Eye-administered, moving-image physiologic test methodology

Abstract

A physiologic test methodology including (a) illuminating the central field in a test subject's eye with a relative-motion test image produced on an image display structure by a motion-image-creation structure, (b) by such illuminating, creating a related, subject-perception image, (c) requesting a subject report describing the observed presence and nature, if any, of a distortion, relative to the test image, in the perception image, and (d) thereafter utilizing such a report to assess a test subject's physiologic condition involving macular, paramacular, and neural-pathway physiologic degeneration. A preferred test image, which is fully adjustable by a test administrator with respect to substantially all of its image parameters, takes the form of an image field of elongate, spaced, parallel lines, having edges which distinctly contrast with a background field, and which move smoothly and linearly across the image field.

1 . A physiologic test comprising
 illuminating the central field in a subject's eye with a defined-configuration, relative-motion, test image,   by said illuminating, creating a related, subject-perception image,   requesting a subject report describing the observed presence and nature, if any, of a distortion, relative to the test image, in the perception image, and   utilizing such a report, assessing a related subject-physiologic condition.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said illuminating includes preparing the test image to possess a moving zone of light/dark contrast. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said illuminating includes preparing the test image to possess at least a pair of next-adjacent motion image elements having a common edge of juxtaposition which is characterized by contrast. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said illuminating includes test-image-impinging a portion of at least one of the macula and the paramacula in the mentioned central field. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said illuminating is performed in a manner preferably avoiding any related invocation of nystagmus. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said illuminating includes preparing the test image in the form of a pattern of elongate, spaced, substantially straight and parallel, laterally next-adjacent lines which move within the image in a direction that lies along a path which intersects the lines' respective long axes. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  which further comprises adjusting the test image in relation to at least one of (a) line-motion speed, (b) line-motion direction, (c) transverse line width, (d) transverse, next-adjacent line spacing, (e) line brightness, (f) contrast, and (g) coloration. 
   
   
       8 . A kinetic method for assessing, in relation to a subject's eye, at least one of (a) disruption of macular metabolic condition, and (b) neuron-path malfunction, said method comprising detecting, relative to a subject-perceived perception image, spatial-differential time-lag in a portion of that perception image which is derived from a predetermined, transversely spatially expansive, plural-moving element test image whose elements are caused to illuminate, and to move in a defined manner transversely relative to, the eye's central field. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said detecting involves requesting from the subject a report describing the observed presence and nature, if any, of a distortion, relative to the test image, in the perception image, and determining such a time lag from such a report. 
   
   
       10 . A kinetic method for detecting in a subject's eye disruption therein of macular metabolic condition, including macular degeneration, comprising
 illuminating at least one of the macula and the paramacula in the subject's eye with motion image elements contained in a controlled, externally produced test image having (a) a predetermined, stable spatial configuration, and (b), with respect to the motion elements in the image, a defined direction of element motion relative to the eye,   by said illuminating, creating for the subject a related perception image, and   during said illuminating and creating, requesting report information from the subject which indicates any perception by the subject of a difference between the test image and the perception image.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said requesting involves seeking information regarding the person's observation of the presence of a perception-image distortion which occurs generally along a line that substantially follows the direction of perception-image motion-element motion. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said seeking involves soliciting information relating to image differences which include issues concerning one of (a) waviness, (b) lateral displacement, (c) omission, and (d) ghosting. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  which further comprises interpreting any such reported difference as a performance deficiency in neuron-path communication initiated from a portion of the central field in the subject's eye. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  which further includes interpreting any such reported difference as a perception time-response deficiency associated with the performances of certain portions of the central field in the subject's eye. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the test and perception images have related lateral boundaries, the report information requested from the subject includes information describing generally the shape and location of such a reported difference relative to the lateral boundaries of the perception image, and which further comprises utilizing such shape and location information as an identifier of the mentioned portion of the eye's central field. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  which further comprises, based upon receipt of such reported difference information, adjusting the test image so as to diminish, as much as possible, the difference perceived by the subject between the test and perception images, and thereafter quantifying at least one aspect of said adjusting.