Spherical Aberration Optimization for Corneal Laser Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for correcting presbyopia using LASIK do not adequately consider biometric variations in pupil size and eccentricity under different lighting conditions, leading to inconsistent visual acuity and undesired visual side-effects such as starbursts and halos.

Innovation Solution

A laser parameter system that calculates and optimizes spherical aberration parameters based on individual pupillometry data, including mesopic, photopic, and accommodative reading diameters, and pupil center, to align the amplitude, slope, and diameter of the spherical aberration with the patient's actual pupil dimensions, integrated with a LASIK system for precise corneal laser treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard LASIK treatment is used for presbyopia, then corneal reshaping is achieved, but visual acuity outcomes vary and side-effects occur due to ignoring pupil size variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictability of treatment outcomesVSAvoidcomplexity of treatment parameter calculation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs pupillometry measurements and calculates optimal spherical aberration parameters before the actual LASIK treatment. By determining the personalized spherical aberration profile (amplitude, slope, diameter) in advance based on measured pupil diameters under different lighting conditions, the treatment plan is optimized beforehand, ensuring reliable and predictable visual acuity outcomes while avoiding intraoperative adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If spherical aberration correction is applied without personalized parameters, then treatment is simplified, but visual side-effects such as starbursts and halos occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual side-effects (starbursts, halos)VSAvoidmeasurement of pupil biometric variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the pupil measurement into multiple diameter measurements under different lighting conditions (photopic, mesopic, and accommodative reading diameters). By dividing the single pupil measurement into multiple conditional measurements, the system captures the full range of pupil biometric variations, enabling personalized spherical aberration parameter calculation that eliminates visual side-effects without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If fixed spherical aberration parameters are used, then treatment protocol is simplified, but adaptability to individual patient anatomy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization to patient pupil dimensionsVSAvoidcomplexity of parameter calculation system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the spherical aberration parameters (amplitude, slope, and diameter) based on individually measured pupil biometrics. Instead of using fixed parameters, the system calculates personalized values where the amplitude corresponds to the photopic diameter, the outer diameter is greater than the mesopic diameter, and the slope extends from photopic to normal light diameter. This parameter customization achieves high adaptability while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3579795B1Optimization of spherical aberration parameters for corneal laser treatment
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 ALCON INC
  • EP3579795B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3579795B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3579795B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for determining spherical aberration parameters for a corneal laser treatment to treat presbyopia may include performing pupillometry to measure various actual pupil diameters of a patient from a photopic diameter to a mesopic diameter. An actual pupil center of the patient may also be measured. The measured pupil diameters and the pupil center may be used to customize the spherical aberration parameters to the eye of the patient for improved ocular results after treatment.