Method and apparatus for limiting growth of eye length
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11899288-B2
Publication Date
2024-02-13
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 provides methods and devices for therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders, such as myopia, to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the effects of these disorders. The invention details approaches for early recognition of such patients, therapeutic methods for inhibiting further degradation of vision, reversing eye-length-related disorders when possible, and preventing their onset.
A major problem addressed is that conventional approaches, such as limiting reading, only provide minimal practical benefit in preventing excessive eye lengthening in children, and existing solutions like corrective lenses do not stop the progression or development of myopia. The medical community and affected individuals continue to seek improved methods for understanding, preventing, or reversing eye-length-related disorders.
The patent introduces a technique involving the use of ophthalmic lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses, with films or coatings containing particles configured to variably scatter light across the lens, resulting in a clear area surrounded by a light-scattering area. This design induces artificial blurring that lowers the average spatial frequency of images projected onto the retina, effectively inhibiting further eye lengthening. The embodiment covers different methods for achieving this effect, including altering dot densities and using various particle sizes, and extends to customizable interventions guided by patient diagnosis and genetic factors.
Claims Coverage
There are three main inventive features covered by the independent claims of the patent.
Method for limiting growth of eye length using a light-scattering ophthalmic lens
This inventive feature involves providing an ophthalmic lens and applying a film or coating to its surface. The film or coating comprises particles configured to effectuate light scattering such that the scatter amount varies across the lens. This results in the article having a clear area surrounded by a light-scattering area.
Eyeglasses incorporating a variable light-scattering lens with a clear area
This inventive feature relates to eyeglasses comprising an eyeglass frame and an article that includes an ophthalmic lens mounted within the frame. The lens has a film or coating with particles configured to scatter incident light so that the amount of scatter varies across the lens, thereby creating a clear area surrounded by a light-scattering area.
Therapeutic treatment method inducing artificial retinal blurring to inhibit eye lengthening
This inventive feature covers a therapeutic treatment method that includes identifying an eye-length-related disorder in a patient and inducing artificial blurring of the patient's vision. The blurring decreases the average spatial frequency of images at the retina below a threshold, which inhibits the lengthening of the patient's eye.
These inventive features collectively describe lens-based and therapeutic interventions that utilize spatially variable light-scattering to induce artificial visual blur, thereby preventing or treating excessive eye growth associated with various eye-length-related disorders.
Stated Advantages
Enables prevention, amelioration, or reversal of eye-length-related disorders by inhibiting further eye lengthening.
Provides a means to decrease the axial length growth rate of the eye into the normal range, preventing progression of myopia.
Allows continued normal activities, such as reading, by providing a clear area in the lens for sharp focus while still inducing therapeutic blurring peripherally.
Device and methods are adaptable for use in patients with specific genetic factors affecting opsin photoreceptor proteins.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic intervention in patients with myopia and other eye-length-related disorders to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the disorders.
Use in patients experiencing myopia induced by excessive reading, environmental, behavioral, or genetic factors.
Application for early recognition and intervention in preadolescent or adolescent children with nascent myopia or eye-length-related disorders.
Treatment of individuals with variant photoreceptor-protein genes using filter-based or blur-inducing corrective lenses.
Use in conjunction with genetic testing for tailored therapeutic interventions based on specific photoreceptor protein variants.
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