Apparatus and method for dry eye forecast and treatment recommendation

Abstract

Generally, a machine may include a processor and a memory connected to the processor, where the memory stores instructions executed by the processor to determine first and second properties related to dry eye symptoms of a patient. The properties may be used to form a dry eye forecast. A treatment recommendation may be selected based at least in part upon the dry eye forecast. The treatment recommendation may be supplied to a device.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A machine, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing instructions executed by the processor to:
 determine a first property related to dry eye symptoms of a patient; 
 determine a second property related to the dry eye symptoms of the patient; 
 form a dry eye forecast based upon a dry eye forecast value, the dry eye forecast value determined from the first property and the second property; 
 select a treatment recommendation based upon the dry eye forecast; and 
 supply the treatment recommendation to a device connected to the machine through a computer network. 
   
     
     
         28 . The machine of  claim 27 , wherein the first property is a humidity or a relative humidity proximate to the patient. 
     
     
         29 . The machine of  claim 27 , wherein the second property is an ambient temperature proximate to the patient. 
     
     
         30 . The machine of  claim 27 , further comprising instructions executed by the processor to determine a third property related to the dry eye symptoms of the patient, wherein the dry eye forecast value is determined from the first property, the second property, and the third property. 
     
     
         31 . The machine of  claim 30 , wherein the third property is an environmental property proximate to the patient. 
     
     
         32 . The machine of  claim 31 , wherein the environmental property comprises one or more of a wind speed, a pollution level, a pollen count, condensation data, an air pressure, a vapor pressure, a UV index, and a wind chill. 
     
     
         33 . The machine of  claim 30 , wherein the third property is a patient-specific property. 
     
     
         34 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the patient-specific property comprises one or more of a schedule of the patient and a medical condition of the patient. 
     
     
         35 . The machine of  claim 27 , wherein the treatment recommendation comprises one or more of a stimulus delivery to the patient, a duration of the stimulus delivery, a time of the stimulus delivery, a number of periods of the stimulus delivery, and an electrical stimulus delivery. 
     
     
         36 . The machine of  claim 27 , further comprising instructions executed by the processor to supply the treatment recommendation to the device implemented as a stimulation device. 
     
     
         37 . The machine of  claim 27 , wherein the dry eye forecast value comprises an amount of expected tear evaporation. 
     
     
         38 . A machine, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing instructions executed by the processor to:
 determine a first property related to dry eye symptoms of a patient, the first property comprising a humidity or a relative humidity proximate to the patient; 
 determine a second property related to the dry eye symptoms of the patient, the second property comprising an ambient temperature proximate to the patient; 
 form a dry eye forecast based upon a dry eye forecast value, the dry eye forecast value determined from the first property and the second property; 
 select a treatment recommendation based upon the dry eye forecast; and 
 supply the treatment recommendation to a device connected to the machine through a computer network. 
   
     
     
         39 . The machine of  claim 38 , further comprising instructions executed by the processor to determine a third property related to the dry eye symptoms of the patient, wherein the dry eye forecast value is determined from the first property, the second property, and the third property. 
     
     
         40 . The machine of  claim 39 , wherein the third property is an environmental property proximate to the patient. 
     
     
         41 . The machine of  claim 40 , wherein the environmental property comprises one or more of a wind speed, a pollution level, a pollen count, condensation data, an air pressure, a vapor pressure, a UV index, and a wind chill. 
     
     
         42 . The machine of  claim 39 , wherein the third property is a patient-specific property. 
     
     
         43 . The machine of  claim 42 , wherein the patient-specific property comprises one or more of a schedule of the patient and a medical condition of the patient. 
     
     
         44 . The machine of  claim 38 , wherein the treatment recommendation comprises one or more of a stimulus delivery to the patient, a duration of the stimulus delivery, a time of the stimulus delivery, a number of periods of the stimulus delivery, and an electrical stimulus delivery. 
     
     
         45 . The machine of  claim 38 , further comprising instructions executed by the processor to supply the treatment recommendation to the device implemented as a stimulation device. 
     
     
         46 . The machine of  claim 38 , wherein the dry eye forecast value comprises an amount of expected tear evaporation.