Structures and methods for tear shaping for refractive correction

Abstract

A tear shaping structure or structures that shape a tear film of an eye thereby enabling a desired refractive effect. The tear shaping structure includes a supporting structure supporting a plurality of capillary action members, the capillary action members being spaced apart and arranged in such a way as to create a desired refractive lens effect by shaping the tear film of an eye.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of shaping a tear film of an eye, comprising:
 placing a supporting structure having a plurality of tear shaping capillary action structures into the tear film to interact with the tear film by capillary action; and   selecting the tear shaping capillary action structures to be spaced apart and arranged in such a way as to create a desired refractive lens effect by shaping the tear film of the eye.   
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising selecting the tear shaping capillary action structures to comprise a plurality of fibers or filaments arranged in a grid structure. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising selecting the grid structure to include mutually substantially perpendicular fibers or filaments in a first orientation and a second orientation and wherein the fibers or filaments in at least one orientation are evenly spaced apart from each other in at least one meridian. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising selecting the grid structure to include mutually substantially perpendicular fibers or filaments in a first orientation and a second orientation and wherein the fibers or filaments in at least one of the first orientation and second orientation are spaced apart from each other at a greater distance centrally than peripherally in at least one meridian. 
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising selecting the grid structure to include mutually substantially perpendicular fibers or filaments in a first orientation and a second orientation and selecting the grid structure such that the fibers or filaments in at least one of the first and second orientation are spaced apart from each other at a greater distance centrally than peripherally in at least one meridian. 
     
     
         33 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising selecting the grid structure to include a plurality of fibers or filaments including radial fibers arranged in a radial orientation and elliptical fibers arranged in an elliptical orientation. 
     
     
         34 . The method as claimed in  claim 33 , further comprising selecting the grid structure to be structured such that the elliptical fibers are spaced apart from each other more closely centrally and more distantly peripherally. 
     
     
         35 . The method as claimed in  claim 33 , further comprising selecting the grid structure to be structured such that the elliptical fibers are spaced apart from each other more closely peripherally and more distantly centrally. 
     
     
         36 . The method as claimed in  claim 33 , further comprising selecting the grid structure to be structured such that the radial fibers are angularly spaced apart from each other more closely in some meridional orientations than in other meridional orientations. 
     
     
         37 . The method as claimed in  claim 33 , further comprising selecting the grid structure such that the elliptical fibers further circumscribe a circular path, an elliptical path, an oval path or a race track shaped path. 
     
     
         38 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising selecting the grid structure such that additional three-dimensional structural components are located at junctures of crossing fibers. 
     
     
         39 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising selecting the grid structure such that a first subset of fibers has a first cross sectional diameter and a second subset of fibers has a second cross sectional diameter. 
     
     
         40 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising selecting the tear shaping capillary action structures to comprise remaining parts of a perforated structure. 
     
     
         41 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising selecting a first subset of fibers to have a first cross sectional shape and a second subset of fibers to have a second cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         42 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising selecting the tear shaping structure to include a plurality of independent tear shaping objects. 
     
     
         43 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising selecting the independent tear shaping objects from a group consisting of microballoons, microspheres, micro rings, irregularly shaped objects or a combination of the foregoing. 
     
     
         44 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising selecting the independent tear shaping objects to cause the tear film to take on a shape that presents convex areas, concave areas or a combination of both convex areas and concave areas. 
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising selecting the independent tear shaping objects to comprise multi-lobate structures 
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising selecting the independent tear shaping objects to comprise micro rings having a ring shaped or open centered cylindrical shaped structure 
     
     
         47 . The method as claimed in claim  19 , further comprising selecting the micro rings to have a shape selected from a group consisting of circular, elliptical, oval, race track shaped and a combination of the foregoing. 
     
     
         48 . The method as claimed in claim  19 , further comprising selecting the ring portion such that the ring portion varies in size around a circumference thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The method as claimed in claim  15 , further comprising selecting the independent tear shaping objects to comprise nano robots. 
     
     
         50 . The method as claimed in claim  15 , further comprising dispersing the independent tear shaping objects in a liquid or gel suspension. 
     
     
         51 . The method as claimed in claim  15 , further comprising structuring the independent tear shaping objects to be organized by capillary action in combination with repulsive forces, attractive forces or a combination of repulsive and attractive forces. 
     
     
         52 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , further comprising structuring the independent tear shaping objects such that the repulsive forces or attractive forces comprise electrostatic forces, magnetic forces or intermolecular forces. 
     
     
         53 . The method as claimed in  claim 50 , further comprising varying a size or a configuration of the independent tear shaping objects and dispersing the independent tear shaping objects in a liquid or gel suspension. 
     
     
         54 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising selecting a material of the tear shaping structure based on a polarity of molecules thereof.