Eyeglass Prescription Calculation Using Wavefront Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current eyeglass prescription methods are time-consuming and prone to human error, as they rely heavily on subjective refraction, which can be inaccurate and requires extensive input from eye care professionals, while providing limited information about optical properties of the eyes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that combines subjective and objective refractions, utilizing wavefront measurements and ray tracing to calculate prescriptions, incorporating technologies like Shack-Hartmann sensors and Hartmann-Shack sensors to determine optical properties, thereby reducing human error and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If subjective refraction is used to determine prescription, then the method provides detailed information about the person's vision, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines objective refraction data (from wavefront measurements) with subjective refraction data (from person responses) to calculate the final prescription. This merging of automated objective measurements with subjective confirmation resolves the contradiction by reducing the time and human error associated with purely subjective methods while maintaining comprehensive vision assessment.
2Loss of information
If subjective refraction is used to determine prescription, then the method provides detailed information about the person's vision, but human error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the person's responses during subjective refraction to refine and confirm the prescription calculated from objective wavefront measurements. This feedback loop ensures that the final prescription is both comprehensive (capturing all vision information) and reliable (confirmed by the person's actual visual experience).
3Measurement precision
If wavefront measurements are used to calculate prescription, then the precision increases to within 0.1 dpt or less, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual mechanical refraction procedures with automated wavefront measurement systems (such as Shack-Hartmann sensors) that use optical physics to directly measure eye aberrations. This substitution of mechanical/manual systems with optical measurement systems achieves high precision (0.1 dpt or less) while reducing the operational complexity for the practitioner.
4Measurement precision
If both subjective and objective refractions are combined to calculate prescription, then the accuracy improves, but the procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters being measured by incorporating wavefront aberration data (higher-order optical parameters) in addition to traditional refraction parameters. This expansion of measurement parameters provides more comprehensive vision information for more accurate prescriptions, while the automated calculation system manages the increased procedural complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for quicker and more accurate eyeglass prescriptions, achieving precision within 0.1 dpt or less for sphere and cylinder, and 1° or less for cylinder axis, with reduced opportunity for human error and additional input from eye care professionals.
Implementation Method 1
making a wavefront measurement of one or both of the person's eyes to determine information about the optical properties of one or both of the person's eyes
Implementation Method 2
relay optics configured to collect illumination scattered from a person's eye during operation of the system
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
In general, in some embodiments, the disclosure provides a method that includes making a subjective refraction of a person to determine information about the person's vision, making a wavefront measurement of one or both of the person's eyes to determine information about the optical properties of one or both of the person's eyes (e.g., aberrations), calculating a prescription for the person based on the information about the person's vision and the information about the optical properties of one or both of the person's eyes, and outputting the prescription.