Hyper-osmotic eye contact lens
Inventors
Daphna, Ofer • Marcovich, Arie • Shaer, Soheil • Ferera, Nahum
Assignees
Publication Number
US-9927632-B2
Publication Date
2018-03-27
Expiration Date
2033-03-05
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Abstract
A hyper-osmotic contact lens including a contact lens including a central convex disc, a peripheral curved portion that extends radially from the disc, an annular groove formed in the disc and one or more apertures formed in the groove.
Core Innovation
The invention is a hyper-osmotic contact lens designed to treat corneal edema by absorbing fluid from an edematous cornea through the force of an osmotic gradient. Unlike previous designs such as the one in U.S. Pat. No. 8,096,655, this contact lens has a distinct structure including a central convex disc, a peripheral curved portion extending radially from the disc, an annular groove formed at the interior junction of the disc and peripheral portion, and one or more apertures formed in the groove. The lens creates an osmotic pressure gradient that results in a net flow of fluid from the cornea into a chamber defined by the inner volume of the lens.
The lens may contain a hyper-osmotic substance such as dry hydrogel, glycerol, or salt solution to enhance osmotic pressure or it may contain no initial hyper-osmotic substance, in which case the volume may be filled with air. The osmotic gradient still generates a tear film between the lens and the cornea, which is trapped and stabilized by surface tension due to the groove and small apertures. This trapped tear film increases osmotic pressure within the chamber, thereby enhancing dehydration of the cornea. The lens may be sized to cover the cornea, limbus, or extend beyond the limbus and may be constructed for various treatment durations including daily or overnight use.
Additional structural features include the possibility of one or more arcuate grooves on the inner surface of the central convex disc, apertures that allow liquid drops from the exterior to be drawn into the interior of the lens, and the option for a heavier bottom portion to maintain lens stability on the eye. The materials used for the lens are oxygen permeable and dimensionally stable, with an example given as G4X p-GMA/HEMA with 50-75% water content.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim focused on a method for creating an osmotic pressure gradient using a specifically structured contact lens. The claim covers several main inventive features related to the lens design and its function in producing corneal dehydration.
Method for creating osmotic pressure gradient with a structured contact lens
A method comprising placing a contact lens over a cornea, wherein the contact lens comprises a central convex disc, a peripheral curved portion extending radially from the disc, an annular groove formed in the disc, and one or more apertures in the groove that define an inner chamber initially devoid of a hyper-osmotic substance. This chamber over time creates an osmotic pressure gradient resulting in fluid flow from the cornea into the chamber by osmosis, dehydrating the cornea.
Creation and retention of tear film by groove and apertures
The osmotic pressure gradient creates a tear film between the contact lens and cornea, and due to the groove and apertures, this tear film creates surface tension underneath the contact lens. The apertures are sufficiently small to prevent tear film outflow past them, enhancing surface tension and maintaining hyper-osmotic pressure within the chamber.
Apertures sized for liquid entry from exterior to interior
The apertures are sized so that any liquid drop placed on the exterior surface of the lens is drawn through the apertures into the interior of the lens, allowing the lens to serve as a fluid trap, including for hypertonic solutions or drugs.
Lens chamber coverage extending over cornea and limbus
The chamber formed by the lens extends over the cornea and at least a portion of the limbus, or extends beyond the limbus, thereby covering a larger area of the eye surface.
The independent claim covers a method utilizing a contact lens with a specific structural configuration of a central convex disc, peripheral curved portion, annular groove, and apertures defining a chamber that creates an osmotic gradient causing fluid flow from the cornea into the chamber, with features that maintain tear film surface tension and enable fluid trapping, applicable over various extents of the eye surface.
Stated Advantages
The hyper-osmotic contact lens effectively absorbs fluid from an edematous cornea by creating an osmotic pressure gradient, thereby dehydrating the cornea.
The design with apertures and annular groove traps tear film underneath the lens, increasing hyper-osmotic pressure and enhancing corneal dehydration.
The lens can be constructed for various treatment durations including daily, partial daily, or overnight use.
The lens material is oxygen permeable and dimensionally stable, making it suitable for use as a contact lens.
The lens can be sized to fit just over the cornea, the limbus, or beyond, providing treatment flexibility.
The lens design facilitates the trapping of fluids such as hypertonic solutions or drugs inside the chamber.
Optionally, making the lens heavier at the bottom increases stability against torsional movement.
Documented Applications
Treatment of corneal edema by dehydrating an over-hydrated, edematous cornea.
Use as a daily, partial daily, or overnight therapeutic contact lens.
Serving as a fluid trap for hypertonic solutions or drugs applied to the eye.
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