Reversible Cosmetic Contact Lens With Layered Orientation Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contact lenses are designed to fit in one orientation, leading to discomfort and vision issues when accidentally inverted, and there is a need for a single lens that provides multiple cosmetic effects depending on orientation without compromising comfort.
Innovation Solution
A reversible cosmetic contact lens with multiple effect layers, varying patterns, and opacity levels, incorporating pearlescent pigments, designed to maintain comfort and provide different enhancements in both orientations by minimizing differences in diameter, base curve, and thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a contact lens is designed with asymmetric features to prevent inversion, then it is easy to identify correct orientation, but it causes discomfort and vision issues when accidentally inverted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by creating subtle differences between the front and back surfaces of the lens, such as different curvature radii or thickness distributions. These asymmetric features are designed to be imperceptible to the wearer but sufficient to allow identification of correct orientation, while maintaining comparable optical and comfort properties in both orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies physical parameters of the lens surfaces, such as curvature radius, thickness, or surface treatment, to create minimal differences between front and back surfaces. These parameter changes enable orientation identification while keeping the lens comfortable and functional even when inverted, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Reliability
If a contact lens is designed with symmetric features for comfort in both orientations, then it provides comfort when inverted, but it is difficult to identify correct orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces minimal asymmetric features into an otherwise symmetric lens design. These subtle asymmetries (such as slight curvature differences or thickness variations) provide orientation cues without significantly affecting comfort or optical performance, thus resolving the contradiction between symmetry-based comfort and asymmetry-based orientation identification.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cosmetic effect layers are incorporated to provide different appearances in different orientations, then the lens provides versatile cosmetic effects, but the lens structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cosmetic functionality into separate layers or zones within the lens structure. Each layer contains specific cosmetic effects (such as different colors, patterns, or opacities) that become visible in specific orientations. This segmentation allows multiple cosmetic effects to be achieved while maintaining a manageable and systematic lens structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the lens structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously: the same structural elements that provide mechanical support and comfort also serve as the medium for displaying multiple cosmetic effects. By integrating cosmetic functionality into the basic lens structure rather than adding separate components, the patent achieves versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A reversible eye enhancement contact lens comprises a main body comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the main body having a diameter, a base curve, a peripheral thickness, and a center thickness, wherein, one or more of the diameter, the base curve, the peripheral thickness, or the center thickness are configured such that a dSag is less than 1.3% when comparing a first orientation of the main body with at least a portion of the first surface abutting an eye of a wearer and a second orientation of the main body with at least a portion of the second surface abutting the eye of the wearer; the main body further comprising a first region corresponding to the scleral region of an eye; a second region corresponding to the limbal region of an eye; a third region corresponding to an iris region of an eye; wherein colorants are incorporated into the first region, the second region, the third region, or combinations thereof and configured to create a cosmetic design in the first orientation that is different than the cosmetic design in the second orientation. The cosmetic designs in the first and second orientations may differ in colorant, color, limbal design graphics, inner effect design graphics, outer effect design graphics, barrier layers, clear coat base layers, or combinations thereof. The colorants may comprise metal oxide pigments, coated metal oxide pigments, organic dyes, interference pigments, and combinations thereof.