Apparatus, system and method for treating dry eye conditions and promoting healthy eyes

Abstract

An apparatus and system, and methods for using such apparatus and system, is provided for preserving the eye's natural and artificial tears. The apparatus comprises two soft, pliable eyecups, which each include and curved lens and contoured frame, connected by a soft, pliable bridge. The lenses are maintained within a pliable, and contoured frame that is designed and constructed to encircle the orbital bone of the eye sockets, creating a custom fit and effective seal over each eye. Attached to each frame is a gasket that further seals the apparatus over the eyes and provides additional comfort to the wearer. A contoured strap, which is attached to each frame, maintains the position of the apparatus on the wearer.

1 . An apparatus for treating dry eye conditions comprising: 
 a pair of soft, pliable, curved lenses, each of said lenses maintained within a soft, pliable frame;    a soft, pliable gasket on a back portion of each of said frames, said gasket designed to substantially encircle and contact the orbital bone of an eye socket of the wearer;    a bridge coupling said frames; and    a flexible, contoured strap having two end portions and a center portion, wherein said two end portions are coupled to said frames and said center portion is designed so as to maintain said apparatus on a wearer;    said apparatus adapted and constructed to increase or maintain the humidity around the eyes of the wearer by reducing the evaporation of natural or artificial tears, or added moisture, and by increasing or maintaining the temperature around the eyes of the wearer.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a moisture pad adapted to be maintained between said apparatus and the eyes of the wearer, said moisture pad designed and constructed to aid in increasing or maintaining the humidity around the eyes of the wearer.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said moisture pad is formed of an endothermic or exothermic material.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said moisture pad is formed of a visco-elastic foam.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said lenses and said frames are formed as unitary structures.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses, said frames, and said bridge are formed as a unitary structure.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses and said frames are each formed of flexible polyurethane.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses are removable from said frames.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses are opaque.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses are translucent.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses are colored.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lenses comprise a textured surface.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said gaskets are formed of visco-elastic foam.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said gaskets are removable from said frames.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said gaskets are formed of an endothermic or exothermic material.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said gaskets are at least partially covered with a fabric.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said center portion of said strap is wider than said two end portions of said strap.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said strap is formed of a four-way stretch polyester blend.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for treating dry eye conditions comprising: 
 a pair of soft, pliable, curved eyecups, each of said eyecups designed and constructed to substantially encircle and contact the orbital bones of the eye sockets of the wearer, while minimizing tissue pressure and occlusion of the blood and lymphatic vessels in the orbital area, so as to comfortably increase or maintain the humidity around the eyes of the wearer by reducing the evaporation of natural or artificial tears, or added moisture, and by increasing or maintaining the temperature around the eyes of the wearer.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a visco-elastic gasket positioned on each of said eyecups.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a moisture pad adapted to be maintained between said eyecups and the eyes of the wearer, said moisture pad designed and constructed to aid in increasing or maintaining the humidity around the eyes of the wearer.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for treating dry eye conditions comprising: 
 a pair of soft, pliable, curved eyecups, each of said eyecups designed and constructed to substantially encircle and contact the orbital bones of an eye socket of the wearer;    a thin, soft elastic strap having two end portions attached to said eyecups and designed so as to maintain the apparatus on the wearer; and    wherein said eyecups and strap each are formed of specific flexible materials such that said apparatus can be adjusted in the as worn position so that the dynamic tension between the eyecups and the strap provide a comfort level associated with a maximum 50% IFD of said eyecups while the humidity proximate the eye sockets of the wearer.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a pair of visco-elastic gaskets positioned on said eyecups, wherein said gaskets provide an effective seal around the eye sockets of the wearer.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for treating dry eye conditions comprising: 
 a pair of soft, pliable, curved lenses, each of said lenses maintained within a soft, pliable frame;    a soft, pliable gasket on a back portion of each of said frames, said gasket designed to substantially encircle and contact the orbital bones of an eye socket of the wearer;    a bridge coupling said frames;    said apparatus adapted and constructed to increase or maintain the humidity around the eyes of the wearer by reducing the evaporation of natural or artificial tears, or added moisture and by increasing or maintaining the temperature around the eyes of the wearer.    
   
   
       25 . A method for treating dry eye conditions comprising: 
 providing an apparatus formed of soft, pliable materials and designed and constructed to substantially encircle and contact the orbital bones of an eye socket of the wearer, and    placing said apparatus on a sufferer of dry eye conditions for an effective amount of time.    
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising adding a moisture solution to said apparatus.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising providing a moisture pad adapted and constructed to be insertable between said apparatus and the eye sockets of the wearer.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising moistening, heating or cooling said moisture pad.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising adding a medicinal solution to said moisture pad.  
   
   
       30 . A method for administering medicine via dermal absorption comprising: 
 providing medicine with skin absorption properties to an apparatus adapted to be worn by a wearer proximate the eyes of the wearer;    placing said apparatus with said medicine proximate the eyes of the wearer such that said medicine can be administered proximate the eyes of the wearer.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said apparatus comprises a gasket and wherein said medicine is administered via said gasket.