Ophthalmic device and ophthalmic device control program

Abstract

To provide an ophthalmologic device and an ophthalmologic device control program capable of performing an examination without regard to the shape of the face of a subject while securing safety.SOLUTION: An ophthalmologic device for examining an examined eye comprises: examination means for examining the examined eye; an approach part which approaches a subject in the examination means; detection means for detecting the approach of the approach part and the subject; and control means which switches an operation mode between a first mode of performing an avoiding action for avoiding the approach when the detection means detects the approach and a second mode of not performing the avoiding action. The control means switches the operation mode from the first mode to the second mode after the detection means detects the approach and the avoiding action is performed in the first mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ophthalmic apparatus that examines a subject's eye, and an ophthalmic apparatus control program. [Background technology]

[0002] Known examples of conventional ophthalmic devices include an eye refractive power measuring device, a corneal curvature measuring device, an intraocular pressure measuring device, a fundus camera, an OCT (optical coherence tomography), and an SLO (scanning laser ophthalmoscope). In these ophthalmic devices, it is common to move an examination unit in the up-down, left-right, front-rear and back directions relative to the subject's eye, and align the examination unit to a predetermined position relative to the subject's eye. In addition, in order to prevent a nozzle or the like of the examination unit from contacting the subject's eye, a device has been proposed that includes a contact sensor that detects contact and performs an avoidance operation when the subject's eye comes into contact with the examination unit (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-255677 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, depending on the shape of the subject's face, there were cases where the examination could only be performed with the examination unit in contact with the subject. In such cases, in conventional ophthalmic devices, avoidance actions were repeated every time the contact of the subject was detected by the contact sensor, making it impossible to perform the examination.

[0005] In consideration of the problems in the conventional technology, the present disclosure has an objective of providing an ophthalmic device and an ophthalmic device control program that can perform examinations regardless of the shape of the subject's face while ensuring safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present disclosure is characterized by having the following configuration.

[0007] (1) An ophthalmic device for examining a subject's eye, comprising: an examination means for examining the subject's eye; an approach section in the examination means that approaches a subject; a detection means provided in the approach section that detects approach between the approach section and the subject; and a control means for switching an operating mode between a first mode in which an avoidance action is performed to avoid the approach when the approach is detected by the detection means, and a second mode in which the avoidance action is not performed, wherein the control means is characterized in that in the first mode, when the approach is detected by the detection means and the avoidance action is performed, and then the control means switches the operating mode from the first mode to the second mode. (2) An ophthalmic device control program executed in an ophthalmic device that examines a subject's eye, characterized in that when executed by a processor of the ophthalmic device, causes the ophthalmic device to execute the following: a detection step in which an approach section that approaches the subject in an examination means for examining the subject's eye is detected by a detection means provided on the approach section, a control step in which an operating mode is switched between a first mode in which an avoidance action is performed to avoid the approach when the approach is detected in the detection step, and a second mode in which the avoidance action is not performed, and a switching step in which, in the first mode, the approach is detected by the detection step, the avoidance action is performed, and then the operating mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, testing can be performed regardless of the shape of the subject's face while ensuring safety. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an ophthalmologic apparatus. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an ophthalmologic apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an optical system of an ophthalmic apparatus. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the ophthalmic apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a retraction operation of the ophthalmic apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the ophthalmologic apparatus. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the ophthalmologic apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] <Example> An ophthalmic device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an ophthalmic device will be described by taking an intraocular pressure measuring device as an example, but the present disclosure can also be applied to other ophthalmic devices such as an eye refractive power measuring device, a corneal curvature measuring device, a corneal shape measuring device, an axial length measuring device, a fundus camera, an OCT, or an SLO.

[0011] The ophthalmic apparatus of the present embodiment measures, for example, the intraocular pressure of the subject eye in a non-contact manner. For example, the ophthalmic apparatus of the present embodiment may measure the intraocular pressure of each eye, or may measure both eyes simultaneously. Furthermore, the ophthalmic apparatus may measure only one of the left and right eyes.

[0012] 1, an ophthalmologic apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes an examination unit 100, a detection unit 250, and a control unit 80. Each component will be described below.

[0013] <Inspection Department> The inspection unit 100 is an inspection means for inspecting (measuring or photographing) the subject's eye. The inspection unit 100 includes, for example, a fluid ejection unit and a measurement optical system for measuring the intraocular pressure of the subject's eye. Of course, the inspection unit 100 may also include an optical system for measuring the eye refractive power, the corneal shape, and the like. The inspection unit 100 may also include an optical system for photographing the anterior segment, fundus, and the like of the subject's eye.

[0014] <Fluid ejection part> The fluid ejection unit 200 ejects air to the subject's eye. As shown in FIG. 2, the fluid ejection unit 200 includes, for example, a cylinder 201, a piston 202, a solenoid actuator (hereinafter also referred to as a solenoid) 203, and a nozzle unit 205. The cylinder 201 and the piston 202 are used as an air compression mechanism that compresses the air to be ejected to the subject's eye. The cylinder 201 is, for example, cylindrical. The piston 202 slides along the axial direction of the cylinder 201. The piston 202 compresses the air in the air compression chamber 234 in the cylinder 201. The solenoid 203 of this embodiment is a so-called direct acting solenoid, and operates linearly. The nozzle unit 205 includes, for example, a nozzle 206 and a nozzle holder 207. The nozzle 206 ejects compressed air to the outside of the device. The nozzle holder 207 houses the nozzle 206 therein. The nozzle portion 205 is an approach portion that is placed in front of the subject's eye during measurement and approaches the subject.

[0015] The air compressed in the air compression chamber 234 in the cylinder 201 by the movement of the piston 202 is ejected from the nozzle 206 toward the cornea of ​​the subject's eye E through a tube (which may be a pipe) 220 connected to the tip of the cylinder 201 and an airtight chamber 221 that contains the compressed air. For example, the cylinder 201 may be arranged parallel to the horizontal plane (XZ plane), and the piston 202 may be moved horizontally in the cylinder 201 by driving the solenoid 203, thereby compressing the air. For example, the cylinder 201 may be arranged such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the horizontal direction, and the inner surface of the cylinder 201 guides the piston 202. For this reason, the movement direction (compression direction) of the piston 202 is horizontal. Each of the above-mentioned components is arranged on a stage provided in the housing of the device main body.

[0016] The fluid jetting part 200 may include, for example, a glass plate 208 and a glass plate 209. The glass plate 208 is transparent, holds the nozzle 206, and transmits the observation light and the alignment light. The glass plate 209 constitutes the rear wall of the airtight chamber 221, and transmits the observation light and the alignment light. Behind the glass plate 209, an observation / alignment optical system is disposed so that its observation optical axis and alignment optical axis are coaxial with the axis of the nozzle 206.

[0017] The fluid ejection part 200 may include, for example, a pressure sensor 212 and an air vent hole 213. The pressure sensor 212 detects, for example, the pressure in the airtight chamber 221. The air vent hole 213 reduces resistance until the piston 202 gains initial velocity, for example, and can obtain a pressure change that rises proportional to time.

[0018] <Detection unit> The detection unit 250 is, for example, a detection means for detecting that the nozzle unit 205 has come into contact with the subject. The detection unit 250 includes, for example, a contact sensor 251. The contact sensor 251 is, for example, a capacitance sensor. The contact sensor 251 is electrically connected to the nozzle holder 207 by, for example, an electric wire 252 or the like. Note that the contact sensor 251 may be a pressure sensor or the like. In this case, the contact sensor 251 is disposed on the surface of the nozzle unit 205 on the subject side.

[0019] <Measurement optical system> 3 is a schematic diagram of the measurement optical system 10 of the ophthalmologic apparatus 1. An image of the subject's eye illuminated by an infrared illumination light source 30 is formed on a CCD camera 35 via a beam splitter 31, an objective lens 32, a dichroic mirror 33, an imaging lens 37, and a filter 34. That is, the optical system from the beam splitter 31 to the CCD camera 35 has an imaging element and is used as an observation optical system for observing the anterior segment of the subject's eye. In this case, the optical axis L1 is used as the observation optical axis.

[0020] The filter 34 transmits light from the light source 30 and the infrared light source 40 for alignment, but is opaque to light from a light source 50 for corneal deformation detection (described later) and visible light. The image formed on the CCD camera 35 is displayed on a display unit 85.

[0021] The infrared light projected from the light source 40 through the projection lens 41 is reflected by the beam splitter 31 and projected from the front onto the subject's eye. The corneal bright spot formed at the corneal apex by the light source 40 is imaged on the CCD camera 35 through the beam splitter 31 to the filter 34, and is used for detecting alignment in the up, down, left and right directions. That is, the optical system from the beam splitter 31 to the CCD camera 35 has an image sensor and is used as a detection optical system for detecting the alignment state in the up, down, left and right directions with respect to the subject's eye. In this case, the optical axis L1 is used as the alignment optical axis. In this embodiment, the detection optical system also serves as an observation optical system for observing the anterior segment.

[0022] The fixation optical system 48 has an optical axis L1 and presents a fixation target to the eye E from the front direction. In this case, the optical axis L1 is used as a fixation optical axis. The fixation optical system 48 has, for example, a visible light source (fixation lamp) 45, a projection lens 46, and a dichroic mirror 33, and projects light onto the eye E to fixate the eye E in the front direction. The visible light source 45 may be a light source such as an LED or a laser. The visible light source 45 may also be, for example, a pattern light source such as a point light source, a slit light source, or a ring light source, or a two-dimensional display such as a liquid crystal display.

[0023] Visible light emitted from the light source 45 passes through the projection lens 46, is reflected by the dichroic mirror 33, passes through the objective lens 32, and is then projected onto the fundus of the eye E. As a result, the eye E is fixated on the fixation point in the front direction, and the line of sight is fixed. The visible light emitted from the light source 45 passes through the projection lens 46 and the objective lens 32, and is converted into a parallel beam.

[0024] The corneal deformation detection optical system includes a light projecting optical system 500a and a light receiving optical system 500b, and is used to detect the deformation state of the cornea Ec. Each of the optical systems 500a and 500b is disposed in the inspection unit 100 and moved three-dimensionally by the driving unit 4.

[0025] The light projecting optical system 500a has an optical axis L3 as a light projecting optical axis, and irradiates illumination light from an oblique direction toward the cornea Ec of the eye E. The light projecting optical system 500a has, for example, an infrared light source 50, a collimator lens 51, and a beam splitter 52. The light receiving optical system 500b has a photodetector 57, and receives the illumination light reflected by the cornea Ec of the eye E. The light receiving optical system 500b is disposed approximately symmetrically to the light projecting optical system 500a with respect to the optical axis L1. The light receiving optical system 500b has, for example, a lens 53, a beam splitter 55, a pinhole plate 56, and a photodetector 57, and forms an optical axis L2 as a light receiving optical axis.

[0026] The light emitted from the light source 50 is made into a substantially parallel beam by the collimator lens 51, and is reflected by the beam splitter 52, and then becomes coaxial (coincident) with the optical axis L3 of the light receiving optical system 70b described later, and is projected onto the cornea Ec of the subject's eye. The light reflected by the cornea Ec becomes coaxial (coincident) with the optical axis L2 of the light projecting optical system 70a described later, passes through the lens 53, is reflected by the beam splitter 55, passes through the pinhole plate 56, and is received by the photodetector 57. The lens 53 is coated with a coating that is opaque to the light from the light source 30 and the light source 40. The optical system for detecting corneal deformation is disposed so that the amount of light received by the photodetector 57 is maximized when the subject's eye is in a predetermined deformation state (flat state).

[0027] This corneal deformation detection optical system also serves as a part of the first working distance detection optical system, and the light projecting optical system of the first working distance detection optical system also serves as the light projecting optical system 500a of the corneal deformation detection optical system. The light receiving optical system 600b that receives the light reflected by the cornea Ec from the light source 50 has, for example, the lens 53, beam splitter 58, condenser lens 59, and position detection element 60 of the light projecting optical system 500a, and forms an optical axis L2 as a light receiving optical axis.

[0028] Illumination light projected from the light source 50 and reflected by the cornea Ec forms an index image, which is a virtual image of the light source 50. The light of the index image passes through the lens 53 and the beam splitter 55, is reflected by the beam splitter 58, passes through the condenser lens 59, and enters a one-dimensional or two-dimensional position detection element 60 such as a PSD or a line sensor. When the subject's eye E (cornea Ec) moves in the working distance direction (Z direction), the index image formed by the light source 50 also moves on the position detection element 60, so that the control circuit 20 obtains working distance information based on the output signal from the position detection element 60. Note that the output signal from the position detection element 60 in this embodiment is used for alignment (coarse adjustment) in the working distance direction (Z direction). The light receiving optical system 600b of the first working distance detection optical system does not have a magnification as large as the light receiving optical system 70b described later. Therefore, the distance detection range of the position detection element 60 in the Z direction is wider than that of the light receiving element 77.

[0029] The corneal thickness measuring optical system includes a light projecting optical system 70a, a light receiving optical system 70b, and a fixation optical system 48, and is used to measure the corneal thickness of the subject's eye E. The light projecting optical system 70a also serves as a part of the corneal deformation detecting optical system and the first working distance detecting optical system.

[0030] The light projection optical system 70a has an optical axis L2 as a light projection optical axis, and irradiates illumination light (measurement light) from an oblique direction toward the cornea Ec of the eye E. The light projection optical system 70a has, for example, an illumination light source 71, a condenser lens 72, a light limiting member 73, a concave lens 74, and a lens 53 that also serves as the corneal deformation detection optical system. A visible light source or an infrared light source (including near-infrared) is used as the illumination light source 71, and light sources such as an LED or a laser are used. The condenser lens 72 condenses the light emitted from the light source 71. Note that the light source 50 and the light source 71 each use a wavelength band.

[0031] The light limiting member 73 is disposed in the optical path of the light projecting optical system 70a and limits the light emitted from the light source 71. The light limiting member 73 is disposed at a position that is approximately conjugate with the cornea Ec. For example, a pinhole plate, a slit plate, or the like is used as the light limiting member 73. The light limiting member 73 is used as an aperture that passes a portion of the light emitted from the light source 71 and blocks the other light. The light projecting optical system 70a forms a predetermined pattern light beam (for example, a spot light beam, a slit light beam) on the cornea of ​​the eye E.

[0032] The light receiving optical system 70b has a light receiving element 77, and receives the illumination light reflected by the front and back surfaces of the cornea of ​​the eye E. The light receiving optical system 70b is disposed approximately symmetrically with the light projecting optical system 70a with respect to the optical axis L1. The light receiving optical system 70b has, for example, a light receiving lens 75, a concave lens 76, and a light receiving element 77, and forms an optical axis L3 as a light receiving optical axis. The light receiving optical system 70b in FIG. 3 also serves as a second working distance detection optical system that detects the alignment state in the Z direction with respect to the eye E.

[0033] The light receiving element 77 has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and receives reflected light from the front and back surfaces of the cornea. For example, a light detection device such as a one-dimensional line sensor or a two-dimensional area sensor is used for the light receiving element 77. The light receiving optical system 70b of the corneal thickness measurement optical system and the second working distance detection optical system performs observation with a large magnification. Therefore, the distance detection range in the Z direction of the light receiving element 77 is narrower than that of the position detection element 60.

[0034] When the subject's eye E (cornea Ec) moves in the working distance direction (Z direction), the reflected light of the light source 71 on the cornea Ec also moves on the light receiving element 77, so that the control unit 80 obtains working distance information based on the output signal from the light receiving element 77 of the second working distance detection optical system. In addition, the control unit 80 knows the state of corneal deformation and blinking of the subject's eye E from the output signal from this light receiving element 77, and controls the drive of the solenoid 203.

[0035] Light emitted from an illumination light source 71 is collected by a collecting lens 72 and illuminates a light limiting member 73 from behind. Then, the light from the light source 71 is limited by the light limiting member 73, and then focused (collected) near the cornea Ec by the lens 53. For example, a pinhole image (when a pinhole plate is used) or a slit image (when a slit plate is used) is formed near the cornea Ec. At this time, the light from the light source 71 is imaged near the intersection with the visual axis on the cornea Ec.

[0036] When illumination light is projected onto the cornea Ec by the light projection optical system 70a, the illumination light reflected by the cornea Ec travels in a direction symmetrical to the projected light beam with respect to the optical axis L1. The reflected light is then imaged on the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 77 by the light receiving lens 75.

[0037] In addition, the lens 53, which is used both in the receiving optical system 500b, 600b and the projecting optical system 70a, is positioned so as to focus the light reflected from the cornea Ec by the light source 50 at the center of the hole in the pinhole plate 56, and to focus the illumination light from the light source 71 on the front and back surfaces of the cornea Ec.

[0038] <Facial Photography Department> The face photographing unit 90 is, for example, an optical system for photographing a face including at least one of the left and right eyes to be examined. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the face photographing unit 90 of this embodiment mainly includes, for example, an image sensor 91 and an image pickup lens 92.

[0039] The face photographing unit 90 is provided at a position where both eyes of the subject can be photographed when the examination unit 100 is at the initial position, for example. In this embodiment, the initial position of the examination unit 100 is set at a position shifted to the right with respect to the optical axis L1 of the examination unit 100 so as to make it easier to examine the right eye. Therefore, the face photographing unit 90 is provided at a position where both eyes of the subject can be photographed when the examination unit 100 is at the initial position shifted to the right. For example, the face photographing unit 90 is disposed at the machine center when the examination unit 100 is at the initial position. When the initial position is set based on, for example, half the interpupillary distance, that is, the interpupillary distance of one eye, the face photographing unit 90 may be disposed at a position shifted to the left or right by the interpupillary distance of one eye with respect to the machine center of the device body.

[0040] The face photographing unit 90 of this embodiment is moved together with the inspection unit 100 by the driving unit 4. Of course, the face photographing unit 90 may be configured to be fixed to the base 2 and not move, for example.

[0041] The imaging lens 92 may be, for example, a wide-angle lens. The wide-angle lens is, for example, a fisheye lens, a conical lens, etc. By providing a wide-angle lens, the face imaging unit 90 can capture an image of the subject's face with a wide angle of view.

[0042] <Facial illumination optical system> The face illumination optical system 95 illuminates the face of the subject's eye. The face illumination optical system 95 includes, for example, an illumination light source 96. The illumination light source 96 emits infrared light. In this embodiment, the illumination light sources 96 are provided on the left and right of the examination window. Note that the face illumination optical system 95 uses a light source with a lower directivity than the index light source for alignment.

[0043] <Control system> As shown in FIG. 2, the device 1 includes a control unit 80. The control unit 80 controls various aspects of the device 1. The control unit 80 includes, for example, a general CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, and the like. For example, the ROM 82 stores an ophthalmic device control program for controlling the ophthalmic device 1, initial values, and the like. For example, the RAM 83 temporarily stores various information. The control unit 80 is connected to the examination unit 100, the face photographing unit 90, the driving unit 4, the display unit 85, the operation unit 86, the chin rest driving unit 3d, a storage unit (for example, a non-volatile memory) 84, an audio output unit 89, and the like. The storage unit 84 is, for example, a non-transient storage medium that can retain the stored contents even if the power supply is cut off. For example, a hard disk drive, a removable USB flash memory, and the like can be used as the storage unit 84.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 may include a base 2, a face support unit 3, a drive unit 4, a display unit 85, an audio output unit 89, a face photographing unit 90, and the like. The base 2 movably supports the examination unit 100. The face support unit 3 supports the face of the subject. The face support unit includes a forehead rest 3a, a chin rest 3b, a chin rest sensor 3c, a chin rest drive unit 3d, and the like. The chin rest sensor 3c detects whether the chin is placed on the chin rest 3b. The chin rest drive unit 3d moves the chin rest 3b up and down to adjust the height. The drive unit 4 moves the examination unit 100 in the XYZ directions (three-dimensional directions) relative to the base 2. The display unit 85 displays, for example, an observation image of the subject's eye and a measurement result. The display unit 85 may be provided integrally with the apparatus 1, or may be provided separately from the apparatus. The display unit 85 may be arranged so that the display screen faces not only the subject but also the subject side. The display unit 85 may be used as the operation unit 86. In this case, the display unit 85 is used for various settings of the device 1 and operations at the start of measurement. Various operation instructions are input to the display unit 85 by the examiner or subject. Various human interfaces such as a joystick, mouse, keyboard, trackball, button, etc. may be used as the operation unit 8. The face photographing unit 90 photographs, for example, the face of the subject's eye. The audio output unit 89 makes an audio announcement to the subject or the examiner. The audio output unit 89 is, for example, a speaker. The face photographing unit 90 photographs, for example, a face including at least one of the left and right eyes to be examined.

[0045] <Control action> The control operation of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The ophthalmic apparatus 1 of this embodiment has two operation modes: a first mode in which a contact avoidance operation is performed when the detection unit 250 detects contact between the nozzle unit 205 and the subject, and a second mode in which the contact avoidance operation is not performed. The contact avoidance operation is, for example, stopping the movement of the inspection unit 100, moving the inspection unit 100 away from the subject's eye, or both of these operations.

[0046] First, the control unit 80 sets the operation mode to the first mode (step S1). Of course, it may be set as an initial value. When the face of the subject is placed on the face support unit 3, the control unit 80 detects that the face is placed on the face support unit 3 by the chin rest sensor 3c, and detects both eyes of the subject from the face image captured by the face photographing unit 90. As a method for detecting the subject's eyes from an image, various image processing methods such as pupil detection by infrared photography and edge detection of brightness values ​​can be mentioned. For example, when the face of the subject is photographed with infrared, the skin appears white and the pupil appears black. Therefore, the control unit 80 may detect a round and black (low brightness) part as the pupil from the infrared image obtained by infrared photography. Using the above-mentioned method, the control unit 80 detects the subject's eyes from the face image and obtains its two-dimensional position information.

[0047] When the subject's eye is detected, the control unit 80 starts alignment of the inspection unit 100 in auto mode (step S2). The auto mode is, for example, an alignment mode in which the control unit 80 controls the drive unit 4 to automatically move the inspection unit 100 and align it with the subject's eye. For example, the control unit 80 moves the inspection unit 100 in the direction in which the subject's eye is detected in the face image. For example, the control unit 80 moves the inspection unit 100 in the direction in which the eye is detected until the subject's eye is captured in an anterior eye image captured by the observation optical system. When the subject's eye is captured in the anterior eye image, the inspection unit 100 is aligned based on a bright spot captured in the anterior eye image.

[0048] When the alignment is completed, the control unit 80 performs measurement of the subject's eye (step S3). For example, the control unit 80 measures the corneal thickness of the subject's eye using a corneal thickness measurement optical system. The control unit 80 calculates the distance (peak-to-peak distance) between the reflected signal on the anterior surface of the cornea and the reflected signal on the posterior surface of the cornea detected by the light receiving element.

[0049] When the measurement of the corneal thickness is completed, the control unit 80 measures the intraocular pressure. For example, when the control unit 80 drives the solenoid 203 to move the piston 202, the air in the cylinder 201 is compressed, and the compressed air is blown from the nozzle 206 toward the cornea Ec. The cornea Ec gradually deforms as the compressed air is blown, and when it reaches a flat (or applanated) state, the maximum amount of light is incident on the photodetector 57. The control unit 80 determines the intraocular pressure value based on the output signal from the pressure sensor 212 and the output signal from the photodetector 57. Then, the measurement result is displayed on the display unit 85. Here, when a predetermined measurement end condition is satisfied, the intraocular pressure measurement of the subject eye is completed.

[0050] When measuring both eyes, the control unit 80 moves the examination unit 100 to the eye that is not being measured (step S4: switching between left and right eyes). For example, after measuring the right eye, the control unit 80 positions the examination unit 100 in front of the left eye. Then, the left eye is measured in the same manner as the right eye.

[0051] When the detection unit 250 detects contact between the nozzle unit 205 and the subject during alignment or measurement of the inspection unit 100 (step S5), the control unit 80 controls the drive unit 4 to electrically perform a contact avoidance operation (step S6). For example, the control unit 80 moves the inspection unit 100 backward in the Z direction away from the subject from a state in which the nozzle unit 205 is in contact with the subject as shown in Fig. 5(a) as shown in Fig. 5(b), and then stops the inspection unit 100.

[0052] When the contact avoidance operation is performed, the control unit 80 displays a confirmation screen 301 on the screen 300 of the display unit 85 as shown in FIG. 6 to confirm that the contact avoidance operation is to be switched to the second mode (i.e., the contact avoidance operation is to be turned OFF) (step S7). This allows the examiner to recognize that the avoidance operation is not performed and to understand that the measurement should be performed more carefully. The control unit 80 may also display a confirmation button 302 on the confirmation screen 301 to indicate that the display contents have been confirmed. In this case, when the confirmation button 302 is pressed by the examiner, the control unit 80 turns the contact avoidance operation OFF (step S8). This makes it possible to prevent the contact avoidance operation from being switched to the second mode against the examiner's will (unintentionally). Instead of displaying the confirmation screen 301, the audio output unit 89 may be controlled to make an audio announcement to the effect that the contact avoidance operation is to be turned OFF, or both the display of the confirmation screen 301 and the audio announcement may be made.

[0053] When the contact avoidance operation is turned OFF, the control unit 80 switches the alignment mode from auto mode to manual mode (step S9). This saves the examiner the trouble of changing the alignment mode. If the mode was originally manual mode, the manual mode is maintained as is. The manual mode is a mode in which the examiner manually aligns the inspection unit 100, but it does not have to be completely manual, and may be a mode in which alignment, tracking, or measurement is performed automatically once a certain degree of alignment has been achieved (that is, it may include a semi-automatic mode).

[0054] After that, the examiner performs the measurement in the second mode (step S10). For example, the control unit 80 controls the drive unit 4 based on the operation of the operation unit 86 by the examiner to move the inspection unit 100, and performs the measurement in a state where the subject and the nozzle unit 205 are in contact with each other. When the second mode is set, the contact avoidance operation is turned off, but the detection unit 250 is functioning. That is, the second mode of this embodiment is an operation mode in which the contact avoidance operation is not performed even if the detection unit 250 detects contact. For example, when the detection unit 250 detects contact between the subject and the nozzle unit 205, the control unit 80 may display the fact that contact has occurred or is being made as a notification screen 303 on the display unit 85 as shown in FIG. 7, or may sound a sound by the audio output unit 89. The examiner can understand that the measurement should be performed more carefully by checking the notification screen 303. Of course, in the second mode, the function of the detection unit 250 may be turned off so that contact is not detected.

[0055] The control unit 80 may maintain the second mode for the measurement of the same subject. For example, when measuring both eyes, if contact is detected in one of the subjects' eyes and the mode is switched to the second mode, the control unit 80 may measure the other subject's eye while remaining in the second mode. If a person's face is approximately symmetrical, if the nozzle unit 205 comes into contact with the face during measurement of one subject's eye, there is a high possibility that the nozzle unit 205 will also come into contact with the face during measurement of the other subject's eye. Therefore, the measurement can be performed more smoothly by remaining in the second mode rather than going to the trouble of returning to the first mode.

[0056] When the measurement is completed, the control unit 80 outputs the data of the measurement result (step S11). For example, the control unit 80 displays the measurement result on the display unit 85, prints it out, or outputs it to the outside of the device wirelessly or wired. When the data output is completed, the control unit 80 returns to the process of step S1 and switches the operation mode from the second mode to the first mode for the next subject (i.e., turns on the contact avoidance operation).

[0057] As described above, the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 of this embodiment can perform measurement safely by performing an avoidance operation when the detection unit 250 detects contact between a part of the inspection unit 100 (e.g., the nozzle unit 205) and the subject. Also, for example, in the case of a subject with deeply carved faces, a part of the inspection unit 100 may come into contact with the face (e.g., the nose, eyebrows, etc.) even if the alignment is correct, but by switching to a setting that does not perform the contact avoidance operation, it is possible to prevent the contact avoidance operation from being repeated and measurement from being impossible.

[0058] The detection unit 250 is not limited to detecting contact between the nozzle unit 205 and the subject using the contact sensor 251. For example, the detection unit 250 may detect that the nozzle unit 205 and the subject are approaching each other more than necessary using a distance measuring sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor or an optical sensor, or an imaging means (such as a camera). In this case, when the detection unit 250 detects that the nozzle unit 205 and the subject are approaching each other more than necessary, the control unit 80 may perform an approach avoidance operation of the inspection unit 100 and switch the operation mode from a first mode in which the approach avoidance operation is performed to a second mode in which the approach avoidance operation is not performed.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the control unit 80 may switch the operation mode from the first mode to the second mode when multiple contacts are detected. For example, the control unit 80 detects contact between the subject and the nozzle unit 205 in the first mode, performs an avoidance operation, and then performs measurement in the first mode again. Then, when a second contact between the subject and the nozzle unit 205 is detected, the operation mode may be switched from the first mode to the second mode.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the second mode is maintained for the measurement of the same subject, but it is also possible to reset the first mode for each eye.

[0061] The approaching part approaching the subject is not limited to the nozzle part, but may be the inspection window (cover glass) of the inspection part 100, the objective lens, the optical attachment, or other parts with a shape protruding toward the subject.

[0062] The control unit 80 may cause the ophthalmologic apparatus 1 to execute the above-described process as shown in FIG. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Ophthalmology equipment 2 Base 3 Face support 4 Drive unit 80 Control section 89 Audio output section 100 Inspection Department 205 Nozzle part 250 Detection unit

Claims

1. An ophthalmic apparatus for examining an eye to be examined, An examination means for examining the subject's eye; an approach unit that approaches a subject in the inspection means; A detection means provided in the approach section and configured to detect approach between the approach section and a subject; a control means for switching an operation mode between a first mode in which an avoidance operation is performed to avoid the approach when the approach is detected by the detection means, and a second mode in which the avoidance operation is not performed, The ophthalmologic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means, in the first mode, detects the approach by the detection means, performs the avoidance action, and then switches the operation mode from the first mode to the second mode.

2. 2. An ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means is a capacitance sensor.

3. An ophthalmic device control program executed in an ophthalmic device that examines a subject's eye, the program being executed by a processor of the ophthalmic device, a detection step of detecting an approach between an approach unit that approaches a subject in an examination means for examining the subject's eye and the subject by a detection unit provided in the approach unit; a control step of switching an operation mode between a first mode in which an avoidance operation is performed to avoid the approach when the approach is detected in the detection step, and a second mode in which the avoidance operation is not performed; a switching step of switching the operation mode from the first mode to the second mode after the approach is detected by the detection step in the first mode and the avoidance operation is performed; An ophthalmic apparatus control program, comprising: a control program for controlling an ophthalmic apparatus;

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