Abstract: A computer indicated lens movement direction protocol is utilized in combination with a lensmeter to designate required movement of lenses with respect to a lensmeter to insure sequential measurement of progressive addition lenses. Lens measurement occurs at four sample points closely spaced on the lens surface. The system uses power variations (PV.sub.1 and PV.sub.2) at each of the spaced apart lens sampling points to indicate when sampling of the lens occurs in a region of constant spherical power, when sampling of the lens occurs in a region of changing spherical power, and finally when sampling again occurs in a region of constant and increased spherical power. When sampling of the lens occurs in a region of changing power, lens movement is guided along a path of constantly changing sphere utilizing changes in astigmatism measured in the 45.degree.-135.degree. directions (C.sub.X).

Abstract: An objective refractor having no moving parts is disclosed. The refractor, which can be either a hand held or table mounted instrument, includes a reference array and an interrogating array projected onto the eye fundus. The reference array is projected from light sources and the interrogating array is projected to light detectors. Both the reference array and the interrogating array are projected onto the fundus of the eye through preselected spaced apart regions of the eye lens. The movement of the reference array with respect to the interrogating array is observed. By the expedient of making at least two sequential observations utilizing at least three separate regions of the eye lens, the amount of relative pattern displacements can be reduced to a requisite optical prescription for the eye.

Abstract: In an eye field tester, a vidicon camera observes the eye being tested and relays the resultant low light level image to the periphery of a digital display. The digital display contains both an image of the eye on the periphery and the plot of the visual field of the eye under test in the center. The vidicon observing the position of the eye has its horizontal and vertical sync pulses software generated to presettable counters. These counters generate corresponding delayed horizontal sync and vertical sync pulses for the vidicon. As a result of the delayed sync pulses, the central eye image of the vidicon is offset to the periphery of the digital screen (typically to the upper left-hand portion thereof). The offset image is gated into character spaces on the digital screen utilizing software generated character attribute.

Abstract: An optical system for forming an image of the retina of the human eye. The system includes a rotating drum having transmission/receiving slit pairs formed thereon. The rotation of the drum scans an illumination region and viewing beam across the retina. Embodiments for forming stereo images, for synchronizing the formation of the image of the retina with the sweep of a vidicon tube, for automatically focusing the system, for providing flare control, for providing displaced slit functions, and for providing multiple functions are included.

Abstract: A wide angle lens system of at least two, and preferably four, similar powered symmetrical component lenses is disclosed; these lenses are from object to image, at least two paired concavo-convex lenses, and preferably two lenses of a concavo-convex or convexo-convex type. The first and last lenses are displaced and rotated usually by rotation about the object (taken as a defining aperture of the optical system, such as a portion of the cornea) or its conjugate, in a first direction to use lens portions between the lens center and one edge; the intermediate lens (preferably the second and third lenses) are displaced and rotated (again usually by rotation about the image conjugate formed by the first lens) in an opposite direction to use the lens portions between the other lens edge and center.

Abstract: An objective refractor for the eye is disclosed in which knife-edge optics are utilized. The knife-edge optics cause characteristic illumination of the retina so that components of sphere and astigmatism can be identified. Provision for remote reading of the characteristic images is provided with the result that two orthogonally disposed knife-edge images can identify the sphere, cylinder and axis required for prescriptive patterns giving the direction and magnitude of required prescriptive change. A system of at least two orthogonally disposed, (and preferably four), knife edges with weighted lighting is disclosed for detection. Utilization of the knife-edge images is made possible by the detection of the low light level images at a detector having low noise level. A photo-sensitive element divided into a plurality of photo-discrete segments has light from the images proportionally dispersed over its surface.

Abstract: In an eye field tester, a vidicon camera observes the eye being tested and relays the resultant low light level image to the periphery of a digital display. The digital display contains both an image of the eye on the periphery and the plot of the visual field of the eye under test in the center. The vidicon observing the position of the eye has its horizontal and vertical sync pulses software generated to presettable counters. These counters generate corresponding delayed horizontal sync and vertical sync pulses for the vidicon. As a result of the delayed sync pulses, the central eye image of the vidicon is offset to the periphery of the digital screen (typically to the upper left-hand portion thereof). The offset image is gated into character spaces on the digital screen utilizing software generated character attribute.

Abstract: An objective refractor for the eye is disclosed in which knife-edge optics are utilized. The knife-edge optics cause characteristic illumination of the retina so that components of sphere and astigmatism can be identified. Provision for remote reading of the characteristic images is provided with the result that two orthogonally disposed knife-edge images can identify the sphere, cylinder and axis required for prescriptive patterns giving the direction and magnitude of required prescriptive change. A system of at least two orthogonally disposed, (and preferably four), knife edges with weighted lighting is disclosed for detection. Utilization of the knife-edge images is made possible by the detection of the low light level images at a detector having low noise level. A photo-sensitive element divided into a plurality of photo-discrete segments has light from the images proportionally dispersed over its surface.

Abstract: An objective refractor for the eye is disclosed in which knife-edge optics are utilized. The knife-edge optics cause characteristic illumination of the retina so that components of sphere and astigmatism can be identified. Provision for remote reading of the characteristic images is provided with the result that two orthogonally disposed knife-edge images can identify the sphere, cylinder and axis required for prescriptive patterns giving the direction and magnitude of required prescriptive change. A system of at least two orthogonally disposed, (and preferably four), knife edges with weighted lighting is disclosed for detection. Utilization of the knife-edge images is made possible by the detection of the low light level images at a detector having low noise level. A photo-sensitive element divided into a plurality of photo-discrete segments has light from the images proportionally dispersed over its surface.

Abstract: An objective refractor for the eye is disclosed in which knife-edge optics are utilized. The knife-edge optics cause characteristic illumination of the retina so that components of sphere and astigmatism can be identified. Provision for remote reading of the characteristic images is provided with the result that two orthogonally disposed knife-edge images can identify the sphere, cylinder and axis required for prescriptive patterns giving the direction and magnitude of required prescriptive change. A system of at least two orthogonally disposed, (and preferably four), knife edges with weighted lighting is disclosed for detection. Utilization of the knife-edge images is made possible by the detection of the low light level images at a detector having low noise level. A photo-sensitive element divided into a plurality of photo-discrete segments has light from the images proportionally dispersed over its surface.

Abstract: A method for use with an eye examination instrument for automatically aligning the eye under examination with the instrument optical axis. An operator initially aligns the instrument optical axis manually with the eye under examination. A first adjustment to the initial alignment is then automatically made in the optical train of the instrument so as to laterally align the eye under examination. The size of the lateral adjustment is determined, and an axial adjustment of the optical train is automatically effected by an amount controlled by the size of the lateral adjustment so as to axially align the eye under examination, whereby the requisite axial adjustment is determined directly from the accomplished lateral adjustment without the need for intervention of the operator.

Abstract: A field tester wherein a patient's tested eye is located at the center of an interior hemisphere defining a projection surface and wherein a light spot is projected onto said surface from an eccentric location is disclosed. Optics in common with the projector assure that the off-center projected light is of constant intensity and diameter as selected for each test sequence according to test criteria. Specifically, a filament light source is projected to a collimating lens. The light source is re-imaged to a system lens stop. There is a movable aperture between the collimating lens and the first lens of telescopic optics for projecting the image of the aperture onto the projection surface of the sphere. By using a coordinate transform to predict the distance from the point of light source projection to the projection surface of the sphere, the movable aperture is registered to a conjugate distance with respect to the telescope optics.

Abstract: An objective refractor for the eye is disclosed in which knife-edge optics are utilized. The knife-edge optics cause characteristic illumination of the retina so that components of sphere and astigmatism can be identified. Provision for remote reading of the characteristic images is provided with the result that two orthogonally disposed knife-edge images can identify the sphere, cylinder and axis required for prescriptive patterns giving the direction and magnitude of required prescriptive change. A system of at least two orthogonally disposed, (and preferably four), knife edges with weighted lighting is disclosed for detection. Utilization of the knife-edge images is made possible by the detection of the low light level images at a detector having low noise level. A photo-sensitive element divided into a plurality of photo-discrete segments has light from the images proportionally dispersed over its surface.

Abstract: A keratometer is disclosed in which at least some of the light entrance and exit paths have both peripheral entrance and exit paths. Eye positional information and sphere, cylinder and axis information for each sampled area (preferably in the order of 3) are obtained by analysis of the reflected and returned light. Sample of a multiplicity of areas on the eye occurs simultaneously without eye panning and generates a topographical measurement of the eye useful for contact lens fitting eliminating most of the incidence of refit on patients in placement of prescribed contact lenses. In one embodiment, a moving boundary locus sweeps an area of light emission from a plurality of coded, spaced apart point light sources. The area of light swept is imaged from the source to the cornea.

Abstract: An analysis of the corneal shape through the combination of several keratometer measurements is disclosed. The eye is preferably scanned to a nasal angular position, a central angular position and a temporal angular position. The central position is straight ahead along the patient's line of sight. The temporal and nasal positions are in the broad range of up to 5.degree. to 22.degree.; the intermediate range of 10 to 15.degree.; and the narrow range of 12.degree. to 14.degree. on either side. Measurements in sphere, cylinder and axes are taken. Astigmatism is in the more preferable format of 0.degree.-90.degree. astigmatism and 45.degree.-135.degree. astigmatism. When each individual point is measured with its respective estimate for sphere and cylinder components, these measurements are fitted to an idealized parameter. Then the three sets of curvature measurements taken at the specified locations are reduced to a set of adjusted, idealized curvatures all fitted to an elliptical model.

Abstract: A reflection rejecting spherical optical train is disclosed. At least two optical elements each having cylindrical components are disposed along an optical axis. The elements are each crossed one with respect to another so that the total and combined optical output comprises an overall spherical lens. Each of the lens elements having a cylindrical component is tilted with respect to planes normal to the optic axis. Light passing along the optical axis which is reflected at the defined optical interfaces is rejected by the reflection at angles which do not include a return along the optic axis; reflection rejection occurs. Preference is given to a lens train of three or more lens elements having cylindrical components, with the near point of each tilted lens element being located at equal angular intervals about the optic axis.

Abstract: A keratometer is disclosed for remotely measuring corneal curvature in at least sphere, cylinder, and axis. Assuming the eye is precisely positioned from measurement, light sources are overlapped and imaged to a virtual image position behind the human cornea. The sources of light - preferably three in number (although more than three can be used) - each have their own discrete paths from the source to the eye and then to their own discrete detector. Between the light source and the eye, each light path is interrupted by a moving boundary locus having a transparent portion, an opaque portion, and a boundary therebetween. The moving boundary locus is in turn imaged by reflection from the cornea being measured to a real image position superimposed to and upon a light detector. The detector for each eye path is aligned to and toward the virtual image produced by the light source in the precisely positioned eye.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the calibration of an optical instrument. An optical instrument--such as a lens meter or ophthalmometer--is provided with a light source, a light detector, and an optical train of assembled optical elements therebetween. A suspect optical element to be measured is placed within the optical train at a measuring interval to deflect light passing along the optical train. An occulting moving boundary locus having at least two boundaries of differing shape, and a dedicated computer may be used to measure beam deflection. The dedicated computer also makes use of stored computer constants to transform raw measurements into the desired optical properties of the suspect optical element. The optical train of the instrument has its assembled optical elements randomly placed to production tolerances; precision registration of the optical elements to traditional close optical tolerances is omitted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for accurately positioning a patient's eyes for an eye examination. An eye positioning beam is oriented transversely to the patient's line of sight. A border surface of the beam facing the patient is positioned at the location along the patient's line of sight at which the patient's cornea is to be located during the examination. The patient's head is moved towards the light beam border surface until the border surface and the patient's cornea are tangent. Tangentially is determined by observing an increase in the illumination of the patient's iris. The increased illumination results from a bending and a corresponding reflection of the light rays, which are tangent to the cornea.

Abstract: A unitary light source is imaged through a prism array to generate a plurality of preferably four apparent light sources forming a point of origin for a discrete lens sampling light path. From each apparent light source, each discrete sampling path diverges to a relay lens system. This relay lens system relays and registers to a lens sampling interval discrete images of each apparent light source. The images may be registered to a correspondingly apertured lens sampling diaphragm against which suspect optics are placed for measurement. A moving boundary locus sweeps the light between each apparent source and the sampling interval with paired boundaries of differing slopes which produce non-ambiguous points of intersection with respect to time. After passage through the suspect optics at the sampling interval, light is passed to a photodetector having an overlying set of apertures, each aperture corresponding to one of the four apparent light sources.