Remedy for dry eye syndrome

Abstract

A treatment for dry eye syndrome. An at least partially sealed chamber including a reservoir for moisture for surrounding the eyes is disclosed. The invention may be transparent for use during the day or in association with prescription or non-prescription lenses. The moisture chamber may also be opaque to act as a blackout mask for sleeping.

1 . A device to improve the comfort and ocular health of a dry eye syndrome subject having a facial structure and to reduce the harmful effect of dry eye syndrome on the eye and adnexa, the device comprising:
 a frame front with temples having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface defined by the frame front and the temples, the interior surface aligning substantially parallel to and conforming to the subject's facial structure;   a resilient conforming member attached to the interior surface of the frame front and at least one temple and extending around a perimeter of a closed geometric figure that follows the interior surface and is situated between the interior surface of the frame front and the facial structure so as to create a microenvironment between the interior surface of the frame front and the facial structure;   an indentation formed in the interior surface of the temples, the indentation situated within the perimeter of the closed geometric figure;   a substantially transparent lens enclosed and supported by the frame front;   an absorbent moisture pad adapted to evaporatively release an absorbed substance, the absorbent moisture pad being removeably insertable in the indentation; and   earpieces on both temples, adapted to keep the conforming member snugly abutted against the facial structure so as to maintain the microenvironment.   
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the absorbent moisture pad is supplied dry and moistened at the time of desired use. 
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the absorbent moisture pad is supplied in a premoistened state in sealed packaging. 
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the absorbent moisture pad comprises a first absorbent layer and a second layer having wicking and anti microorganism properties. 
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the absorbent moisture pad is moistened with a liquid selected from a group consisting of water, purified water, Ringer's solution and a buffered formulation of appropriate ionic and electrolytic composition to mimic human tears. 
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a humidity level achieved within the microenvironment exceeds 90% relative humidity. 
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a humidity level achieved within the microenvironment exceeds 90% relative humidity and is maintained in excess of 6 hours. 
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the device is substantially sealed to the face of the dry eye syndrome subject. 
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the conforming member is situated in such a way as to create the microenvironment surrounding only one of the subject's eyes. 
   
   
       10 . A method for ameliorating the effects of dry eye syndrome on eyes, the method comprising:
 substantially enclosing the eyes and adnexa in a moisture chamber adapted to fit closely to a face of a dry eye syndrome subject thereby creating a local atmospheric microenvironment in the vicinity surrounding the eye, the moisture chamber comprising a frame front, temples, transparent lenses, and having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, the interior surface substantially aligning parallel to and conforming to the subject's facial structure;   interposing a soft, resilient, conforming member between the interior surface of the moisture chamber and the face, the conforming member creating a closed geometric shape extending around a perimeter of the frame front and least a portion of the temples;   removeably inserting an absorbent moisture pad in an indentation in the temple within the interior of the closed geometric shape, the absorbent moisture pad being in a moistened state; and   maintaining within the local atmospheric microenvironment, an atmosphere rich in a vaporized substance that provides beneficial effect to the eyes.   
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising moistening the moisture pad with a liquid selected from a group consisting of water, purified water, Ringer's solution, and a buffered formulation of an appropriate ionic and electrolytic composition to mimic human tears. 
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising covering the absorbent moisture pad with a layer having wicking and anti microorganism properties. 
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising encapsulating the absorbent moisture pad in an impermeable package in a premoistened state and opening the impermeable package when it is desire to use the absorbent moisture pad. 
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising substantially sealing the chamber to the face with a conforming seal. 
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , in which a humidity level achieved within the microenvironment exceeds 90% relative humidity. 
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , in which a humidity level achieved within the microenvironment exceeds 90% relative humidity and is maintained for an excess of 6 hours.