Wavefront-Based Eyeglass Prescription Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining eyeglass prescriptions, while offering advanced objective refraction techniques, often fail to consider subjective factors that may make a prescription more desirable for a patient, leading to reluctance among eye care professionals to adopt these methods over traditional manifest refraction.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes wavefront measurements to establish a multi-dimensional optimization space for possible prescriptions, allowing eye care professionals to consider parameters like sphere, cylinder, axis, M, J0, and J45, and generates a graphical representation of merit function values to identify optimal prescriptions based on visual acuity, enabling consideration of both objective and subjective factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If objective refraction methods using wavefront measurements are used, then measurement precision of refractive errors is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a calculation unit that acts as an intermediary between the wavefront measurement device and the eye care professional. This calculation unit automatically processes the complex wavefront measurement data, establishes optimization spaces, and determines merit function values, thereby resolving the contradiction by maintaining high measurement precision while reducing the operational complexity burden on the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating merit function values for multiple possible prescriptions and identifying optimal solutions without requiring the eye care professional to manually process complex wavefront data. The calculation unit independently executes the optimization algorithm and presents results, enabling the device to serve itself in processing complex computations.
2Measurement precision
If objective refraction methods are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The calculation unit serves as an intermediary that automatically handles the complex computational tasks of processing wavefront data, establishing optimization spaces, and determining merit function values. This intermediary approach maintains high measurement precision while significantly improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for manual processing of complex optical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes of refraction determination with automated computational mechanisms. The calculation unit uses algorithms to automatically process wavefront measurements and determine optimal prescriptions, substituting the manual mechanical adjustment processes with automated computational systems that improve both precision and ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If traditional manifest refraction is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but adaptability to individual patient needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the optimization space and merit function to be customized for each individual patient based on their specific visual needs and preferences. The system can dynamically adjust the parameters and constraints of the optimization process to accommodate different patient requirements, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining ease of operation through automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables parameter changes by allowing the eye care professional to modify optimization constraints, weightings, and criteria based on individual patient needs. The calculation unit responds to these parameter changes by重新calculating merit function values and identifying updated optimal prescriptions, thereby providing adaptability to individual patient requirements while maintaining ease of operation.
4Measurement precision
If wavefront measurements considering higher-order aberrations are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calculation unit acts as an intermediary that automatically processes complex wavefront measurement data including higher-order aberrations. It establishes multi-dimensional optimization spaces that account for these complex parameters and automatically calculates merit function values, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while reducing the apparent device complexity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The calculation unit performs self-service by independently processing the complex higher-order aberration data without requiring manual intervention. It automatically establishes optimization spaces, evaluates multiple possible prescriptions, and determines optimal solutions, enabling the device to handle complex measurements autonomously and reducing the operational burden.
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 a reliable optimization of visual acuity, enabling eye care professionals to select prescriptions that may not be the global maximum but are more suitable for individual patient needs, incorporating subjective preferences and practical considerations.
Implementation Method 1
The measurable errors include for example spherical aberration, coma, trefoil error, higher orders of spherical aberration, etc. In certain implementations, the objective refraction method is based on determining the wavefront of a propagating light bundle.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
In one aspect, the invention features a method for determining an eyeglass prescription for an eye. The method includes obtaining a measurement of a wavefront indicative of the refractive properties of the eye, establishing an optimization space corresponding to a plurality of possible prescriptions for the eye, determining a value for a merit function for each of the possible prescriptions in the optimization space, where the merit function value corresponds to a visual function of the eye when corrected using the corresponding possible prescription, generating a representation of the merit function values, and outputting the representation to an eye care professional.