Novel ultra-thin near-eye augmented-view device (UNAD)

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Devices

Background:

• Current augmented-view devices for glaucoma patients suffer from low magnification (under 3X), image overlap, and pupil mismatch.
• These limitations hinder effective visual field augmentation for individuals with glaucoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel ultra-thin near-eye augmented-view device (UNAD) with enhanced magnification and field-of-view for glaucoma patients.
• To address limitations of existing devices, including low magnification, image overlap, and pupil mismatch.

Main Methods:

• Designed a symmetrical ultra-thin off-axis eight-mirror reversed telescopic optical system for 4X minification.
• Integrated a central un-minified optical system to achieve a wide field-of-view (FOV) without image overlap.
• Ensured full accounting for pupil matching with the human eye's entrance pupil.

Main Results:

• The proposed UNAD achieves a 4X minification angle, mitigating scanning eye movements.
• The system provides a combined FOV of x:-34°~3°; y: -20°~20° without image overlapping.
• Optical simulations in CODE V and LightTools confirmed the system's feasibility.

Conclusions:

• The novel ultra-thin near-eye augmented-view device (UNAD) offers significant improvements over existing technologies for glaucoma patients.
• The device's design addresses key limitations, demonstrating potential practical value for enhancing vision in glaucoma care.