Segmented Spectacle Lens for Myopia Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current myopia control methods, such as bifocal and progressive spectacles, have limited efficacy in retarding myopia progression, especially in children, due to compliance issues and the role of peripheral retinal image in eye growth, and existing spectacle lenses may cause discomfort and appear dirty, affecting wearability.

Innovation Solution

A spectacle lens design featuring a clear distance zone and a clear near zone with an intermediate zone that includes focusing or diffusing structures to provide myopic defocus in the peripheral field, ensuring comfortable wear and effective myopia control by diffusing light and reducing axial elongation without compromising central vision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bifocal or progressive spectacles are used for myopia control, then myopia progression may be retarded, but compliance is poor especially in children and wearability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemyopia control efficacyVSAvoidwearability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spectacle lens is divided into distinct functional zones: a central clear zone for distance vision and a peripheral zone with myopic defocus. This segmentation allows the lens to simultaneously provide clear central vision (improving wearability) while creating peripheral myopic defocus (improving myopia control efficacy).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the lens are assigned different optical properties: the central region has zero or minimal power for clear distance vision, while the peripheral region has myopic defocus power. This local differentiation ensures that central vision remains comfortable and clear, while peripheral vision provides the myopia control stimulus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If peripheral retinal image is used as stimulus for eye growth control, then axial elongation is reduced, but compliance and wearability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial elongation controlVSAvoidcompliance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lens design segments the visual field into central and peripheral zones, applying different optical treatments to each. The peripheral zone creates myopic defocus that stimulates appropriate eye growth control, while the central zone maintains clear vision, making the lens more acceptable to wearers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potentially harmful effect of peripheral myopic defocus (which could cause discomfort or appear dirty) into a beneficial myopia control stimulus by localizing it to the peripheral zone only, while keeping the central zone clear for comfortable vision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If intermediate zone with focusing or diffusing structures is added between clear distance and near zones, then peripheral myopic defocus is provided, but lens complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperipheral myopic defocusVSAvoidlens structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lens is segmented into three functional zones: clear distance zone, intermediate zone with myopic defocus structures, and clear near zone. This segmentation provides peripheral myopic defocus while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is manufacturable and wearably comfortable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 spectacle lens design effectively retards myopia progression by diffusing peripheral light, reducing eye growth, and maintaining clear central vision, while being comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, as it does not appear dirty in the horizontal field of view.

Implementation Method 1

an intermediate zone which is located between the clear distance zone and the clear near zone and which includes focusing or diffusing structures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

The intermediate zone includes focusing structures providing a focal power resulting in a myopic defocus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFocusing: Focusing

Data Source

PatentEP4386471A1Spectacle lens design, spectacle lens kit, data set, computer-implemented method of designing a spectacle lens and method of manufacturing a spectacle lens
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 CARL ZEISS VISION INTERNATIONAL GMBH
  • EP4386471A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4386471A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4386471A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A spectacle lens (82) is provided. The spectacle lens (82) includes: - a clear distance zone (84) having a distance focal power, - a clear near zone (85) having a near focal power, and - an intermediate zone (86) located between the clear distance zone (64, 74, 84) and the clear near zone (85) where the intermediate zone (86) includes at least one of the following: focusing structures (86a) providing a focal power higher than the distance focal power and the near focal power or diffusing structures leading to a diffusion of light passing the intermediate zone (86). At least one of the clear distance zone (84) and the clear near zone (85) is delimited in vertical direction by the intermediate zone (86) and an additional zone (89) that is disconnected from the intermediate zone (88). Furthermore, - the additional zone includes focusing structures providing a focal power higher than the distance focal power and the near focal power in case the intermediate zone includes diffusing structures leading to a diffusion of light passing the additional zone, or - the additional zone includes diffusing structures leading to a diffusion of light passing the additional zone in case the intermediate zone includes focusing structures providing a focal power higher than the distance focal power and the near focal power.