Optical element for correcting color blindness

• US 8,939,576 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Harding, Brett T., Li, Sheng, Mochizuki, Amane
• Primary Examiner(s): Parihar, Suchin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Application Number:
  US13/565,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 351/159.24, 351/159.3, 351/159.32, 351/159.49, 351/159.65, 351/159.78, 351/159.81
• US Class Current: 351/159.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1699 Additional features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2201/001 Conductive additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/29 Compounds containing one or more carbon-to-nitrogen double bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/315 Compounds containing carbon-to-nitrogen triple bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 101/12 characterised by physical features, e.g. anisotropy, viscosity or electrical conductivity liquid crystal materials or compositions C09K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 3/20 by halogenation
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 57/00 Other synthetic dyes of known constitution
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 57/008 Triarylamine dyes containing no other chromophores
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 69/102 containing a perylene dye
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 69/103 containing a diaryl- or triarylmethane dye
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 69/109 containing other specific dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/025 non-luminescent particle coatings or suspension media
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/06 containing organic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1007 Non-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1011 Condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1014 bridged by heteroatoms, e.g. N, P, Si or B
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1044 containing two nitrogen atoms as heteroatoms
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1055 with other heteroatoms
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/031 Polarizer or dye
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 : comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/06 : for filtering out ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 : for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 : Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/04 : made of organic materials, e.g. plastics G02B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/041 : Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 : Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 : Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/049 : Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 : having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 : Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/30 : using electroluminescent panels

Abstract

Described herein are devices, compositions, and methods for improving color discernment.

Claims

1. An ocular lens comprising:

an optical element comprising a luminescent compound in a substantially transparent matrix;

wherein the device is configured so that the optical element modifies a color of an object or image viewed through the optical element by a user to thereby allow the user to better distinguish colors;

wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at an absorption wavelength and emits light at an emission wavelength, wherein a human cone photopigment is substantially more sensitive to the emission wavelength than to the absorption wavelength;

wherein the luminescent compound has an average wavelength of visible absorption of about 380 nm to about 450 nm.

4. The ocular lens of claim 1, wherein the ocular lens is an intraocular lens.

5. The ocular lens of claim 1, wherein the ocular lens is a hard contact lens.

6. The ocular lens of claim 1, wherein the ocular lens is a soft contact lens.

7. The ocular lens of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a hydrogel polymer.

8. The ocular lens of claim 7, wherein the hydrogel polymer incorporates a hydrophilic acrylate monomer.

9. The ocular lens of claim 8, wherein the hydrogel polymer further incorporates an alkyl acrylate monomer or an alkyl methacrylate monomer.

2. An ocular lens comprising:

an optical element comprising a luminescent compound in a substantially transparent matrix;

wherein the device is configured so that the optical element modifies a color of an object or image viewed through the optical element by a user to thereby allow the user to better distinguish colors;

wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at an absorption wavelength and emits light at an emission wavelength, wherein a human cone photopigment is substantially more sensitive to the emission wavelength than to the absorption wavelength;

wherein the luminescent compound has an average wavelength of visible absorption of about 420 nm to about 480 nm.

10. The ocular lens of claim 2, wherein the ocular lens is an intraocular lens.

11. The ocular lens of claim 2, wherein the ocular lens is a hard contact lens.

12. The ocular lens of claim 2, wherein the ocular lens is a soft contact lens.

13. The ocular lens of claim 2, wherein the optical element comprises a hydrogel polymer.

14. The ocular lens of claim 13, wherein the hydrogel polymer incorporates a hydrophilic acrylate monomer.

15. The ocular lens of claim 14, wherein the hydrogel polymer further incorporates an alkyl acrylate monomer or an alkyl methacrylate monomer.

3. An ocular lens comprising:

an optical element comprising a luminescent compound in a substantially transparent matrix;

wherein the device is configured so that the optical element modifies a color of an object or image viewed through the optical element by a user to thereby allow the user to better distinguish colors;

wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at an absorption wavelength and emits light at an emission wavelength, wherein a human cone photopigment is substantially more sensitive to the emission wavelength than to the absorption wavelength;

wherein the luminescent compound has an average wavelength of visible emission of about 500 nm to about 600 nm.

16. The ocular lens of claim 3, wherein the ocular lens is an intraocular lens.

17. The ocular lens of claim 3, wherein the ocular lens is a hard contact lens.

18. The ocular lens of claim 3, wherein the ocular lens is a soft contact lens.

19. The ocular lens of claim 3, wherein the optical element comprises a hydrogel polymer.

20. The ocular lens of claim 19, wherein the hydrogel polymer incorporates a hydrophilic acrylate monomer.

21. The ocular lens of claim 20, wherein the hydrogel polymer further incorporates an alkyl acrylate monomer or an alkyl methacrylate monomer.