OCULAR CENTRATION OF VISUAL AXIS AND EVALUATION OF RETINAL FUNCITON

• US 20090231545A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gholam A. Peyman
• Original Assignee: Minu, LLC
• Inventors: Peyman, Gholam A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0091 Fixation targets for viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/032 Devices for presenting test symbols or characters, e.g. test chart projectors A61B3/036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/152 for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00844 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00804 Refractive treatments

Abstract

A method and device to assess centration of a visual axis, evaluate retinal function, foveal function, and/or visual field.

Claims

1. A method to assess recovery of a compromised retinal area in a patient, the method comprising:

moving a light source at a predetermined speed laterally across the fovea,

determining a time interval between a patient seeing a continuous line and a discontinuous line, and

comparing the time interval to a known time interval to assess the patient'"'"'s extent of recovery.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient'"'"'s time interval is compared to the time interval in a patient with an uncompromised retina to assess recovery of the compromised retina.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient'"'"'s time interval is compared to a previous time interval measured in the patient under substantially the same conditions to assess extent of recovery of the compromised retina.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the area is specifically located by a centration method.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising having the patient indicate seeing an afterimage from the light source.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the presence of at least two afterimages indicates at least to compromised areas of the retina.

7. A method to assess recovery of a compromised retinal area in a patient, the method comprising

moving a light source at a predetermined speed across the retinal area,

determining a time interval between a patient seeing a continuous line and a discontinuous line, and

comparing the time interval to a known time interval to assess the patient'"'"'s extent of recovery.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the retinal area is a peripheral retina and/or a central retina.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the retinal area is a fovea.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the patient'"'"'s time interval is compared to the time interval in a patient with an uncompromised retina to assess recovery of the compromised retina.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the patient'"'"'s time interval is compared to a previous time interval measured in the patient under substantially the same conditions to assess extent of recovery of the compromised retina.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the area is specifically located by centration projected on the retina.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein centration is projected by an illumination device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein centration is projected by a camera.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein centration is projected by a patient viewing a circular image.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising having the patient indicate seeing an afterimage from the light source.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the presence of at least two afterimages indicates at least two compromised areas of the retina.

18. A method of simultaneously evaluating a visual field and retinal function in a patient, the method comprising

fixating the patient'"'"'s vision on a target comprising circular concentric rings,

mapping the visual field and retinal function using a static or moveable light source, and

recording a recovery time of at least one retinal area by stimulating the retinal area with subsequent weak pulses relative to the mapping light source until recognized by the patient.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the area is a central retinal area, peripheral retinal area, and/or fovea.