Method and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images

• US 5,949,521 A
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Rochester
• Original Assignee: University of Rochester
• Inventors: Liang, Junzhong, Williams, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/071,794
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 351/205, 351/211, 351/212, 351/219, 351/221, 351/246, 351/247, 606/7, 606/10-19, 606/130, 128/898, 607/88, 607/89, 600/108
• US Class Current: 351/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/103 for determining refraction, e.g. refractometers, skiascopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/156 for blocking
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 9/00 Measuring optical phase difference devices or arrangements for controlling the phase of light beams G02F1/01; Determining degree of coherence; Measuring optical wavelength spectrometry G01J3/00

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images is described in which a point source produced on the retina of a living eye by a laser beam is reflected from the retina and received at a lenslet array of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor such that each of the lenslets in the lenslet array forms an aerial image of the retinal point source on a CCD camera located adjacent to the lenslet array. The output signal from the CCD camera is acquired by a computer which processes the signal and produces a correction signal which may be used to control a compensating optical or wavefront compensation device such as a deformable mirror. It may also be used to fabricate a contact lens or intraocular lens, or to guide a surgical procedure to correct the aberrations of the eye. Any of these methods could correct aberrations beyond defocus and astigmatism, allowing improved vision and improved imaging of the inside of the eye.

Claims

1. Appartus for use in performing laser refractive surgery on the living eye to correct for at least third order aberrations of the living eye, comprising;

means for generating a reflected point source image of said retina of said living eye;

means for receiving said reflected point source image and for converting said point source image to corresponding digital signals;

a digital data processor for calculating wave aberrations of the eye so as to include at least third order modes, using digital signals; and

means connected to receive the calculated wave aberrations from said digital data processor for performing surgery of said living eye.

2. A method for performing surgery to correct for at least the third order wave aberrations of the living eye, comprising the steps of:

generating a reflected point source image of the retina of said living eye;

receiving said reflected point source image and converting said point source image to corresponding digital signals;

calculating wave aberrations of said eye so as to include at least third order modes, using said digital signals; and

receiving the calculated wave aberrations for use in performing surgery to provide wavefront compensation for said at least third order wave aberrations of said living eye.

3. Apparatus for use in performing surgery on the retina of the living eye, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of lenslets which form a lenslet array for receiving a reflected point source image of said retina and for creating an aerial image of the retinal point source;

a camera located adjacent to said lenslet array for viewing said aerial image of the retinal point source formed on each of said plurality of lenslets of said lenslet array;

a digital data processor connected to receive video output signals from said camera and for converting said video output signals to digital signals representative of said retinal point source aerial images, said digital data processor further calculating wave aberrations of said eye, using said representative digital signals; and

surgical equipment connected to receive said calculated wave aberrations from said digital data processor for use in performing surgery on the retina of said living eye.

4. A method for performing surgery on the retina of the living eye, comprising the steps of:

forming a lenslet array for receiving a reflected point source image of said retina and for creating an aerial image of the retinal point source;

viewing said aerial image of the retinal point source formed on said lenslet array using a camera which produces video output signals;

receiving said video output signals from said camera and converting said video output signals to digital signals representative of said retinal point source aerial images;

calculating wave aberrations of said eye, using said representative digital signals; and

using said calculated wave aberrations of said eye in performing surgery on the retina of said living eye.