SCLERAL RING

ANNEAU SCLERAL

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
A scleral ring of hydrophilic material 0.05 to .35
millimeters thick is provided with a circular shape about
16 to 25 millimeters in diameter, or a generally elliptical
shape approximately 24 to 30 millimeters long and
approximately 12 to 18 millimeters in width, also a central
portion of about 9 to 15 millimeters in diameter. There is
also a peripheral portion disposed about said central
portion colored white, whereby the exposed portion of the
wearer's sclera is cosmetically treated. The central
portion may have an optical center about 5 millimeters in
diameter, preferably of optical quality for the correction
of vision or clear or removed.

Claims

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A scleral ring overlay of hydrophilic material at least
in the range of 16 to 25 millimeters long, having a central
portion of about 9 to 15 millimeters in diameter, and a
peripheral portion disposed about said central portion
colored white, whereby the exposed portion of the wearer's
sclera is cosmetically treated.
2. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 1 of
generally elliptical shape being in the range of between 12
to 18 millimeters wide.
3. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 1 of
generally elliptical shape wherein its width is about 75%
of its length.
4. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 1 of circular
shape being 16 to 25 millimeters in diameter.
5. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 1 wherein
said central portion is provided with a center of optical
quality about 5 millimeters in diameter.
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6. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 5 wherein
said center is a lens of optical quality for the correction
of vision.
7. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 1 being
approximately 0.05 to 0.35 millimeters thick.
8. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 5 wherein
said center is made of clear material.
9. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 1 wherein
said central portion is removed to provide a central
opening in said lens.
10. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 5 wherein
said center is removed to provide a central opening in said
lens.
11. A scleral ring overlay according to claim 1 wherein
the surface of said overlay is curved to conform to the
anatomical shape of the eye.
12. A scleral ring overlay having a thickness of about
0.05 to 0.35 millimeters, said overlay being curved to
conform to the shape of the eye, made of hydrophilic
material with generally elliptical shape in the range of
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between 16 to 25 millimeters long and 12 to 18 millimeters
wide, with its width about 75% of its length, having a
central portion of about 9 to 15 millimeters in diameter,
and a peripheral portion disposed about said central
portion colored white, whereby the exposed portion of the
wearer's sclera is cosmetically treated.
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Description

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SCLERAL RING
This invention relates to a scleral ring overlay made from
hydrophilic material and having special coloring for
cosmetic purposes~
It is well known to provide hard contact lenses having a
- wide variety of constructions in order to overlay the
wearer's iris with color. Although it is also worn on the
eye, the scleral ring of the present invention differs from
colored contact lenses in many respects, among which is
that it is applied to soft material and constructed to
overlay the sclera or white of the eye.
This invention seeks to provide a soft scleral ring which
overlays the exposed portion of the wearer's sclera with
white color for cosmetic purposes.
According to the present invention, a scleral ring overlay
of hydrophilic material is provided with a generally
elliptical shape about 16 to 25 millimeters long and 12 to
18 millimeters wide, or with a circular shape about 16 to
25 millimeters in diameter. The scleral ring overlay
comprises a central portion about 9 to 15 millimeters in
diameter and a peripheral portion disposed about said
central portion. The peripheral portion overlays the

exposed portion of the wearer's sclera and it is colored
white or other cosmetic shades for cosmetic effect in order
to hide yellow, bloodshot, or an otherwise unattractive
white of the eye.
Still further according to the invention, the central
portion of the scleral ring may have an optical center
about 5 millimeters in diameter, preferably of optical
quality for the correction of vision; however it may be
clear or removed if correction of vision is not desired or
for other reasons.
DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Figure l is a frontal view of a scleral ring overlay made
according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure
l, further illustrating the invention.
Figure 3 is another sectional view of the scleral ring
overlay of Figure l, taken along line 3-3 thereof.
Figure 4 is a frontal view of a modified scleral ring

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embodying the invention, it being understood that a
sectional view thereof would correspond to Figure 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings, the present invention is
preferably embodied in a scleral ring overlay 10 made of
hydrophilic material about 0.05 to 0.35 millimeters thick,
but it is also applicable to overlays of other materials or
of other thicknesses suitable for wear on the cornea.
It is desired that the overlay 10 fit on the cornea and
fill the exposed space between the wearer's open eyelids,
and for this purpose the overlay of Figure 1 is generally
of elliptical shape having a length in the range of between
16 and 25 millimeters, depending upon the size and shape of
the wearer's eye.
The width of the overlay in Figure 1 is approximately 12 to
18 millimeters in width, or about 75% of its length, and
again this dimension is suited to the size and shape of the
wearer's eye.
In or about the center of overlay 10 shown in Figure 1 is a
central portion 12 of circular configuration having a
diameter of approximately 9 to 15 millimeters. As best

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seen in Figures 2 and 3, the central portion 12 is convex
on its exposed surface 14 and concave on its opposite,
inner surface 16 , with a radius of curvature suited for
wear on the cornea. The radii of curvature oE the surfaces
14, 16 are also selected in a well known manner in order to
provide the central portion 12 with optical quality at
least at its center 18 (designated in broken lines)
overlying the wearer's pupillary area, for the correction
of vision.
Disposed about the central portion 12 and extending to the
surrounding edge of the overlay 10 is a peripheral portion
20 which is an extension of the convex and concave surfaces
lg, 16, although on a flatter radius of curvature as shown
in Figure 3, in order to fit closely the wearer's sclera.
The peripheral portion 20 is colored white, preferably
matching the color of a normal, healthy, human sclera;
however, other cosmetic shades may be used if desired. As
a result, a cosmetic effect is achieved if the natural
color of the wearer's sclera is yellow or jaundiced, or
bloodshot, or otherwise unattractively discolored.
MODIFICATIONS
If desired, the overlay 10 may be circular rather than
elliptical in shape, preferably 16 to 25 millimeters in

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diameter, as shown in Figure 4. This dimension corresponds
to the preferred length of an elliptical scleral ring
overlay stated above. In Figure 4, like reference numerals
are used to designate parts of the modified overlay that
are of substantially the same construction as parts of the
preferred embodiment designated in Figure 1 by the same
reference numeral. Overlays of circular configuration are
likely to overlay more of the sclera than its normally
exposed portions.
The annular portion 22 overlies the wearer's pupillary area
and the central area 18 registers with the lens of the
wearer's eye; and in combination with the peripheral
portion 20 the scleral ring overlay conforms to the
anatomical shape of the eye. ~s with the embodiment of
Figure 1, the peripheral portion 20 has a flatter
curvature, being on a larger radius of curvature than the
central portion 12.
In the event that no optical correction is desired, it is
optional in either embodiment, according to the present
invention, to remove the central portion 12 so that only
the peripheral portion 20 is left for covering the exposed
portion of the wearer's sclera. As a further option, only
the optical center 18 may be removed so that the annular
portion 22 remains with the peripheral portion 20 as an

overlay.
Although the invention has been described in preferred and
modified form, further modifications will be obvious to
those skilled in the art which will constitute practice of
the present invention.

Representative Drawing