Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for observing a tear film on a persons or animals eye. The apparatus comprises an infrared sensitive camera that includes a camera lens system and a computer configured to receive data from the camera, process the data using software and represent the processed data on a display. The camera is configured to measure temporal and spatial changes of thermal radiation from a surface of the eye at a frame rate, a spatial resolution, and a thermal sensitivity that allows the dynamics of the tear film to be visualised. Also disclosed is a method of observing a tear film on an eye of a person or an animal using an apparatus, such as that described above, where the method includes the step of viewing the dynamics of the tear film using the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of diagnosing, or developing or monitoring a treatment regime for, an ocular condition in a subject based on detected physical behaviour in a tear film, or lack of tear film, in the subjects eye, the method comprising the steps of: (a) capturing from the subjects eye at least a first captured data set; (b) identifying at least a first comparative data set; (c) analysing the at least a first captured data set relative to the at least a first comparative data set, thereby detecting physical behaviour in the tear film; and (d) diagnosing, or developing or monitoring a treatment regime for, the ocular condition based on the detected physical behaviour of the tear film. Also provided are methods of selecting contact lenses, of evaluating the effects of wearing a contact lens, and of determining preferable wearing periods of contact lenses and rest periods from wearing contact lenses by subjects.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for observing a tear film on a persons or animals eye. The apparatus comprises an infrared sensitive camera that includes a camera lens system and a computer configured to receive data from the camera, process the data using software and represent the processed data on a display. The camera is configured to measure temporal and spatial changes of thermal radiation from a surface of the eye at a frame rate, a spatial resolution, and a thermal sensitivity that allows the dynamics of the tear film to be visualised. Also disclosed is a method of observing a tear film on an eye of a person or an animal using an apparatus, such as that described above, where the method includes the step of viewing the dynamics of the tear film using the apparatus.