Computerized refraction and astigmatism determination

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for determining the refractive error of a patient, more particularly determining the patient's refractive error by using a computerized screen, and providing a prescription for the patient's preferred type of corrective lenses. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for determining a corrective lenses prescription of a patient. The method includes, separately, for each eye of the patient, determining an astigmatism prescription for the patient via a computerized screen and without the use of a refractor lens assembly, including instructing the patient to move a known, fixed distance away from a computerized screen and testing for a cylinder component by sequentially presenting at least two cylinder diagrams to the patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select at least one input per cylinder diagram, where those inputs correspond to cylinder measurements for determining the prescription.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 : A method for determining a corrective lenses prescription for a patient comprising, separately, for each eye of the patient:
 instructing the patient to move a known, fixed distance away from a computerized screen; and   determining an astigmatism prescription for the patient via the computerized screen and without the use of a refractor lens assembly, wherein determining the astigmatism prescription for the patient comprises testing for a cylinder component by sequentially presenting at least two cylinder diagrams to the patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select at least one input per cylinder diagram, wherein the at least one input per cylinder diagram corresponds to a cylinder measurement used to determine the corrective lenses prescription for the patient.   
     
     
         2 : The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the computerized screen is embedded in a kiosk. 
     
     
         3 : The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising determining the known, fixed distance based at least in part on an input from an external source. 
     
     
         4 : The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising verifying that the patient is at the known, fixed distance based at least in part on an input from an external source. 
     
     
         5 : The method according to  claim 1 , wherein instructing the patient to move a known, fixed distance away from a computerized screen further comprises instructing the patient to take a determined number of heel-to-toe steps from the computerized screen to reach the distance. 
     
     
         6 : The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the determination of the number of heel-to-toe steps is based on at least a shoe size of the patient. 
     
     
         7 : The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the known, fixed distance is a focal distance of the patient. 
     
     
         8 : The method according to  claim 7 , wherein determining the focal distance of the patient comprises:
 displaying an image on the computerized screen;   instructing the patient to move away from the computerized screen until they cannot see a detail element of the image;   receiving an input indicating that the patient cannot see the detail element of the image;   instructing the patient to move towards the computerized screen until they can just make out the detail element of the image;   receiving an input indicating that the patient can just make out the detail element of the image; and   determining a distance between the patient and the computerized screen when the patient can just make out the detail element of the image, wherein the distance between the patient and the computerized screen when the patient can just make out the detail element of the image is the focal distance of the patient.   
     
     
         9 : The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one input per cylinder diagram is received from a remote handheld patient terminal. 
     
     
         10 : The method according to  claim 9 , wherein instructing the patient to move a known, fixed distance away from a computerized screen comprises providing instructions to the patient via the remote handheld patient terminal. 
     
     
         11 : The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises communicating with the patient over a wireless connection. 
     
     
         12 : The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining the astigmatism prescription for the patient via the computerized screen further comprises:
 presenting an axis diagram to the patient via the computerized screen, and enabling the patient to select at least one input corresponding to an axis measurement.   
     
     
         13 : The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises sending the determined astigmatism prescription to at least one doctor for review and approval. 
     
     
         14 : A method for determining a corrective lenses prescription for a patient comprising, separately, for each eye of the patient:
 instructing the patient to move a known, fixed distance away from a computerized screen; and   determining an astigmatism prescription for the patient via a computerized screen and without the use of a refractor lens assembly, wherein determining the astigmatism prescription for the patient comprises testing for a cylinder component and an axis component at the same time by presenting at least one diagram to the patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select at least one input per diagram, wherein the at least one input per diagram corresponds to a cylinder measurement and an axis measurement used to determine the cylinder component and the axis component of the corrective lenses prescription for the patient.   
     
     
         15 : The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the computerized screen is embedded in a kiosk. 
     
     
         16 : The method according to  claim 14 , the method further comprising determining the known, fixed distance based at least in part on an input from an external source. 
     
     
         17 : The method according to  claim 14 , wherein instructing the patient to move a known, fixed distance away from a computerized screen further comprises instructing the patient to take a determined number of heel-to-toe steps from the computerized screen to reach the distance. 
     
     
         18 : The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the determination of the number of heel-to-toe steps is based on at least a shoe size of the patient. 
     
     
         19 : The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one input per cylinder diagram is received from a remote handheld patient terminal. 
     
     
         20 : A non-transitory computer readable medium including a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one display device and at least one input device to determine a corrective lenses prescription for a patient comprising, for each eye of a patient:
 determining, without the use of a refractor lens assembly, an astigmatism prescription for the patient by,
 (a) instructing the patient to move a known, fixed distance away from a computerized screen, 
 (b) sequentially presenting at least two cylinder diagrams to the patient via the computerized screen, and 
 (c) enabling the patient to select at least one input per cylinder diagram, wherein the at least one input per cylinder diagram corresponds to a cylinder measurement used to determine the corrective lenses prescription for the patient.