Method and apparatus for limiting growth of eye length
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11815745-B2
Publication Date
2023-11-14
Expiration Date
2029-12-21
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Abstract
Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the effects of the eye-length-related disorders. Embodiments of the present invention include methods for early recognition of patients with eye-length-related disorders, therapeutic methods for inhibiting further degradation of vision in patients with eye-length-related disorders, reversing, when possible, eye-length-related disorders, and preventing eye-length-related disorders. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to particular devices used in therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to therapeutic intervention for patients with eye-length-related disorders, such as myopia, through both methods of early recognition and the application of devices and techniques designed to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse these conditions. This includes identifying individuals who are at risk or already showing signs of abnormal axial eye growth and intervening with means that affect the input to the retina, thereby controlling eye growth.
One core aspect of the invention is the use of specialized ophthalmic lenses or devices that artificially blur images entering the eye. These devices, such as glasses or contact lenses with engineered surface features or inclusions, are configured to decrease the spatial frequency of images on the retina below a certain threshold, which halts further eye lengthening. These methods can be tailored to the needs of the patient, potentially reversing eye-length-related disorders if applied at the right developmental stage.
The problem being addressed is the lack of effective means, beyond corrective lenses and behavior modification such as limiting reading, for preventing or reversing excessive eye lengthening that leads to myopia and related vision degradation. The medical community and affected individuals have sought better understanding and intervention techniques that directly address the biological mechanisms underpinning these disorders.
Claims Coverage
There are three independent claims describing the main inventive features of this patent.
Ophthalmic lens with dot-shaped elements introducing higher-order aberrations
An ophthalmic lens includes a first area with a plurality of dot-shaped elements, chosen from bumps or depressions on the surface, or translucent or transparent inclusions (with a different refractive index) in the lens material. The lens is configured to introduce higher-order aberrations into images formed by light passing through it.
Eyeglasses comprising inventive ophthalmic lens or lenses
Eyeglasses comprise the described ophthalmic lens, either as a single lens or in combination with a second ophthalmic lens. The second lens may also include a first area with dot-shaped elements as specified, and may be configured to introduce higher-order aberrations into images formed by light passing through that lens.
Article with ophthalmic lens and light-scattering film with variable scatter
An article includes an ophthalmic lens and a film applied to its surface. The film contains particles that scatter incident light, with an amount of scatter varying across the lens so that the article has a clear area surrounded by a light-scattering area.
The inventive features focus on ophthalmic lenses and articles that employ engineered surface or embedded structures to induce specific optical aberrations, particularly artificial blurring, for therapeutic intervention in eye-length-related disorders.
Stated Advantages
Therapeutic devices bring the axial length growth rate of the eye into the normal range, helping to prevent myopia.
Application of artificial blurring can inhibit further eye lengthening, ameliorate, or even reverse the progression of eye-length-related disorders.
Devices allow continued normal activities, such as reading, by including clear areas for focused vision.
These devices and methods can be tailored to address disorders from environmental, behavioral, or genetic factors.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic intervention to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse myopia and other eye-length-related disorders in patients.
Use in children with progressing myopia, particularly those with genetic mutations affecting opsin proteins.
Application in patients showing early signs or risk factors for eye-length-related disorders, via early recognition and intervention.
Therapeutic use during activities such as reading, where maintaining normal task performance is important.
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