the stimuli can be configured in many ways, in some embodiments the stimuli are arranged to decrease interference with central vison such as macular vision. The stimuli can be out of focus images may comprise an amount of defocus within a range from about 3 Diopters (“D”) to about 6 D. In some embodiments, the brightness of the stimuli is greater than a brightness of background illumination by an appropriate amount such as at least 3 times the background brightness. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of stimuli comprises a spatial frequency distribution with an amplitude profile having spatial frequencies within a range from about range of 1×10−1 to 2.5×101 cycles per degree.