Enhanced Apparatus and Method for Automated Non-Contact Eye Examination

An improved system and method for automated non-contact eye examination, providing enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and safety through advanced optical system design and improved eye tracking arrangements.

The original patent disclosed an apparatus and method for automated non-contact eye examination, addressing the limitations of traditional eye examination methods. However, the original design may have limitations in terms of sanitation, accuracy, and efficiency. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing a smooth, disinfectable housing surface, advanced optical system design, and improved eye tracking arrangements, ensuring a more accurate, efficient, and safe examination process.

The enhanced apparatus comprises a housing with a smooth, disinfectable surface conforming to 3A sanitary standards, an optical system disposed within the housing, and a processing system configured to determine a distance between the eye and the first lens based on returned light. The optical system includes a first lens and a Lidar device providing light to the eye via the first lens and receiving returned light from the eye. The processing system adjusts the optical system movement arrangement accordingly. The system further comprises an automatic eye tracking arrangement configured to illuminate the eye, receive an image of the eye at a camera, output image data of the image of the eye from the camera to the processing system, and control the optical system movement arrangement to move the optical system in response to the image data. The method involves making at least one optical measurement of an eye of a subject with an eye measurement system, controlling the optical system movement arrangement based on the at least one optical measurement to optimize the examination process, and determining a distance between the eye and the first lens based on the at least one optical measurement.

The new inventive concept introduces several novel features, including the smooth, disinfectable housing surface, advanced optical system design, and improved eye tracking arrangements. These features provide an inventive step over the original patent by enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and safety of the automated non-contact eye examination process.

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include variations in the optical system design, such as the use of different types of lenses or sensors, or the integration of additional features, such as pupil dilation detection or tear film analysis. Other variations may include different housing designs or materials, or the use of different processing algorithms to optimize the examination process.

The enhanced apparatus and method for automated non-contact eye examination have significant commercial potential in the healthcare industry, particularly in optometry and ophthalmology clinics. The improved accuracy, efficiency, and safety of the examination process can increase patient satisfaction, reduce costs, and enhance the overall quality of care. The target market may include healthcare providers, medical device manufacturers, and research institutions.