Monocular and binocular relative focal photo-stress
OwnerAlbert Hofeldtinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Photo-stress by focal light bleaches the retina and temporarily reduced retinal function. Recovery from suppression is measurable by monocular and binocular endpoints, when recovery is prolonged a disease is suspected. The monocular endpoint is the moment the dark central afterimage representing the macula becomes the same brightness as the peripheral ring representing unstimulated retina and the binocular endpoint is brightness equality of rivalrous stimuli. Four embodiments are described for measuring relative brightness sense photo-stress utilizing monocular and binocular methodology.
Claims20
A device for binocular relative photo-stress testing of the macula comprising:
- two pairs of vertically aligned rivalrous light stimulus pairs having a top image pair and a bottom image pair, each pair having a bright stimulus and a dim stimulus, the top image pair and the bottom image pair being configured to fuse to form a top visual impression and a bottom visual impression;
- an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the brightness of one or both of said rivalrous light stimulus pairs to bring a brightness sense into a balance such that the top visual impression and the bottom visual impression appear equally bright;
- a photo stressing focal light source, the photo stressing focal light source having a focal beam with a diameter subtending an angle of less than that of a symbol with a visual acuity setting at 20/400 configured to photo stress the macula of at least one eye;
- a photo stress recovery endpoint having the bright stimulus of the top visual impression and the bright stimulus of the bottom visual impression having an equal brightness balance;
- and
- a timer having a digital display configured to display the time that have elapsed, the timer being configured to measure a photo-stress recovery time period where the digital display of the timer is visible.
A device for monocular relative photo-stress testing comprising:
- at least one frame, the at least one frame having a black backdrop, a bull's eye target with a peripheral outer ring, an inner ring, and a center, the bull's eye target being disposed within the black backdrop;
- at least one photo stressing focal light source, the at least one photo stressing focal light source having a focal beam with a diameter subtending an angle of less than that of a symbol with a visual acuity setting at 20/400 configured to photo stress the macula of at least one eye;
- and
- a timer having a digital display configured to show the time that has elapsed, the timer being configured to measure a photo-stress recovery period where the digital display of the timer is visible.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.