Calibrated Illumination System for Reproducible Visual Acuity Testing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating and recommending optimal lighting conditions for patients with chronic eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, lack standardization and reproducibility, failing to control factors like glare and illuminance, and do not provide a practical way for patients to replicate ideal lighting at home or work.
Innovation Solution
A system with adjustable light sources and a housing that calibrates illuminance and color properties, allowing for controlled evaluation of visual performance and providing a prescription for lighting recommendations, including specific products and fixtures, to enhance visual acuity and reduce eye strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard charts are used with ambient examining room light to test reading acuity, then the test is simple to perform, but the results are not reproducible and lack measurement precision due to uncontrolled lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the uncontrolled ambient lighting parameter into a controlled, calibrated illuminance parameter. The device measures and displays specific illuminance values (in lux or foot-candles) to standardize the lighting condition, converting a variable environmental factor into a precise, repeatable test parameter that ensures reproducible acuity measurements across different examining rooms and times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the subjective visual assessment of lighting adequacy with an objective electronic illuminance meter and digital display system. Instead of relying on the examiner's judgment or simple visual cues, the system uses electronic sensors to measure and quantify the illuminance level, substituting mechanical/optical measurement with electronic detection and digital presentation for greater precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a desk lamp is used to test for brighter illuminance benefit, then the test can be performed in the office, but the illuminance is sensitive to position and the source is not calibrated, making results non-repeatable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates real-time feedback through a digital display that shows the measured illuminance level. This feedback loop allows the examiner to adjust the lighting position and intensity while continuously monitoring the illuminance reading, ensuring the optimal level is achieved and maintained. The feedback mechanism compensates for position sensitivity by providing continuous guidance for proper lamp placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement device (illuminance meter with digital display) between the light source and the patient's eye. This intermediary objectively quantifies the illuminance level, serving as a mediator that translates the physical lighting conditions into measurable data. This intermediary ensures that the lighting benefit is properly calibrated and documented, making the test results reliable and repeatable across different office settings.
3Illumination intensity
If bright light is used to improve reading acuity, then visual function can be enhanced, but glare is introduced which can confound the examination results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of the desk lamp's position and intensity, allowing the examiner to optimize the lighting configuration in real-time. The lamp can be moved to different angles and distances, and the brightness can be adjusted, enabling the system to dynamically balance the need for high illuminance with the need to minimize glare. This dynamic approach allows adaptation to each patient's specific visual needs and examining conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies lighting selectively to the specific area being examined (the reading material or visual acuity chart) rather than illuminating the entire examining room uniformly. By concentrating the bright light locally on the task area while controlling the overall environment, the system maximizes the illuminance benefit for visual function assessment while minimizing scattered light that could cause glare and confound the examination.
4Measurement precision
If the eye's non-linear response is considered, then intermediate illuminance levels may appear less beneficial, but very bright light sources are needed to achieve full acuity benefit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurement and calibration of the illuminance level before conducting the acuity test. By measuring the actual illuminance with the electronic meter and displaying it to the examiner, the system allows for preliminary adjustment of the lighting to achieve the optimal level. This preliminary action ensures that the lighting is properly calibrated to account for the eye's non-linear response, preventing under- or over-illumination that would compromise the accuracy of the acuity assessment.
Data Source
AI summary
Illumination can be evaluated for patient using a system including a housing, an adjustable light source mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to illuminate an object for viewing by the patient on an axis substantially perpendicular to a surface of the object. A user-adjustable input coupled to the adjustable light source is to obtain information from a user indicative of a calibrated illuminance and a color property to be provided by the adjustable light source including providing a range of adjustable illuminance and color properties selectable by the user. The adjustable light source can be configured to provide light having an illuminance in excess of 300 lux, and the housing can be configured to provide a first specified distance between the adjustable light source and the object for viewing and to obstruct viewing of the light source directly by the patient.