Wavefront-Guided Contact Lens Design for Irregular Corneal Aberrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for correcting corneal distortions, such as those caused by keratoconus, are inadequate as they cannot accurately measure and stabilize contact lenses on the eye, leading to sub-optimal vision correction.
Innovation Solution
The development of an instrument, NextWave™, that uses wavefront sensors to measure aberrations and provide a WaveFront Guided (WFG) correction for customized contact lenses, ensuring accurate refraction and stability on the eye.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional smooth surfaces are used for contact lenses, then manufacturing is simple, but they cannot correct irregular corneal distortions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens incorporates localized aspheric zones with different optical powers in specific regions to correct irregular corneal distortions, rather than using a uniform smooth surface. This allows precise correction of distorted areas while maintaining simpler manufacturing elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces aspheric surfaces with varying curvatures to correct irregular corneal shapes. The lens surface includes non-spherical zones that match the distorted corneal geometry, enabling effective correction of conditions like keratoconus while managing manufacturing complexity through standardized aspheric design processes.
2Ease of operation
If contact lenses are designed to move freely on the eye, then comfort and oxygen permeability are improved, but measurement stability and positioning accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses wavefront sensing technology to provide real-time feedback on lens positioning and fit. This allows clinicians to measure and evaluate lens stability objectively, adjusting the lens design or fit to achieve both comfort and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces subjective mechanical fitting assessments with objective wavefront-based optical measurements. This substitution enables precise measurement of lens positioning and stability without restricting lens movement or comfort, using optical rather than mechanical evaluation methods.
3Reliability
If corneal crosslinking is used to stiffen the cornea, then progression of distortion is halted, but the underlying visual distortion is not corrected
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens design segments the optical correction into different zones: some areas correct regular refractive errors while other aspheric zones specifically address irregular corneal distortions. This segmented approach allows simultaneous management of corneal stability and visual correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite optical designs combining different surface geometries and material properties in the contact lens to achieve both structural support for unstable corneas and precise visual correction. The multi-zone lens acts as an optical composite structure addressing multiple visual problems simultaneously.
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 NextWave™ system effectively reduces the RMS level of aberrations, providing improved visual acuity and stability for customized contact lenses, particularly for eyes with significant distortions like keratoconus.
Implementation Method 1
The wavefront sensor measures the wavefront of the light to determine optical properties of the eye
Implementation Method 2
This involves the use of UV radiation and Riboflavin to induce crosslinking of corneal fibers
Implementation Method 3
methods for correcting these aberrations to improve visual acuity
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to methods and devices for designing customized contact lenses, by initially making dynamic wavefront sensor measurements through a trial contact lens that is fitted on an eye, and then calculating a WaveFront Guided (WFG) correction to be applied to the trial contact lens that reduces the RMS level of aberrations as much as practically possible. The output of the wavefront correction program is a customized lathe file that the manufacturer can use to make customized contact lenses on a lathe. The method works best for soft contact lenses and scleral lenses.