Optical Element Design for Children Myopia Control

Myopia  is a condition of the eye where the light that comes in does not directly focus on the retina but in front of it. Consequently, the image on the retina is blurred and   it causes the observer inability of viewing distance object clearly. the focus plan of close objects is conjugate with the retina and therefore closed objects can be seen clearly by the observer. The prevalence of myopia is rising dramatically, in many western countries myopia prevalence reached about 25-40% of young adults. 

One of the factors to myopia progression that has been researched in the past years is the connection between hyperopic peripheral defocus on the retina and progression of myopia. Following those research works making ophthalmic lenses that cause the focal plane to conjugate with the retina in the center as well as in the peripheral regions can slow significantly the progression of myopia. In this seminar I will review and propose a proof of concept to an innovative optical design that can control the focus plan of any lens and extend the depth of the focus plan, the result of this design is focus plan that conjugate the fovea as well as the peripheral region of the retina. We assume that this new lens design has the potential to slow significantly the progression of myopia.

* This research was carried out towards the Masters degree in Electrical Engineering at Bar-Ilan University, under the supervision of Prof. Zeev Zalevsky.