Method and apparatus for controlling peripheral image position for reducing progression of myopia

• US 7,997,727 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brien Holden Vision Institute
• Original Assignee: Brien Holden Vision Institute
• Inventors: Holden, Brien Anthony, Smith, Earl Leo III, Sankaridurg, Padmaja, Ho, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman; Scott J
• Application Number:
  US12/685,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 351/205, 351/221, 351/177, 351/159
• US Class Current: 351/177
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/24 Myopia progression prevention
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/02 Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/047 Contact lens fitting; Contact lenses for orthokeratology; Contact lenses for specially shaped corneae

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling optical aberrations to alter relative curvature of field by providing optical devices and methods comprising the repositioning of peripheral off-axis focal points relative to the retina to produce stimulus for influencing the progression of refractive error while simultaneously controlling the position of the central focal point near to the retina to provide clear central vision and simultaneously providing zones of controlled peripheral defocus and other optical aberrations to improve peripheral vision for select directions of gaze.

Claims

1. A method for reducing progression of refractive error comprising the steps of:

providing an optical vision treatment device comprising a vision treatment zone and

a plurality of vision priority zones;

wherein said vision treatment zone is configured with a predetermined first optical design;

said first optical design selected to effect control of forward-backward positions of peripheral off-axis focal points relative to a retina;

said control of positions of peripheral off-axis focal points producing at least one substantially corrective stimulus for influencing progression of refractive error while substantially simultaneously controlling the forward-backward position of a central on-axis focal point near the retina and substantially simultaneously providing clear on-axis images;

wherein at least one first vision priority zone, of said vision priority zones is configured with a predetermined second optical design;

said second optical design selected to control, for at least one direction of gaze a condition selected from the group consisting of;

defocus and other optical aberrations;

and wherein at least one second vision priority zone, of said vision priority zones is located between said vision treatment zone and said first vision priority zone and is configured with a predetermined third optical design;

said third optical design selected to produce an intermediate optical power between said vision treatment zone and said first vision priority zone; and

wherein said third optical design substantially minimizes aberrations.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the forward-backward positions of peripheral off-axis focal points, for a vision treatment device that in combination with an eye exhibiting astigmatism, further comprises the step of:

controlling the forward-backward positions of peripheral line foci produced by astigmatism relative to the retina.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of controlling the forward-backward positions of peripheral line foci further comprises:

positioning a first peripheral line focus that is nearer to the cornea of the eye than a second peripheral line focus, to a distance from the cornea of the eye towards the peripheral retina; and

said distance being approximately less than or equal to the distance from the cornea to the peripheral retina.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said vision priority zone is configured to include at least one region of said vision treatment device, said region selected from the group consisting of:

the optical center;

the distance visual point;

the near visual point; and

combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of controlling the forward-backward positions of peripheral line foci further comprises:

positioning a first peripheral line focus that is further from the cornea of the eye than a second peripheral line focus, to a distance from the cornea of the eye towards the peripheral retina, said distance being approximately greater than or equal to the distance from the cornea to the peripheral retina.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said vision priority zone is configured to include at least one region of said vision treatment device, said region selected from the group consisting of:

the optical center;

the distance visual point;

the near visual point; and

combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein a minimum width of said vision priority zone is approximately equal to or greater than the size of the entrance pupil of said eye.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein a minimum width of said vision priority zone is approximately equal to or greater than the size of the entrance pupil of said eye.

9. An optical device comprising:

a vision treatment zone and a plurality of vision priority zones;

wherein said vision treatment zone is configured with a predetermined first optical design;

said first optical design selected to effect control of forward-backward positions of peripheral off-axis focal points relative to the retina of an eye while substantially simultaneously controlling the forward-backward position of a central on-axis focal point near to the retina;

wherein at least one first vision priority zone, of said vision priority zones is configured with a predetermined second optical design, said second optical design selected to control a condition selected from the group consisting of;

defocus and other optical aberrations;

wherein at least one second vision priority zone, of said vision priority zones is located between said vision treatment zone and said first vision priority zone and is configured with a predetermined third optical design, said third optical design selected to produce an intermediate optical power between said vision treatment zone and said first vision priority zone; and

wherein said third optical design substantially minimizes aberrations.

10. The optical device according to claim 9, wherein said control of the forward-backward positions of peripheral off-axis focal points by said vision treatment zone further comprises:

controlling the forward-backward positions of peripheral line foci produced by astigmatism relative to the retina, for a vision device that in combination with the eye exhibits astigmatism.

11. The optical device according to claim 10, wherein said control of the forward-backward positions of peripheral line foci by said vision treatment zone further comprises:

positioning a first peripheral line focus, which is nearer to the cornea of the eye than a second peripheral line focus, to a distance from the cornea of the eye towards the peripheral retina, said distance being approximately less than or equal to the distance from the cornea to the peripheral retina.

12. The optical device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said vision priority zone is configured to include at least one region of said optical device, said region selected from the group consisting of:

the optical center;

the distance visual point;

the near visual point; and

combinations thereof.

13. The optical device according to claim 10, wherein said control of the forward-backward positions of peripheral line foci by said vision treatment zone further comprises:

positioning a first peripheral line focus, which is further from the cornea of the eye than a second peripheral line focus, to a distance from the cornea of the eye towards the peripheral retina, said distance being approximately greater than or equal to the distance from the cornea to the peripheral retina.

14. The optical device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said vision priority zone is configured to include at least one region of said optical device, said region selected from the group consisting of:

the optical center;

the distance visual point;

the near visual point; and

combinations thereof.

15. The optical device according to claim 12, wherein the minimum width of said vision priority zone is approximately equal to or greater than the size of the entrance pupil of an eye.

16. The optical device according to claim 14, wherein the minimum width of said vision priority zone is approximately equal to or greater than the size of the entrance pupil of an eye.

17. A device comprising an optical lens system, said system comprising:

a vision treatment zone and a plurality of vision priority zones;

wherein said vision treatment zone is configured with a predetermined first optical design, said first optical design selected to effect the control of the forward-backward positions of peripheral line foci of astigmatism, whereby a first peripheral line focus that is nearer to the cornea of an eye than a second peripheral line focus, is positioned to a distance from the cornea of an eye towards the peripheral retina of the eye, said distance being approximately less than or equal to the distance from the cornea to the peripheral retina, while substantially simultaneously controlling a forward-backward position of an on-axis focal point near to the retina;

wherein at least one first vision priority zone, of said vision priority zones is positioned to include the optical center of said lens system with said vision priority zone that includes the optical center being substantially simultaneously configured with a predetermined second optical design;

said second optical design selected to control at least one condition selected from the group consisting of;

defocus, spherical aberration, astigmatism and coma;

wherein the minimum width of said first vision priority zone that includes the optical center is approximately greater than or equal to the entrance pupil size of the eye;

wherein at least one second vision priority zone, of said vision priority zones is located between said vision treatment zone and said first vision priority zone;

said second vision priority zone is configured with a predetermined third optical design, said third optical design selected to produce an intermediate optical power between said vision treatment zone and said first vision priority zone; and

wherein said third optical design substantially minimizes aberrations.