Abstract: Ophthalmic lens assemblies and methods of assembly and use may include a lens assembly including a lens element and a protective cover. The lens element includes a contact lens surface and a faceted optical body including a distal portion and a faceted portion including one or more mirror facets to form a TIR activity pathway. The protective cover includes a contact aperture shaped to receive the contact lens surface, a grip portion, and a facet housing portion including an interior surface. The contact aperture of the protective cover is stretch-fit about a periphery of the contact lens surface to maintain a proximal-side fluid seal. The grip portion of the protective cover is stretch-fit about the distal portion of the lens element to maintain a distal-side fluid seal. One or more TIR-inducing air gaps are defined by the facet housing portion between the interior surface and the mirror facets.

Abstract: A retinal imaging device is provided comprising an optical stage, one or more illumination sources, an optical system, a position-sensitive optical tracking sensor, a retinal image sensor, and a tracking controller. The illumination sources are configured to direct an illumination beam onto a cornea of an eye under examination where the illumination beam undergoes both specular and diffuse reflection. The position-sensitive optical tracking sensor comprises a non-image forming sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the relative positioning of relatively low and high intensity portions of an optical signal incident on the sensor, in at least two dimensions.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a positioning device comprises a microscope assembly and a lens positioning assembly. The lens positioning assembly comprises a lens support subassembly and a bi-directional positioning guide. The lens support subassembly comprises a translating rod, while the positioning guide comprises a coiled spring. The coiled spring is canted relative to a longitudinal axis of the rod. The inner periphery of the coiled spring engages in a spring loaded state an outer periphery of the rod such that the coiled spring provides a frictional force about the outer periphery of the rod. This frictional force provided by the coiled spring about the outer periphery of the rod is sufficient to hold the rod within the inner periphery, but permit infinitely variable bi-directional movement of the rod through the inner periphery under an applied force. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a microscope is provided comprising a microscope assembly and a lens positioner. The lens positioner comprises a tension control assembly, an adjustable lens extension assembly, and a tensile cord coupling the tension control assembly to the adjustable lens extension assembly. The tension control assembly is configured to control the degree of tension in the tensile cord. The adjustable lens extension assembly comprises a flexible linkage subassembly and a lens support subassembly. The flexible linkage subassembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end and is configured such that the distal end is movable relative to the proximal end through a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement. The lens support subassembly is secured to the distal end of the flexible linkage subassembly.

Abstract: An autoclavable diagnostic ophthalmic lens system includes a biconvex lens element having front and rear surfaces and a housing in which the biconvex lens element is mounted. The biconvex lens element is fabricated from a glass having an index-of-refraction greater of 1.7 or greater. The glass composition meets the following parameters: (% SiO2 (by weight)+% B2O3) is less than 50%; % of alkali metal compounds+% of alkaline earth metal compounds is less than 10%; and (% SiO2+% B2O3)/(% rare earth compounds) is less than 1.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a positioning device comprises a microscope assembly and a lens positioning assembly. The lens positioning assembly comprises a lens support subassembly and a bi-directional positioning guide. The lens support subassembly comprises a translating rod, while the positioning guide comprises a coiled spring. The coiled spring is canted relative to a longitudinal axis of the rod. The inner periphery of the coiled spring engages in a spring loaded state an outer periphery of the rod such that the coiled spring provides a frictional force about the outer periphery of the rod. This frictional force provided by the coiled spring about the outer periphery of the rod is sufficient to hold the rod within the inner periphery, but permit infinitely variable bi-directional movement of the rod through the inner periphery under an applied force. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a microscope is provided comprising a microscope assembly and a lens positioner. The lens positioner comprises a tension control assembly, an adjustable lens extension assembly, and a tensile cord coupling the tension control assembly to the adjustable lens extension assembly. The tension control assembly is configured to control the degree of tension in the tensile cord. The adjustable lens extension assembly comprises a flexible linkage subassembly and a lens support subassembly. The flexible linkage subassembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end and is configured such that the distal end is movable relative to the proximal end through a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement. The lens support subassembly is secured to the distal end of the flexible linkage subassembly.

Abstract: An autoclavable and sterilent-resistant ophthalmoscopy lens system having a plastic contact lens, and at least one image forming lens element. An ophthalmoscopy lens system having a contact lens element, an image forming lens and a retaining ring is also provided.

Abstract: A gonioscopic viewing system is provided for diagnosis or laser treatment of the anterior chamber angle of a patient's eye. A first lens system includes a concave posterior lens surface with a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of an average cornea so that, when placed on a patient's eye, light rays originating at the anterior chamber angle and passing through the aqueous humor, pass through the cornea and the posterior lens surface of the first lens system and are directed by the first lens system toward an image forming system. An image forming system is optically aligned with the first lens system for capturing the light rays directed by the first lens system and focusses the light rays to form a real image of the anterior chamber angle outside of the patient's eye.

Abstract: A lens arrangement for use in vitreoretinal surgery includes a contact lens element including a posterior surface having a shape adapted to fit an average cornea for placement on a patient's eye and an anterior surface. The contact lens element transmits light emanating from the patient's eye for viewing a structure of the patient's eye. A flange surrounds and holds a peripheral region of the contact lens element and extends radially onto the scleral region of the patient's eye. The flange has a posterior surface with a shape adapted to fit an average scleral curvature so that the flange rests on the sclera for stabilizing a position of the contact lens on the patient's cornea. The flange includes at least one opening allowing access to an incision through which a surgical tool or instrument may be inserted into the eye.

Abstract: An indirect ophthalmoscopy lens system includes a contact lens device and a separate image erecting component. The contact lens device includes a first holder, a contact lens element having a concave posterior surface for placement on a cornea of a patient's eye and a first image forming lens system located anterior of the contact lens element and cooperating with the contact lens element for focussing light emanating from the retina of the patient's eye for forming a real, inverted, aerial image of the patient's retina anterior of the first image forming lens system. The first holder mounts the contact lens element and the first image forming lens system in a fixed relationship to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning an optical component having opposed lens surfaces and an outer peripheral area. The apparatus includes a rotatable holder for supporting and retaining the optical component via the outer peripheral area so that at least a useful optical area of at least one of the opposed surfaces is fully exposed to air when the holder and optical component are rotated. A drive device is provided coupled to the holder for rotatably driving the holder to centrifugally force a liquid from the surface. The method includes the steps of, positioning the optical component within a holder and retaining the optical component in a region of the outer peripheral edge so that at least a useful optical area of one of the surfaces is fully exposed to air, applying a liquid to the exposed surface of the optical component, and spinning the optical component at a high rate of speed to clean and dry the optical component.

Abstract: An indirect ophthalmoscopy lens device is provided for use with a slit-lamp or other biomicroscope for examination, laser treatment or surgical treatment of a patient's eye. The device comprises an image forming lens system for collecting and focussing light exiting a patient's eye to form a real image of the fundus of the patient's eye at a location outside the eye and anterior of the image forming lens system. An anterior lens having a convex anterior surface is disposed anterior to the image forming lens system so that the real image formed by the image forming lens system is located posterior of the convex anterior surface. The convex anterior surface of the anterior lens refracts chief rays of light ray bundles of the light exiting the patient's eye generally toward a collecting lens of the slit-lamp or other biomicroscope.

Abstract: An indirect, contact ophthalmoscopy lens device for use with a slit lamp or other biomicroscope comprises a compound contact lens element and an image forming lens system. The compound contact lens element includes a posterior lens portion having a concave posterior surface with a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an average cornea and anterior lens portion having a convex anterior surface. A middle lens portion is disposed between the posterior and anterior lens portions and has an index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of air and is different from the index of refraction of each of the posterior and anterior lens portions. The middle lens portion includes a posterior surface that conforms with intimate contact to the anterior surface of the posterior lens portion and an anterior surface that conforms with intimate contact to the posterior surface of the anterior lens portion.

Abstract: An indirect ophthalmoscopy lens device includes a plurality of lenses for collecting light emanating from a patient's eye and focussing the light to form a first, real, inverted image of the fundus of the patient's eye outside of the eye, and for reinverting the first, real, inverted image to form an erect image anterior of the device. The first, real, inverted image, rather than being an aerial image, may be formed at least partially within one of the plurality of lenses of the device. A conjugate pupil image, rather than being located in air as an aerial image of the patient's pupil, may be formed within one of the plurality of lenses of the device.

Abstract: CLAIM The ornamental design for an indirect ophthalmoscopy lens retaining ring, as shown and described. DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an indirect opthalmoscopy lens retaining ring, showing my new design; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2—2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 2 is an end elevational view taken from the left of FIG. 1 and; FIG. 4 3 is an end elevational view taken from the right of FIG. 1.