Vision Screening Optics Using Chromatic Aberration for Accommodation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vision screening devices struggle to accurately assess refractive errors in children due to their rapid and prolonged eye accommodation, which leads to inaccurate estimates.

Innovation Solution

The use of chromatic aberrations displayed by the vision screening device to trick the examinee's eyes into reducing or eliminating accommodation, thereby improving the accuracy of refractive error estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional vision screening methods are used on children, then the screening process can be completed, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to rapid and prolonged eye accommodation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefractive error estimation accuracyVSAvoideye accommodation duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by displaying chromatic aberration patterns before and during the refractive error measurement to preemptively counteract the eye's natural accommodation response. The chromatic aberration creates artificial blur that tricks the eye into reducing accommodation, thereby preventing the harmful accommodation effect from occurring during the measurement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters presented to the eye by introducing chromatic aberration - a parameter change in the light spectrum composition. By displaying different wavelengths of light with intentional chromatic separation, the system alters the eye's focusing behavior and reduces accommodation, enabling more accurate refractive error measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If chromatic aberration is displayed to reduce eye accommodation, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefractive error estimation accuracyVSAvoidvision screening device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing chromatic aberration as a mediating element between the light source and the examinee's eye. This intermediary chromatic pattern serves as a tool to control accommodation without requiring complex mechanical adjustments to the screening device itself, thereby achieving improved measurement precision with minimal increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If chromatic aberration is used to control accommodation, then refractive error assessment accuracy improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefractive error assessment accuracyVSAvoidoptical image capture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical accommodation control mechanisms with an optical approach using chromatic aberration. Instead of using mechanical means to control the eye's focusing, the system uses optical properties of chromatic light separation to naturally induce accommodation reduction, thereby improving measurement accuracy while simplifying the detection and measurement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 implementation of chromatic aberrations effectively reduces eye accommodation, enhancing the precision of refractive error assessments, particularly in young children, and also allows for the diagnosis of presbyopia in older adults.

Implementation Method 1

a chromatic aberration is displayed to reduce eye accommodation during capture of an optical image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChromatic aberration: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4042931B1Eye accommodation control
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 WELCH ALLYN INC
  • EP4042931B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4042931B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4042931B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vision screening device includes an image capture component. The vision screening device displays a chromatic aberration, captures an optical image using the image capture component, and estimates a refractive error based on the optical image.