WO2002010842A1

WO2002010842A1 - Eye-exercise device

Info

Publication number: WO2002010842A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/024126
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Kaplowitz
Original assignee: David Kaplowitz
Priority date: 2000-08-02
Filing date: 2001-08-01
Publication date: 2002-02-07
Also published as: AU2001283078A1

Abstract

An eye-exercise device (5) has an at least substantially opaque panel having an array of at least two translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes or a combination thereof. A support (3) supports the opaque panel in front of an eye with at least substantial exclusion from the eye of light other than light passing through the translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes (10) or combination thereof.

Description

EYE-EXERCISE DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an optical device for exercising an eye.

BACKGROUND OF THE • INVENTION

The following U.S. patents are incorporated by reference:

U.S. Patent Number Inventor (s)

1,702,700 Martin

1,770', 448 Yetta

1,959,915 Guthrie

2,171,881 Luc iesh et al .

2,821,977 Gassman

2,831,481 Radin

3,419,323 Lookabaugh

3,628,854 Jampolsky

3,876,294 Kanbar et al .

4,135,502 Peck

4,249,803 Byler

4,452,516 Salia-Munoz

4,531,743 Lott

4,842,400 Klein

4,955,709 Smith

5,325,136 Salibello et al .

5,444,501 Aloi et al .

5,726,731 Toler

5,737,056 Martin et al .

5,748,279 Glanzbergh Aberrations and deteriorations of the optics of the eye are commonly corrected by lenses. These lenses, for example, bifocals or unifocals,- restore vision by altering rays before they pass through the cornea, such that they fall within the proper fields of vision of the retina. Lenses are difficult approximations with subtle errors that while clearly improving vision neither prevent the further deterioration of the optical apparatus of the eye nor encourage its improvement, such that a frequent requirement of lens users is stronger prescriptions .

Another problem of lenses relates to cases where bifocals or multiple spectacles are necessary to correct the condition of the eyes in order to permit both reading and distance vision. In these cases there is a zone of poor vision between where the sharp vision for reading ends and the sharp vision for distance begins. To overcome these imperfections in the treatment of eyes with lenses Guthrie adapted and improved the stenopeic "spectacle" know since ancient times and explained by Daza de Valdes in 1623. Guthrie' s adaptation, the lensless spectacle, differed from Valdes ' s in that it incorporated more pinholes, thereby increasing the brightness of the image observed through the stenopeic spectacle. Such stenopeic spectacles have not gained wide acceptance, most likely because of low image luminosity secondary to the reduction of total light passing into the eye through the spectacle, and because of mild distortion and discontinuity of the viewed image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Modern plastics and careful analysis of the predominant problems of the stenopeic spectacle, namely the entrance of peripheral light bouncing off the back of the stenopeic plate and passing directly onto the retina in a situation of already dim vision, and the lesser problems of the thickness of the stenopeic holes and reflection off the interior of these holes, creating a halo effect, allows for the invention of a unique eye-exercising device which not only permits vision irrespective of the ocular defect but in fact trains the eye musculature to the point of normal vision by encouraging the eye reflexes of the pupil and ciliary muscles under conditions of proper vision.

That is, if the reflexes of the ciliary and pupilary muscles acted to curve and shape the eyeball of a visually impaired person to its normal form, lens spectacles would not work as they are based on the premise of counteracting a deficit in eyeball and lens shape which must remain constantly pathologic in order for the lens spectacle to work. The lensless spectacle, however, allows the convergence of rays onto the plane of vision of the retina irrespective of the pathologic or non-pathologic nature of the eye and lens shape, thereby permitting the higher optical centers of the brain to induce proper functioning of the ciliary and pupilary reflexes to strengthen the muscles which bend the lens and eyeball to its proper form for normal vision without spectacles. That is, the higher optical centers of the brain are encouraged to improve the near reflex because it is not precluded by a corrective lens placed in front of the eye. From the contrapositive point of view, it is well known that a person with normal vision forced to look through a prescription lens develops a pathologic curvature of the eye-ball and eye-lens to allow the perception of normal vision. This is the premise of the familiar admonition not to use prescription glasses if you don't need to; your eyesight will weaken.

Having in mind the defects of the prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, universal eye-exercise device making it possible for almost any user having defective sight to improve his vision to the point of normal by reconditioning the musculature of the eye and thereby altering the overall structure of the eye such that light-rays passing through the cornea fall correctly onto the retina for the sake of normal vision. More particularly it is the object of this invention to provide an eye-exercise device as described in the Claim.

The present invention refers to an eye-exercise device in the form of an at least substantially opaque eye-mask at least substantially surrounding one or, preferably, both eyes to limit substantially or, preferably, prevent the passage of light-rays onto the eye or, more particularly, its cornea except through a matrix or other array of translucent or at least substantially transparent regions or holes in front of at least one eye. The passage of rays through this matrix or array is thought to stimulate the higher-optical center of the brain and the eye-musculature itself to regain and/or improve normal symmetry, strength, and baseline tonicity such that improved and/or normal vision is restored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention itself, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a left-side/front/top perspective front view of a preferred embodiment of the eye-exercise device ;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a matrix plate of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is the appearance of the matrix plate to the user when the eye looks through it to view an object (not shown) .

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the preferred embodiment of the eye-exercise device in accordance with the invention. The device is constituted by a high grade, high-strength, light, thin opaque modern plastic eyeglasses-like eye-mask 5 including matrix plates 8 and 9 that, preferably, are insertable in holders 3,4.

The matrix plates, for example 9 in FIG. 2, have the general curve of a planar or convex/concave lens but may vary in severity depending on what conforms best to the eye-mask in order to prevent extraneous light form hitting the eye. The matrix plate 9 has offset about 0.3 mm holes 10 spaced about 4 mm apart, but other arrangements (arrays) and dimensions are possible. The holes of alternating rows are offset by about 2 mm such that any two adjacent holes from one row can form an equilateral triangle with a third hole from an adjacent row. Thus, the holes are arranged in the form of parallelograms.

Such an arrangement produces the effect seen in FIG. 3 when the eye looks through the matrix plate 9 to view an object (not shown) . That is, the higher optic center of the brain in an unconscious manner merges the discrete focused images of each

pinhole to form a continuous image save only for the black regions that form a honeycombed silhouette 19.

In order to provide a more continuous image, other arrangements of holes and hole sizes may be utilized. For example, the holes may be arranged in a concentric, spiral, stellar, rectangular or other array. Additionally, the size of.

each hole within the matrix or other array may be varied, with widths ranging from about 1.5 mm, preferred for long vision, to about 0.29 mm, preferred for short vision.

Crucial to the functioning of the eye-exercise device is the

elimination of most or, preferably, all extraneous light (i.e.,

light not passing through the holes of a matrix plate) from hitting the eye; otherwise the precision and strength of induction of ocular exercise is reduced significantly. Thus as shown in FIG. 1, the eye-mask is shaped to surround the eye tightly and incorporates shields 1, 2, 3, 4, to prevent all light from hitting the eye except through the front matrix plates 8 or 9. Furthermore, the holes 10 of the matrix plate at least preferably have interiors which are of matte finish, preventing reflections that, even if subtle, further hinder the accuracy of eye-exercise. For the same reasons, it is also at least preferred that inside surfaces of the eye-mask 5 from which light could directly or reflectively reach an eye, for example the shield surface at 2 , be non-reflective.

The shields 1 and 2 will be recognized in Fig. 1 to be arranged like hinged temple pieces to eyeglasses-like holders 3, 4 for the matrix plates 8, 9, the hinges 11 at least preferably being opaque, e.g. folds of the plastic. Other arrangements may be desired, however, for psychologic components.

Because of the psychologic components of encouraging the use of an unfamiliar looking apparatus there is an aesthetic concern of the overall eye-mask, whereby various appealing forms may be utilized as long as much of the light hitting the eye passes exclusively through the matrix of holes. While plastic is the most logical construction material because it is light and inexpensive, the eye-exercise device may be manufactured of wood, glass, metal, paper, photographic film (wherein the holes may be transparent regions) or any other suitable material.

A variety of standard matrix plates having the general curve of a planar lens may be manufactured to be substituted into standard frames or, perhaps, even over (in front or behind) some lenses. However, the effectiveness of eye-exercise is directly related to the overall reduction of extraneous light, and so the matrix plate will work best when substituted into frames that are good at blocking out extraneous light.

In another embodiment (not shown) the at least substantially opaque means having the aray of at least two translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes or a combination thereof is a contact lens and the support means is a peripheral portion of the contact lens.

The amount of light that reaches the eye through the translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes or a combination thereof has an effect on the operation, but cannot be controlled, because it originates ambiently. For example, the size and/or translucence or transparency of the regions, holes or combinations thereof that are optimal in bright sunlight are not optimal in dark night. Therefore, it may be desirable to add to any or all of the embodiments additional eans for controlling the ambient light and/or the translucence or at least substantial transparency of the regions, holes or combination thereof so as to regulate the amount of light reaching the eye .

Many ways or control will occur to those skilled in the art and, since the object is performance optimization through such control, all these ways are considered equivalent and included herein. For example, a visor (not shown) may be provided to shade at least part of the at least substantially opaque means from some light. Such a visor may be a hat brim or a clip on to the holders 3, 4, for example.

In another embodiment (not shown) , the light reaching the eye may be controlled by making the translucent or at least substantially transparent regions photo-responsive. Glass and plastic materials that are photo-responsive to darken in direct (including non-linear) proportions to increasing light are well known, for example.

In another embodiment (not sown) , the at least substantially opaque means may be associated with an auxiliary panel of translucence or at least substantial transparency less than that of the regions of the at least substantially opaque means. Clip- on auxiliary sunglasses or drop-down sunglasses are well known to vary the light passing through eyeglasses with holders like the holders 3, 4, for example, and, therefore, could be used in a known way with the holders 3 , 4.

In another embodiment (not shown) , one at least substantially opaque means may be provided having at least one region or hole with a diameter different from the regions, holes or combination thereof of another at least substantially opaque means, whereby to control the light reaching an eye by selecting the one or the other. It is well known to provide more and less transparent (sunglass) eyeglasses, for example, to control the light reaching the eye by selective substitution thereof and, therefore, those in the art require no further description of the analogous substitutability described.

Still further embodiments (not shown) may use combinations of the above and other means for controlling the light reaching the eye .

Any of the embodiments of at least substantially opaque means described herein may be laminated or otherwise layered with one or more other layers at either or both opposite ends of the translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes or combination thereof so long as such other layers permit at least some light therethrough to reach the eye. The amount of such light is a matter of optimization and control as described above .

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the at least substantially opaque means is substantially perpendicular to the visual axes of the eyes and substantially equidistant from the eyes. This is thought preferable, but those in the art will realize that many angular and distance dispositions are possible and contemplated for other embodiments (not shown) . For example, eyeglasses with variable-length, e.g., telescoping, temple or earpieces are well known.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the passage of light through the translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes or combination thereof to the eye presents a host of external and internal refraction and reflection issues, including internal reflection from the inside, e.g., cylindrical surfaces of the regions, holes or combination thereof. Although a degree of columnization of the light by a length of the regions or holes is thought desirable, it will also be appreciated that this could be substantially eliminated by making the regions or holes of short length from end to end if routine optimization found such preferable for some or all applications. Considerations of internal reflections in the regions or holes may be particularly important in such optimization and may be associated with the relative spectrality of the translucence or transparency of the regions or holes.

Variations, permutations, and other combinations of the means of the above description as will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art are contemplated as part of my invention in both structure and utility, for example as protective goggles and/or sunglasses .

Claims

I claim: 1. An eye-exercise device comprising: at least substantially opaque means having an array of at least two translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes or a combination thereof; and support means for supporting the opaque means in front of an eye with at least substantial exclusion from the eye of light other than light passing through the translucent or at least substantially transparent regions, holes or combination thereof.