Patent Application Titled “Computerized Testing And Determination Of A Visual Field Of A Patient” Published Online (USPTO 20230320581): Patent Application

2023 OCT 31 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a patent application by the inventor Lee, Steven P. (Chicago, IL, US), filed on June 5, 2023, was made available online on October 12, 2023.

No assignee for this patent application has been made.

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “The present disclosure is generally related to determining a glasses and/or a contacts prescription for a patient with a refractive error in need of correction. Many people have refractive errors of the eye which cause them to be either myopic (commonly known as nearsightedness) or hypermetropic (commonly known as farsightedness). One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that myopia refers to a refractive defect of the optical properties of an eye that causes images to focus forward of the retina (i.e. a refractive error). Those optical defects are typically caused by, among other things, defects of the cornea, elongation of the eye structure, other conditions, or a combination of those conditions. Hyperopia, on the other hand, refers a refractive error of the optical properties of an eye that causes images to focus behind the retina. Those optical defects are the result when the optics of the eye are not strong enough for the front to back length of the eye. Myopia and hyperopia have one component, a sphere measurement, which indicates the strength or power necessary to correct for the optical defects.

“Astigmatism refers to a refractive error that causes light entering the eye to focus on two points rather than one. It is caused by an uneven power of the cornea. An astigmatism has two components, an axis measurement, which indicates the angle along which any image viewed by the patient is distorted, and a cylinder measurement, which indicates the strength or power of the distortion. Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are the principle refractive errors that cause patients to seek treatment to correct their vision problems.

“A manifest refraction analysis is a diagnostic tool used by ophthalmologists and optometrists whereby a patient’s refractive error is tested to indicate whether the patient would benefit from correction with glasses or contact lenses. As part of that technique, a patient looks through a phoropter while the ophthalmologist or optometrist evaluates each of the patient’s eyes. A retinal reflex diagnosis technique is often used to assess the magnitude of the refractive error present in the patient’s eyes. Subjective feedback from the patient is used to refine the manifest refraction, which involves the patient making choices between image quality as different lenses having different powers are slid into place in the phoropter. These refractive errors can be corrected with lenses, typically spectacle lenses, known as glasses, or contact lenses, which are applied directly to the eye. They can also be corrected with various types of surgery. At the end of the manifest refraction analysis, the ophthalmologist or optometrist may produce a prescription for glasses, contact lenses, and/or refractive surgery.

“Other methods for determining the refractive error of a patient include known diagnostic devices such wavefront sensors, refractometers, and others that are well known in the art. Some of these diagnostic devices use computers to assist in determining the refractive error of the patient. For example, one implementation of a wavefront-type refractor that is well known in the art uses a “Hartmann-Shack” sensor to measure the wavefront of a light beam generated from an illumination spot projected on the retina and passed through the eye’s optics. In such a wavefront type refractor, a probe beam from a laser or a super-luminescent diode is projected onto the retina through the eye’s optics. Light scattered by the retina passes through the eye’s optics, and emerges through the eye’s pupil. The wavefront of the emerging beam carries refractive information relating to the eye’s optics. For example, if the eye is emmetropic (i.e., the eye’s optics are without refractive error), the wavefront of the emerging beam should be flat. Relay optics relay the wavefront emerging from eye’s pupil onto the Hartmann-Shack sensor. The Hartmann-Shack sensor measures the distortion of the wavefront and provides that information to a computer to compute the refractive errors of the eye due to aberrations of the eye’s optics.

“Each of the above-described techniques for determining a patient’s refractive error requires the patient to travel to a place where such machines or doctors are present and available to perform the determination. And, having traveled to a doctor’s office, a patient then has to pay for the time and services of the doctor, which may or may not be covered by their health insurance. This can be both expensive and inconvenient for a patient.

“For a patient who desires contacts, a second charge generally applies for a “fitting.” This charge is frequently unnecessary because most contacts manufacturers only offer one or a few base curve and diameter combinations, meaning there is only one or a few possible “fits” for that contact. When a patient has worn contacts before and is comfortable in their previous brand, there is no need to perform a “fitting.” Despite this, it is commonly required by doctor’s offices that a “fitting” be performed, and the accompanying fee charged. Health insurance seldom covers this fee. In some cases, the doctor may require that the patient make another, separate office visit to have their “fitting.” Therefore, determining a contacts prescription can be even more expensive and inconvenient for a patient.

“In addition, the cost of the above described machinery (phropter, wavefront refractor, etc.) is prohibitive to ownership by an individual not engaged in a medical practice, so patients do not have the option of determining their own glasses or contacts prescription outside of a medical practice setting.

“Furthermore, in-office subjective astigmatism tests generally only determine a patient’s axis prescription within 10° of accuracy.

“Thus, there exists a need for a more convenient, less costly, more accurate way for patients to determine and receive glasses and contacts prescriptions.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventor’s summary information for this patent application: “The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for determining the refractive error of a patient, more particularly determining the patient’s refractive error by using a computerized screen or other suitable visual tool, and providing the patient with a corrective lenses prescription for the patient’s preferred type of corrective lenses. The system and method do not require the trip or expense of a doctor visit, and are optimized for convenience and cost effectiveness.

“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 the astigmatism prescription of the patient via a computerized screen.

“In an embodiment, determining the astigmatism prescription of the patient via the computerized screen includes presenting a first diagram to the patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select at least one input. The input corresponds to an axis measurement. The method further includes presenting a second diagram to a patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select at least one input. The input corresponds to a cylinder measurement.

“In a further embodiment, the first diagram and the second diagram are a same diagram. In an alternative further embodiment, the first diagram and the second diagram are different diagrams.

“In another further embodiment, the first diagram is a rotatable line. In a still further embodiment, the rotatable line is made up of at least two alternating colors. In yet a further embodiment, the at least two alternating colors are selected from the group consisting of the red family and the green family, respectively.

“In an embodiment, the method is provided via an internet.

“In an embodiment, the method includes sending the determined astigmatism prescription to at least one doctor for review and approval.

“In an alternative 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 the astigmatism prescription of the patient via a computerized screen, and determining the power of the corrective lenses prescription of the patient via the computerized screen.

“In a further embodiment, the method also includes, separately, for each eye of the patient, enabling the patient to make an input of at least one data selected from the group consisting of a base curve from a prior contacts prescription, a diameter from a prior contacts prescription, a prior contacts brand name, and a prior contacts manufacturer. A base curve and a diameter are determined from the at least one data.

“In a further embodiment, the method also includes, separately, for each uncorrected eye of the patient, determining whether the patient is nearsighted or farsighted by presenting a colorblocked diagram to the patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select an input corresponding to part of the colorblocked diagram.

“In another further embodiment, the method also includes, separately for each corrected eye of the patient, determining whether the patient is over corrected or undercorrected by presenting a colorblocked diagram to the patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select an input corresponding to part of the colorblocked diagram.

“In an embodiment, determining the power of the corrective lenses prescription of the patient via the computerized screen includes presenting a first figure to a patient via the computerized screen. The first figure is too small to be clearly seen by the patient. The method further includes enabling the patient to make at least one input to increase the size of the first figure until it can just barely be made out by the patient. The at least one input corresponds to a first sphere measurement. In a further embodiment, the method includes presenting a second figure to a patient via the computerized screen. The second figure is large enough to be clearly seen by the patient. The method enables the patient to make at least one input to decrease the size of the second figure just until it can no longer be made out by the patient. The at least one input corresponds to a second sphere measurement. In another further embodiment, the method includes determining a final sphere measurement based, at least in part, on the first sphere measurement and the second sphere measurement.

“In a further embodiment, the first figure and the second figure are different figures. In an alternative further embodiment, the first figure and the second figure are a same figure.

“In another further embodiment, the first figure and the second figure comprise at least one symbol selected from the group consisting of letters and numbers.

“In still another further embodiment, at least one set of the presentation of the first and second figures, enabling the patient to make inputs, and receiving inputs from the patient is repeated at least once.

“In a further embodiment, the method includes sending the determined astigmatism and power prescriptions to at least one doctor for review and approval.

“In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computer readable medium includes 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, at least one memory device, and at least one input device to determine a corrective lenses prescription of the patient. The corrective lenses prescription comprises an astigmatism prescription and a power. The non-transitory computer readable medium determines the glasses prescription of the patient by, for each eye of the patient, determining the astigmatism prescription of the patient. The non-transitory computer readable medium determines the astigmatism prescription of the patient by presenting a first diagram to the patient via a computerized screen and enabling the patient to select an input. The patient-selected input corresponds to an axis measurement. The non-transitory computer readable medium further determines the astigmatism prescription of the patient by presenting a second diagram to a patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select at least one input. The patient-selected input corresponds to a cylinder measurement. The non-transitory computer readable medium further determines the corrective lenses prescription of the patient by, for each eye of the patient, determining the power of the corrective lenses prescription of the patient. The non-transitory computer readable medium determines the power of the prescription by presenting a first figure to a patient via the computerized screen. The first figure is too small to be clearly seen by the patient. The non-transitory computer readable medium further determines the power of the prescription by enabling the patient to make at least one input to increase the size of the first figure until it can just barely be made out by the patient. The at least one input corresponds to a first sphere measurement. The non-transitory computer readable medium further determines the power of the prescription by presenting a second figure to a patient via the computerized screen. The second figure is large enough to be clearly seen by the patient. The non-transitory computer readable medium further determines the power of the prescription by enabling the patient to make at least one input to decrease the size of the second figure just until it can no longer be made out by the patient. The at least one input corresponds to a second sphere measurement. The non-transitory computer readable medium determines a final sphere measurement based, at least in part, on the first sphere measurement and the second sphere measurement to determine.

“An advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a patient more convenience in determining and receiving a glasses and/or contacts prescription.

“An advantage of the present disclosure is to reduce the cost and expense to the patient of determining and receiving a glasses and/or contacts prescription.

“Another advantage of the present disclosure is to determine a glasses and/or contacts prescription without the need for expensive equipment only feasible for use in a doctor office.

“Another advantage of the present disclosure is to determine a glasses and/or contacts prescription without placing lenses before the eyes of the patient.

“Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to more quickly determine a glasses and/or contacts prescription.

“A further advantage of the present disclosure is to more accurately determine the axis and cylinder astigmatism prescriptions of a patient.

“Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A method for determining a corrective lens prescription for a patient, separately for each eye of the patient, and providing the patient with a corrective lenses prescription for the patient’s preferred type of corrective lenses, using a patient terminal including a first computerized screen and a remote device with a second computerized screen, the method comprising: receiving, in the remote device, a link to enable the patient to launch an interface on the remote device for interacting with the patient terminal in a hand held manner, wherein interacting includes receiving instructions from a server and enabling the patient to make at least one input to the server via the remote device over a communication interface to control the first computerized screen from a distance; displaying a figure on the first computerized screen; and enabling the patient to make a least one input via the remote device to change a size of the figure, wherein the input corresponds to a sphere measurement of the patient.

“2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a smartphone, a cell phone, or a tablet computer.

“3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the link is received via a SMS text message.

“4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising launching the interface for interacting with the first computerized screen via a browser.

“5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface is the internet.

“6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: presenting another figure to the patient via the first computerized screen, the figure being large enough to be seen clearly by the patient; and enabling the patient to make at least one input via the remote device to decrease a size of the figure until it can barely be make out by the patient, the input corresponding to another sphere measurement.

“7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: presenting a first diagram to the patient via the first computerized screen; and enabling the patient to select make at least one input via the remote device, the input corresponding to an axis measurement.

“8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: presenting a second diagram to the patient via the first computerized screen; and enabling the patient to select make at least one input via the remote device, the input corresponding to a cylinder measurement.

“9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the patient is nearsighted or farsighted by presenting a colourblocked diagram to the patient via the computerized screen; and enabling the patient to select an input corresponding to a part of the colourblocked diagram.

“10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the corrective lens prescription to the patient via the patient terminal or the remote device.

“11. A system for determining a corrective lens prescription for a patient, separately for each eye of the patient, and providing the patient with a corrective lenses prescription for the patient’s preferred type of corrective lenses, the system comprising: a patient terminal including a first computerized screen; and a remote device with a second computerized screen, wherein the system is configured to: receive a link in the remote device to enable the patient to launch an interface on the remote device for interacting with the patient terminal in a hand held manner, wherein interacting includes receiving instructions from a server and enabling the patient to make at least one input to the server via the remote device over a communication interface to control the first computerized screen from a distance, display a figure on the first computerized screen, and enable the patient to make a least one input via the remote device to change a size of the figure, wherein the input corresponds to a sphere measurement of the patient.

“12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the remote device is a smartphone, a cell phone, or a tablet computer.

“13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the link is received via a SMS text message.

“14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system is configured for launching the interface for interacting with the system via a browser.

“15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication interface is the internet.

“16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system is further adapted to present another figure to the patient via the first computerized screen, the figure being large enough to be seen clearly by the patient, and enable the patient to make at least one input via the remote device to decrease the size of the figure until it can barely be make out by the patient, the input corresponding to another sphere measurement.

“17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system is further adapted to present a first diagram to the patient via the first computerized screen and enable the patient to make at least one input via the remote device, the input corresponding to an axis measurement.

“18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system is further adapted to present a second diagram to the patient via the first computerized screen and enable the patient to select at least one input via the remote device, the input corresponding to a cylinder measurement.

“19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system is further adapted to determine whether the patient is nearsighted or farsighted by presenting a colourblocked diagram to the patient via the computerized screen and enabling the patient to select an input corresponding to a part of the colourblocked diagram.

“20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system is further adapted to provide the corrective lens prescription to the patient via the patient terminal or the remote device.”

For more information, see this patent application: Lee, Steven P. Computerized Testing And Determination Of A Visual Field Of A Patient. U.S. Patent Application Number 20230320581, filed June 5, 2023 and posted October 12, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(20230320581)&db=US-PGPUB&type=ids

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