by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry professors have received a patent for a new lens design that could help slow or stop the progression of myopia in children and young adults.
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is often diagnosed before age 20. It affects about 30 percent of the global population, and researchers estimate that number could rise to half the world’s population by 2050. Experts warn that untreated myopia can increase the risk of preventable blindness, especially in developing countries.
The patented design was created by Tim Gawne, a professor in UAB’s School of Optometry, and Thomas Norton, a professor emeritus. Their work focuses on modifying the chromatic structure of light to influence how a child’s eye develops.
The lens is designed to adjust the visual cues the eye uses to regulate growth and determine whether an image is in focus. Gawne and Norton hope the approach can prevent that process from failing, reducing the chance that myopia will develop or worsen.
Wink Crittenden, a licensing associate at UAB’s Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, recently presented the professors with a ceremonial Patent Coin.
“Norton and Gawne are two of our most prolific inventors,” Crittenden said.
Gawne said patent protection can help move research from the laboratory into clinical use by encouraging companies to invest in development and clinical trials.