BELLEVUE, Wash.—Innovega reported that it filed three new patent applications for novel extended reality eyewear with features for those with visual and auditory impairment. One application provides for camera features for display eyewear for the visually impaired that allow normal eye and head positions when using the system for distance viewing, arms-length tasks and normal reading-distance tasks that have different angles of gaze and head tilt. A second application teaches a novel intraocular lens (IOL) for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who also require cataract surgery.

The IOL replaces the need for wearing patented iOptik smart contact lenses as part of the company's eMacula system; the IOL optics enable eMacula's wide field of view that delivers enhanced vision for the visually impaired.

The third recent patent application is the first to address the needs of the auditory impaired with extended reality eyewear. Novel microphone technology is coupled with gaze tracking and hearing devices to assist the auditory impaired in gaze-guided microphone channel selection along with real-time, gaze-guided voice recognition closed caption text presentation in the extended reality display eyewear.

"The Innovega team finds deep meaning in providing intellectual property, reference designs and prototypes for helping our partners serve the sensory impaired. The graying of America and other developed countries leads to an increased prevalence of those who suffer age-related vision and hearing losses and who need and want assistance to maintain active and independent lives," said Innovega co-founder and lead inventor Jerome Legerton, OD, FAAO.

"We will continue to design lightweight and stylish eyewear with the electronics to assist the sensory impaired when coupled with our iOptik smart contact lenses and intraocular lenses.”

Innovega is in clinical development for its FDA market clearance for the iOptik contact lenses in the U.S., along with seeking CE marking for the commercial launch in Europe.