Patent Application
20220283450
The invention relates to an ophthalmic set for myopia progression control.
In the present description, the phrases myopia progression control, myopia progression slowing-down and myopia progression reduction are used with equivalent meanings.
Myopia progression has been established through many observations and well documented for several years, although its cause(s) is (are) still subject to doubts and research. Myopia progression is the fact that for one person, his/her myopia increases with time at a rate which almost did not exist before. Kids are the most concerned with myopia progression, and it is thus a major issue for humanity to address this problem. Artificial light, in particular that produced by screens or LEDs, is suspected as being a cause for myopia progression, but the actual biological phenomena and mechanisms which lead to myopia progression remain at hypothesis level.
Several principles and methods have already been proposed for myopia progression control, including those now mentioned.
One of these methods consists in adding to spectacle lenses or contact lenses used for correcting myopia microlenses that focus part of light at a distance in front of the retina, in addition to the light that is focused on the retina for allowing sharp vision to the wearer who is equipped with these spectacle or contact lenses.
Another method consists in adding to the spectacle lenses or contact lenses used for correcting myopia non-spherical microlenses, in particular aspherical microlenses, that produce light volumes at a distance in front of the retina, again in addition to the light that is focused on the retina for producing the sharp image.
Still another method consists in adding to the spectacle lenses or contact lenses used for correcting myopia diffusing elements which reduce the vision contrast of the wearer.
Still other methods implement progressive addition lenses which provide power addition to compensate for the lag of accommodation, or bifocal prismatic lenses for producing both the power addition and a prism effect.
All these methods are based on lenses that are designed for modifying wavefronts of the light that enters the eyes of the wearer, or modifying wavefronts of part of this light.
Further methods are based on other principles, such as administering atropine to the subject, or wearing rigid contact lenses during nights for modifying the shape of the cornea.
But all these methods turn out not to be efficient enough in many cases for myopia progression control, so that new solutions are still required or even combinations of solutions.
Studies have been performed recently that suggest a role of the choroid in myopia progression. A thinning of the choroid is associated with a long-term length increase of the eyeball, which leads to myopia increase. In addition, it has been recently observed that light that enters the eyes in the morning causes choroid thickening, whereas light received in the evening causes choroid thinning. This would be due to biological circadian cycles, either local in the eyes or central for the person or even both. The wavelength range from 440 nm (nanometer) to 520 nm, corresponding to blue-green colours, is the one implied in central circadian regulation (with melanopsin absorption peaking at 480 nm) and is suspected playing a role for myopia progression. Another spectral range, from 560 nm to 600 nm and corresponding to amber light, also seems to play a role with circadian regulation and myopia progression, but in a lesser extent compared to blue-green light. Still another spectral range, from 360 nm to 400 nm, mainly 380 nm to 400 nm, corresponding to UV-violet light, might also be of interest in myopia progression, with a local circadian regulation by neuropsin.
Starting from this situation, one object of the present invention consists in providing new means for allowing myopia progression control, which are more efficient than those known from prior art.
Another object of the invention is that such means are easy for the user, without requiring much attention from him.
For meeting at least one of these objects or others, a first aspect of the present invention proposes an ophthalmic set for myopia progression control, which comprises:
According to a further feature of the invention, the modulation spectral range is comprised between 360 nm and 520 nm, and preferably between 440 nm to 520 nm.
Therefore, the invention introduces a daily modulation in the intensity of the light in the modulation spectral range. Thanks to such intensity modulation, the myopia progression can be controlled for the user, because it allows inhibiting or correcting the circadian mechanisms that lead to progressive myopia increase.
Preferably, the control means may be configured so that the first duration starts from wake-up of the user and the second duration ends with bedtime of this user. Put another way, the first duration is focused on the morning period, and the second duration is focused on the evening period. Indeed, the efficiency of the invention for myopia progression control is higher when the user receives more light having wavelength value within the modulation spectral range in the mornings than in the evenings.
In first embodiments of the invention, the first means may comprise at least one light source effective in the modulation spectral range. Then, the control means are configured for activating light emission by the first means selectively during a light-supplementation period having a duration comprised between 15 minutes and 4 hours, preferably comprised between 30 minutes and 2 hours, from the wake-up of the user. Thus, such first embodiments of the invention strengthen the intensity as perceived by the user, of light with wavelength values within the modulation spectral range in the morning period.
For such first embodiments, the ophthalmic set may further comprise a frame to be worn by the user on his/her face, this frame supporting the at least one light source in a manner such that, when worn by the user, at least part of the light produced by the so-called at least one light source enters the user's eye.
Alternatively, the ophthalmic set may further comprise spectacles to be worn by the user, with two spectacle lenses accommodated in a spectacle frame. Then, the spectacles may have one of the following arrangements:
For those of these arrangements that implement microlenses either at a surface of the spectacle lens, or embedded within the spectacle lens, or within a film which covers the spectacle lens, the microlenses may be non-spherical. They may be of refractive type, including unifocal, bifocal or aspherical, or of diffractive type, including pi-Fresnel type.
Advantageously for such embodiments, the control means may be configured for controlling an emission intensity of the at least one light source in a way such that a visual acuity loss or a vision contrast for the user remains matching a target value as the emission intensity varies.
In second embodiments of the invention, the first means may comprise spectral filtering means which have an average transmission value assessed over the modulation spectral range that is equal to or less than 50%, preferably less than 30%, and the control means are configured to cause the first means to be effective on light that enters the user's eye selectively during a light-dimming period ending with the bedtime of the user and having a duration comprised between 1 hour and 6 hours, preferably comprised between 2 hours and 4 hours.
Thus, such second embodiments of the invention strengthen the intensity decrease as perceived by the user, for light with wavelength values within the modulation spectral range, in the evening period.
Advantageously, the spectral filtering means may have another average transmission value assessed over another spectral range from 560 nm to 600 nm, that is less than 70%, preferably less than 50%. Indeed, this another spectral range 560 nm-600 nm also participates in the myopia progression, although in a reduced extent compared to the ranges 360 nm-520 nm and 440 nm-520 nm. Therefore, the additional efficiency of the spectral filtering means between 560 nm and 600 nm increases the overall efficiency of the invention set for controlling myopia progression.
In possible embodiments, the spectral filtering means may be comprised of at least one absorbing dye which is distributed in or on an ophthalmic lens to be worn by the user.
Generally for the second invention embodiments, the spectral filtering means may be comprised in spectacles, or in a clip-on element to be affixed releasably to spectacles worn by the user, or in a patch to be affixed releasably to a spectacle lens worn by the user. Then, the control means may comprise alert means that are configured for informing the user to equip himself with the spectacles, clip-on element or patch when the light-dimming period starts. Alternatively, the control means may comprise light-measurement means which are adapted for measuring an intensity of ambient light. For such latter cases, the alert means may be coupled to the light-measurement means and configured for informing the user to equip himself with the spectacles, clip-on element or patch when the intensity of ambient light becomes less than a threshold. Advantageously, such threshold may equal 500 Lux, which corresponds to average light level at the beginning of the evening period, for both indoors and outdoors surroundings. The alert means may be provided through a smartphone application in simple embodiments of the invention.
In other second embodiments of the invention which are also possible, the spectral filtering means may be electrochromic means that are capable of switching between a blue-blocking state where the average transmission value assessed over the modulation spectral range is equal to or less than 50%, and a clear state where this average transmission value is higher than 50%. Then, the control means may be configured for switching the electrochromic means into the blue-blocking state when the light-dimming period starts. In a way similar as before, the control means may comprise the light-measurement means adapted for measuring the intensity of ambient light. Then the control means may be configured for switching the electrochromic means into the blue-blocking state when the intensity of ambient light becomes less than the threshold. This threshold may equal 500 Lux again.
Alternatively, for embodiments using spectral filtering means of electrochromic type, the control means may be configured for varying the electrochromic means progressively from the clear state to the blue-blocking state during the light-dimming period.
In still other second embodiments of the invention which are also possible, the spectral filtering means may comprise reverse photochromic means such that ambient radiation intensity above a transition threshold causes the reverse photochromic means to be in a clear state, and the ambient radiation intensity being below the transition threshold causes the reverse photochromic means to be in a blue-blocking state. For such operation, the transmission value of the reverse photochromic means assessed over the modulation spectral range is lower in the blue-blocking state compared to the clear state.
Third embodiments of the invention may combine any one of the first embodiments as recited above, with any one of the second embodiments. Thus, the first means comprise at least one light source which is effective in the modulation spectral range, and the control means are configured for activating light emission by this at least one light source as recited for the first embodiments. In addition, the first means also comprise spectral filtering means which have an average transmission value assessed over the modulation spectral range that is equal to or less than 50%, preferably less than 30%, and the control means are further configured to cause the spectral filtering means to be effective on light that enters the user's eye as recited for the second embodiments.
Generally for the invention, the control means may comprise an activity measurement unit that is configured for determining a wake-up time of the user and his bedtime. Then for such improvement of the invention, the control means may be configured for controlling the first means based on the wake-up time as determined by the activity measurement unit, and/or on bedtime as determined from at least one prior use of the ophthalmic set.
A second aspect of the invention proposes a process for maintaining vision comfort to a person, in particular to a child, when this process comprises providing this person with the ophthalmic set of the first invention aspect, and the person using the ophthalmic set in daily life.
These and other features of the invention will be now described with reference to the appended figures, which relate to preferred but not-limiting embodiments of the invention.
For clarity sake, element sizes which appear in these figures do not correspond to actual dimensions or dimension ratios. Also, same reference numbers which are indicated in different ones of these figures denote identical elements of elements with identical function.
First and second embodiments of the invention now described with reference to
Turning to
Turning now to
Still another possibility is to provide the front or back face of the lens with a holographic layer having a microlens pattern.
Alternatively, a UV source may be used instead of the light source 21 which was effective in the wavelength range 360 nm-520 nm or 440 nm-520 nm, and the lens 20 is now provided with at least one optical brightener dye or fluorescent compound suitable for absorbing the UV radiation as produced by the UV source. This optical brightener dye or fluorescent compound re-emits light in the wavelength range 360 nm-520 nm or 440 nm-520 nm. Part of this light as re-emitted by the optical brightener dye is oriented towards the corresponding user's eye E so that it enters into it. Similar arrangements are provided for both of the user's eyes.
The control means 3 are configured for activating the light source(s) or UV source(s) during a predetermined period in daytime. In this way, the user's eyes can receive higher amounts of light having wavelength values between 360 nm and 520 nm, or between 440 nm and 520 nm, selectively during this predetermined period. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the control means are configured so that the activation period of the sources starts at the wake-up time of the user and continues for a duration which may be up to 4 hours, preferably at least 15 minutes, most preferably of between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Such light-supplementation period promotes choroid thickening and thereby limits myopia progression for the user. Possibly, the light dose for the supplementation may be varied depending on the user, in particular depending on a thickness value measured for his choroid.
Several designs for the control means may be used alternatively.
According to first possible designs of the control means, they may comprise a photodetector suitable for measuring an intensity of ambient light as existing in the surroundings of the user. Such photodetector may be based on a photodiode and accommodated in the frame 10 of the first embodiment or the spectacle frame of the second embodiment. It identifies the wake-up time of the user through daylight appearance in the user's surroundings, and then the control means activate continuously the light sources or UV sources during the predetermined light-supplementation period.
According to other possible designs of the control means, the photodetector may be replaced with an inertial measurement unit also accommodated in the frame 10 or spectacle frame, and suitable for sensing the first displacements of the frame in the morning. The time of such first displacements is identified as the user's wake-up time, and the operation of the control means is the same as before.
According to still other possible designs of the control means, they may be located in the frame 10 or spectacle frame and incorporate a wireless communication unit for being connected to an external personal assistant device such as a smartphone. Then, the starting time for activating the light sources or UV sources may be determined by a dedicated application hosted by the smartphone. It may be based on the first time in the day the user makes use of his smartphone, for example.
Preferably but optionally, an intensity of the supplemental light that is delivered by the light sources or the UV sources via the optical brightener dye may be adjusted during the light-supplementation period for maintaining a visual acuity level or contrast level for the user. Indeed, the intensity of the supplemental light may cause a reduction in the contrast effective for the user when viewing at anything in his surroundings. For avoiding that such contrast reduction could reduce vision comfort substantially, it is possible to adjust the intensity of the supplemental light depending on the intensity of ambient light. For example, the control means may adjust the intensity of the supplemental light so that its ratio to the ambient light intensity matches a target value. The light-diffusing elements distributed across the spectacle lenses may also cause a reduction in the visual acuity. So the intensity of the supplemental light may be alternatively adjusted by the control means so that the visual acuity level for the user remains higher than a predetermined threshold. Preferably, when light-diffusing elements 22 are thus implemented in the lenses, they may be preferably located in a peripheral area of each lens 20 so that the central area of this lens still provides high vision acuity. In this way, it is possible to combine good visual acuity through the center areas of the spectacle lenses with an efficiency of the peripheral areas of the lenses for slowing-down myopia progression.
The other invention embodiments described below are intended to reduce the amount of light with wavelength values between 360 nm-520 nm, or between 440 nm and 520 nm, that enters the user's eyes during a determined period called light-dimming period. Such light-dimming period limits choroid thinning and thereby slows down myopia progression for the user. Although the following embodiments are described with spectacle type equipment, the Man skilled in the art will be able to adapt them to contact lenses without difficulty. Such embodiments based on contact lenses are therefore also within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For instance, it is possible to set the filtering area in a ring of each contact lens with a pupil diameter greater than 3 mm. It permits to filter light only when the user's pupil is larger than 3 mm, i.e. not outside or during day.
For clarity sake, the present description continues with the filtered spectral range of 440 nm-520 nm, but it applies similarly by replacing this range of 440 nm-520 nm with the extended one of 360 nm-520 nm.
The average transmission value over the range 440 nm-520 nm is assessed as a mean value of spectral transmission values that relate respectively to wavelength values comprised between 440 nm and 520 nm, with uniform weighting factors. Put another way, this average transmission value is calculated according to the following equation:
T(440 nm-520 nm)=(1/80)·∫440520T(λ)·dλ
where the wavelength values A are expressed in nanometers, the summation interval is from 440 nm to 520 nm, and the spectral transmission values T(λ) are expressed in %. Alternatively, the blue-green wavelength interval may be extended to 360 nm-520 nm, so that the equation for the average transmission value can be also:
T(360 nm-520 nm)=(1/160)·∫360520T(λ)·dλ
In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of T(440 nm-520 nm) and T(360 nm-520 nm) is less than 50%, preferably less than 30%. It is called average blue-green transmission value.
The average amber transmission value may be assessed, over the further spectral range from 560 nm to 600 nm and corresponding to amber light. Such average amber transmission value may be calculated according to:
T(560 nm-600 nm)=(1/40)·∫560600T(λ)·dλ
In preferred embodiments of the invention, T(560 nm-600 nm) is less than 70%, preferably less than 50%.
For implementing the invention, the filtering spectacles of
In possible embodiments, the control means may incorporate at least one ambient light sensor which may be accommodated in the spectacle frame 30, as indicated by reference 35. This light sensor performs measurements of the ambient light level as existing in the surroundings of the user and supplies the measurement results to a wireless communication unit also accommodated in the spectacle frame 30. Then the measurement results are retransmitted to the smartphone 40. For such operation, the smartphone 40 may be wireless connected to the communication unit of the spectacle frame 30. Then, the alert for the user to equip with the spectacles may be issued by the smartphone 40 once the ambient light becomes lower than a threshold, thereby indicating evening time. Such threshold may be set to 500 Lux, for example.
Similar operation may be obtained based on an activity measurement unit which is accommodated in the spectacle frame 30. Such activity measurement unit may comprise one or several of the following components: an inertial measurement unit suitable for movement detection, a photodetector suitable for sensing light variations, a clock, an acoustic sensor suitable for detecting sounds or speech existing in the surroundings of the user, etc. Then the activity measurement unit may be based on combined operations of these components. Activity detection signals as provided by such activity measurement unit are transmitted to the smartphone 40 for determining the expected bedtime from the data accumulated in the preceding days. An activity measurement unit which is accommodated in the smartphone may be used alternatively, and operatively coupled to the alert means.
Although these latter embodiments have been described referring to spectacles as represented in
Other possible embodiments may be based on electrochromic technology, to allow the user to wear the spectacles permanently. The spectacle lenses may be provided with dioptric power and/or astigmatism for compensating a user's ametropia. Electrochromic technology makes it possible to activate temporarily spectral filtering means, for example selectively during 2 hours before bedtime. To this end, the spectacle lenses 33 and 34 are provided with respective electrochromic devices across their whole optical areas. Electrochromic compounds are selected to provide a clear state with average blue-green transmission value that is higher than 50%, and a blue-blocking state with the average blue-green transmission value that is less than 50%. The spectacle frame 30 accommodates batteries 4 suitable for causing switching of the electrochromic devices from clear state to blue-blocking state, and also the reverse operation. The control means 3, also accommodated in the spectacle frame 30, are configured to trigger switching of the electrochromic devices from clear state to blue-blocking state in the evening, when the light-dimming period starts. Such embodiments based on electrochromic technology may be combined with ambient light sensor and/or activity measurement unit and/or smartphone application as before. One advantage of combining the electrochromic technology with an ambient light sensor is that the spectacles can be autonomous for producing myopia progression control, without requiring a smartphone.
According to an improvement of the electrochromic-based embodiments, the transition from clear state to blue-blocking state may be soft, with a progressive evolution of the light transmission between both states. This avoids discomfort caused by sudden switch. Indeed, soft transition may not be detected by the spectacle wearer, since it may be partially compensated for by his pupil variations.
Still other possible embodiments may be based on reverse-photochromic technology. Reverse-photochromic technology is based on chemical compounds that are absorbing in the visible range when ambient radiation is low-level, i.e. below a transition threshold, but become non-absorbing when the level of the ambient radiation is above the transition threshold. For most reverse-photochromic compounds, the spectral range which controls absorption transition in the visible range, belongs to UV domain. It is thus possible to select reverse-photochromic compounds that are sensitive to solar UV radiation as existing in outdoor surroundings, but not present in indoors surroundings or under artificial lighting. The operation of such embodiments of the invention is very simple, because of being based only on the fact that UV radiation suitable for maintaining the clear state is lacking in the evenings, whatever the indoor or outdoor surroundings of the user at that time. With a proper time constant of UV activation, it is also possible to maintain a clear state for intermittent indoor period during the day, and an absorption state in the evening.
Secondary aspects of the invention embodiments described above may be varied easily, in particular regarding the exact implementation of the control means. One will understand that the invention produces daily variations of the light intensity that is received in each eye in the wavelength range 360 nm-520 nm, but it can be controlled in numerous ways, some of them requiring action from the user and others being automatic or autonomous.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21305269.9 | Mar 2021 | EP | regional |
