Visual Acuity-Based Moving Image

Abstract

A system and associated methods for animated image vision testing is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a vision test includes at least one animated dynamic optotype image for measuring the visual acuity of a subject. The animated image vision test takes advantage of the ability of the human eyes to detect both distance and motion. Moving images, such as rotating segmented circles, let the eyes detect motion as to the size, distance, and rotation direction of that moving image. That motion detection is much more precise than the interpretation of multiple static letters or static images. Using rotating images for vision testing rather than static images creates an acuity test more accurate than current tests, a test that is faster to use, and a test that does not require the ability to read.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a non-static moving image on a display surface for presentation to a user;   varying at least one of: a distance between the display surface and the user; a size of the non-static moving image; a color of the non-static moving image; or a contrast of the non-static moving image, based on an ability of the user to perceive motion in the non-static moving image; and   determining a visual acuity of the user based on the varying.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-static moving image is rotating around a central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the non-static moving image comprises a plurality of arcs of a circle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of arcs has a fixed size and is separated from an adjacent arc by a fixed separation distance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the non-static moving image has two-dimensional rotational symmetry of order 2 or greater. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the varying includes varying the size of the non-static moving image, the determining including correlating the distance between the display surface and the user and the size of the non-static moving image to a distance and an acuity scale of a standard vision test. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the varying further includes varying a refraction of the non-static moving image. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prescribing corrective lenses for the user based on the determined visual acuity. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 generating a non-static moving image for presentation to a user, wherein the non-static moving image is calibrated such that a user having target visual acuity can first detect motion in the non-static moving image from a target distance; and   presenting the non-static moving image to the user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the target distance corresponds to a warning distance for a driver of a vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication as to an ability of the user to perceive motion in the non-static moving image; and   varying at least one of: a distance between a display surface on which the non-static moving image is displayed and the user; a size of the non-static moving image; a color of the non-static moving image; or a contrast of the non-static moving image, based on the indication as to the ability of the user to perceive the motion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a visual acuity of the user based on the varying. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the visual acuity corresponds to at least one of: a color-related visual acuity, a peripheral field-related visual acuity, a contrast-related visual acuity, or a distance-related visual acuity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the non-static moving image is rotating around a central axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the non-static moving image comprises a plurality of arcs of a circle. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a non-static moving image rotating around a central axis on a display surface for presentation to a user;   receiving an indication as to an ability of the user to perceive motion in the non-static moving image; and   varying at least one of: a distance between the display surface and the user; or a size of the non-static moving image, based on the indication as to the ability of the user to perceive the motion.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining a distance-related visual acuity of the user based on the varying. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the non-static moving image has two-dimensional rotational symmetry of order 2 or greater. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the non-static moving image comprises a plurality of arcs of an ellipse. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of arcs have substantially identical segment heights and are separated from adjacent arcs by substantially identical gaps.