Ophthalmic device and control method for ophthalmic device

Abstract

To provide an ophthalmologic apparatus which can correctly execute left-right eye switching in a short time and a control method of the ophthalmologic apparatus.SOLUTION: An ophthalmologic apparatus comprises: a movement control part 44 which moves an apparatus body to a position where the eye characteristic of a second eye being the other of left and right subject eyes can be acquired by moving the apparatus body in at least the left-right direction by controlling a relative movement part (drive mechanism 13) when the apparatus body (measuring head 14) acquires the eye characteristic of the first eye; an imaging part (anterior eye part camera 17) which is provided in the apparatus body and used for imaging of the subject eye; a pupil image detection part 48 which detects the presence / absence of a pupil image 56 corresponding to a pupil Ep of the second eye by performing ellipse detection processing to a photographed image D; a repeat control part 50 which repeatedly executes an imaging operation by the imaging part and detection by the pupil image detection part during movement in the left-right direction of the apparatus body; and a stop control part 52 which performs stop control of the apparatus body when the pupil image 56 is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus that sequentially acquires the eye characteristics of the left and right eyes to be examined, and a control method for the ophthalmic apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In ophthalmology, various eye characteristics such as the refractive power of the eye to be examined, intraocular pressure, and the number of corneal endothelial cells are acquired (measured, photographed, observed, etc.) using an ophthalmic apparatus. Acquisition of such eye characteristics of the eye to be examined is often performed separately for the left and right eyes to be examined. In this case, first, alignment of the apparatus main body of the ophthalmic apparatus with respect to one of the left and right eyes to be examined (the first eye) and acquisition of eye characteristics by the apparatus main body are performed. Next, after performing a left / right eye switch in which the apparatus main body is moved at least in the left / right direction to move the apparatus main body to an eye characteristic acquisition position corresponding to the other of the left and right eyes to be examined (the second eye), alignment of the apparatus main body and acquisition of eye characteristics by the apparatus main body are performed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an ophthalmic apparatus including a two-dimensional solid-state imaging device used for photographing the anterior eye part of the eye to be examined, and capable of selectively extracting the luminance values (pixel values) of pixel regions extending in the vertical direction respectively existing at the left end portion and the right end portion of the light receiving surface of the two-dimensional solid-state imaging device. This ophthalmic apparatus determines whether an image of the second eye is received by the two-dimensional solid-state imaging device based on the luminance values extracted from the left and right pixel regions of the two-dimensional solid-state imaging device while moving the apparatus main body in the left / right direction during a left / right eye switch. Next, when an image of the second eye is received by the two-dimensional solid-state imaging device, the ophthalmic apparatus stops the movement of the apparatus main body in the left / right direction so that the image of the second eye is received in the central region in the left / right direction of the two-dimensional solid-state imaging device. Thereby, the left / right eye switch can be performed quickly.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, the ophthalmic device described in Patent Document 1 determines whether or not the image of the other eye has been received by the two-dimensional solid-state image sensor based solely on the brightness values ​​extracted from the left and right pixel regions of the two-dimensional solid-state image sensor. As a result, the ophthalmic device described in Patent Document 1 may mistakenly detect the image of the inner corner of the eye or the shadow of the nose as the image of the second eye, potentially stopping the left-right movement of the device itself. Consequently, switching between the left and right eyes takes time.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide an ophthalmic device and a control method for the ophthalmic device that can accurately and quickly switch between the left and right eyes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An ophthalmic apparatus for achieving the objectives of the present invention comprises: an apparatus body for acquiring the ocular characteristics of an eye under examination; a relative movement unit for moving the apparatus body relative to the eye under examination; a movement control unit that, when the apparatus body has acquired the ocular characteristics of a first eye, which is one of the left and right eyes under examination, controls the relative movement unit to move the apparatus body at least in the left-right direction, thereby moving the apparatus body to a position where the ocular characteristics of a second eye, which is the other of the left and right eyes under examination, can be acquired; an imaging unit provided on the apparatus body and used for imaging the eye under examination; an ellipse detection unit that performs an ellipse detection process on the image captured by the imaging unit to detect an ellipse with the vertical direction as its longitudinal axis, and detects the presence or absence of a pupil image corresponding to the pupil of the second eye; a repeat control unit that repeatedly performs the imaging operation by the imaging unit and the detection by the pupil image detection unit while the apparatus body is moving in the left-right direction; and a stop control unit that controls the relative movement unit to stop the left-right movement of the apparatus body when a pupil image is detected by the pupil image detection unit.

[0008] This ophthalmic device can reduce false detections by the pupil image detection unit.

[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the movement control unit sets the movement speed at which the device body is moved left and right by the relative movement unit to a speed at which a change in the left and right position of the device body occurs within the exposure time of imaging by the imaging unit. This allows the left and right movement of the device body (left and right eye switching) to be performed in a short time.

[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, the ophthalmic apparatus holds the apparatus body so as to be movable at least in the left-right direction around a predetermined reference position, and when the apparatus body acquires the eye characteristics of the first eye, the imaging optical axis of the imaging unit is located to one side in the left-right direction from the reference position, and the movement control unit controls the relative movement unit to move the apparatus body to the other side in the left-right direction when the eye characteristics of the first eye are acquired by the apparatus body, and the repetition control unit repeatedly performs detection by at least the pupil image detection unit after the imaging optical axis has passed the reference position when the apparatus body is moved to the other side in the left-right direction by the relative movement unit. This makes it possible to omit unnecessary detection processing (calculation processing) by the pupil image detection unit.

[0011] In another aspect of the present invention, in an ophthalmic device, if the pupil image detection unit does not detect a pupil image even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of left-right movement of the device body by the relative movement unit, or after the device body has moved a predetermined distance, the stop control unit performs a stop control. This makes it possible to stop the left-right movement of the measuring head even when it is difficult for the pupil image detection unit to detect a pupil image due to reasons such as a small pupil.

[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, in an ophthalmic device, the device body moves inertally in the left-right direction between the start of stop control by the stop control unit and the time the device body comes to a complete stop. The movement control unit sets the movement speed at which the device body is moved in the left-right direction by the relative movement unit to a speed at which the pupil image stops in the central left-right region of the captured image when the movement of the device body stops in response to the stop control. This makes it possible to stop the device body at a position facing the second eye.

[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, in an ophthalmic device, the direction in which the relative movement unit moves the device body within the left-right direction is defined as the direction of travel, and the width of the captured image in the left-right direction is defined as the left-right width. The movement control unit sets the movement speed to a speed at which the pupil image detection unit can detect a pupil image within a region of 1 / 4 of the left-right width from the image edge corresponding to the direction of travel of the captured image. This allows the device body to be stopped at a position facing the second eye.

[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, the imaging unit performs imaging of the first eye before the device body is moved left or right by the relative movement unit, and includes a pupil diameter detection unit that detects the pupil diameter of the first eye based on the first eye image captured by the imaging unit, and the movement control unit sets the movement speed of the device body moved left or right by the relative movement unit to a lower speed than when the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit is less than a predetermined threshold, compared to when the pupil diameter is above the threshold. This makes it possible to switch between left and right eyes accurately and quickly, regardless of the pupil diameter of the eye being examined.

[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, the ophthalmic apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures an image of the first eye before the apparatus body is moved in the left-right direction by a relative movement unit, a pupil diameter detection unit that detects the pupil diameter of the first eye based on the first eye image captured by the imaging unit, and a first imaging control unit that increases the shutter speed and gain of the imaging unit when the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit is less than a predetermined threshold, compared to when the pupil diameter is above the threshold. This makes it possible to accurately and quickly switch between the left and right eyes regardless of the pupil diameter of the eye being examined.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, an ophthalmic apparatus is provided on the main body of the apparatus and includes an illumination unit that irradiates illumination light into the imaging range of the imaging unit while the main body of the apparatus is moving in the left-right direction, and an illumination control unit that increases the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination unit within a range in which overexposure other than the pupil image can occur in the captured image. This prevents false detection by the pupil image detection unit.

[0017] In an ophthalmic device according to another aspect of the present invention, a second imaging control unit is provided that increases the gain of the imaging unit within a range where white spots other than the pupil image can occur in the captured image. This can prevent misdetection by the pupil image detection unit.

[0018] A method for controlling an ophthalmic device for achieving the object of the present invention is a method for controlling an ophthalmic device including a device body that acquires eye characteristics of an eye to be examined, and an imaging unit provided in the device body and used for imaging the eye to be examined. When the device body acquires the eye characteristics of a first eye that is one of the left and right eyes to be examined, a moving step of moving the device body to a position where the eye characteristics of a second eye that is the other of the left and right eyes to be examined can be acquired by moving the device body at least in the left - right direction, an ellipse detection process of detecting an ellipse having a vertical direction as its major axis with respect to a captured image captured by the imaging unit to detect the presence or absence of a pupil image corresponding to the pupil of the second eye, a repeating control step of repeatedly executing the imaging operation by the imaging unit and the pupil image detection step during the left - right movement of the device body, and a stopping step of stopping the left - right movement of the device body when a pupil image is detected in the pupil image detection step.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] The present invention can accurately and quickly switch between the left and right eyes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a side view of the ophthalmic device of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram of the control device of the ophthalmic device of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the pupil image of the second eye included in the captured image. [Figure 4] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining a specific example of the pupil image detection process performed by the pupil image detection unit on the captured image. [Figure 5] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the repeated control by the repeated control unit. [Figure 6]This is a flowchart showing the measurement process of the eye characteristics of the left and right test eyes E of a subject by the ophthalmic device according to the first embodiment, particularly the flow of the left / right eye switching process. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram for explaining the problems when the pupil of the test eye is a small pupil. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ophthalmic device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a flowchart showing the measurement process of the eye characteristics of the left and right test eyes of a subject by the ophthalmic device according to the second embodiment, particularly the flow of the process until the start of the left / right movement of the measurement head. [Figure 10] This is a flowchart showing the flow of the process until the start of the left / right movement of the measurement head by the ophthalmic device according to the modified example of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram for explaining the setting of the moving speed of the left / right movement of the measurement head in the ophthalmic device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ophthalmic device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] This is an explanatory diagram for explaining the function of the illumination control unit.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a side view of the ophthalmic device 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, it is a composite device capable of measuring the intraocular pressure value, refractive power of the eye, corneal curvature, etc. of the left and right test eyes E of a subject. This ophthalmic device 10 includes a base 11, a face support portion 12, a drive mechanism 13, a measurement head 14 corresponding to the device body of the present invention, a monitor 15, and a control device 16.

[0022] Among the XYZ directions (three-axis directions) orthogonal to each other in the figure, the Y direction is the vertical direction, the Z direction is the front-rear direction (also referred to as the operating distance direction) parallel to the forward direction approaching the subject (test eye E) and the backward direction moving away from the subject, and the X direction is the left-right direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the front-rear direction.

[0023] On the base 11, a face support section 12 and a drive mechanism 13 are provided, extending from the front to the rear in the Z direction.

[0024] The face support unit 12 includes a chin support unit 12a that receives the subject's chin and a forehead support unit 12b that comes into contact with the subject's forehead, and supports the subject's face.

[0025] The drive mechanism 13 corresponds to the relative movement part of the present invention and is composed of an actuator, such as a motor (not shown). This drive mechanism 13 moves the measuring head 14 in the XYZ direction relative to the base 11. This allows the measuring head 14 to be moved relative to the eye E in the XYZ direction. Then, by driving the drive mechanism 13 under the control of the control device 16 (described later), it is possible to perform "left / right eye switching," which switches the XYZ alignment of the measuring head 14 with respect to the eye E, and the target of measurement of eye characteristics from one eye E to the other.

[0026] The measuring head 14 is equipped with a non-contact tonometer 14A and an autorefractor / keratometer 14B as the eye characteristic acquisition unit of the present invention.

[0027] The non-contact tonometer 14A measures the intraocular pressure of the eye E without contact by deforming the cornea through the application of air (fluid) from a nozzle and detecting the state of deformation. The detailed configuration of the non-contact tonometer 14A is publicly known, so its explanation is omitted here.

[0028] The autorefractor-keratometer 14B measures the refractive power and corneal curvature of the eye E under examination using various optical systems and sensors. The specific configuration of the autorefractor-keratometer 14B is also publicly known, so its explanation is omitted here.

[0029] Furthermore, the non-contact tonometer 14A and the autorefractometer keratometer 14B each include an anterior segment camera 17 (also called an observation optical system, see Figure 2). The anterior segment camera 17 corresponds to the imaging unit of the present invention and is used to image the anterior segment of the eye E under examination. The anterior segment camera 17 comprises a known objective optical system and a two-dimensional solid-state image sensor of the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type or CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) type (hereinafter simply referred to as the image sensor).

[0030] The monitor 15 is mounted on the back side of the measurement head 14. For example, a touch panel monitor is used for this monitor 15. Under the control of the control device 16 described later, the monitor 15 displays various images, including the captured image D (observation image) of the eye E taken by the anterior segment camera 17, the measurement results of eye characteristics such as intraocular pressure, refractive power, and corneal curvature of the eye E, and an operation menu screen for performing various operations.

[0031] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the control device 16 of the ophthalmic device 10 according to the first embodiment. In Figure 2, the functions related to left and right eye switching of the control device 16 are illustrated in detail, while other functions (alignment detection, alignment, and eye characteristic measurement) are illustrated in a simplified manner. Also in Figure 2, representative examples of anterior segment cameras 17 provided in the non-contact tonometer 14A and the autorefractor keratometer 14B are shown.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the control device 16 provides overall control over the operation of the ophthalmic device 10. The control device 16 is equipped with an arithmetic circuit composed of various processors and memory. The various processors include CPUs (Central Processing Units), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), and programmable logic devices [e.g., SPLDs (Simple Programmable Logic Devices), CPLDs (Complex Programmable Logic Devices), and FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays)]. The various functions of the control device 16 may be implemented by a single processor, or by multiple processors of the same or different types. The control device 16 is connected to the aforementioned drive mechanism 13, measurement head 14 (non-contact tonometer 14A, autorefractometer keratometer 14B, anterior segment camera 17), and monitor 15. The control device 16 then provides overall control over the operation of the ophthalmic device 10, such as alignment, left / right eye switching, intraocular pressure measurement, refractive power measurement, and corneal curvature measurement.

[0033] The control device 16 functions as a tonometer control unit 40 and an autorefractometer keratometer control unit 42 by reading and executing a control program (not shown). In addition, when switching between left and right eyes, the control device 16 functions as a movement control unit 44, an imaging control unit 46, a pupil image detection unit 48, a repeat control unit 50, and a stop control unit 52.

[0034] The tonometer control unit 40 controls the imaging of the eye E under examination by the anterior segment camera 17, the alignment of the non-contact tonometer 14A with respect to the eye E under examination, and the measurement of the intraocular pressure of the eye E under examination by the non-contact tonometer 14A. Since the measurement of the intraocular pressure of the eye E under examination by the non-contact tonometer 14A is a known technique, a detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0035] The autorefractor-keratometer control unit 42 controls the imaging of the eye E by the anterior segment camera 17, the alignment of the autorefractor-keratometer 14B with respect to the eye E, and the measurement of the refractive power and corneal curvature of the eye E by the autorefractor-keratometer 14B. Since the measurement of the refractive power and corneal curvature of the eye E by the autorefractor-keratometer 14B is a known technique, a detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0036] After measuring the ocular characteristics (such as intraocular pressure or refractive power) of the first eye, which is one of the left and right eyes E being examined, the movement control unit 44 drives the drive mechanism 13 to move the measurement head 14 from the position where the ocular characteristics of the first eye were acquired to a position where the ocular characteristics of the second eye, which is the other of the left and right eyes E being examined, can be acquired.

[0037] For example, when measuring intraocular pressure using a non-contact tonometer 14A, the working distance in the Z direction between the non-contact tonometer 14A and the eye E being examined (first eye, second eye) is short. In this case, the movement control unit 44 drives the drive mechanism 13 to perform an avoidance operation to move the measurement head 14 backward in the Z direction, a lateral movement to move the measurement head 14 in the X direction (left-right direction), and an avoidance return operation to move the measurement head 14 forward in the Z direction. Here, the avoidance operation and the avoidance return operation, i.e., the movement of the measurement head 14 in the Z direction, are performed at a low speed to avoid collision of the measurement head 14 with the subject's face. On the other hand, the lateral movement of the measurement head 14 is performed at a high speed because the risk of collision of the measurement head 14 with the subject's face is low.

[0038] When measuring the refractive power and corneal curvature of the eye using the autorefractor-keratometer 14B, a sufficient working distance in the Z direction is ensured between the autorefractor-keratometer 14B and the eye being examined E (first eye, second eye). In this case, the movement control unit 44 drives the drive mechanism 13 to perform high-speed left-right movement of only the measuring head 14.

[0039] The movement speed when moving the measurement head 14 left and right is set to a high speed such that the position change of the measurement head 14 in the X direction (left and right direction) occurs within the exposure time of the image sensor of the anterior segment camera 17 (for example, about 30 msec).

[0040] The imaging control unit 46 operates while the measurement head 14 is moving left and right. Under the control of the repeat control unit 50 (described later), the imaging control unit 46 repeatedly performs imaging operations with the anterior segment camera 17. The imaging operation refers to the imaging of the imaging range with the anterior segment camera 17 and the output of the captured image D. As a result, the imaging range of the anterior segment camera 17 is scanned over the subject's face surface from the first eye to the second eye in accordance with the left and right movement of the measurement head 14, and imaging and the output of the captured image D with the anterior segment camera 17 are performed. When the second eye is included within the imaging range of the anterior segment camera 17, imaging of the second eye with the anterior segment camera 17 and the output of the captured image D of the second eye are performed.

[0041] The pupil image detection unit 48 operates while the measurement head 14 is moving left and right. Under the control of the repeat control unit 50 described later, the pupil image detection unit 48 repeatedly performs pupil image detection processing on the captured image D taken by the anterior segment camera 17 each time an imaging operation is performed by the anterior segment camera 17. The pupil image detection processing is the process of detecting (determining) whether or not a pupil image 56 (see Figure 3) corresponding to the pupil Ep (see Figure 3) of the second eye is included in the captured image D, that is, the presence or absence of a pupil image 56 in the captured image D.

[0042] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating the pupil image 56 of the second eye (hereinafter simply referred to as pupil image 56) included in the captured image D. As previously described, the lateral movement speed of the measurement head 14 is set to high speed, so as shown in Figure 3, the position change of the measurement head 14 in the X direction (left-right direction) occurs within the exposure time of the image sensor of the anterior segment camera 17. As a result, the left and right portions of the roughly circular pupil Ep are captured on the light-receiving surface of the image sensor for a shorter time than other portions of the pupil Ep. Consequently, the pupil image 56 in the captured image D takes on an elliptical shape with the Y direction (up-down direction) as its long axis (hereinafter referred to as a vertically elongated ellipse).

[0043] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a specific example of pupil image detection processing performed by the pupil image detection unit 48 on the captured image D. As shown by reference numerals 4A and 4B in Figure 4, the pupil image 56 is a vertically elongated ellipse, so the pupil image detection unit 48 performs known ellipse detection processing on the captured image D, such as edge detection processing and ellipse approximation processing, or ellipse detection Hough transform processing, to detect the ellipse shape from the entire area of ​​the captured image D (the entire area of ​​the light-receiving surface).

[0044] Next, if the pupil image detection unit 48 detects an elliptical shape from the captured image D, it calculates the matching rate between this elliptical shape and a vertically elongated elliptical shape determined from the movement speed of the measurement head 14, the exposure time of the image sensor, and the pupil diameter of a typical pupil Ep, using a known method. The pupil image detection unit 48 then determines that a pupil image 56 has been detected from the captured image D if the calculated matching rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. Conversely, if the ellipse detection process fails (if an elliptical shape cannot be detected) or if the calculated matching rate is less than the threshold, the pupil image detection unit 48 determines that a pupil image 56 was not detected from the captured image D. This completes the pupil image detection process for one captured image D.

[0045] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the repetitive control by the repetitive control unit 50. In Figure 5, the symbol ER corresponds to the right eye, which is the first eye of the two eyes being examined E, and the symbol EL corresponds to the left eye, which is the second eye of the eyes being examined E. Alternatively, the first eye may be designated as the left eye EL and the second eye as the right eye ER.

[0046] As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 2 described above, the repetition control unit 50 performs repetition control to repeatedly execute the shooting operation of the anterior segment camera 17 by the shooting control unit 46 and the pupil image detection processing by the pupil image detection unit 48 while the measurement head 14 is moving left and right by the drive mechanism 13. Here, both the shooting operation of the anterior segment camera 17 and the pupil image detection processing by the pupil image detection unit 48 may be repeatedly executed at all times while the measurement head 14 is moving left and right, but in this embodiment, at least the pupil image detection processing by the pupil image detection unit 48 is started at a specific timing while the measurement head 14 is moving left and right.

[0047] Specifically, as shown by reference numeral 5A in Figure 5, the drive mechanism 13 holds the measuring head 14 so that it can move freely in the X direction (left-right direction) around a predetermined reference position SP relative to the base 11. When measuring the eye characteristics of the first eye (right eye ER) with the measuring head 14, the shooting optical axis OA of the anterior segment camera 17 (the measuring optical axis of the measuring head 14) is located to one side (in this case, the left side) of the X direction (left-right direction) relative to the reference position SP. As long as the shooting optical axis OA is located to one side in the X direction relative to the reference position SP, the second eye (left eye EL) is not within the shooting range of the anterior segment camera 17, and therefore the pupil image detection unit 48 is always unable to detect the pupil image 56 from the captured image D. For this reason, there is little need for the pupil image detection unit 48 to perform pupil image detection processing while the shooting optical axis OA is located to one side in the X direction relative to the reference position SP.

[0048] Therefore, as shown by reference numeral 5B in Figure 5, when the measurement head 14 is moved left or right to the other side in the X direction (in this case, to the right), the repeat control unit 50 starts repeating the pupil image detection process by the pupil image detection unit 48 after the imaging optical axis OA has passed the reference position SP, based on the position detection result of the measurement head 14 in the X direction by the position detection unit (not shown). Note that the imaging operation of the anterior segment camera 17 may also be started with repeating control at the same timing as the pupil image detection process.

[0049] The stop control unit 52 operates while the measuring head 14 is moving left and right. The stop control unit 52 monitors the results each time the pupil image detection unit 48 performs pupil image detection processing through repeated control. When the pupil image detection unit 48 detects a pupil image 56 from the captured image D, the stop control unit 52 executes stop control by outputting a stop trigger signal to the movement control unit 44 to stop the left and right movement of the measuring head 14. As a result, the movement control unit 44 controls the drive mechanism 13 to stop the left and right movement of the measuring head 14.

[0050] Furthermore, the stop control unit 52 counts the elapsed time since the measurement head 14 began moving left and right. The stop control unit 52 then executes a stop control if the pupil image detection unit 48 does not detect a pupil image 56 from the captured image D even after a predetermined elapsed time has passed. This predetermined time is determined, for example, based on the subject's typical interpupillary distance and the speed of the measurement head 14's left and right movement.

[0051] The stop control unit 52 may also detect the distance traveled by the measuring head 14 since the lateral movement of the measuring head 14 began, and if the pupil image detection unit 48 does not detect a pupil image 56 from the captured image D even when this distance reaches a predetermined distance, it may perform stop control. This predetermined distance is determined, for example, based on the subject's typical interpupillary distance.

[0052] [Operation of the ophthalmic device of the first embodiment] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the measurement process of the eye characteristics of the left and right eyes E of a subject by the ophthalmic device 10 of the first embodiment of the control method for the ophthalmic device of the present invention, particularly the left and right eye switching process. Here, we will explain using as an example the case in which the eye characteristics of the right eye ER are acquired first, followed by the acquisition of the eye characteristics of the left eye EL, and the intraocular pressure value is measured as an eye characteristic of the subject eye E.

[0053] As shown in Figure 6, first, under the control of the tonometer control unit 40, the following are performed in a known manner: imaging of the right eye ER with the anterior segment camera 17 of the non-contact tonometer 14A, alignment of the non-contact tonometer 14A with respect to the right eye ER (step S1), and measurement of the intraocular pressure of the right eye ER with the non-contact tonometer 14A (step S2). Once the measurement of the intraocular pressure of the right eye ER is complete, the examiner performs a left / right eye switching operation on an unshown control unit.

[0054] When the left / right eye switching operation is performed, the movement control unit 44 drives the drive mechanism 13 to perform an avoidance operation that moves the measuring head 14 to the rear in the Z direction (step S3), and then starts moving the measuring head 14 left and right (step S4, corresponding to the movement step of the present invention).

[0055] The repeat control unit 50 continues the shooting operation of the anterior segment camera 17 even after the left-right movement of the measurement head 14 begins, that is, it performs repeat control of the shooting operation during the left-right movement (step S5). The stop control unit 52 also starts counting the elapsed time since the left-right movement of the measurement head 14 began, or detects the distance the measurement head 14 has moved.

[0056] Next, based on the position detection result of the measurement head 14 in the X direction by the position detection unit (not shown), the repeat control unit 50 starts repeat control of the pupil image detection process by the pupil image detection unit 48 when the optical axis OA of the anterior eye camera 17 of the measurement head 14 passes the reference position SP (step S6) (step S7, corresponding to the pupil image detection step of the present invention). This eliminates the need for unnecessary calculation processing by the pupil image detection unit 48.

[0057] As the optical axis OA passes the reference position SP, the repetition control unit 50 repeatedly controls the shooting operation of the anterior segment camera 17 and the pupil image detection process by the pupil image detection unit 48 to continuously execute (corresponding to the repetition control step of the present invention). At this time, the pupil image detection unit 48 detects the presence or absence of a pupil image 56 in the captured image D using ellipse detection processing, corresponding to the fact that the pupil image 56 in the captured image D becomes a vertically elongated ellipse shape due to the high-speed left-right movement of the measurement head 14. This prevents the pupil image detection unit 48 from mistakenly detecting the image of the inner corner of the eye or the shadow of the nose as the pupil image 56. As a result, the presence or absence of a pupil image 56 in the captured image D can be accurately detected.

[0058] Furthermore, when the optical axis OA passes the reference position SP, the stop control unit 52 monitors the result of the pupil image detection process each time the pupil image detection unit 48 performs a new pupil image detection process. If the pupil image detection unit 48 does not detect a pupil image 56 from the captured image D (NO in step S8), the stop control unit 52 determines whether the elapsed time for the left-right movement of the measuring head 14 has exceeded a specified time, or whether the distance traveled by the measuring head 14 has reached a specified distance. Subsequently, if the pupil image detection unit 48 does not detect a pupil image 56 from the captured image D, and the elapsed time has not reached a specified time or the distance traveled has not reached a specified distance, the left-right movement of the measuring head 14 and the repeat control by the repeat control unit 50 continue (NO in both steps S8 and S9).

[0059] The stop control unit 52 executes stop control by outputting a stop trigger signal to the movement control unit 44 when the pupil image detection unit 48 detects a pupil image 56 from the captured image D (YES in step S8) (step S10, corresponding to the stop step of the present invention). As a result, the movement control unit 44 controls the drive mechanism 13 to stop the left-right movement of the measuring head 14. In addition, even if the pupil image detection unit 48 does not detect a pupil image 56 from the captured image D, the stop control unit 52 also executes stop control when the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time or when the movement distance of the measuring head 14 reaches a predetermined distance (NO in step S8, YES in step S9, step S10). As a result, even when it is difficult for the pupil image detection unit 48 to detect a pupil image 56 due to reasons such as a small pupil, the left-right movement of the measuring head 14 can be stopped.

[0060] After the left-right movement of the measuring head 14 stops, the movement control unit 44 drives the drive mechanism 13 to perform an avoidance return operation that moves the measuring head 14 forward in the Z direction (step S11). This completes the movement of the measuring head 14 for left-right eye switching and ensures that the measuring head 14 stops reliably in a position where intraocular pressure measurement of the left eye EL is possible (step S12).

[0061] Once the left / right eye switching is complete, under the control of the tonometer control unit 40, the following are performed in a known manner: imaging of the left eye EL with the anterior segment camera 17 of the non-contact tonometer 14A, alignment of the non-contact tonometer 14A with respect to the left eye EL (step S13), and measurement of the intraocular pressure of the left eye EL with the non-contact tonometer 14A (step S14).

[0062] Furthermore, if, instead of measuring intraocular pressure, refractive power and corneal curvature are measured using an autorefractometer 14B as the ocular characteristics of eye E, steps S3 (avoidance operation) and S11 (avoidance return operation) can be omitted.

[0063] As described above, in the first embodiment, while the measuring head 14 is moving left and right, a pupil image detection process is repeatedly performed to detect the presence or absence of a pupil image 56 in the entire (entire area) of the captured image D using an ellipse detection process. This prevents the image of the inner corner of the eye or the image of the shadow of the nose from being mistakenly detected as a pupil image 56. As a result, the left and right movement of the measuring head 14 is prevented from stopping at the wrong position, thus preventing unnecessary time from being spent on switching between the left and right eyes. Consequently, the left and right eye switching can be performed accurately and quickly.

[0064] [Second Embodiment] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the challenges when the pupil Ep of the eye under examination E is small. In the figure, reference numeral 7A indicates the pupil image 56 captured by the anterior segment camera 17 while the measurement head 14 is moving left and right when the pupil Ep of the eye under examination E is of normal size. Reference numeral 7B in Figure 7 indicates the pupil image 56 captured by the anterior segment camera 17 while the measurement head 14 is moving left and right when the pupil Ep of the eye under examination E is small.

[0065] As shown by reference numerals 7A and 7B in Figure 7, if the pupil Ep of the eye under examination E is a small pupil, the area of ​​the pupil image 56 will be small. Therefore, even if this pupil image 56 is included in the captured image D, the pupil image detection unit 48 may fail to detect the pupil image 56.

[0066] Therefore, in the ophthalmic device 10 of the second embodiment, the pupil diameter of the pupil Ep of the eye E under examination is detected before the measurement head 14 starts moving left and right. If this pupil diameter is less than a predetermined pupil diameter threshold, the movement speed of the measurement head 14 moving left and right is reduced to a normal rate.

[0067] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, except that the functions of the movement control unit 44 and the imaging control unit 46 are slightly different, and the control device 16 further functions as a pupil diameter detection unit 54. For this reason, components that are functionally or structurally identical to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0068] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the process of measuring the ocular characteristics of the subject's left and right eyes E using the ophthalmic device 10 of the second embodiment, particularly the process up to the start of the left-right movement of the measurement head 14. Note that the process from step S1 to step S3 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 6, so a detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0069] As shown in Figure 9, the imaging control unit 46 of the second embodiment causes the anterior segment camera 17 to capture the right eye ER (first eye) after the avoidance operation in step S3 (when measuring intraocular pressure) and before the left-right movement in step S4, that is, when the working distance in the Z direction is the same as when the measurement head 14 is moving left-right (step S3A). This obtains the captured image D of the right eye ER (corresponding to the captured image of the first eye). In this case, the focus of the anterior segment camera 17 is shifted due to the avoidance operation of the measurement head 14, but the circular shape of the pupil image 56 of the right eye ER in the captured image D is maintained. When measuring refractive power etc. with the autorefractometer keratometer 14B, the anterior segment camera 17 captures the first eye after the measurement of refractive power etc. in step S2 is completed.

[0070] The pupil diameter detection unit 54 detects the pupil diameter of the right eye ER based on the image D captured by the anterior segment camera 17 in step S3A (step S3B). Since the method of detecting pupil diameter based on the anterior segment image D is a known technique, a detailed explanation is omitted here. As the pupil diameters of the left and right eyes E (right eye ER, left eye EL) are approximately the same, the pupil diameter of the left eye EL can also be estimated based on the detection result of the pupil diameter detection unit 54. This makes it possible to determine whether the pupil Ep of the eye E is a small pupil or not based on the detection result of the pupil diameter detection unit 54.

[0071] In the second embodiment, the movement control unit 44 determines the movement speed of the measuring head 14 for left-right movement based on the detection result of the pupil diameter detection unit 54. Specifically, if the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit 54 is greater than or equal to a predetermined pupil diameter threshold (e.g., 3 mm) (YES in step S3C), the movement control unit 44 determines that the pupil Ep is not a small pupil and sets the movement speed of the measuring head 14 for left-right movement to "high speed" (step S3D), similar to the first embodiment.

[0072] On the other hand, if the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit 54 is less than the pupil diameter threshold (NO in step S3C), the movement control unit 44 determines that the pupil Ep is a small pupil and sets the left-right movement speed of the measurement head 14 to a "lower speed" than in the first embodiment (step S3E). Here, "lower speed" means a speed at which the pupil image 56 of the small pupil Ep can be recognized in the captured image D. As a result, when the pupil Ep is a small pupil, reducing the left-right movement speed of the measurement head 14 increases the overlapping portion of the pupil Ep shown in the figure, thereby ensuring an area of ​​the pupil image 56.

[0073] Next, the movement control unit 44 drives the drive mechanism 13 to start moving the measuring head 14 left and right at the previously determined movement speed (step S4). Note that the processing from step S4 onward is basically the same as in the first embodiment shown in Figure 6, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0074] As described above, in the second embodiment, the pupil diameter of the eye under examination E is detected before the measurement head 14 starts moving left and right. If this pupil diameter is less than the pupil diameter threshold, the movement speed of the measurement head 14 is reduced, so that even if the pupil Ep is a small pupil, the pupil image detection unit 48 can reliably detect the pupil image 56 from the captured image D. As a result, left and right eye switching can be performed accurately and quickly, regardless of the pupil diameter of the eye under examination E.

[0075] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the process flow up to the start of the left-right movement of the measuring head 14 by the ophthalmic device 10, a modified example of the second embodiment. Note that the processes up to step S3C and the processes from step S4 onward are the same as in the second embodiment, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0076] In the second embodiment described above, the movement control unit 44 sets the left-right movement speed of the measurement head 14 to "high speed" or "low speed" based on whether the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit 54 is equal to or greater than the pupil diameter threshold. In contrast, in a modified version of the second embodiment, the shooting control unit 46 controls the shutter speed and gain of the anterior eye camera 17 based on the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit 54. In this case, the shooting control unit 46 functions as the first shooting control unit of the present invention.

[0077] As shown in Figure 10, if the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit 54 in step S3C is equal to or greater than the pupil diameter threshold, the imaging control unit 46 determines that the pupil Ep is not a small pupil and sets the shutter speed and gain of the anterior segment camera 17 to "normal", which are the same values ​​as in the first embodiment (step S3F).

[0078] On the other hand, if the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit 54 is less than the pupil diameter threshold (NO in step S3C), the imaging control unit 46 determines that the pupil Ep is a small pupil and sets the shutter speed of the anterior segment camera 17 to a "higher speed" than in the first embodiment and increases the gain compared to the first embodiment (step S3G). This provides the same effect as when the lateral movement speed of the measurement head 14 is set to a "low speed," so that the area of ​​the pupil image 56 is secured even if the pupil Ep is a small pupil. As a result, the same effect as in the second embodiment is obtained.

[0079] Furthermore, the control of the lateral movement speed of the measuring head 14 described in the second embodiment may be combined with the control of the shutter speed and gain of the anterior eye camera 17 described in the modified example of the second embodiment.

[0080] [Third Embodiment] Next, the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the measuring head 14 moves left and right at high speed, the measuring head 14 inertially moves toward the direction of travel in the X direction (left and right direction) between the time the stop control unit 52 performs stop control and the measuring head 14 actually stops. Therefore, in the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the fourth embodiment, the movement speed of the left and right movement of the measuring head 14 is set so that when the left and right movement of the measuring head 14 stops in response to the stop control unit 52, the measuring head 14 (anterior segment camera 17) stops at a position facing the second eye, that is, the pupil image 56 of the second eye stops in the central region in the X direction of the captured image D.

[0081] Since the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the third embodiment has basically the same configuration as the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of each of the above embodiments, components that are functionally or structurally identical to those of each of the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0082] Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the setting of the lateral movement speed of the measuring head 14 in the ophthalmic device 10 of the third embodiment. In the figure, the reference numeral W1 indicates the width in the X direction of the captured image D, which is the left-right width. The reference numeral XC indicates the central position in the X direction of the captured image D. Furthermore, the reference numeral 58 indicates the image edge of the captured image D corresponding to the direction of travel of the lateral movement of the measuring head 14, that is, the image edge on the side where the pupil image 56 appears in the captured image D.

[0083] As shown by the symbol XIA in Figure 11, in the third embodiment, the movement speed of the measuring head 14 is set so that the pupil diameter detection unit 54 can detect the pupil image 56 within a region W2 corresponding to 1 / 4 of the left-right width W1 from the image edge 58. This movement speed can be determined by experiment or simulation. As a result, in the fourth embodiment, the pupil image detection unit 48 can detect the pupil image 56 within a region of width W2, and the stop control unit 52 can quickly start stop control based on this detection result.

[0084] As a result, as shown by the symbol XIB in Figure 11, even if the measuring head 14 moves due to inertia before actually stopping in response to the stop control of the stop control unit 52, the lateral movement of the measuring head 14 can be stopped so that the pupil image 56 of the second eye stops in the central region in the X direction of the captured image D. This allows the measurement of alignment and eye characteristics to be started quickly when the measuring head 14 is positioned facing the second eye.

[0085] [Fourth Embodiment] Figure 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ophthalmic device 10 of the fourth embodiment. In each of the above embodiments, the pupil image detection unit 48 detects the presence or absence of a pupil image 56 in the captured image D. However, if the captured image D contains a subject image 57 other than the pupil image 56 (see Figure 13), the pupil image detection unit 48 may mistakenly detect the subject image 57 as the pupil image 56. Therefore, the ophthalmic device 10 of the fourth embodiment has a function to prevent erroneous detection by the pupil image detection unit 48.

[0086] As shown in Figure 12, the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the fourth embodiment has basically the same configuration as the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of each of the above embodiments, except that the non-contact tonometer 14A and the autorefractometer keratometer 14B are each provided with illumination units 19 (representative examples are shown in the figure), and the control device 16 further functions as an illumination control unit 62. For this reason, components that are functionally or structurally identical to those in each of the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0087] The illumination unit 19 is a known illumination optical system, for example, provided in a non-contact tonometer 14A and an autorefractor keratometer 14B, and illuminates the shooting range of the anterior segment camera 17 with illumination light. The illumination control unit 62 controls the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 19 to the shooting range of the anterior segment camera 17.

[0088] Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the function of the lighting control unit 62. Note that the subject image 57 in Figure 13 is illustrative, and its shape and size are not particularly limited.

[0089] As shown by the symbol XIIIA in Figure 13, the illumination control unit 62 continuously increases the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 19 into the shooting range of the anterior eye segment camera 17 while the measuring head 14 is moving left and right, or after the shooting optical axis OA has passed the reference position SP, as described in the first embodiment above. Specifically, the illumination control unit 62 increases the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 19 within a range that does not cause overexposure of the pupil image 56 in the captured image D, but does not cause overexposure of various subject images 57 other than the pupil image 56. The amount of increase in the amount of illumination light is determined in advance by conducting experiments or simulations.

[0090] By increasing the amount of illumination light irradiated from the illumination unit 19 to the shooting range of the anterior segment camera 17, the subject image 57 in the captured image D can be overexposed, as shown by the symbol XIIIB in Figure 13. This makes it easier for the pupil image detection unit 48 to detect the pupil image 56 in the captured image D, and prevents it from mistakenly detecting the subject image 57 in the captured image D as the pupil image 56. As a result, erroneous detection by the pupil image detection unit 48 can be prevented.

[0091] In the fourth embodiment described above, the intensity of the illumination light is increased while the measuring head 14 is moving left and right. However, instead, the shooting control unit 46 (corresponding to the second shooting control unit of the present invention) may increase the gain of the anterior segment camera 17 within a range in which overexposure of various subject images 57 other than the pupil image 56 can occur in the captured image D. In this case as well, the same effect as when the intensity of the illumination light is increased can be obtained. Furthermore, the increase in the intensity of the illumination light by the illumination control unit 62 and the increase in the gain of the anterior segment camera 17 by the shooting control unit 46 may be combined.

[0092] Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment described above, the illumination light intensity is increased (or the gain of the anterior segment camera 17 is increased) regardless of whether or not various subject images 57 are included in the captured image D, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a determination unit may be provided to determine whether or not there are subject images 57 in the captured image D captured by the anterior segment camera 17 before the start of the left-right movement of the measurement head 14, or while the left-right movement of the measurement head 14 is in progress, and the illumination light intensity may be increased when this determination unit determines that subject images 57 are present.

[0093] [others] In each of the above embodiments, the anterior segment of the eye E under examination is photographed by an anterior segment camera 17 provided on the non-contact tonometer 14A and the autorefractor keratometer 14B, respectively. However, the type and number of imaging units provided on the measurement head 14 that are capable of photographing the anterior segment of the eye E under examination are not particularly limited.

[0094] In each of the above embodiments, a combined device equipped with a non-contact tonometer 14A and an autorefractometer keratometer 14B was described as an example of an ophthalmic device 10. However, the present invention can be applied to switching between left and right eyes in an ophthalmic device that acquires various ocular characteristics (intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cell count, fundus observation image, tomographic image, etc.) of the left and right eyes E under examination. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0095] 10...Ophthalmological equipment 11…Bass 12…Face support section 12a... Jaw support 12b... Forehead area 13…Drive mechanism 14… Measuring head 14A...Non-contact tonometer 14B... Autorefractor / keratometer 15…Monitor 16...Control device 17…Anterior segment camera 19…Lighting Department 40...Tonometer control unit 42... Autorefractometer keratometer control unit 44...Movement Control Unit 46…Filming Control Unit 48...Pupil image detection unit 50... Repeating control unit 52... Stop Control Unit 54...Pupil diameter detection unit 56...Pupillary image 57…Subject image 58…Image edge 62...Lighting Control Unit D...Photographed image E...Eye being examined EL…Left eye ER…Right eye Ep…pupil OA…Shooting optical axis S1...Step SP…Reference position W1…Left and right width

Claims

1. The device unit for acquiring the ocular characteristics of the eye under examination, A relative movement unit that moves the main body of the device relative to the eye being examined, When the device body acquires the eye characteristics of the first eye, which is one of the left and right eyes being examined, the movement control unit controls the relative movement unit to move the device body at least in the left and right directions, thereby moving the device body to a position where the eye characteristics of the second eye, which is the other of the left and right eyes being examined, can be acquired. The main body of the device includes an imaging unit used for photographing the eye to be examined, A pupil image detection unit performs an ellipse detection process on the captured image taken by the aforementioned imaging unit to detect an ellipse with the vertical direction as its longitudinal axis, and detects the presence or absence of an elliptical pupil image with the vertical direction as its longitudinal axis corresponding to the pupil of the second eye. A repeat control unit that repeatedly performs the shooting operation by the shooting unit and the detection by the pupil image detection unit while the main body of the device is moving in the left-right direction, When the pupil image is detected by the pupil image detection unit, a stop control unit controls the relative movement unit to stop the movement of the device body in the left-right direction, and An ophthalmic device equipped with the following features.

2. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement control unit sets the movement speed at which the relative movement unit moves the apparatus body in the left-right direction to a speed at which a change in the left-right position of the apparatus body occurs within the exposure time of imaging by the imaging unit.

3. The relative movement part holds the main body of the device so that it can move at least in the left-right direction around a predetermined reference position. When the main body of the device acquires the characteristics of the first eye, the optical axis of the imaging unit is positioned to one side in the left-right direction relative to the reference position. When the device body acquires the eye characteristics of the first eye, the movement control unit controls the relative movement unit to move the device body to the other side in the left-right direction. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the repeat control unit causes the apparatus body to move to the other side in the left-right direction by the relative movement unit, to repeatedly perform detection by the pupil image detection unit at least after the imaging optical axis has passed the reference position.

4. The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein if a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the start of the left-right movement of the apparatus body by the relative movement unit, or if the pupil image detection unit does not detect the pupil image even after the apparatus body has moved a predetermined distance, the stop control unit performs the stop control.

5. Between the start of the stop control by the stop control unit and the time the device body comes to a complete stop, the device body moves inertially in the left-right direction. The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the movement control unit sets the movement speed at which the apparatus body is moved in the left-right direction by the relative movement unit to a speed at which the pupil image stops in the central region in the left-right direction within the captured image when the movement of the apparatus body stops in response to the stop control.

6. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, within the left-right direction, the direction in which the relative movement unit moves the main body of the apparatus is defined as the direction of travel, and the width of the captured image in the left-right direction is defined as the left-right width, the movement control unit sets the movement speed to a speed at which the pupil image detection unit can detect the pupil image within a region of 1 / 4 of the left-right width from the image edge corresponding to the direction of travel of the captured image.

7. The imaging unit performs imaging of the first eye before the device body is moved in the left-right direction by the relative movement unit. The system includes a pupil diameter detection unit that detects the pupil diameter of the first eye based on the first eye image captured by the imaging unit, The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the movement control unit sets the movement speed at which the relative movement unit moves the main body of the apparatus in the left-right direction to a lower speed than when the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit is less than a predetermined threshold.

8. The imaging unit performs imaging of the first eye before the device body is moved in the left-right direction by the relative movement unit. A pupil diameter detection unit detects the pupil diameter of the first eye based on the first eye image captured by the imaging unit, If the pupil diameter detected by the pupil diameter detection unit is less than a predetermined threshold, the first shooting control unit increases the shutter speed and gain of the shooting unit compared to when the pupil diameter is equal to or greater than the threshold. An ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising:

9. An illumination unit is provided on the main body of the device, which illuminates the shooting range of the shooting unit with illumination light while the main body of the device is moving in the left-right direction, An illumination control unit that increases the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination unit within a range in which overexposure other than the pupil image can occur in the captured image, An ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising:

10. The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a second imaging control unit that increases the gain of the imaging unit within a range in which overexposure other than the pupil image can be generated in the captured image.

11. A control method for an ophthalmic device comprising a main body for acquiring the ocular characteristics of an eye under examination, and an imaging unit provided on the main body for imaging the eye under examination, When the device body acquires the ocular characteristics of the first eye, which is one of the left and right eyes to be examined, the device body is moved at least in the left-right direction to a position where the ocular characteristics of the second eye, which is the other of the left and right eyes to be examined can be acquired. A pupil image detection step is performed to detect the presence or absence of an ellipse-shaped pupil image with the vertical direction as its longitudinal axis, corresponding to the pupil of the second eye, by performing an ellipse detection process on the captured image taken by the aforementioned imaging unit to detect an ellipse with the vertical direction as its longitudinal axis, During the movement of the main body of the device in the left-right direction, a repetitive control step is performed to repeatedly execute the shooting operation by the shooting unit and the pupil image detection step. If the pupil image is detected in the pupil image detection step, a stop step is performed to stop the movement of the device body in the left-right direction, A control method for an ophthalmic device having the following features.

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