Ophthalmic devices

Abstract

To provide an ophthalmologic apparatus which enables a user with defective color vision to easily grasp the status of the apparatus.SOLUTION: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes: a body part for performing examination or treatment of the eye; a light source unit which has a first light emitting element emitting visible light in first color and a second light emitting element emitting visible light in second color recognizable by a person with defective color vision with respect to the first color; and control means notifying the status of a device controlling the light source unit. The control means gives notification about a first status by emitting the visible light in the first color and the visible light in the second color to the light source unit when the apparatus is in the first status.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ophthalmic apparatus for examining or treating a subject's eye. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an ophthalmic device equipped with an indicator light for notifying a user of the state of the device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device in which a light source capable of changing the color of light emitted is arranged near a joystick. In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the color of light emitted from the light source is changed according to the state of the device. Therefore, the user can know the state of the device based on the color of the light. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-162824 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventionally, no consideration was given to cases where the user is color-vision deficient. Therefore, in devices that notify the status of the device by the color of light, there is a risk that a person with color vision deficiency will not be able to properly understand the status of the device.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the problems with the conventional technology, and has as its technical objective the provision of an ophthalmic device that allows a user, even a person with color vision deficiency, to easily grasp the state of the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an ophthalmologic device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a main body for performing an eye examination or treatment, a first light-emitting element that emits visible light of a first color, and a second light-emitting element that emits visible light of a second color that is recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color; a third light emitting element that emits visible light of a third color different from both the first color and the second color;and a control unit that controls the light source unit to notify a state of the device, the light source unit is capable of emitting white light based on simultaneous emission of the first color, the second color, and the third color visible light; The control means controls the light source unit to emit the first color visible light and the second color visible light when the device is in a first state. Alternately with the white light By emitting light, notification regarding the first state is performed. An ophthalmic device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes a main body for performing eye examination or treatment, a light source unit having a first light-emitting element emitting visible light of a first color, a second light-emitting element emitting visible light of a second color recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color, and a third light-emitting element emitting visible light of a third color different from both the first color and the second color, and a control means for controlling the light source unit to notify of a state of the device, wherein the light source unit is capable of emitting white light based on the simultaneous emission of visible light of the first color, the second color, and the third color, and when the device is in a first state, the control means performs the notification regarding the first state by causing the light source unit to alternately emit visible light of the first color and the white light. An ophthalmic device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure comprises a main body including a fixation light having a first light-emitting element that emits visible light of a first color and a second light-emitting element that emits visible light of a second color that is recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color, and a control means that notifies the state of the device by controlling the light source unit, wherein when the device is in a first state, the control means performs notification regarding the first state by causing the fixation light to emit visible light of the first color and visible light of the second color. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, even if a user has color vision deficiency, the user can easily understand the state of the device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an ophthalmic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the light source unit as viewed from above. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the light source unit as viewed from the side. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical system provided in an ophthalmic apparatus in the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a control system of the ophthalmic apparatus in the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 4 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence relationship between the state of the device and the emission conditions of visible light in the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the ophthalmologic apparatus in the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [overview] An ophthalmic device (e.g., the ophthalmic device 1) according to the first embodiment will be described below. The ophthalmic device (e.g., the ophthalmic device 1) includes a main body (e.g., the main body 10) for performing eye examination or treatment. The ophthalmic device includes a light source unit (e.g., the light source unit 50) that emits illumination light. The ophthalmic device includes a control means (e.g., the control unit 90) that controls the light source unit. The ophthalmic device may also include an operation means (e.g., the operation unit 8) for operating the main body.

[0010] <Main body> For example, the main body performs eye examination or treatment depending on the purpose of the ophthalmic device. For example, the ophthalmic device may be an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) device. In this case, the main body may include an OCT optical system (e.g., the OCT optical system 110) and an optical system for observing the subject eye (e.g., the observation optical system 140). Of course, the ophthalmic device is not limited to an OCT device, and may be an eye refractive power measuring device, a corneal measuring device, a corneal endothelial cell photographing device, an intraocular pressure measuring device, an axial length measuring device, a fundus camera, an SLO (Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope) device, an ophthalmic laser treatment device, a cataract / vitreous surgery device, an ultrasonic axial length measuring device, and the like. Of course, the ophthalmic device may be a device in which a plurality of devices are combined.

[0011] <Light source unit> In this embodiment, the light source unit is used to notify the outside of the state of the device. The light source unit may also serve as illumination for the user. For example, the light source unit may be disposed around an operation unit for the user to operate the ophthalmic device. In this case, the operation unit is illuminated, making it easier for the user to operate it even in a dark room. Of course, the use of the light source unit is not limited to this. For example, the light source unit may be a pilot lamp. For example, the light source unit may also serve as an input means, such as a switch, for the user to input to the control means.

[0012] For example, the light source unit includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The first light-emitting element emits visible light of a first color. The second light-emitting element emits visible light of a second color. The first color and the second color are colors of different wavelengths (hues). The second color is defined as a color that can be recognized by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color.

[0013] The light source unit may further include a third light-emitting element that emits visible light of a third color different from both the first color and the second color. It is preferable that the third color be a color that can be recognized by a person with color vision deficiency for both the first color and the second color.

[0014] In the light source unit, various light emitting elements may be mounted as one light source, or may be mounted as light sources independent of each other. As a specific example, when each light emitting element is an LED element, LED elements with different light emitting colors may be mounted in one package, or may be mounted in separate packages. As a light source in which the first, second, and third light emitting elements are mounted in one package, a so-called full-color LED can be used. A full-color LED is suitable for reporting a wider variety of device states, since the light emitting color can be varied by changing the mixture ratio (light amount ratio) of the three colors.

[0015] <Control means> In this embodiment, the control means controls the light emission conditions of each light emitting element provided in the light source unit according to the state of the device. As the light emission conditions, the light amount of each light emitting element may be controlled. In other words, the light amount ratio between each light emitting element may be controlled. Furthermore, the light emission timing of each light emitting element may be controlled. Furthermore, other light emission conditions may be controlled.

[0016] In this embodiment, the control means may notify the user of the first state by making the light source unit emit visible light of a first color and visible light of a second color when the device (ophthalmic device) is in the first state. Since the second color is recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color, even if the user has color vision deficiency for the first color, the user can appropriately grasp the state of the device based on the lighting state of the second light source. The first state may be any of the device states, such as standby, capturing, error, etc.

[0017] In addition, the first color of visible light emitted when in the first state may be a color recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the second color, thereby further reducing the possibility that the user will not recognize that the device is in the first state.

[0018] In the first state, the control means may emit the first color visible light and the second color visible light simultaneously or alternately. In the case where the first color visible light and the second color visible light are emitted simultaneously, it is possible to suppress a time lag occurring in the time it takes for a user to grasp the state of the device depending on whether the user has color vision deficiency for the first color or not.

[0019] In addition, when the device includes the first, second, and third light-emitting elements, the control means may vary the emission conditions of the first color visible light, the second color visible light, and the third color visible light between each state of the device including the first state, and may emit two or more of the first color visible light, the second color visible light, and the third color visible light in each state. This may allow notification of each state to be performed. By varying the emission conditions of the first color visible light, the second color visible light, and the third color visible light between each state including the first state, and emitting two or more of the first color visible light, the second color visible light, and the third color visible light in each state, the user can easily appropriately grasp the difference between each state based on the illumination light from the light source unit regardless of the user's color vision. It is more preferable to emit all of the first color visible light, the second color visible light, and the third color visible light in each state of the device. When all of the first, second, and third color visible light are emitted, a person with color vision deficiency can more easily and reliably understand the status of the device compared to when only two of the colors are emitted.

[0020] In the case where the first, second and third light emitting elements are provided, for example, the control means may change the light intensity ratio of visible light among the first color, the second color and the third color as the light emitting condition between the respective states of the device, whereby the control means can notify a person with color vision deficiency of the difference in the state of the device as the difference in the color of the light emitted from the light source unit.

[0021] As another example, the amount of visible light of the first color may be varied for each state of the device, the amount of visible light of the second color may be varied for each state of the device, and the amount of visible light of the third color may be varied for each state of the device. In this case, regardless of the type of color vision deficiency a user has, the state of the device can be recognized based on the emission conditions of visible light that the user can recognize. Therefore, the difference in the state of the device can be more appropriately notified to users with color vision deficiency.

[0022] For example, the light source unit may be capable of emitting white light based on simultaneous emission of visible light of the first color, the second color, and the third color. In this case, the control means may execute notification of the first state by causing the light source unit to alternately emit visible light of the first color and white light when the device is in the first state. In this way, to a person with normal color vision, the light appears to be flashing in the first color. In general, since a user finds it difficult to find meaning in white light, the flashing of the white light is unlikely to hinder the user from understanding the state of the device. On the other hand, for a person with abnormal color vision for the first color, the flashing of the first color is difficult to understand, but the user can understand the state of the device based on the flashing of the white light. Note that the white light may be within a range that a person with normal color vision can recognize as white, and is not strictly defined by a numerical value. [Example] A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. An ophthalmic apparatus 1 of this embodiment is an OCT apparatus having an SLO as an observation system.

[0023] <Overall composition> As shown in FIG. 1, the ophthalmic apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a main body 10 and a computer 300. For example, the computer 300 is provided outside the main body 10 of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 and is connected to the main body 10. Although details will be described later, the operation of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 is controlled by a control unit 90 built into the main body 10 in cooperation with the computer 300. Unless otherwise specified, in this embodiment, the computer 300 is a PC. The ophthalmic apparatus 1 has a general-purpose display as a monitor 310. A video signal to the monitor 310 is output from the computer 300. In addition, a PC side operation unit 330 including a mouse, a keyboard, etc. is connected to the computer 300.

[0024] <Apparatus appearance> Next, the external appearance of the device will be described with reference to Fig. 1. For example, the main body 10 includes at least a base 20, an XYZ driving unit 30, a face support unit 40, a main body side operation unit 96, an optometry unit 100, and a light source unit 50. The base 20 supports the entire device. The XYZ driving unit 30 moves the optometry unit 100 in, for example, up-down, left-right, front-rear directions (three-dimensional directions) relative to the base 20.

[0025] The face support unit 40 is, for example, a chin rest. The face support unit 40 includes, for example, a forehead rest 41, a chin rest 42, and a base 46. The forehead rest 41 is in contact with the subject's forehead. The chin rest 42 supports the subject's chin. The chin rest 42 may be moved in the vertical direction by the drive of the chin rest drive unit 43. The base 46 supports the forehead rest 41 and the chin rest 42. The face support unit 40 may include a chin rest sensor 44 that detects whether the chin is placed on the chin rest 42. For example, the chin rest sensor 44 detects that the chin rest 42 is pressed downward by the subject's chin. The chin rest sensor 44 may be, for example, a photosensor, a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor, a contact sensor, or the like. The face support unit 40 may be rotatable relative to the base 20 and the optometry unit 100 by a rotation mechanism not shown. This may allow the direction of the subject's face to be changed.

[0026] In this embodiment, a joystick is provided as the main body side operation unit 96. In this embodiment, the joystick is operated when manually adjusting the alignment state. Also, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the joystick, which is the main body side operation unit 96, is provided with, for example, a shooting button 96a, an up-down movement dial 96b, and the like. <Light source unit> The light source unit 50 illuminates the operation section 96. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source unit 50 includes, for example, eight light sources 51a to 51h, a diffusion plate 52, and a base 53. The light sources 51a to 51h are arranged in eight directions, i.e., front, rear, left, right, and diagonal directions, of the main body side operation section 96. However, the number and arrangement of the light sources included in the light source unit 50 are not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the light sources 51a to 51h is arranged on a base 53 fixed to the base 20. In this embodiment, the light emitted from the light sources 51a to 51h is diffused by the diffusion plate 52 and is emitted as illumination light from the light source unit 50.

[0027] Each of the light sources 51a to 51h emits visible light. For example, the color of the visible light emitted from each of the light sources 51a to 51h can be changed. In this embodiment, each of the light sources 51a to 51h is a so-called full-color LED. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the light sources 51a to 51h is packaged with a red light emitting element 55a that emits red visible light, a green light emitting element 55b that emits green visible light, and a blue light emitting element 55c that emits blue visible light. The light amount of each of the light emitting elements 55a, 55b, and 55c is controlled by a control unit 90 described later. The color of the visible light emitted by each of the light sources 51a to 51h is controlled by changing the light amount ratio of each of the light emitting elements 55a, 55b, and 55c. In addition, the light source 51a to 51h can emit white light by controlling the light amount ratio to a predetermined value.

[0028] The diffusion plate 52 is provided above the light sources 51a to 51h, and transmits the light from the light sources 51a to 51h to the outside of the base 20 while diffusing the light. The diffusion plate 52 is, for example, ring-shaped, and surrounds the main body side operation unit 96. The light emitted from the light sources 51a to 51h is diffused by the diffusion plate 52 and illuminates the main body side operation unit 96 from below. This makes it easy to find the position of the main body side operation unit 96 even in a dark room. As shown in FIG. 2, the light sources 51a to 51h are arranged in eight directions, front, back, left, right, and diagonally, from the operation unit. However, the arrangement direction of the light sources 51a to 51h is not limited to this. The light source unit 50 may be provided with a transparent plate instead of the diffusion plate 52.

[0029] <Ophthalmology Department 100> The optometry unit 100 performs examination (photographing or measuring) of the subject's eye. The optometry unit 100 may include an optical system for measuring, for example, the ocular refractive power, corneal curvature, or intraocular pressure of the subject's eye. The optometry unit 100 may also include an optical system for photographing the anterior segment or fundus of the subject's eye. In this embodiment, as an example, a case will be described in which the optometry unit 100 includes an optical system for photographing a tomographic image of the subject's eye.

[0030] Fig. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the optical system of the apparatus. As shown in Fig. 4, the optometry section 100 of this embodiment includes an OCT optical system 110, an observation optical system 140, a fixation target projection section 150, and the like.

[0031] The OCT optical system 110, for example, irradiates the test eye E with measurement light and acquires an OCT signal obtained by the reflected light and the measurement light. For example, the OCT optical system 110 captures a tomographic image of the test eye E by acquiring the OCT signal.

[0032] The OCT optical system 110 is a so-called optical system of optical coherence tomography (OCT). The OCT optical system 110 splits light emitted from a measurement light source 111 into measurement light (sample light) and reference light by a coupler (light splitter) 112. Then, the OCT optical system 110 guides the measurement light to the fundus Ef of the eye E by the measurement optical system 120. The measurement optical system 120 includes, for example, a scanning unit (for example, an optical scanner) 121. The scanning unit 121 changes the scanning position of the measurement light on the subject's eye in order to change, for example, the imaging position on the subject's eye. In addition, the OCT optical system 110 guides the reference light to the reference optical system 130. Then, the detector 113 receives interference light resulting from the synthesis of the measurement light reflected by the subject's eye E and the reference light.

[0033] The detector 113 detects the interference state between the measurement light and the reference light. In the case of Fourier domain OCT, the detector 113 detects the spectral intensity of the interference light, and a depth profile (A-scan signal) in a predetermined range is acquired by Fourier transforming the spectral intensity data. Examples of such OCT include Spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) and Swept-source OCT (SS-OCT). Time-domain OCT (TD-OCT) may also be used.

[0034] Light emitted from the light source 111 is split into a measurement light beam and a reference light beam by the coupler 112. The measurement light beam passes through an optical fiber and is then emitted into the air. The light beam is focused on the fundus Ef via the optical members of the measurement optical system 120. The light reflected by the fundus Ef is returned to the optical fiber via the same optical path.

[0035] The scanning unit 121 scans the measurement light in the XY directions (transverse directions) on the fundus. The scanning unit 121 is disposed at a position approximately conjugate with the pupil. For example, the scanning unit 121 is a galvanometer scanner having two galvanometer mirrors or the like, and the reflection angle is arbitrarily adjusted by the driving mechanism 122. The scanning unit 121 may be configured to deflect light. For example, in addition to a reflection mirror (galvanometer mirror, polygon mirror, resonant scanner), an acousto-optical element (AOM) that changes the traveling (deflection) direction of light may be used.

[0036] The reference optical system 130 generates a reference light to be combined with reflected light acquired by reflection of the measurement light at the fundus Ef. The reference optical system 130 may be of a Michelson type or a Mach-Zehnder type. The reference optical system 130 is formed, for example, by a reflective optical system (for example, a reference mirror), and returns the light from the coupler 112 to the coupler 112 again by reflecting it with the reflective optical system, and guides it to the detector 113. As another example, the reference optical system 130 is formed by a transmission optical system (for example, an optical fiber), and guides the light from the coupler 112 to the detector 113 by transmitting it without returning it.

[0037] The reference optical system 130 has a configuration for changing the optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light by moving an optical member in the reference optical path. For example, a reference mirror is moved in the optical axis direction. The configuration for changing the optical path length difference may be disposed in the measurement optical path of the measurement optical system 120.

[0038] The observation optical system 140 captures an observation image of the eye to be examined. The observation image may be, for example, a front image of the fundus Ef or an anterior eye image. The observation optical system 140 of this embodiment is a so-called scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO). For example, the observation optical system 140 includes, for example, an SLO light source 141, a focusing lens 143, a scanning unit 144, and a relay lens 145. The SLO light source 141 is a light source that emits highly coherent light, and for example, a laser diode light source with λ=780 nm is used. The focusing lens 143 can be moved in the optical axis direction in accordance with the refractive error of the eye to be examined. The scanning unit 144 is a combination of a galvanometer mirror and a polygon mirror that can scan the measurement light in the XY direction on the fundus at high speed by driving the driving unit 144a. The relay lens 145 relays the measurement light reflected by the scanning unit 144 to the objective lens 101.

[0039] A beam splitter 142 is disposed between the SLO light source 141 and the focusing lens 143. In the reflection direction of the beam splitter 142, a condenser lens 146, a confocal aperture 147 placed at a position conjugate with the fundus, and a light receiving element 148 are provided.

[0040] The laser light (measurement light) emitted from the SLO light source 141 passes through a beam splitter 142, and then reaches a scanning unit 144 via a focusing lens 143. The reflection direction is changed by driving a galvanometer mirror, a polygon mirror, etc. Then, the laser light reflected by the scanning unit 144 is focused on the fundus via a relay lens 145 and an objective lens 101.

[0041] The laser light reflected by the fundus passes through the objective lens 101, the relay lens 145, the scanning unit 144, and the focusing lens 143, and is reflected by the beam splitter 142. After that, the laser light is collected by the collecting lens 146, and is detected by the light receiving element 148 via the confocal aperture 147. The light receiving signal detected by the light receiving element 148 is input to the control unit 90 described later. The control unit 90 acquires a front image of the fundus of the subject's eye based on the light receiving signal obtained by the light receiving element 148. The acquired front image is stored in the HDD 350. The SLO image is acquired by vertical scanning (sub-scanning) of the laser light by a galvanometer mirror provided in the scanning unit 144 and horizontal scanning (main scanning) of the laser light by a polygon mirror.

[0042] The observation optical system 140 may have a so-called fundus camera type configuration. The OCT optical system 110 may also be used as the observation optical system 140. That is, the front image may be acquired using data forming a two-dimensionally obtained tomographic image (for example, an integrated image in the depth direction of a three-dimensional tomographic image, an integrated value of spectral data at each XY position, etc.).

[0043] The fixation target projection unit 150 has an optical system for guiding the line of sight of the eye E. The fixation target projection unit 150 presents, for example, a fixation target to the eye E. The fixation target projection unit 150 has, for example, a visible light source that emits visible light. The fixation target projection unit 150 may be an internal fixation light type or an external fixation light type.

[0044] The face photographing section 160 photographs, for example, the face of the subject. The face photographing section 160 photographs, for example, the face including at least one of the left and right eyes to be examined.

[0045] <Control system> Next, a description will be given of a control system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the control system of the ophthalmic apparatus 1 is formed by a computer 300 and a control unit 90 of the device body 10. The computer 300 and the control unit 90 of the device body 10 are mutually connected.

[0046] <Computer> The computer 300 performs processes with relatively high processing costs, such as OCT signal processing, image processing, and imaging control based on the results of these processes. The computer 300 also handles input and output to the monitor 310, PC side operation unit 330, and HDD 350. Programs constituting the imaging software described below are stored in the HDD 350, for example. The HDD 350 may also serve as a storage for storing imaging results.

[0047] The computer 300 inputs a signal (command) to the control unit 90 for each task to be executed by the device main body 10. The control unit 90 controls the device main body 10 to cause the device main body 10 to execute a task corresponding to the command. The command is sent automatically in accordance with a control program on the computer side, and is also sent based on an input from the PC side operation unit 330. In this embodiment, for example, commands corresponding to tasks such as connection (start of operation), optimization, and capture, which will be described later, are input to the control unit 90 of the device main body 10.

[0048] <Control section of the device body> The control unit 90 of the device body 10 includes a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, and the like. The ROM 92 stores control programs for tasks corresponding to each command. The ROM 92 of the device body 10 also stores a program for controlling the light source unit 50 according to the state of the device, and a table that defines the correspondence between the state of the device and the light emission conditions of visible light in the light source unit 50 (light emission conditions of the light emitting elements 55a to 55c). The control unit 90 controls each of the light emitting elements 55a to 55c under the light emission conditions that are defined in advance in the table. For example, the control unit 90 reads from the ROM 92 the color of illumination light and the lighting pattern of the light sources 51a to 51h that correspond to each state of the device, and controls the light intensity of each of the red light emitting element 55a, the green light emitting element 55b, and the blue light emitting element 55c.

[0049] <Correspondence between device status and light emission conditions> FIG. 6 shows a table defining the correspondence between the state of the apparatus and the light emission conditions in the visible light source unit 50 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the light emission conditions for each state of the apparatus are determined by combining two types of conditions: the light amounts and the lighting patterns of the light emitting elements 55a to 55c.

[0050] Incidentally, if the state of the apparatus is notified only by monochromatic light with a narrow wavelength range, when the user has a color vision defect, it may be difficult to distinguish colors, and there is a possibility that the state of the apparatus cannot be recognized based on the light from the apparatus. It is said that about 5% of Japanese men and 8 - 10% of white men have some kind of color vision defect, and most of them are occupied by red - green color vision defects (type 1 color vision, type 2 color vision). In red - green color vision defects (type 1 color vision, type 2 color vision), it is difficult to distinguish between red and green. For this reason, if a certain state of the apparatus is notified using only red monochromatic light and another state is notified using only green monochromatic light, there is a possibility that the two states may be confused with each other, or at least the fact that light is emitted in either state may not be recognized. Also, although a very small number, when the user has a blue - yellow color vision defect (type 3 color vision), it is difficult to distinguish between blue and green, and similar problems can occur between the case where the notification is made using only blue monochromatic light and the case where the notification is made using only green monochromatic light.

[0051] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when notifying any state of the apparatus, all of the light emitting elements 55a to 55c are caused to emit light. In addition, the light emission conditions of three colors, red, blue, and green, are made different for each state of the apparatus. That is, between a plurality of states that the apparatus can take, the combinations of two types of conditions, the light amounts and the lighting patterns of the light emitting elements 55a to 55c, are different from each other.

[0052] According to the table in FIG. 6, the state of the apparatus is notified via the light source unit 50 in seven types of states: <Standby>, <Connected to PC>, <Scanning>, <Optimizing>, <Shooting>, <Error>, and <Warning>. The details of the states enclosed by <> will be described later in the description of FIG. 7.

[0053] In the table of FIG. 6, for each state of the device, two types of conditions, i.e., the light quantity and the lighting pattern of the light emitting elements 55a to 55c, are defined. In the table of FIG. 6, the light quantity ratios of the light from the respective light emitting elements 55a, 55b, and 55c are expressed in the form of (R, G, B).

[0054] According to the table of FIG. 6, when the state of the device is <Standby> and <Connected to PC>, the light quantity ratios of the three primary colors of visible light, red, blue, and green, are (R1, G1, B1). For example, when the state of the device is <Scanning>, <Optimizing>, and <Shooting>, the light quantity ratios of the respective visible lights are (R2, G2, B2). For example, when the state of the device is <Error>, the light quantity ratios of the respective visible lights are (R3, G3, B3). For example, when the state of the device is <Warning>, the light quantity ratios of the respective visible lights are (R4, G4, B4).

[0055] In this way, the light quantity ratios of the three primary colors of visible light, red, blue, and green, are made different among several states of the device, and all the light emitting elements 55a to 55c are made to emit light. Thereby, even if the user has difficulty in discriminating any color, the difference between the states can be recognized by the user as the difference in the color of the light irradiated from the light source unit 50.

[0056] Note that in each state of the device, light is irradiated from the light source unit 50 based on the simultaneous emission of the light emitting elements 55a, 55b, and 55c with the "color of the illumination light" in the table of FIG. 6. At this time, the three primary colors of visible light, red, blue, and green, are mixed within the range where the light emitted from the light source unit 50 is recognized as the "color of the illumination light" by a person with normal color vision who has trichromatic vision (that is, the light quantity ratio (R, G, B) is defined).

[0057] For example, in the <Standby> and <PC Connected> states, within the range recognized as "Color of illumination light: Green" by a person with normal color vision, the light quantity ratio (R1, G1, B1) is determined. For example, G1 may be set to be sufficiently large based on the relative sensitivity so as to be greater than R1 and B1. According to this, when making a user with normal color vision recognize that the color of the illumination light is green, it is possible to suppress the illumination light from being misrecognized as another color such as yellow or light blue.

[0058] Similarly, in the <Scanning>, <Optimizing>, and <Shooting> states, within the range recognized as "Color of illumination light: Blue" by a person with normal color vision, the light quantity ratio (R2, G2, B2) is determined. In the <Error> state, within the range recognized as "Color of illumination light: Red" by a person with normal color vision, the light quantity ratio (R3, G3, B4) is determined. In the <Warning> state, within the range recognized as "Color of illumination light: Yellow" by a person with normal color vision, the light quantity ratio (R4, G4, B4) is determined. The light quantity ratio at this time may be experimentally determined based on, for example, a sensory test for a person with normal color vision.

[0059] Also, for example, in order to represent the state of the device, the lighting patterns of the light sources 51a to 51h are controlled by the control unit 90. According to the table in FIG. 6, the "lighting pattern" in the four states of <Standby>, <Scanning>, <Error>, and <Warning> is "lit". That is, in this embodiment, until the state of the device changes to another state, the light sources 51a to 51h continuously emit light at the light quantity ratio determined for each state. The "lighting pattern" in the remaining states is "flashing". In "flashing", light is repeatedly emitted from the light source unit 50 at intervals with the "color of the illumination light" for each state.

[0060] For example, <Standby> and <PC Connected> both have "Color of illumination light: Green", and since the light quantity ratio of visible light is the same between the respective states, there is no difference in color, but due to the difference in the lighting pattern, the user can distinguish the two states.

[0061] Similarly, <Optimizing>, <Taking a photo> and <Scanning> all have the same "illumination light color: blue" and the ratio of visible light intensity is the same between each state; however, the "lighting pattern" for <Optimizing> and <Taking a photo> is "blinking," whereas for <Scanning> it is "lit," so the user can distinguish between <Scanning> and the other two states.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, "blinking" is performed in different ways between <during optimization> and <during shooting>. That is, during <optimization>, the light sources 51a to 51h blink at the same timing. On the other hand, during <during shooting>, the light sources 51a to 51h blink at different timings. As an example, during <during shooting>, the light sources 51a to 51h are sequentially lit in a clockwise direction. In this way, the different lighting patterns allow the user to distinguish between <during optimization> and <during shooting>.

[0063] As described above, between the multiple states that the device can assume, the combinations of two types of conditions, namely the light amounts and lighting patterns of the light-emitting elements 55a to 55c, are different from each other. As a result, even for a color vision-deficient person as described above, the difference between each state can be recognized by the user as the difference in the color and lighting pattern of the light irradiated from the light source unit 50. Specifically, when the user has red-green color blindness (type 1 color vision, type 2 color vision), as described above, it is assumed that it is difficult to distinguish between red and green, or it is difficult to recognize monochromatic light of red or green. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the light irradiated from the light source unit 50 in each state includes a component of blue light from the blue light-emitting element 55c that can be discriminated in red-green color blindness (type 1 color vision, type 2 color vision). Therefore, even if the user has red-green color blindness, the user can recognize that at least light is irradiated from the light source unit 50. Furthermore, it is considered that the difference in the state to be notified can be recognized as the difference in the combination of color and lighting pattern from the difference in the light amount ratio (R, G, B) for each state and the difference in the lighting pattern. Similarly, when the user has blue-yellow color blindness (type 3 color vision), as described above, it is assumed that it is difficult to distinguish between blue and green, or it is difficult to recognize monochromatic light of blue. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the light irradiated from the light source unit 50 in each state includes a component of red light from the red light-emitting element 55a that can be discriminated in blue-yellow color blindness (type 3 color vision). As a result, similarly, even if the user has blue-yellow color blindness, the user can recognize that at least light is irradiated from the light source unit 50 and can recognize the difference in the state to be notified.

[0064] Furthermore, in a state where the "lighting pattern" is "flashing" (<PC connection><optimizing><shooting>), the "color of illumination light" shown in the table of FIG. 6 and white are alternately lit. In the present embodiment, since the white light includes any of the light (red light, green light, blue light) from the respective light-emitting elements 55a, 55b, 55c, it is easy to recognize even when the user is a color vision-deficient person.

[0065] For example, when the state of the device is <Connected to PC>, the illumination light alternates between green and white. As a result, even when the user has a color vision deficiency, the blinking of the visible light of the recognizable colors included in the white light is recognized, and thus the state of the device is appropriately notified. Also, even when the user has normal color vision, when white and green alternate, it is easy to recognize that it is blinking in green. Therefore, the state of the device is appropriately notified.

[0066] Similarly, when the state of the device is <Optimizing> and <Shooting>, the color of the illumination light alternates between blue and white, making it easier for the user to recognize the lighting pattern of the light sources 51a to 51h, and thus appropriately notifying the user of the state of the device.

[0067] [Operation] An operation example of the ophthalmic device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the case of acquiring an OCT image of the eye to be examined using the OCT optical system 110 will be described as an example.

[0068] <S101: Standby> In this embodiment, <Standby> means a state in which the main body unit 10 is powered on and after the initialization process of the main body unit 10 is completed, waiting for connection to the computer 300. In the initialization process, for example, various optical elements included in the OCT optical system 110 are displaced to their initial positions.

[0069] First, the user turns on the power of the main body unit 10. When the power is turned on, the control unit 90 turns on the light sources 51a to 51h of the light source unit 50. In this case, as described above, the light emitting elements 55a, 55b, and 55c are caused to emit light so as to have the light quantity ratio (R1, G1, B1) corresponding to "Illumination light color: Green" and "Illumination pattern: Lit". As a result, the user can confirm that it is in the <Standby> state, and the user can start the connection work between the main body unit 10 and the computer 300.

[0070] <S102: Connected to PC> The user also turns on the power of the computer 300. After the power is turned on, the shooting software is launched on the computer 300. The user checks via the monitor 310 that the shooting software has been launched and the shooting preparation on the computer 300 side is complete. Thereafter, by operating the computer 300 by the user, an instruction to start the connection (an instruction to start the operation) is output from the computer 300 to the control unit 90 on the apparatus main body 10 side. The control unit 90 starts the connection between the main body unit 10 and the computer 300 by receiving the instruction to start the connection (the instruction to start the operation) in the <Standby> state.

[0071] The state of the apparatus from when the connection starts until it is completed is referred to as <Connecting to PC>. During <Connecting to PC>, as described above, the control unit 90 blinks the color of the illumination light by alternately switching between green and white. Since the shooting preparation is not complete during <Connecting to PC>, by being notified of <Connecting to PC>, the user can refrain from unnecessary operations.

[0072] <S103: Scanning> When the connection between the control unit 90 and the computer 300 is completed, the control unit 90 on the main body unit 10 side can receive instructions for driving the optical system of the eye examination unit 100 and the drive unit 30. Further, the control unit 90 controls the scanning unit 121 to start scanning. Thereby, an OCT image is acquired in real time. In this embodiment, this state is referred to as <Scanning>. When an optimization start signal or a capture signal is input to the control unit 90, it shifts from <Scanning> to the state of another apparatus. Therefore, <Scanning> can be rephrased as a state of receiving instructions regarding the drive control of the OCT optical system 110. By being notified that it is <Scanning>, the user can be prompted to input operations for optimization or capture.

[0073] At this time, the user may guide the subject so that the face is supported by the face support portion 40, and further, alignment between the eye to be examined and the examination unit 100 may be performed. An example of the alignment method will be described below. For example, the control unit 90 controls the XYZ drive unit 30 to perform alignment between the eye E to be examined and the examination unit 100. For example, the control unit 90 performs alignment on the anterior eye part of the eye to be examined based on the observation image acquired by the face imaging unit 160 and the observation optical system 140. Note that for the alignment method, reference can be made to the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-179978. Of course, the user may perform alignment instead of the control unit 90. In that case, for example, the user may adjust the alignment between the eye to be examined and the examination unit 100 by operating the main body side operation unit 96. Also, for example, the control unit 90 may adjust the alignment based on the OCT image acquired in real time. For example, the operation of the scanning unit 121 may be started after alignment between the examination unit 100 and the anterior eye part of the eye to be examined is performed.

[0074] <S104: Optimizing> When a signal to start optimization is input to the control unit 90, it enters the <Optimizing> state until completion.

[0075] In this embodiment, when the user operates the computer 300, a signal to start optimization is input to the control unit 90. Here, the optimization control of the imaging conditions in the OCT optical system 110 is referred to as optimization. Specific examples include adjustment of the optical path length difference between the measurement optical system and the reference optical system, focus adjustment, polarizer adjustment, and the like. Note that even during <Optimizing>, the OCT image may be acquired in real time. In this case, the optimization control may be executed based on the sensitivity or resolution of the OCT image or the like acquired in real time by scanning. When the optimization control is completed, the state of the apparatus returns to <Scanning>.

[0076] While the state of the device is <Optimizing>, as described above, the control unit 90 blinks the color of the illumination light by alternately switching between blue and white. As a result, the user is notified that the state of the device is <Optimizing>, and the user can refrain from capture operations and the like at inappropriate timings.

[0077] <S105: During shooting> In the state of <Scanning>, when a capture signal (release signal) is input, an OCT image is captured (captured) as a still image. The state from the start to the completion of the shooting is referred to as <During shooting>. The scanning of the scanning unit 121 in <During shooting> is performed under different conditions from the scanning in the aforementioned <Scanning>. For example, an OCT image regarding a plurality of predetermined scan lines (or a two-dimensional scan range) may be acquired. Also, for example, the scanning unit 121 performs scanning more finely than the scanning in <Scanning>. According to this, a higher-quality image can be obtained than the OCT image of the subject eye that was captured in real time during the aforementioned <Scanning>. For example, the OCT image acquired based on the capture signal is transferred to the computer 300 and stored in the HDD 350.

[0078] For example, when the state of the device is <During shooting>, the control unit 90 switches the color of the light emitted from the light sources 51a to 51h between blue and white in a predetermined order (for example, clockwise), as described above. As a result, the user is notified that the state of the device is <During shooting>, and the user can pay attention to the state of the subject.

[0079] <S106: Error> When an abnormality that is difficult to recover from is detected after the main body 10 is started, the state becomes <error>. For example, the state transitions to <error> as a result of hardware damage. When the state transitions to <error>, the operation of the main body 10 that had been performed up until that point is stopped, and the examination by the ophthalmic device 1 is terminated. By continuing the operation of the device as is, further damage or the like can be prevented from occurring. When the <error> state is notified, the user can send the ophthalmic device 1 for repair. For example, the conditions under which the state of the device transitions to <error> may be stored in the ROM 92 in advance.

[0080] While the device status is "error", the control unit 90 controls the light amounts of the visible light beams emitted from the light sources 51a to 51h to be equal to (R3, G3, B3), as shown in FIG.

[0081] <S107:ワーニング> When the device is operating with non-recommended device settings and device states, the state becomes <Warning>. When the state transitions to <Warning>, the operation of the main body 10 that has been performed until then is interrupted, and the operation of the ophthalmic device 1 is stopped. For example, when the abnormality that caused the transition to <Warning> is resolved, the operation of the main body 10 is resumed, and the state of the device returns to the state before the transition to <Warning>. For example, the condition for transitioning to <Warning> may be stored in the ROM 92 in advance. As an example, the state of the device may transition to <Warning> when the captured image cannot be saved due to insufficient free space in the HDD 350, or when an adapter for photographing the anterior eye segment is not properly attached to the optometry unit 100, etc.

[0082] This prevents shooting from being performed with inappropriate device settings and device conditions.

[0083] While the device is in the <Warning> state, the control unit 90 controls the light amounts of the visible light beams emitted from the light sources 51a to 51h to be equal to (R4, G4, B4), as shown in FIG.

[0084] As described above, in this embodiment, when the state of the device is changed to another state, at least one of the light intensity ratio (R, G, B) of the light-emitting elements 55a, 55b, 55c or the lighting pattern is always changed. Since all of the light-emitting elements 55a, 55b, 55c are turned on in each state, even if the user has color vision deficiency, the change in the state of the device can be more reliably understood. In addition, since the combination of the light intensity ratio (R, G, B) and lighting pattern of the light-emitting elements 55a, 55b, 55c is different between each state, even if the user has color vision deficiency, the state of the device at each timing can be easily uniquely understood.

[0085] [Example of transformation] For example, the light emission conditions are not limited to the light intensity ratio of each visible light or the lighting pattern of the light sources 51a to 51h. For example, the light emission conditions may be other conditions such as the direction in which visible light is irradiated from the light source unit 50.

[0086] Moreover, the device states shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and a state other than the above device states may be notified to the user by the color of the illumination light or the lighting pattern of the light sources 51a to 51h. As an example, the control unit 90 may perform an initialization operation to adjust the position of the optometry unit 100 and the height of the chin rest 42 to a predetermined height when the main body unit 10 is started. In this case, the control unit 90 may control the light emission conditions of each light-emitting element (for example, the light intensity ratio of each visible light, the lighting pattern of the light source, etc.) while the initialization operation is being performed so that the user can distinguish the state from other device states. In this way, even when notifying a device state other than those described in the above embodiment, the control unit 90 can appropriately notify the device state by changing the light emission conditions of the visible light irradiated from the light source unit for each device state.

[0087] Furthermore, the colors of visible light emitted by the light emitting elements included in the light source unit 50 are not limited to red, green, and blue. For example, light emitting elements that emit visible light of colors such as purple, light blue, and yellow may be included.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the case has been described where all three colors of visible light are emitted to notify the state of each device, but the present invention is not limited to this and it is sufficient that at least two colors of visible light are emitted.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the light sources 51a to 51h are described as flashing by alternately switching between a specific color of visible light and white light, but the specific color does not necessarily have to be white light. For example, the specific color and a color that can be recognized by a person with color vision deficiency may be flashed by alternately switching between them.

[0090] The ophthalmologic apparatus may also include a mode selection means for selecting one of a first mode for notifying a person with color vision deficiency for the first color and a second mode for notifying a user with color vision different from that of a person with color vision deficiency for the first color. For example, the mode selection means may be the control unit 90, and in this case, the mode may be selected based on an input signal from an external device (for example, a computer 300). For example, the mode selection means may be attached to the apparatus as a switch. For example, the control means may control the light source unit such that the notification regarding the first state when the first mode is selected by the mode selection means and the notification regarding the first state when the second mode is selected by the mode selection means are different from each other.

[0091] Also, the color of visible light irradiated from a fixation lamp (not shown) provided in the fixation target projection unit 150 may be a first color of visible light and a second color of visible light recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color, similar to the illumination light irradiated from the light source unit 50. In this way, even if the subject has color vision deficiency, the subject can easily recognize that the fixation lamp is on, and can fixate satisfactorily. In this embodiment, the subject is an example of a "user" who uses the ophthalmic device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10 Ophthalmological equipment 50 Light source unit 51 Light source 55a Red light emitting element 55b Green light emitting element 55c Blue light emitting element 90 Control section 100 Optometry Department

Claims

1. A main body for performing an eye examination or treatment; a light source unit having a first light-emitting element that emits visible light of a first color, a second light-emitting element that emits visible light of a second color that is recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color, and a third light-emitting element that emits visible light of a third color different from both the first color and the second color; and a control unit that controls the light source unit to notify a state of the device. the light source unit is capable of emitting white light based on simultaneous emission of the first color, the second color, and the third color visible light; An ophthalmologic apparatus, wherein the control means, when the apparatus is in a first state, executes notification regarding the first state by causing the light source unit to alternately emit the first color visible light and the white light.

2. A main body for performing eye examination or treatment, A light source unit having a first light-emitting element that emits visible light of a first color and a second light-emitting element that emits visible light of a second color that is recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color; and a control unit that controls the light source unit to notify a state of the device. a mode selection means for selecting one of a first mode for notifying a person with color vision deficiency for the first color and a second mode for notifying a user with color vision different from that of a person with color vision deficiency for the first color, an ophthalmic device characterized in that, when the device is in a first state, the control means executes a notification regarding the first state by causing the light source unit to emit visible light of the first color and visible light of the second color, and controls the light source unit so that the notification regarding the first state when the first mode is selected by the mode selection means and the notification regarding the first state when the second mode is selected by the mode selection means are different from each other.

3. A main body including a fixation lamp having a first light-emitting element that emits visible light of a first color and a second light-emitting element that emits visible light of a second color that is recognizable by a person with color vision deficiency for the first color; and a control means for controlling the fixation light to notify a state of the device. The control means of the ophthalmic device executes a notification regarding the first state by causing the fixation light to emit visible light of the first color and visible light of the second color when the device is in a first state.

Images