Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating elimination of ambient light from an image of an object, comprising an illumination apparatus adapted to sequentially illuminate the object using multiple lighting arrangements, an image sensor. The apparatus adapted to form on the image sensor (i) a first image of the object using a first illumination arrangement, (ii) a second image of the object using a second illumination arrangement, and (iii) a dark image of the object without illumination.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus adapted to project a waist of a beam of the light, such that a portion of the confocal region of the waist is projected onto the cornea. The source can be at least partially coherent and/or monochromatic. The source may be a laser or a laser diode. The beam can be a Gaussian beam, or a non-Gaussian beam. The apparatus can comprise a wavefront aberrometer, an axial eye length measuring apparatus or a refractometer.

Abstract: An ocular device includes a housing, a rotatable ring, a first prism fixed in the rotatable ring, an indexable ring and a second prism fixed in the indexable ring. The housing has a stepped inner profile defining first and second circular tracks in the housing, the tracks being concentric about a rotational axis. The rotatable ring is disposed in the first circular track and is freely rotatable about the rotational axis with respect to the housing. The indexable ring is disposed in the second circular track and is indexable about the rotational axis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating determination of centroids of image spots in an image containing an array of image spots generated by an aberrometer, the image comprising a first plurality of pixels each pixel having a corresponding intensity value, the method comprising calculating an average intensity value for a second plurality of pixels in a perimeter around a pixel, the average calculated using a subset of the second plurality exclusive of at least a portion of the pixels in the perimeter.

Abstract: An interferometric axial eye length measurement apparatus having a light source adapted to produce a beam of partially coherent light, a first mirror and a second mirror disposed in the reference arm, and a processor adapted to control at least the second mirror such that a corneal interference peak and a second interference peak have a non-zero separation. There is at least one variable delay optical element having a delay signal, wherein the delay signal corresponding to a region between the corneal interference peak and second interference peak is substantially linear.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating elimination of ambient light from an image of an object, comprising an illumination apparatus adapted to sequentially illuminate the object using multiple lighting arrangements, an image sensor. The apparatus adapted to form on the image sensor (i) a first image of the object using a first illumination arrangement, (ii) a second image of the object using a second illumination arrangement, and (iii) a dark image of the object without illumination.

Abstract: An ophthalmic measurement apparatus having an instrument axis and comprising (A) a central housing comprising at least two reference surfaces and comprising a beam splitter, the instrument axis extending from the central housing, (B) a camera subsystem having a reference surface, the camera subsystem coupled to one of said reference surfaces such that the reference surface to which the subsystem is coupled and the camera subsystem reference surface together operatively align the camera with the instrument axis, and (C) an aberrometer subsystem having a reference surface, the aberrometer subsystem coupled to one of said reference surfaces such that the reference surface to which the aberrometer subsystem is coupled and the reference surface of the aberrometer subsystem together operatively align the aberrometer subsystem with the instrument axis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating determination of centroids of image spots in an image containing an array of image spots generated by an aberrometer, the image comprising a first plurality of pixels each pixel having a corresponding intensity value, the method comprising calculating an average intensity value for a second plurality of pixels in a perimeter around a pixel, the average calculated using a subset of the second plurality exclusive of at least a portion of the pixels in the perimeter.

Abstract: An interferometric axial eye length measurement apparatus having a light source adapted to produce a beam of partially coherent light, a first mirror and a second mirror disposed in the reference arm, and a processor adapted to control at least the second mirror such that a corneal interference peak and a second interference peak have a non-zero separation. There is at least one variable delay optical element having a delay signal, wherein the delay signal corresponding to a region between the corneal interference peak and second interference peak is substantially linear.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a subject's eye having an instrument axis, comprising an eye tracker apparatus comprising a first projector and a first camera, a slit projector rotatable about the instrument axis independent of the eye tracker apparatus, and a second camera rotatable about the instrument axis independent of the eye tracker.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus adapted to project a waist of a beam of the light, such that a portion of the confocal region of the waist is projected onto the cornea. The source can be at least partially coherent and/or monochromatic. The source may be a laser or a laser diode. The beam can be a Gaussian beam, or a non-Gaussian beam. The apparatus can comprise a wavefront aberrometer, an axial eye length measuring apparatus or a refractometer.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position of a subject's cornea, comprising a camera, a first illumination apparatus adapted to provide a first beam of light and a first diffuse portion of light that are coincident, and a second illumination apparatus adapted to provide a second beam of light and a second diffuse portion of light, that are coincident. In some embodiments, the first, second, third and fourth images are disposed on the midpoints of a square, when a cornea is located along an optical axis of camera.

Abstract: Ophthalmic system and method particularly suited to providing a laser probe beam for a Hartmann-Shack ophthalmic aberrometer. The laser probe beam produced by the system and method has a confined image spot at both the cornea and the retina. The probe beam can be generated with a laser beam passing through a moving holographic diffuser and two pinhole apertures. The holographic diffuser randomizes the spatial phase across the laser probe beam to substantially eliminate laser speckle from the Hartmann-Shack images. An imaging lens forms the probe beam and a first pinhole aperture image on the cornea, which eliminates beam size variation due to laser parameters and misalignment. A second-pinhole aperture is used to control the vergence of the probe beam and the probe beam spot size on the retina. The spot size on the retina is thus insensitive to the defocus power range of various subjects' eyes.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position of a subject's cornea, comprising a camera, a first illumination apparatus adapted to provide a first beam of light and a first diffuse portion of light that are coincident, and a second illumination apparatus adapted to provide a second beam of light and a second diffuse portion of light, that are coincident. In some embodiments, the first, second, third and fourth images are disposed on the midpoints of a square, when a cornea is located along an optical axis of camera.

Abstract: An improved moiré deflectometer device for measuring a wavefront aberration of an optical system includes a light source for illuminating a surface area of the optical system, an optical relay system for directing scattered light to a deflectometer component that converts the wavefront into a moiré fringe pattern, a sensor/camera assembly for imaging and displaying the exit pupil of the optical system and the moiré´ fringe pattern, and a fringe pattern to calculate the wavefront aberration of the optical system, being improved by an illumination source for illuminating the exit pupil of the optical system; and an alignment system cooperating with the illumination source in such a manner to consistently and accurately align a measurement axis of the device to the optical system. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens, comprising an optical system adapted to provide variable optical power, and a drive mechanism configured to alter a focal plane of the optical system, the drive mechanism being adapted to provide at least one of a selectable speed of accommodation and disaccommodation. The drive mechanism may comprise a branch to control a speed of one of accommodation and disaccommodation.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a predictive outcome in the form of a predictive best instruction for a therapeutic ophthalmic correction of a patient's vision defects. The predictive best instruction is derived from prospective therapeutic-outcome-influencing, new information that is analyzed in conjunction with optimized, historical therapeutic-outcome information. The instruction is preferably an optimized, custom, photoablative algorithm for driving a photoablative, excimer laser. The instruction can be provided on a fee basis.

Abstract: An improved moiré deflectometer device for measuring a wavefront aberration of an optical system includes a light source for illuminating a surface area of the optical system, an optical relay system for directing scattered light to a deflectometer component that converts the wavefront into a moiré fringe pattern, a sensor/camera assembly for imaging and displaying the exit pupil of the optical system and the moir{acute over (e )} fringe pattern, and a fringe pattern to calculate the wavefront aberration of the optical system, being improved by an illumination source for illuminating the exit pupil of the optical system; and an alignment system cooperating with the illumination source in such a manner to consistently and accurately align a measurement axis of the device to the optical system. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A placido pattern 10 for use in obtaining a topography of an eye, includes a series of spaced arcuate segments 12 centered about a central point 14 and a series of spaced radial lines 16 emanating from the central point 14. Each pair of adjacent radial lines 16 defines a boundary of a portion of the arcuate segments 12.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a predictive outcome in the form of a predictive best instruction for a therapeutic ophthalmic correction of a patient's vision defects. The predictive best instruction is derived from prospective therapeutic-outcome-influencing, new information that is analyzed in conjunction with optimized, historical therapeutic-outcome information. The instruction is preferably an optimized, custom, photoablative algorithm for driving a photoablative, excimer laser. The instruction can be provided on a fee basis.