FUNCTIONAL VISION TESTER

• US 20130100401A1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Assessment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kent Tabor
• Inventors: Tabor, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/022 for testing contrast sensitivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/028 for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/066 for testing colour vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/08 for testing binocular or stereoscopic vision, e.g. strabismus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/18 Arrangement of plural eye-testing or -examining apparatus

Abstract

A vision testing device includes a partition defining a first side and a second side and an electronic device operable to project a first image to the first side and a second image to the second side. The first image and the second image comprise computer-generated images, and the first image is identical to but offset from the second image. A mirror extends from the first side to the second side and is positioned to reflect the first image and the second image. A first viewing lens is in optical communication with the first side and configured to receive the first image reflected from the mirror. A second viewing lens is in optical communication with the second side and configured to receive the second image reflected from the mirror.

Claims

1. A vision testing device comprising:

a partition defining a first side and a second side;

an electronic device operable to project a first image to the first side and a second image to the second side, the first image and the second image comprising computer-generated images, wherein the first image is identical to but offset from the second image;

a mirror extending from the first side to the second side and positioned to reflect the first image and the second image;

a first viewing lens in optical communication with the first side and configured to receive the first image reflected from the mirror; and

a second viewing lens in optical communication with the second side and configured to receive the second image reflected from the mirror.

2. The vision testing device of claim 1, wherein the mirror extending from the first side to the second side is a first mirror, the vision testing device further including a second mirror extending from the first side to the second side and positioned to reflect the first image from the first mirror and the second image from the first mirror.

3. The vision testing device of claim 2, wherein the first viewing lens is configured to receive the first image reflected from the second mirror and the second viewing lens is configured to receive the second image reflected from the second mirror.

4. The vision testing device of claim 2, further including a third mirror extending from the first side to the second side and positioned to reflect the first image from the second mirror and the second image from the second mirror.

5. The vision testing device of claim 4, wherein the first viewing lens is configured to receive the first image reflected from the third mirror and the second viewing lens is configured to receive the second image reflected from the third mirror.

6. The vision testing device of claim 2, further including a third viewing lens in optical communication with the first side and configured to receive the first image reflected from the second mirror and a fourth viewing lens in optical communication with the second side and configured to receive the second image reflected from the second mirror.

7. The vision testing device of claim 6, wherein the third viewing lens and the fourth viewing lens comprise a near field lens set for evaluating near field vision.

8. The vision testing device of claim 1, wherein the first viewing lens and the second viewing lens comprise a far field lens set for evaluating a far field vision.

9. The vision testing device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a flat panel monitor.

10. A vision testing device comprising:

a partition defining a first side and a second side;

an electronic device operable to project a first image to the first side and a second image to the second side, the first image and the second image comprising computer-generated images;

a first viewing lens configured to receive the projected first image; and

a second viewing lens configured to receive the projected second image.

11. The vision testing device of claim 10, further including a mirror extending from the first side to the second side and positioned to reflect the first image and the second image.

12. The vision testing device of claim 11, wherein the first viewing lens is configured to receive the first image reflected from the mirror and the second viewing lens is configured to receive the second image reflected from the mirror.

13. The vision testing device of claim 11, wherein the partition defines an aperture, and wherein the mirror extends through the aperture.

14. The vision testing device of claim 13, further comprising an individual bracket coupled to the partition, wherein the mirror is coupled to the individual bracket.

15. The vision testing device of claim 14, wherein the mirror is coupled to the individual bracket at an approximate midpoint of the mirror.

16. The vision testing device of claim 10, wherein the first viewing lens and the second viewing lens comprise a far field lens set for evaluating a far field vision.

17. The vision testing device of claim 16, further including a third viewing lens configured to receive the first image and a fourth viewing lens configured to receive the second image, and wherein the third and fourth viewing lenses comprise a near field lens set for evaluating near field vision.

18. The vision testing device of claim 17, further including a magnifier in a line of sight of the near field lens.

19. The vision testing device of claim 18, further including a cover rotatable between a first position that blocks a line of sight of the far field lens set and a second position that blocks the line of sight of the near field lens set.

20. A vision testing device comprising:

an outer hood enclosing an internal space, the internal space including

an electronic device operable to project a computer-generated first image and a computer-generated second image, the second image offset from the first image;

a partition disposed to separate the first image from the second image; and

a viewing member coupled to the outer hood for providing viewing access to the internal space, the viewing member including

a first viewing lens configured to receive the first image; and

a second viewing lens configured to receive the second image.

21. A method of testing the vision of a test subject using a single vision testing apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a subject viewing space including a first pair of view windows and a second pair of view windows;

projecting a first image using an image projecting system, the first image arranged to be viewed by the left eye of the test subject;

projecting a second image using the image projecting system, the second image arranged to be viewed by the right eye of the test subject, the second image being at least one of different than the first image and identical but offset from the first image; and

separating the first image and the second image such that the first image is not viewable by the right eye at the same time that the second image is viewed by the left eye.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

collecting an input from the test subject, the input based on the test subject'"'"'s perception during the simultaneous viewing of the first image and the second image;

determining a result based at least in part on the input, the result being indicative of the quality of one aspect of the test subject'"'"'s vision; and

comparing the result to a database of result standards to determine if the test subject'"'"'s vision with regard to the particular one aspect exceeds the result standard.

23. A vision testing system autonomously operable to evaluate the vision of a plurality of different test subjects having different backgrounds, the vision testing system comprising:

a computer including a database of vision tests, each vision test having a pass/fail criteria based at least in part on the background of the test subject;

a monitor coupled to the computer and operable in response to the computer to display a left side image and a right side image;

a divider positioned to separate the left side image and the right side image;

a first viewing station including a first viewing port arranged to selectively provide a view of the left side image and the right side image and a second viewing port arranged to selectively provide a view of the left side image and the right side image;

a first optics path positioned to direct the left side image and the right side image to the first viewing port, the first optics path arranged to simulate a near field view of the left side image and the right side image; and

a second optics path different than the first optics positioned to direct the left side image and the right side image to the second viewing port, the second optics path arranged to simulate a far field view of the left side image and the right side image.

24. The vision testing system of claim 23, wherein the second optics path is arranged in a reverse binocular arrangement such that the apparent distance between the test subject and the left side image and the right side image is at least five times the actual distance between the test subject and the left side image and the right side image.

25. The vision testing system of claim 23, wherein the first optics path is arranged such that the apparent distance between the test subject and the left side image and the right side image is less than half the actual distance between the test subject and the left side image and the right side image.

26. The vision testing system of claim 23, wherein the first viewing station includes a first left eye opening and a first right eye opening.

27. The vision testing system of claim 26, further comprising a first left prism arranged to shift the left side image and a first right prism arranged to shift the right side image.

28. The vision testing system of claim 23, wherein the second viewing station includes a second left eye opening and a second right eye opening.

29. The vision testing system of claim 28, further comprising a second left prism arranged to shift the left side image and a second right prism arranged to shift the right side image.

30. The vision testing system of claim 23, further comprising a cover coupled to the first viewing station and movable between a first position that blocks the first optics path and a second position that blocks the second optics path.

31. The vision testing system of claim 30, further comprising a first light source supported by the cover and selectively activatable to test the vertical peripheral vision of the test subject.

32. The vision testing system of claim 31, further comprising a second light source coupled to the first viewing station and positioned on one side of the first viewing port to test the side peripheral vision of the test subject.

33. The vision testing system of claim 32, wherein the first light source includes a first LED and the second light source includes a second LED.

34. A vision testing system operable to perform a plurality of optical tests, the vision testing system comprising:

a video image producing device operable to produce a left side image and a right side image;

a mechanical divider positioned to separate the left side image and the right side image;

a first optics path positioned to direct the left side image and the right side image to the first viewing port, the first optics path arranged to simulate a near field view of the left side image and the right side image;

a second optics path different than the first optics path and arranged to simulate a far field view of the left side image and the right side image;

a computer operable to select an optical standard to be tested against from a plurality of stored standards, the computer also operable to select the right side image and the left side image based on the optical test being performed and the standard being tested and to compare the test results to the selected standard for the selected optical test to determine if the test subject passes or fails the test.