Patents by Inventor Vance M. Thompson

Vance M. Thompson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200383448
    Abstract: A method of compensating for a refractive error, including manipulating eyelashes to project into a line of sight of an eye at least when an eyelid from which the eyelashes extend is partially closed or when the eye is moved relative to the eyelid. The method may further include manipulating at least one of spacing, orientation, direction, contour or shape of the eyelashes to create an optical effect that improves visual acuity when the eyelashes project into the line of sight and training an individual whose eyelashes are manipulated to position the eyelid from which the eyelashes extend, the eye or both the eyelid and the eye from which the eyelashes extend to achieve relative positioning of the eye and the eyelid to obtain the optical effect that improves visual acuity when desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200383879
    Abstract: A method of mitigating tear evaporation, including manipulating eyelashes to project more downwardly from an upper eyelid, or more upwardly from a lower eyelid or a combination both; and further manipulating at least one of spacing, orientation, direction, contour or shape of the eyelashes to enhance interference with airflow of the eyelashes between a tear film of the eye and an ambient atmosphere to be greater than the interference with airflow which exists because of the eyelashes in an unmanipulated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200310160
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, having a curved lens body with a peripheral edge and a central opening therein. The central opening is shaped and sized and has a tear shaping edge structured to form a tear meniscus within the central opening. The tear meniscus being formed by interaction of a tear film of the eye and the tear shaping edge and having a posterior curvature conforming to an anterior corneal curvature and an anterior curvature. The anterior curvature is dependent on the size and shape of the central opening and structure of the tear shaping edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200301169
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, including a curved lens body defining an anterior partial thickness cavity indented into its anterior surface. The anterior partial thickness cavity has an anterior facing tear shaping surface structured to form a tear lens within the anterior partial thickness cavity. The anterior partial thickness cavity is structured to define a tear lens within the anterior partial thickness cavity by interaction between a tear film of the eye and the anterior facing base tear shaping surface. The posterior curvature of the tear lens is dependent on the shape of the anterior facing base tear shaping surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200237555
    Abstract: A conjunctival cover including an annular generally curved shell having a conjunctival portion structured to conform to and overly at least part of the conjunctiva of an eye. The annular generally partially spherical shell defines a generally central opening. The central opening is sized to leave a cornea of the eye substantially or partially uncovered when the conjunctival cover is applied to the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10684493
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, having a curved lens body with a peripheral edge and a central opening therein. The central opening is shaped and sized and has a tear shaping edge structured to form a tear meniscus within the central opening. The tear meniscus being formed by interaction of a tear film of the eye and the tear shaping edge and having a posterior curvature conforming to an anterior corneal curvature and an anterior curvature. The anterior curvature is dependent on the size and shape of the central opening and structure of the tear shaping edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10678067
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, including a curved lens body defining an anterior partial thickness cavity indented into its anterior surface. The anterior partial thickness cavity has an anterior facing tear shaping surface structured to form a tear lens within the anterior partial thickness cavity. The anterior partial thickness cavity is structured to define a tear lens within the anterior partial thickness cavity by interaction between a tear film of the eye and the anterior facing base tear shaping surface. The posterior curvature of the tear lens is dependent on the shape of the anterior facing base tear shaping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200085565
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200085564
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10548767
    Abstract: A conjunctival cover including an annular generally curved shell having a conjunctival portion structured to conform to and overly at least part of the conjunctiva of an eye. The annular generally partially spherical shell defines a generally central opening. The central opening is sized to leave a cornea of the eye substantially or partially uncovered when the conjunctival cover is applied to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200004046
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, including a curved lens body defining a central cavity indented into its posterior surface. The central cavity has a posterior facing tear shaping surface structured to form a tear lens within the central cavity. The central cavity is structured to define a tear lens within the central cavity by interaction between a tear film of the eye and the posterior facing tear shaping surface. The anterior curvature of the tear lens being dependent on the shape of the tear shaping surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10449086
    Abstract: A conjunctival cover including an annular generally curved shell having a conjunctival portion structured to conform to and overly at least part of the conjunctiva of an eye. The annular generally partially spherical shell defines a generally central opening. The central opening is sized to leave a cornea of the eye substantially or partially uncovered when the conjunctival cover is applied to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20190310493
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, including a curved lens body defining an anterior partial thickness cavity indented into its anterior surface. The anterior partial thickness cavity has an anterior facing tear shaping surface structured to form a tear lens within the anterior partial thickness cavity. The anterior partial thickness cavity is structured to define a tear lens within the anterior partial thickness cavity by interaction between a tear film of the eye and the anterior facing base tear shaping surface. The posterior curvature of the tear lens is dependent on the shape of the anterior facing base tear shaping surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10353220
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, including a curved lens body defining a central cavity indented into its posterior surface. The central cavity has a posterior facing tear shaping surface structured to form a tear lens within the central cavity. The central cavity is structured to define a tear lens within the central cavity by interaction between a tear film of the eye and the posterior facing tear shaping surface. The anterior curvature of the tear lens being dependent on the shape of the tear shaping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20190137787
    Abstract: A contact lens for application in practice of orthokeratology on an eye, including a curved shell having a concave surface and a convex surface. The concave surface includes a carrier zone and a back shaping zone, the back shaping zone having a first curvature and the carrier zone having at least one second curvature. The curved shell has a geometric center and the back shaping zone has a shaping zone center and the back shaping zone center is offset peripherally from the geometric center. The curved shell can have an overall diameter that approximates a corneal limbal diameter of the eye to which the contact lens is to be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10175503
    Abstract: A contact lens for application in practice of orthokeratology on an eye, including a curved shell having a concave surface and a convex surface. The concave surface includes a carrier zone and a back shaping zone, the back shaping zone having a first curvature and the carrier zone having at least one second curvature. The curved shell has a geometric center and the back shaping zone has a shaping zone center and the back shaping zone center is offset peripherally from the geometric center. The curved shell can have an overall diameter that approximates a corneal limbal diameter of the eye to which the contact lens is to be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20180120589
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, having a curved lens body with a peripheral edge and a central opening therein. The central opening is shaped and sized and has a tear shaping edge structured to form a tear meniscus within the central opening. The tear meniscus being formed by interaction of a tear film of the eye and the tear shaping edge and having a posterior curvature conforming to an anterior corneal curvature and an anterior curvature. The anterior curvature is dependent on the size and shape of the central opening and structure of the tear shaping edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20180107024
    Abstract: A lens for refractive tear shaping, including a curved lens body defining a central cavity indented into its posterior surface. The central cavity has a posterior facing tear shaping surface structured to form a tear lens within the central cavity. The central cavity is structured to define a tear lens within the central cavity by interaction between a tear film of the eye and the posterior facing tear shaping surface. The anterior curvature of the tear lens being dependent on the shape of the tear shaping surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20180092771
    Abstract: A conjunctival cover including an annular generally curved shell having a conjunctival portion structured to conform to and overly at least part of the conjunctiva of an eye. The annular generally partially spherical shell defines a generally central opening. The central opening is sized to leave a cornea of the eye substantially or partially uncovered when the conjunctival cover is applied to the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9910295
    Abstract: A contact lens system, including a peripheral conjunctival cover portion including a shell curved and sized to substantially overly a conjunctiva of an eye. The conjunctival cover portion defines a full thickness central opening therethrough. The central opening is positioned within the conjunctival cover and sized to expose at least a portion of a cornea of the eye. The contact lens system further includes a central contact lens portion that is substantially equivalent in size to the central opening and positioned or positionable at the central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Vance M. Thompson