Method and apparatus for testing for color vision loss

Abstract

A method and apparatus for administering eye tests to identify cone sensitivity loss associated with hereditary and acquired color vision loss which may be used for early detection, progress, treatment, and monitoring of eye conditions, traumatic brain injury, optic neuritis, systemic and neurological diseases including Glaucoma, Retinopathy, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease, and Parkinson's Disease and retinal toxicity. Particularly, the method and apparatus disclosed uses a Cone Contrast Test (CCT) to test individuals for hereditary or acquired color vision loss associated with (a) early signs of potential disease/damage/toxicity in an effort to (i) provide opportunity for treatment, and (ii) prevent permanent eye damage, and (b) monitor progress and treatment of such disease/damage/toxicity. The system comprises a computer system including an input device and a display device, and the accuracy and repeatability of the testing is provided by repeated calibration using a colormeter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 642,378, filed May 3, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 642,292, filed May 3, 2012 which applications are incorporated herein by reference.REFERENCE TO COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX[0002]The present application includes the following computer program listing appendix. The computer program listing appendix is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The appendix contains an ASCII text file of the computer program as follows:AdminWindow.txt15.6 KBCreated May 3, 2013AdminWindow-2.txt8.93 KBCreated May 3, 2013app.txt.5 KBCreated May 3, 2013appmanifest.txt2.44 KBCreated May 3, 2013Browser.txt2.63 KBCreated May 3, 2013Browser-2.txt2.79 KBCreated May 3, 2013FileIO.txt1.29 KBCreated May 3, 2013HtmlReport.txt108 KBCreated May 3, 2013IniBS.txt1.62 KBCreated May 3, 2013LogInWindow.txt2.78 KBCreated...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]The Cone Contrast Test is fully automated, presenting each character for a specific, limited duration. Limiting the presentation time prevents a color deficient patient from potentially perceiving visual clues to aid him in his response and potentially affecting his score.

[0018]Further, elderly patients may not be familiar with computers, and thus may not be as responsive even though they are not color deficient. A “blanking period” option may be selected for patients requiring more time with the response unit. Specifically, after the character is presented for a fixed duration, the target letter is removed from the screen. The “blanking period” allows older patients, as well as patients with physical or cognitive limitations enough time to respond without introducing visual clues that could potentially alter their actual threshold and score.

[0019]Alternatively, an Orientation Screen, presented prior to the test for each eye, may detect the actual response time for the individual patient and adjust the presentation time for each target letter / number to achieve a Patient-Specific Presentation Time that would accommodate the need for additional response time due to computer, physical or cognitive limitations of each individual patient.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, a low cost calibration system is needed due to inconsistent calibration over time.

With standard “off-the-shelf” colormeters, interference from other software, including software produced by Microsoft Corporation, override calibration values and render the test invalid.

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