Slit lamp microscope, ophthalmic information processing apparatus, ophthalmic system, method of controlling slit lamp microscope, and recording medium

An ophthalmic information processing apparatus comprising:

• a reception device that receives a plurality of cross sectional images collected by scanning an anterior segment of a subject's eye with slit light;
• and
• a data processor configured to generate opacity distribution information that represents a distribution of an opaque area in a crystalline lens, based on the plurality of cross sectional images,
• wherein the data processor includes
• a crystalline lens image construction processor configured to construct a three dimensional crystalline lens image from the plurality of cross sectional images, and
• an opacity distribution information generation processor configured to analyze the three dimensional crystalline lens image to generate the opacity distribution information,
• wherein the opacity distribution information generation processor includes a local distribution information generation processor configured to generate local distribution information that represents a distribution of an opaque area in a three dimensional partial region for each of a plurality of three dimensional partial regions in the three dimensional crystalline lens image,
• wherein the data processor includes a transmissivity distribution information generation processor configured to generate transmissivity distribution information that represents a distribution of light transmissivity of the crystalline lens based on a plurality of pieces of local distribution information generated by the local distribution information generation processor,
• wherein the data processor includes a time dependent change information generation processor configured to generate time dependent change information that represents a time dependent change in a distribution of light transmissivity of the crystalline lens based on the transmissivity distribution information, and
• the ophthalmic information processing apparatus further comprising a display controller configured to display a graph that represents a time dependent change in light transmissivity of each of the plurality of three dimensional partial regions based on the time dependent change information on a display device,
• wherein the data processor includes an opacity distribution map creation processor configured to create an opacity distribution map based on a plurality of pieces of local distribution information generated by the local distribution information generation processor,
• wherein the opacity distribution map represents a depth position of an opaque area in each of the plurality of three dimensional partial regions and is represented using a two dimensional coordinate system in which a first coordinate axis represents a depth direction and a second coordinate axis represents a direction perpendicular to the depth direction,
• wherein the plurality of three dimensional partial regions is determined by applying equal angle division to the three dimensional crystalline lens image in a plane perpendicular to the depth direction, and
• the second coordinate axis represents an angle direction of the equal angle division.

An ophthalmic system comprising a slit lamp microscope and an information processing apparatus, wherein

• the slit lamp microscope includes:
• a scanner configured to scan an anterior segment of a subject's eye with slit light to collect a plurality of cross sectional images;
• and
• a transmission device that transmits the plurality of cross sectional images collected by the scanner to the information processing apparatus via a communication line, and
• the information processing apparatus includes:
• a reception device that receives the plurality of cross sectional images;
• and
• a data processor configured to generate opacity distribution information that represents a distribution of an opaque area in a crystalline lens, based on the plurality of cross sectional images,
• wherein the data processor includes
• a crystalline lens image construction processor configured to construct a three dimensional crystalline lens image from the plurality of cross sectional images, and
• an opacity distribution information generation processor configured to analyze the three dimensional crystalline lens image to generate the opacity distribution information,
• wherein the opacity distribution information generation processor includes a local distribution information generation processor configured to generate local distribution information that represents a distribution of an opaque area in a three dimensional partial region for each of a plurality of three dimensional partial regions in the three dimensional crystalline lens image,
• wherein the data processor includes a transmissivity distribution information generation processor configured to generate transmissivity distribution information that represents a distribution of light transmissivity of the crystalline lens based on a plurality of pieces of local distribution information generated by the local distribution information generation processor,
• wherein the data processor includes a time dependent change information generation processor configured to generate time dependent change information that represents a time dependent change in a distribution of light transmissivity of the crystalline lens based on the transmissivity distribution information, and
• the ophthalmic system further comprising a display controller configured to display a graph that represents a time dependent change in light transmissivity of each of the plurality of three dimensional partial regions based on the time dependent change information on a display device,
• wherein the data processor includes an opacity distribution map creation processor configured to create an opacity distribution map based on a plurality of pieces of local distribution information generated by the local distribution information generation processor,
• wherein the opacity distribution map represents a depth position of an opaque area in each of the plurality of three dimensional partial regions and is represented using a two dimensional coordinate system in which a first coordinate axis represents a depth direction and a second coordinate axis represents a direction perpendicular to the depth direction,
• wherein the plurality of three dimensional partial regions is determined by applying equal angle division to the three dimensional crystalline lens image in a plane perpendicular to the depth direction, and
• the second coordinate axis represents an angle direction of the equal angle division.

A method of controlling a slit lamp microscope that includes a processor, and a scanner that scans an anterior segment of a subject's eye with slit light to collect a plurality of cross sectional images, the method comprising:

• causing the processor to execute a process of generating opacity distribution information that represents a distribution of an opaque area in a crystalline lens based on the plurality of cross sectional images collected by the scanner,
• wherein the process of generating the opacity distribution information includes
• a process of constructing a three dimensional crystalline lens image from the plurality of cross sectional images, and
• a process of analyzing the three dimensional crystalline lens image to generate the opacity distribution information,
• wherein the process of generating the opacity distribution information includes a process of generating local distribution information that represents a distribution of an opaque area in a three dimensional partial region for each of a plurality of three dimensional partial regions in the three dimensional crystalline lens image,
• the method further comprising:
• causing the processor to execute a process of generating transmissivity distribution information that represents a distribution of light transmissivity of the crystalline lens based on a plurality of pieces of local distribution information for the plurality of three dimensional partial regions;
• causing the processor to execute a process of generating time dependent change information that represents a time dependent change in a distribution of light transmissivity of the crystalline lens based on the transmissivity distribution information;
• causing the processor to execute a process of displaying a graph that represents a time dependent change in light transmissivity of each of the plurality of three dimensional partial regions based on the time dependent change information on a display device;
• causing the processer to create an opacity distribution map based on a plurality of pieces of local distribution information, wherein the opacity distribution map represents a depth position of an opaque area in each of the plurality of three dimensional partial regions and is represented using a two dimensional coordinate system in which a first coordinate axis represents a depth direction and a second coordinate axis represents a direction perpendicular to the depth direction;
• and
• causing the processor to determine the plurality of three dimensional partial regions by applying equal angle division to the three dimensional crystalline lens image in a plane perpendicular to the depth direction,
• wherein the second coordinate axis represents an angle direction of the equal angle division.