Abstract: Provided herein is a corneal topography system that utilizes a prism placed in optical alignment between the pattern image generator, such as a Placido disk, and the eye. The corneal topography system may be a prismatic triangulating corneal topography system that utilizes light rays of angle ? at the edge of the prism not passing through the prism, light rays that deviate from angle ? passing through the prism and light rays of angle a calculated from the reflection image to determine the corneal reflection point on the corneal surface. Also provided is a method for mapping a corneal surface of an eye of a subject utilizing an optical prism to produce a reflection image from a corneal surface reflection point on the corneal surface of the eye.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for objectively determining a visual axis of an eye. An optical axis of a measuring instrument is aligned with an unambiguously determinable axis of the eye which is the pupillary axis crossing the vertex of an anterior surface of a cornea and perpendicular to the vertex. A wave front tilt of radiation of a set of narrow laser beams backscattered from the retina is calculated as a tilt component in a polynomial that describes the wave front. The visual axis is reconstructed from a set of chief rays exiting from the eye after crossing nodal points of the optical system of the eye.

Abstract: Provided are methods for determining an axis of best vision of an eye or for objectively determining a visual axis of an eye and for making the most accurate measurement of refraction. Generally, an optical measuring device or instrument projects laser beams into the eye during a scan. Positions of the projected beams are detected and measured on the retina to produce a set of projections. Wave front tilt of radiation that is backscattered from the retina is calculated as a best fit from the set of projections. The axis of best vision or the visual axis is reconstructed from a set of those traces of chief rays exiting from the eye that cross the nodal point of the optical system of the eye and that are normal to the wave front tilts. Measuring with the Styles Crawford scans centered over this axis provides the most accurate objective refraction.

Abstract: Optical apparatus for retinal photography includes a housing (20) fitted to or adapted to be fitted to a camera and defining an optical path (21) that is aligned with the camera lens assembly and extends therefrom to a nose region (25) of the housing. The housing has a projecting handle (24) dimensioned and profiled to be grasped by hand for holding the apparatus in one hand. A plurality of lens components (42, 44) in the optical path and an illumination source (46) co-operate to illuminate a retina of an eye in front of the nose region of the housing, and to image the illuminated retina at the image sensor of the camera.

Abstract: Provided are methods for determining an axis of best vision of an eye or for objectively determining a visual axis of an eye and for making the most accurate measurement of refraction. Generally, an optical measuring device or instrument projects laser beams into the eye during a scan. Positions of the projected beams are detected and measured on the retina to produce a set of projections. Wave front tilt of radiation that is backscattered from the retina is calculated as a best fit from the set of projections. The axis of best vision or the visual axis is reconstructed from a set of those traces of chief rays exiting from the eye that cross the nodal point of the optical system of the eye and that are normal to the wave front tilts. Measuring with the Styles Crawford scans centered over this axis provides the most accurate objective refraction.

Abstract: Provided herein are alignment systems, computer-implemented systems and methods utilizing the same for planning an optimal surgical implantation of asymmetric optics into one or both eyes of a patient and/or correcting astigmatism thereof. The methods generally comprise obtaining reference data comprising the surgical procedure plan, the reference image and the corneal topographic measurements for the patient's eye, determining an optimal placement angle of an optical zone on the cornea from the reference data and placing the asymmetric optic into the eye to match the determined optimal placement angle. Particularly, software is configured to determine the rotational difference between a reference image and a live image of the patient's eye to determine a corrected axis angle for optimal placement angle which is superimposed over a display of the live image. Also provided are non-transitory computer-readable medium and computer program products embodied with software for planning the surgical implantation.

Abstract: Optical apparatus for retinal photography includes a housing (20) fitted to or adapted to be fitted to a camera and defining an optical path (21) that is aligned with the camera lens assembly and extends therefrom to a nose region (25) of the housing. The housing has a projecting handle (24) dimensioned and profiled to be grasped by hand for holding the apparatus in one hand. A plurality of lens components (42, 44) in the optical path and an illumination source (46) co-operate to illuminate a retina of an eye in front of the nose region of the housing, and to image the illuminated retina at the image sensor of the camera.

Abstract: A method of determining and/or tracking the position of an eye, includes utilizing at least two wavelength components of a plural wavelength zone that traverses the limbus of the eye to obtain a profile of whiteness and/or redness across the zone, and identifying from the profile at least one predetermined reference position that indicates the position of the eye. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus (10a) for scanning a light beam (16) through a crystal arrangement (22) that has a first frame member (28), a first support member (24) to support a first optical element (18) in the first frame member (28) and a drive mechanism (32) to rotate the first support member (24). The first support member (24) is rotatably mounted in the first frame member (28). The first optical element (18) is arranged to receive the light beam (16). The first optical element (18) is supported by the first support member (24) so that the first optical element (18) is rotatable with the first support member (24). The first optical element (24) is tiltable about a diametral line of the first optical element (18), relative to the axis of the light beam (16) to be scanned through the crystal arrangement (22). A frequency conversion apparatus (50) provides a first crystal set (52) and a second crystal set (54). Each of the first and second crystal sets (52, 54) has at least one non-linear optical crystal.

Abstract: A method of determining and/or tracking the position of an eye, includes utilising at least two wavelength components of a plural wavelength zone that traverses the limbus of the eye to obtain a profile of whiteness and/or redness across the zone, and identifying from the profile at least one predetermined reference position that indicates the position of the eye. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting harmonic conversion of a laser beam of predetermined frequency to provide plural harmonic components of the laser beam at frequencies different from the predetermined frequency, includes a housing (40) defining a hermetically sealed chamber able to be maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. Also provided are port means for evacuating the chamber, and means (36, 37) defining an optical path for the laser beam and the components thereof through the housing and the chamber. A plurality of individual holders (20, 22, 24) are arranged for retaining respective frequency conversion crystals at spaced locations in the optical path. The crystals (20, 22, 24) can be individually aligned and heated within the chamber.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a corneal topographer (1) and a method for corneal topography. The topographer (1) includes an illumination projection subsystem to project a series of preselected different stationary patterns of one or more slits of light in ordered succession onto the surface of the cornea (100),an image capture subsystem to capture a still image of each projected pattern and an image processing subsystem to convert the still images into topographical information of the cornea. The method involves projecting a series of preselected different stationary patterns of one or more slits of light in ordered succession onto the surface of the cornea, capturing a still image of each projected pattern and converting the still images into topographical information of the cornea.

Abstract: An apparatus (10a) for scanning a light beam (16) through a crystal arrangement (22) that has a first frame member (28), a first support member (24) to support a first optical element (18) in the first frame member (28) and a drive mechanism (32) to rotate the first support member (24). The first support member (24) is rotatably mounted in the first frame member (28). The first optical element (18) is arranged to receive the light beam (16). The first optical element (18) is supported by the first support member (24) so that the first optical element (18) is rotatable with the first support member (24). The first optical element (24) is tiltable about a diametral line of the first optical element (18), relative to the axis of the light beam (16) to be scanned through the crystal arrangement (22). A frequency conversion apparatus (50) provides a first crystal set (52) and a second crystal set (54). Each of the first and second crystal sets (52, 54) has at least one non-linear optical crystal.

Abstract: An optical scanning device (1) to scan an optical beam over a surface (S). The optical scanning device (1) uses a piezoelectric actuator (10) acting on a platform (2) that carries a mirror (4) to pivot the platform (2) about a pivot (8). Voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator (10) to pivot the platform (2) about the pivot (8). Changes in the applied voltage result in the angle at which the beam is reflected by the mirror (4) being altered. In this way, the reflected beam (R) can be scanned to different locations on the surface (S). Providing two such optical scanning devices (1a, 1b) or using two piezoelectric actuators (10aa, 10bb) acting on a single platform (2) enables two dimensional scanning of the surface (S) by the optical scanning device/s (1,1a, 1b). The optical scanning device (1) of the present invention may be used in refractive eye surgery laser apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing ultraviolet laser ablation of a surface, eg. an eye surface, including a laser delivery system (7) having a laser source (1) for generating a laser beam (2) and optics for applying the laser beam to the surface to be ablated, means (20, 20?) for providing a compatible liquid (32) in contact with the surface (4a) to be ablated, in a position whereby said laser beam (2) is applied to said surface through the liquid, wherein the laser beam is of a wavelength that substantially is not absorbed by the liquid.