Apparatus and Method of Determining an Eye Prescription

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016128562-A1
Application number	US-201414900691-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2014
Priority date	Jul 2, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Eye prescriptions may be determined by providing a simple, easy to use, portable device with a specially configured targeting light source that aligns the eye, mitigates accommodation, and provides accurate results. Unlike stationary, closed view autorefractors, this device typically is portable, self-usable, relatively inexpensive, enabling more widespread use across the world.

First claim

1 - 49 . (canceled)

50 . An optical method comprising:
providing an optical apparatus having a proximal port and a distal port that together form a visual channel, the distal port at least in part defining an optical axis; aligning a living being's eye with the proximal port, the eye viewing through the distal port to target indicia exterior of the apparatus; determining orientation of the eye relative to the optical axis; and generating a cue as a function of the orientation of the eye relative to the optical axis, the cue being perceptible to a human being.

51 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein the cue includes at least one of a visual cue, an acoustic cue and a mechanical cue.

52 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein generating the cue comprises producing a sound that changes in amplitude, as a function of the orientation of the eye relative to the optical axis.

53 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein generating the cue comprises producing a sound that changes in frequency, as a function of the orientation of the eye relative to the optical axis.

54 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein generating the cue comprises producing a sound that changes in duty cycle, as a function of the orientation of the eye relative to the optical axis.

55 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein determining the orientation of the eye comprises using wavefront aberrometry techniques.

56 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein:
the optical apparatus comprises a plurality of target light sources, each target light source being configured to selectively generate the target indicia; the method further comprising: alternatively illuminating one or more of the target light sources to direct the eye toward alignment with the optical axis.

57 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein:
the optical apparatus comprises a target light source that is configured to produce a light beam for forming the target indicia; the method further comprising: moving the target light source to direct the eye toward alignment with the optical axis.

58 . The optical method as defined by claim 50 , wherein the eye moves toward alignment with the optical axis in response to generation of a cue.

59 . An optical apparatus for measuring ocular aberrations of an eye of a living being, the apparatus comprising:
a proximal port and a distal port that together form a visual channel from the proximal port through the distal port, the distal port at least in part defining an optical axis; a cue generator configured to generate a cue perceptible to a human being; orientation logic operatively coupled to the cue generator and the visual channel and configured to determine orientation of the living being's eye relative to the optical axis and to cause operation of the cue generator as a function of the orientation.

60 . The optical apparatus as defined by claim 59 , wherein the cue generator is configured to produce at least one of a visual cue, an acoustic cue and a mechanical cue.

61 . The optical apparatus as defined by claim 59 , further comprising an open-view visual channel.

62 . (canceled)

63 . The optical apparatus as defined by claim 59 , further comprising a wavefront aberrometer.

64 . The optical apparatus as defined by claim 59 , further comprising a body in a binocular configuration.

65 . The optical apparatus as defined by claim 59 , further comprising:
a plurality of target light sources, each target light source being configured to selectively generate target indicia; and a controller configured to alternatively illuminate one or more of the target light sources to direct the eye toward alignment with the optical axis.

66 . The optical apparatus as defined by claim 59 , further comprising a target light source configured to generate target indicia, the target light source being configured to illuminate a light beam that is movable relative to the distal port.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology
• Consejo Superior Investigacion

Inventors

• Durr Nicholas James
• Negro Eduardo Lage
• Dave Shivang R
• Diaz Carlos Dorronsoro
• Celestino Susana Marcos
• Lim Daryl

Classifications

• A61B3/0041

  characterised by display arrangements · CPC title

• A61B3/1015

  for wavefront analysis · CPC title

• A61B3/145

  by video means · CPC title

• A61B3/18

  Arrangement of plural eye-testing or -examining apparatus · CPC title

• A61B3/103 Primary

  for determining refraction, e.g. refractometers, skiascopes · CPC title